"Looks like you're at your limit. If this is all you've got, then you won't even be able to scratch me."
The Mizukage roared, his crimson hands tearing through the Lightning Dragon and Flame Tiger with ease. His palms were brimming with the explosive chakra of a Tailed Beast, making it impossible for Jiraiya's attacks to stand a chance. The summoned creatures shattered into raw chakra and dissipated into the air.
Jiraiya's current attacks were nowhere near as powerful as before, and the Mizukage knew it.
If Jiraiya's previous attacks had been akin to a cataclysmic earthquake, then now they were nothing more than ripples on the surface of a pond. The difference was night and day.
The Third Mizukage formed another Tailed Beast Ball and fired it at Jiraiya. He had yet to fully transform into his beast form, so the attack wasn't at full power, but it was still formidable.
Jiraiya gripped his Lightning Flame Blade, slowly channeling chakra into it. Pretending to be weak was proving far more difficult than expected. His greatest concern was that if he lost control, even for a second, he might kill the Mizukage in a single strike.
Keeping up the act of a struggling fighter was turning out to be a real test of his acting skills.
As the Tailed Beast Ball hurtled toward him, Jiraiya swung his blade. The two forces clashed, holding each other at a standstill for a brief moment before the sphere erupted in a massive explosion. The shockwave blasted outward, sending Jiraiya flying. He crashed into the ground with a loud thud—though, of course, this was all part of his performance.
The truth was, an attack of this level wouldn't even leave a scratch on him. If he wanted to, he could have cut straight through it. But to sell the illusion of being evenly matched, he had to make it look like he was struggling.
...
Up on Myoboku Mountain, Fukasaku and Shima had already returned after dealing with the Tsuchikage.
Back on the battlefield, before Jiraiya could even stand, the Mizukage leaped into the air and came crashing down toward him.
Jiraiya formed hand seals, exhaling a torrent of flames. The surrounding earth was pulled into the fire, merging with it before engulfing the Mizukage. The rocks within the flames melted into lava, raining down onto the Mizukage's body, delivering a second wave of damage.
But it was futile.
Wrapped in his Tailed Beast Cloak, the Mizukage charged forward, completely unfazed by the inferno.
Jiraiya channeled a surge of Earth chakra into the ground beneath him, softening the terrain before burrowing underground.
"You think you can escape that easily?!"
The Mizukage roared, forming another Tailed Beast Ball and slamming it directly into the ground. The explosion sent shockwaves rippling through the earth, tearing apart the terrain. Massive cracks spread out in all directions, shaking the battlefield.
Beneath the surface, Jiraiya felt the tremors closing in. He sighed internally—if this kept up, he wouldn't be able to keep up the act much longer.
Swinging his Lightning Flame Blade, he slashed behind him, dissipating the incoming shockwave and emerging from the ground.
...
"Die!"
The Mizukage appeared in an instant, his crimson claws swiping straight for Jiraiya's head.
Jiraiya waved his hand, and a surge of iron sand gathered before him, forming a dense shield that blocked the strike.
He exhaled slightly, glancing around the battlefield. He knew someone was watching from the shadows. He just needed them to reveal themselves soon—because at this rate, he wouldn't be able to keep up the act much longer.
The iron sand suddenly shifted, transforming into a massive black hand that lunged toward the Mizukage, gripping him tightly.
Magnet Release was a powerful force, and the iron sand held the Mizukage in a crushing grip. He struggled violently, but it was useless.
Currently, Jiraiya possessed the power of Shukaku. And since Magnet Release originated from the Tailed Beast's unique script markings, the version Jiraiya wielded was far stronger than that of any Kazekage who merely inherited the ability.
The Mizukage's struggles intensified, his Tailed Beast's chakra growing wilder. His body started shifting—slowly transforming into his full Three-Tails form.
The monstrous turtle-like creature fully emerged, its body covered in thick, spiked armor. With its complete transformation, the Three-Tails broke free of the iron grip and roared, spewing a barrage of water bullets at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya swung his Lightning Flame Blade. With a single slash, he cleaved through every last water bullet.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Golden chains erupted from behind Jiraiya, surging forward and wrapping around the enormous Three-Tails. The beast howled, thrashing violently, but these chains were specifically designed to restrain Tailed Beasts. No matter how much it struggled, escape was impossible.
Jiraiya reached into a storage scroll, pulling out a black rod. Without hesitation, he hurled it at the Three-Tails' forehead.
The black rod pierced through the beast's skull, its powerful absorbing properties kicking in immediately. The Three-Tails' chakra began draining away, its massive form slowly shrinking.
From a distance, Black Zetsu observed the scene, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"What kind of tool is that? It can directly siphon the power of a Tailed Beast?!"
Although many sealing tools existed in the ninja world, few could directly extract and store a Tailed Beast's power. This was something entirely new.
"It's certainly an intriguing artifact... No wonder he was able to gain control over the One-Tail and Four-Tails so quickly. This tool must be the reason."
Uchiha Madara, standing beside Black Zetsu, also looked surprised by the black rod's effects.
"Once Jiraiya finishes sealing the Three-Tails, he'll likely be severely weakened. Lord Madara, that would be the perfect moment to strike. If we move then, we could claim not just one, but three Tailed Beasts."
"The Five-Tails and Two-Tails are also being subdued by the Hokage and that monkey."
Black Zetsu's excitement was palpable.
Madara, however, remained patient. "No need to rush. Let him finish sealing the Five-Tails and Two-Tails first."
He narrowed his eyes at the battlefield.
"Jiraiya is unscathed right now. Even after sealing the Three-Tails, he'll still be formidable. If we wait until he and Sarutobi finish subduing all three Tailed Beasts, that will be the perfect moment to strike. Only then can we reap the greatest rewards."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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