บท 299: Chapter 299
"They've arrived…"
As the massive snakes from Ryūchi Cave swarmed outside Mount Myōboku, the Great Toad Sage sensed their presence and informed Fukasaku.
"So soon!"
Fukasaku was startled upon hearing this. It had only been a little over twenty days, and they had barely completed their preparations.
Although Mount Myōboku was hailed as a sanctuary for summons, only a limited number of toads were suited for combat. Among them, toads as powerful as Gamabunta were few, while most were considerably weaker.
In total, they could only muster about two hundred battle-ready toads.
"Great Sage?"
"Stay calm, Fukasaku. The barrier should hold for a while. Stay with Little Jiraiya, and if things go awry, take him away."
The Great Toad Sage's ancient voice was heavy. "Right now, it seems Jiraiya is our best hope for preserving Mount Myōboku's legacy."
"Don't worry, Great Sage. I'll do as you ask," Fukasaku assured him, resolve clear in his voice.
Outside the barrier, Yoichi's Rinnegan eyes scanned the area. When his clone last came here, there hadn't been such a barrier, and the range seemed smaller now. It seemed they had fortified it within the past month.
With a simple gesture, Yoichi called the Truth-Seeking Ball blade from underground. The blade burst from the earth and transformed back into an orb, merging into his body.
"Rumi, break the barrier."
Since Rumi had come along, Yoichi saw this as a good opportunity for her to showcase her strength. Moreover, it would allow her to make a name for herself.
"Understood, Yoichi-sensei."
With a sweet smile, Rumi clapped her hands together, unleashing a tidal wave of chakra that formed a pale green cloak around her. Her appearance took on the Sage markings and the nine orbs of the Truth-Seeking Balls hovered behind her.
Floating into the air, she raised her right hand, six of the Truth-Seeking Balls rushing to her palm, merging into a massive golden beam of light that pierced the sky.
"Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!"
With a determined cry, Rumi slashed the golden beam downward at Mount Myōboku's barrier. The radiant golden light cut through the barrier as if it were paper, ripping it apart effortlessly.
Explosions echoed as the golden beam cleaved through Mount Myōboku, reducing the tallest mountain to rubble and leaving a yawning abyss thousands of meters deep. The beam stopped just before the edge of the barrier, splitting Mount Myōboku into two with a deep chasm in between.
The spectacle left the Ryūchi Cave snakes, including Manda, cowering. Even Ichikishimahime and the other Snake Princesses, along with Konoha's shinobi, stared at Rumi in awe.
"Yoichi-sensei~"
Rumi returned to Yoichi's side, smiling sweetly, as if she hadn't just unleashed a devastating attack.
"Well done."
Praising her, Yoichi gazed at the now shattered barrier of Mount Myōboku. "Now, let the feast begin!"
Manda and Shin wasted no time, hissing loudly, "Charge! Today, we feast!!"
The rest of the Ryūchi Cave snakes echoed the call, writhing and slithering into Mount Myōboku in a frenzy. Having starved for nearly a month, they were famished; if it hadn't been for their intelligence and the presence of the Snake Princesses, some of them might have turned on their comrades.
"Hissss!!"
Three hundred Ryūchi Cave snakes slithered toward the feast within Mount Myōboku, their massive forms creating a terrifying sight for the shinobi who, though fearful, were relieved to have these snakes on their side.
"Let's move in. Remember the mission!"
A Konoha squad leader reminded his team to support the Ryūchi Cave snakes and prevent any toads from escaping.
"Roar!"
Gates, the Earth Bear King, let out a mighty roar, eager to face the powerful beings within Mount Myōboku.
Seeing this, Yoichi waved, "Go ahead. I brought you here to handle the toads."
"Roar!"
Gates transformed into his enormous bear form, lumbering into Mount Myōboku with earth-shaking steps.
"This bear is quite the formidable summon. His power is immense."
Tagorihime expressed her surprise, having previously assumed Gates was just a lazy bear.
Yoichi smirked, "Are you not interested in the toads yourselves?"
"Oh, we're very interested~" Tagitsuhime smiled slyly. "But ordinary toads are beneath us. We prefer the sage toads, rich with energy."
Ichikishimahime, meanwhile, was silent, her thoughts on how much she could benefit from Yoichi's blood compared to the toads.
"Let's go. We can't let the Great Toad Sage escape!"
"Don't worry, Yoichi-sensei. I'm monitoring them all with my Byakugan. They're all still there… including the rogue Jiraiya."
With a single Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion, a deep chasm now divided Mount Myōboku. Countless toads had perished in the golden light, and Fukasaku was filled with dread; the beam had passed only three meters from him… almost killing him.
"The barrier… the barrier is down…"
Seeing this, Fukasaku realized the attack was about to begin. Turning to the Great Toad Sage, Shima, and Jiraiya, he instructed, "Jiraiya, stay here to protect the Great Toad Sage. Shima, come with me!"
"Understood!"
Shima hopped after Fukasaku as they left the great hall. After they departed, the Great Toad Sage spoke to Jiraiya, "Little Jiraiya, go to the Toad Oil Pool and find the barrier toad. When you hear from me, open the scroll inside the barrier."
Jiraiya asked, "Great Sage, what is that scroll?"
"It will allow you to restart Mount Myōboku's barrier—but only in a critical moment."
"I understand. I'll wait for your command."
Jiraiya then dashed toward the Toad Oil Pool. Over the past twenty days, he had trained there and knew it was the place with the densest natural energy in Mount Myōboku. Spending too much time there could even change one's physical constitution, marking it as a sacred area.
After Jiraiya left, the Great Toad Sage closed his eyes, focusing his senses on all of Mount Myōboku.
Starvation had made the Ryūchi Cave snakes ferocious. Upon encountering a toad, they attacked in pairs or groups. Even if they were smaller, they would coordinate, one snake constricting the toad's arms and another going for the head.
All across Mount Myōboku, similar battles raged. Although the toads fought bravely, they were outnumbered by the Ryūchi Cave snakes and Konoha shinobi, who ensured none of them could escape.
Elsewhere, Gamabunta, Gamaken, and Gamahiro—the three strongest toads aside from the Great Toad Sage—were encircled by Manda, Shin, and a dozen other large snakes.
"Damn it! Take this!"
Gamabunta brandished his short sword, aiming to decapitate Manda and save Gamahiro. But Shin interrupted with a fiery breath.
This newfound ability, granted by Yoichi, had greatly increased Shin's power.
Gamabunta had to back off, and with his hands formed hand seals, shouting, "Water Style: Iron Cannonball!"
Two solid water spheres collided with Shin's flames, filling the battlefield with thick mist.
"Stay alert, guys!" Gamabunta warned, clutching his sword tightly. But no sooner had he spoken than he heard a voice in the mist.
"Big Bro Gamabunta…"
"Ken? What's wrong?"
Gamabunta shouted, but Shin suddenly lunged from below, clamping his mouth over Gamabunta's sword.
A fierce struggle ensued, with another Ryūchi Cave snake launching itself at Gamabunta, who narrowly evaded it but lost his weapon to Shin.
"Without your sword, I'll have you for lunch!"
Shin spat Gamabunta's sword aside and attacked alongside another snake.
"Water Style: Iron Cannonball!"
Gamabunta shot three water spheres, two forcing Shin back and the third hitting the other snake, which recoiled in pain.
"Big Bro!"
Just as Gamabunta thought he had a chance, he heard Gamahiro's anguished scream. The mist cleared, revealing Gamahiro restrained by Manda and three other snakes.
"No! Stop, damn it!"
Gamabunta's furious roar did nothing to halt the scene. With a final pull, Gamahiro's limbs were torn off, and the snakes began feasting on him.
"Gamahiro!"
At the Toad Oil Pool, Jiraiya sensed it all. Now that he had mastered Perfect Sage Mode, his senses were heightened, and he could feel Gamahiro's fear moments before he was torn apart.
"These were my comrades, who fought beside me…"
Clutching the scroll, Jiraiya's hand trembled. His mission from the Great Toad Sage kept him in place; he longed to fight alongside Gamabunta, even if it meant death.
But to save Mount Myōboku, he had to stay.
...
Inside the great hall, the Great Toad Sage opened his eyes, gazing solemnly at the newcomers before him.
"So, we finally meet, Great Toad Sage."
Yoichi entered with a smile. "I was planning to wait until the toads were devoured, but I couldn't risk you escaping, so here I am early."
(End of Chapter)
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