Naruto: IY Ch. 32

"Go! Jiraiya-sensei!"

"Use Rasengan!"

"Let Hanzō witness the bond between us!"

Like a Pokémon battle, Yahiko retreated behind the bridge and roared at Hanzō, pointing dramatically.

Jiraiya's face darkened, he had never seen someone assign themselves such a role. He quickly formed a Rasengan in his hand.

"Take this!" Ge added a bit of senjutsu chakra into it.

Hanzō looked at the familiar white-haired man and raised his scythe to fight.

Though he was emotionally broken, he still followed the warrior's code and didn't immediately order the 800 ninjas behind him to charge in.

Not far away, a White Zetsu was observing everything. He was live-streaming the entire event.

In the underground base, a deeply wrinkled Madara was feeling a bit frustrated. He had once thought Yahiko was a good person, and when he planned to have him killed, he had felt just a twinge of guilt.

Now? Guilt? He wished he could go up there himself and smack the boy to death with his war fan.

Water Release? What the hell, Water Release?

Watching Yahiko use Water Release so expertly, he couldn't help but think of that damned white-haired guy.

In the world of Infinite Tsukuyomi, he'd make sure Tobirama, and Yahiko were chained up at Konoha's gate as warning signs.

From White Zetsu's perspective: At this point, Hanzō was starting to fall behind.

After all, he wasn't facing the same nobody from four years ago, this was Sage Jiraiya.

One Sage Art Rasengan from Jiraiya actually shattered Hanzō's scythe.

In that moment, even Madara felt a bit anxious for Hanzō and almost wanted to jump in and fight for him.

Come on, Hanzō!

Kill off the entire Tobirama lineage!

White Zetsu was lying on his stomach, hands holding up his face, feet swinging. He was observing Madara's reactions.

Why was Madara trembling? Why was he clenching his fists?

After observing for about three minutes...

"Nice kick!" Madara suddenly shouted excitedly. His cheers echoed throughout the empty underground base.

At that moment, Jiraiya's Sage Mode ended. He was kicked by Hanzō and sent flying into the river.

"Cough cough cough... stop filming already!"

Jiraiya crawled out of the river, waving his hand hurriedly.

"Stop filming what?"

Hanzō, blood at the corner of his mouth, showed no mercy after gaining the upper hand. He body flickered over instantly, determined to take revenge for the embarrassment he just suffered.

"Heh! Can you wait a second?"

Jiraiya backstepped, dodging a fire jutsu from Hanzō.

The nearby temperature flared so hot that the water on his body evaporated almost instantly.

That was how strong the Fire Release was.

Hanzō glanced at Jiraiya's face. He seemed to recall it didn't look like this earlier, it had been more sluggish and lifeless.

"I don't have the patience to wait. I promised everyone I'd have lunch back at the base on time."

Jiraiya cursed as he dodged Hanzō's relentless attacks. He couldn't instantly enter Sage Mode again. Without Sage Mode, he couldn't beat him.

If only he hadn't shown off, summoning the two great toad sages and teaming up to beat Hanzō would've been much easier.

"Don't underestimate a leader's resolve! What do you take our duel for?!"

At the riverbank, Hanzō bit his thumb and summoned Ibuse.

Jiraiya gritted his teeth. He was right, but don't underestimate a teacher's determination to protect his students.

He bit his thumb, blood spurted.

"Summoning Jutsu."

He slapped the ground.

Poof!

The smoke cleared... but nothing appeared.

Jiraiya: "?"

Everyone else: "?"

"What the hell are you doing?" Hanzō asked, bewildered.

If Jiraiya hadn't been someone he once acknowledged as a Sannin, he really would've started cursing him out.

Jiraiya smacked his forehead.

He had fought with Gamabunta earlier because of Hiruzen, and Gamabunta hadn't forgiven him yet.

"Sakumo! Use your blade on Hanzō!"

Jiraiya, mimicking Yahiko's earlier theatrics, called out to Sakumo.

What was deeply held in the heart would always resonate.

"On it!"

Sakumo paused for just a moment, then unsheathed his tantō from his back. In Yoake, where they had long been immersed in chaos, they had no concept of "fighting fair."

Seeing Jiraiya being overwhelmed by Hanzō, he body flickered over to assist.

"Banshō Ten'in!"

Nagato, seeking to gain the upper hand, extended a hand painted with pink nail polish. His face turned slightly grim before he stretched out his palm, and with a single gesture, pulled two Ame jonin from across the bridge toward him.

The two ninjas were terrified, kicking frantically at the air, trying to resist the mysterious pull, but it was no use. They were dragged straight toward him.

But years of combat instinct kicked in, and they instinctively drew kunai from their ninja tool pouches.

"Ahh!"

Yahiko had already prepared a Rasengan in his hand, waiting for this.

Kakuzu had already proven Yahiko's theory correct, no one knew when he had slipped back onto the bridge. He pulled open his black cloak, revealing five grotesque mouths writhing like living things.

"Wind Release: Pressure Damage."

The Wind Mask creature appeared. A violent gale swept the battlefield, howling toward the enemy across the river.

Shuzen began forming hand signs.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu."

One after another, red-haired old men charged across the bridge under Kakuzu's cover.

On the battlefield, Hanzō, busy fighting Jiraiya and Sakumo, suddenly narrowed his eyes.

You guys... You guys don't fight with honor!

From underground, Madara roared, "This really is just like that damn Tobirama's style!"

"Madara-sama, you can't go up there! You just can't!"

White Zetsu rushed forward, hugging Madara's trembling leg as he tried to stand in rage.

As expected, the six Ame ninjas who had been ambushed were all taken down.

Fearing Hanzō might go berserk, they were left alive, barely, with just a breath of life remaining.

"Stop! Hanzō! Your men's lives are in our hands now."

The six were sealed of their chakra, and Yahiko's group had blades pressed against their necks.

The three-way battle ground to a halt.

Hanzō began to question reality.

"Why?"

You brought six men, I admired your bravery, so I also brought only six to meet you.

You wanted a one-on-one duel, I agreed.

And then... you suddenly ambushed six of my ninjas?

Veins on his neck twisted and pulsed. His fierce eyes widened as he glared at Yahiko.

"You invade my village and talk to me about morality?"

Yahiko met his gaze without flinching. If it came down to it, he'd give up on his village, take whoever was left and camp outside Ame. If even one Ame ninja stepped out on a mission, he'd kill them on sight.

If Yoake had more people, he'd already have asked Sakumo to flip the table, forget defending, go camp outside Ame and bleed them dry every time they stepped out.

Some COD base campers would be proud of this strategy.

"Hanzō! Get back to Ame!"

Just as Hanzō was about to give the signal for the nearby Ame ninjas to launch a full assault, with the situation on the verge of exploding, a furious voice rang out.

Hanzō turned toward it, his brow involuntarily furrowed in discomfort.