Chapter 29 - Kisame Kill Jiraiya? Me?!

The carriage creaked forward slowly.

A flicker of caution surfaced on Jiraiya’s face.

As they reached the bridge, he swiftly formed hand seals and stomped down.

In an instant, the soil near a puddle beside the bridge turned into a mire.

Then—

"Shhh!"

A sharp sound rang out.

From the puddle, a man sprang out with a blade. But as soon as he got a clear look at who was in front of him, his face turned to shock.

In the next moment, his figure exploded into a splash of water.

Jiraiya had already lunged forward, his hair transforming into rope-like tendrils that whipped out and coiled tightly around the enemy.

However—

The attacker’s body instantly liquefied into flowing water.

Water Clone Technique?

Jiraiya frowned slightly and immediately spat out a stream of special toad oil toward the area.

But—

Before he could launch another jutsu, the enemy had already fled far out of range.

Meanwhile—

Three figures charged toward the carriage.

Given their position, they couldn’t clearly see Jiraiya’s face. Not only did they fail to retreat, but they advanced aggressively toward the carriage.

Kunai and shuriken flew through the air, mixed with explosive tags.

Some of the projectiles were aimed at Kakashi’s position.

A full-scale assault!

"Kyōen!"

Jiraiya shouted.

"Yes!"

Even before Jiraiya could give orders, Kyōen had already used the Body Flicker Technique to appear beside the carriage.

In the next moment, a wall of water rose about six or seven meters out, swirling gently as it intercepted and swallowed up all the incoming projectiles.

Water Style: Water Formation Wall!

BOOM!

Explosions rang out as the watery wall burst apart from the force.

So fast!

The three Kirigakure shinobi were alarmed.

But they didn’t back down—one rushed at Kyōen, while the other two, wielding blades and chains, lunged at Kakashi.

However—

As they changed course, they saw a young girl standing protectively in front of Kakashi and the iron-armed toad. Her hands flew through hand seals before her figure vanished on the spot.

In the next second, the two were entangled by tree roots, completely immobilized.

“Genjutsu!”

Kisame caught it out of the corner of his eye. He saw his two comrades stunned in place and instantly understood the girl had trapped them in a Genjutsu.

Just as he moved to assist—

Whoosh!

A gust of wind suddenly blew behind him.

His body tensed, hands quickly forming seals—but halfway through, the sound of wind grew deafening.

Too fast!

No time!

Kisame turned his head—and Kyōen was already right in front of him.

He crossed his arms to block the incoming punch—

But—

The force behind the strike surged like a tidal wave.

What?!

Kisame’s eyes, usually narrow, widened in disbelief. He couldn’t react before the punch sent him flying, smashing into a tree.

WHAM!

A deafening crash scattered flocks of waterbirds.

At the same time, the Kyōen by the carriage vanished in a puff of smoke.

Shadow Clone dispelled.

Kyōen had originally planned to chase after Kisame, but he noticed from the corner of his eye that Kurenai had trapped the other two in Genjutsu. Instead of taking a risk, she stayed by the now-chaotic carriage to defend it.

“Don’t panic! Surround the carriage and protect Mr. Matsuyama!”

she shouted loudly.

Behind her, the samurai of the Matsuyama household drew their blades and formed a tight ring around Matsuyama Ichirō’s carriage.

Against ninja, samurai were of limited use—but it was better than nothing.

Seeing this, Matsuyama Ichirō’s pounding heart calmed slightly. His eyes, however, were full of rage.

These attackers… were probably sent by Gato!

He had suspected Gato wasn't a legitimate businessman—but he never imagined the man would be so brazen as to hire assassins to ambush him mid-journey.

Typical thug behavior!

Fortunately, his nephew had recommended Jiraiya’s team.

With Lord Jiraiya himself present, his safety should be secured.

From within the carriage, Ichirō peeked through a gap—just in time to see Kyōen punch a man over a dozen meters away.

Even the kid is this strong?!

Incredible...!

That strength doesn’t match his looks at all!

Kisame spat out a mouthful of blood as he struggled to rise from the water.

His first impression had been that Kyōen was simply a water-style user—an area in which Kisame had full confidence against any Leaf ninja.

But—

To his horror, he realized Kyōen’s ninjutsu was secondary.

His speed and raw strength were the true danger.

Just one punch...

Kisame coughed up more blood, lying on the ground, unable to move.

What terrifying power!

It took him a while to catch his breath. He could only lift his head and look toward the distance.

It’s over.

Though the other two had snapped out of the Genjutsu, one was knocked out by a single punch from Kyōen the moment he came to.

The last one tried to run—

But unfortunately—

He wasn’t facing Kyōen.

He faced someone even more terrifying—a white-haired shinobi.

That was...

Jiraiya?!

For a moment, Kisame’s mind went completely blank.

Why is he leading this mission personally?!

Then he recalled what Hoshigaki Mangetsu had said before they set off:

“There’s a merchant from the Land of Fire passing through. You four take him out. That’s your mission.”

Take them out? Me?!

Kisame’s thoughts went haywire in that instant.

No wonder Mangetsu had fled the moment he was spotted.

Who would dare fight this guy?!

He’s one of the Legendary Sannin!

Even if Fuguki Suikazan were here, he’d run away without a second thought.

Kisame immediately dove into the water to flee, but as he submerged—

Strange tremors came from below.

What’s that sound?

Suddenly, he saw a surging flow of mud sweeping toward him underwater.

Earth Style: Earth Flow River!

Jiraiya maintained hand seals as the raging mud current surged forward, swallowing Kisame completely.

In the chaos, Kisame couldn’t execute any Earth Style to resist. After being carried far downstream, he struggled to stand—only to see that boy charging at him again.

Kisame rolled on the ground, trying to dodge.

But—

Kyōen’s hands blurred through seals and then stopped at a final hand sign.

What jutsu is this...?

Water Dragon Bullet?

Didn’t the Second Hokage simplify that technique?

Kisame read the signs, trying to predict Kyōen’s next move.

But—

The next second, Kyōen turned into a chunk of wood—Substitution Technique—and his real body burst from the water behind.

From behind—

A mass of white hair swept in like a net.

No jutsu?!

The hand seals were a feint!

Kisame cursed and tried to flee at full speed—but he was too late.

The hair wrapped around him.

SWOOSH!

The strands pulled Kisame in front of Jiraiya, leaving him no room to escape.

Jiraiya crouched slightly.

"Kirigakure shinobi. Why did you attack us?"

“…”

Kisame said nothing.

As a shinobi, he couldn't reveal the mission’s details. Doing so would bring severe punishment back in the village.

Right now, all he felt was deep regret.

He should’ve fled the moment Mangetsu retreated, instead of foolishly following those two idiots into battle.

But—

Who could’ve guessed this mission would involve Jiraiya?!

Kisame glanced at Kyōen.

That kid’s speed and strength were monstrous—but his appearance was deceiving. He looked even younger than Kisame himself had been back then.

A Konoha prodigy?

He looked over at his teammates—one unconscious, the other being treated by that girl. Their comrade was being carried by a massive toad.

Kisame thought about his own condition and felt a wave of sorrow.

The shinobi of Konoha were nothing like those from Kirigakure.

Even the Legendary Sannin would lead missions personally.

Injured comrades were healed and protected with care.

That sort of thing never happened in his village.

In fact—

If the enemy hadn’t been so powerful, Kisame probably would’ve tried to kill his teammates to silence them and then find a way to escape.