章節 31: Chapter 31 Another Clash!

The mist-wrapped, dense forest remained silent, save for the rustling of leaves. Within the heart of it, facing each other, were Jiraiya and Orochimaru, and their presence filled the space between them with almost suffocating tension. Jiraiya stood firm, his hands twitching in readiness, while Orochimaru's golden, slit-pupiled eyes gleamed with cold amusement.

Orochimaru chuckled, his voice low and serpentine. "Jiraiya, you have always been sentimental. That is your weakness. You think you can protect that kid? Why would you even want to? You met him only a week ago…" He let his tongue slither out unnaturally long, tasting the air like a predator preparing for a strike.

The moment hung heavy between them, and then, as if on signal, they moved.

First to attack was Jiraiya, his hands weaving through seals in a blur. "Fire Style: Flame Bomb!" he roared, shooting a huge fireball blazing through the mist, turning it to steam. Orochimaru's smirk didn't falter as he sank into the ground, vanishing beneath the dirt just as the flames scorched the spot where he had stood. The fireball exploded against a nearby tree, sending embers and smoke into the air.

Jiraiya sprang back, senses on high. He knew Orochimaru well enough to know he wouldn't keep himself hidden for much longer. Sure enough, a blur of movement cut through the smoke, and Orochimaru burst from the earth behind him, his long tongue stabbing forward like a spear. Jiraiya twisted, narrowly avoiding the strike, and counterattacked with a spinning kick. Orochimaru dodged with liquid elegance, landing on a tree branch as though he was weightless.

"You've slowed down, Jiraiya," Orochimaru sneered, his voice full of sarcasm. "Age is catching up to you."

"And you're still as slippery as ever," Jiraiya retorted. He clapped his hands together, calling out a surge of chakra. "Let's see how you handle this! Summoning Jutsu!"

A huge cloud of smoke burst beside Jiraiya, and as it cleared, Gamabunta, the Toad Chief, loomed over the clearing. He looked down at Jiraiya, a scowl on his huge face. "What's the deal this time, Jiraiya? You better not have dragged me out here for some boring fight."

"Trust me," Jiraiya said, pointing at Orochimaru, "this is anything but boring."

Orochimaru's grin only spread. "Ah, summoning already? How predictable." He bit his thumb and slicked blood across his open palm before slamming it to the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!"

Another explosion of smoke filled the clearing, and when it dissipated, Manda, the gigantic purple serpent, rose to meet Gamabunta. The two huge creatures stared at each other, their presence shaking the earth. Manda hissed, his voice oozing with disdain. "Gamabunta, you old toad. It's been a while."

"Not long enough," Gamabunta grunted, drawing his massive blade.

While the two summons clashed above, their roars shaking the ground with their impacts, the battle between Jiraiya and Orochimaru went on below them. In a flash, Jiraiya came in close, his fist crackling with chakra, directed toward Orochimaru's chest. Orochimaru danced under the blow with unnaturally smooth movements and replied with an attack from his neck now extended, with fangs glistening in the dark below. Jiraiya ducked low and returned with a spinning kick, which connected to Orochimaru's ribs, sending him back skidding.

Orochimaru recovered quickly, his hand weaving seals. "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" he hissed, blowing a powerful gust of wind that tore through the clearing. Jiraiya crossed his arms in defense as the wind slammed into him, but he was already preparing his next move.

"Take this! Swamp of the Underworld!" Jiraiya slammed his hands onto the ground, and the earth beneath Orochimaru turned to a thick, sucking swamp. Orochimaru began to sink, but his smirk never wavered. From his sleeves, a torrent of snakes erupted, their fanged mouths snapping as they surged toward Jiraiya.

Jiraiya leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding the snakes as they writhed below him. "You're not getting away that easily!" he shouted, forming a Rasengan in his hand. He dove toward Orochimaru, the spiraling chakra sphere glowing brightly.

Orochimaru's body contorted in an unnatural manner as he narrowly escaped the swamp, slithering aside just as the Rasengan hit the ground, sending debris flying everywhere. "Always so unimaginative, Jiraiya," Orochimaru said mockingly. "You'll never win if you keep fighting like this."

Above them, Gamabunta and Manda clashed in a frenzy, steel ringing out against scales through the forest. Gamabunta swung his huge sword, missing Manda's head by a hair (not really) as the serpent coiled around him, hissing, striking with incredible speed. The earth shook while the two titans fought, their clash a mirror of the deadly dance below.

Jiraiya and Orochimaru continued their dance of death, trading blows and techniques with relentless intensity. Jiraiya summoned a barrage of toad-based attacks, his mastery of ninjutsu on full display, while Orochimaru countered with his snake-like agility and sinister jutsu. The clearing was soon reduced to a battlefield of scorched earth, broken trees, and craters.

Orochimaru backed up before Jiraiya could enter sage mode, releasing the summoning on Manda and Orochimaru chuckled mischievously as he escaped via transforming into hundreds of small snakes.

Jiraiya scoffed.

As for the other side of the battlefield…

On one side was Karyū, his red eyes glinting ominously as the transplanted Ketsuryūgan pulsed with power in his head, while from his fingers lava dripped to sizzle on the scorched ground. Across from him was Riku, his sword resting lightly at his side, white spark electricity sparking faintly along its edge. His gaze was calm but focused, the faint crackle of his White Sparks filling the tense silence.

"You'll regret what you did." Karyū snarled, his voice a low rumble that matched the bubbling lava.

Riku tightened his grip on his sword, his calm exterior unwavering. 'Kokuenryū… if you wanna wake up… now's the perfect time buddy!'

With no further words, Karyū raised his hand, and a torrent of molten lava surged toward Riku, a wave of fire that would burn him to cinders. Riku leaped to the side, impossibly fast, and swung his sword in counterattack. A flash of White spark enhanced Slash projection erupted from the blade, slicing through the lava and scattering it harmlessly.

Karyū snarled and thrust his hands forward once more, this time mingling his own blood into the lava. The molten matter appeared to come alive-twisting, forming jagged rocky spears shooting toward Riku like guided missiles. Riku sprinted forward, zigzagging between the projectiles, his sword shining, infused with white sparks. "Arden Swordsmanship : Page 8, Lunar Whirlwind." Riku muttered, and In an instant, he reached Karyū and let loose a storm of slashes, each strike ehnanced with white sparks, followed by arcs of searing lightning.

Karyū's arm morphed into a molten shield, lava and blood combining into a solid, glowing red-black barrier. Sparks flew as Riku's blade clashed against it, the impact sending vibrations throughout the forest. Smirking, Karyū's Ketsuryūgan glowed brighter. "You're fast, but that doesn't let you breach this."

Chiyo, who was hiding in a bush in the distance watched the two duels in fear, why was this world so cruel? Why was there so much violence? So much bloodshed?

The shield exploded outward, molten fragments flying in all directions. Riku backflipped to avoid the shrapnel, landing gracefully atop a nearby tree. Before he could make his next move, Karyū slammed his hands into the ground. "Molten Blood, Akaketsuryū!" he roared.

Riku's eyes widened, 'Molten Blood? What is that?!' He thought, and now that he looked at it, 'Karyū's eyes… the Ketsuryūgan? And Akaketsuryū? The Red Blood Dragon? Could it be a coincidence?' Riku's gaze sharpened.

Lava mixed with Karyū's blood welled up from beneath the earth and formed into a gigantic, serpentine draconic like construct writhing with hostile intent. The molten body it possessed radiated heat from it, its eyes giving off the faint, scarlet glow of the Ketsuryūgan. The serpent striked at Riku, huge jaws snapping shut as he narrowly avoids it.

'How can he do that… Didn't he just get the Ketsuryūgan? Yeah I'm not winning this alone.' Riku admitted , sheathing his sword momentarily and clapping his hands together. "Summoning Jutsu!"

A burst of smoke filled the air, and out of it came… Raiden!, his fur seemed to shimmer with a metallic sheen, and white sparks danced along its massive claws. Raiden roared, he was ready. The sound echoing throughout the canyon, before charging at the molten serpent. The two titanic creatures clashed, Raiden swiping at the serpent's head with claws infused with White Sparks, while the molten construct struck back with its body of fire.

As the summons clashed with each other, Riku leaped towards Karyū, unsheathing his sword once more. His Ryūgan seemed to glow briefly as his genjutsu flared into life as his chakra surged. Karyū blinked as the world seemed to twist and invert before him-the sky became the ground, the ground the sky. Off balance, he faltered for a moment.

"Got you, Arden Swordsmanship : Page 4, Orbit." Riku muttered, suddenly appearing behind Karyū. He swung his sword in a wide arc, sending a wave of white lightning surging toward his opponent.

But Karyū wasn't done. Letting out a roar, he suddenly disrupted his chakra and broke free from the genjutsu, spinning around just in time to block the attack with a wall of molten blood. The explosion from the clash was deafening; the force sent both fighters backward, skidding.

Karyū's face twisted in a violent grin, blood dripping from his lips. His molten blood swirled around him like a protective aura; his Ketsuryūgan flared dangerously. "This fight is far from over."

Riku wiped sweat from his brow as the sparks around him amped up. He raised his sword high and coated it with White Sparks until the blade shone with a blinding brightness. At this point, Raiden roared and swung his huge claw, crackling with electricity, in such a devastating blow that the molten serpent shattered into fragments.

With their summons engaged in a final confrontation, Karyū and Riku attacked each other, their moves colliding in a storm of lava, blood, and lightning. The forest shook beneath the force of their struggle; the ground burst, and lava flowed out. Both fighters were moving at blurred motions, each strike and counterstrike pushing their bodies and abilities to the limit.

Finally, with one final explosive clash, both fighters were thrown back, landing hard on either side of the battlefield. The air was full of smoke and steam that blurred their outlines. As the dust settled, Riku got to his feet, his sword glowing pale in his hand. Raiden was behind him, battered but triumphant.

On the other side of the battlefield, Karyū struggled to rise, his molten blood aura flickering. He spat blood onto the ground, glaring at Riku. "This isn't over," he growled, his voice defiant.

Karyū turned his head to see a little girl in the bush next to him, he then looked at Riku and grinned.

Riku's eyes widened, his body suddenly enveloped in a cloak of white sparks and he disappeared.

"Kitty! Help!" Chiyo ran out from the bush, her face contorted with fear.

Karyū flashed a grin as the blood he had spat out suddenly rose from the ground and shot for Chiyo's chest.

Riku's tomoe spun rapidly and time slowed, Riku thought fast, a way he could close the distance in less than a second…

Arden swordsmanship couldn't get me there in time.

Body flicker jutsu might, but it's risky.

Wait…

Riku gambled, he bet everything on this one play.

Karyū's small knife of blood suddenly flew in the opposite direction, giving Riku more time to react.

Karyū quickly regained his composure, snapping out of the genjutsu and flung the knife back towards Chiyo.

Using the White Spark body flicker jutsu, Riku appeared just in time and blocked the knife with his blade.

The blood splattered over his sword, his neck and Chiyo's face.

Karyū grinned one last time, now a far distance away from Riku.

The blood on Riku's sword, neck and Chiyo's face suddenly glowed orange.

*BOOM!*

Jiraiya, Raiden and Gamabunta quickly ran over, hearing the explosion.

Jiraiya sighed in relief when he saw the pair were alive, just severely wounded.

Chiyo had a massive burn across the right side of her face, and Riku's neck was covered in blisters and burns.

"Shit… he got away." Riku spat, struggling to speak thanks to his damaged throat.

Chiyo had passed out, unable to withstand the pain of having half her face burnt so badly.

Jiraiya quickly treated their wounds, covering Riku's neck and Chiyo's face in bandages.

Riku's gaze lingered on the space Karyū had been occupying, 'With someone like that roaming free… the timeline is gonna get fucked up, oh well, the fact Im here is gonna stir up the timeline anyways.' Riku thought silently, the idea of a new opponent with abilities even he hadn't seen was slightly exciting.

Gamabunta looked at Raiden, who was observing Riku's condition and spoke, "You're Raiden right?" Gamabunta took a puff of his pipe and looked at Raiden.

Raiden turned his head and flashed a smile, "Long time eh, Gamabunta?"