Chapter 66 - An Invitation

"This is Sage Mode!" Jiraiya stood in front of Minato and Enma, with two frogs on his shoulder, helping him maintain this mode.

"I understand. You want me to write the code so your control of this technique can become more perfect?" Enma guessed.

"No, I want you to fight me and tell me what you think about it. Who is stronger? Me or the man behind Tsunade," Jiraiya made his thoughts clear.

"Jiraiya-boy, what is this about?" One of the frogs on his shoulder spoke.

"I will tell you about later," Jiraiya turned his attention towards Enma, "What do you say?"

"If that's what you want," Enma opened his Sharingan, looking at the arena in Mount Myoboku with all the frog statues around it, 'it makes sense he brought me here.'

"My old way of fighting isn't enough to fight someone at this level. I was only an Elite Chunin before I awakened these eyes. I am not used to Genjutsu. But at your level that breaks the limit of Ninjas..." Enma scratched his head, 'my right eyes power is something I can't use in front of others. My left eye hasn't awakened.'

"Sensei, he's right," Minato tried to help Enma.

"No. I will fight. I hope you won't mind me using everything I can," Enma scanned the surrounding. He walked over to the nearby water fountain, looking at his reflection. His right eye changed colour, turning white, 'Byakugan.'

He peered inside Jiraiya, observing the composition Sage Jutsu, the balance between natural energy and chakra inside of Jiraiya's body, 'the code for this...'

He looked into his sharingan in the reflection, using the Genjutsu on himself. The next moment, his surrounding changed. He found himself in front of a computer that covered the whole wall, with tens of screen and keyboards on platforms that could be adjusted.

He pulled on the nearest one, placing his fingers on the key, "being back here feels so good. Since I can speed up the time in illusions. I can work here for a while."

He took a seat, pressing the keys on the keyboard, 'it's so refreshing.'

He placed his legs on the table, typing everything on the keyboard, watching the code form, 'it's like I am a child again.'

The Byakugan allowed him to see everything, "a code for this. In this end, this is only an illusion. I can't make working instruments to scan. I would have to estimate too much. Hope this works."

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He didn't care about time. He kept working in this room where there was neither day nor night, completing the code. He broke the Genjutsu. Barely a second had passed on the outside. He tried to run the program, but his features started changing, "Expel."

The natural energy burst out of his body, and he started making adjustments to the program.

Meanwhile, the two frogs, Fukasaku and Shima, who were standing on Jiraiya's shoulder were watching this unfold with an astounded face, "Jiraiya-boy...what am I seeing?"

"It's," Jiraiya felt his lips twitch. Years of hard work and he couldn't perfect the Sage Mode. Now that he was in this mode, he could sense the natural energy being pulled into Enma, entering his body, before being expelled by him. He was making small changes, but every change reduced the features inside Enma's body.

"He's putting himself in a Genjutsu to increase the time he can train," Minato guessed, amazed, "I haven't seen anyone use Sharigan like that."

"Of course not! You know how much burden it puts on the mind!" Shima, Fukasaku's wife raised her voice, "It's just an illusion. You need to learn the Jutsu to train it and you can't progress! How is he doing that?"

"Reality Script...so that's how it looks like," Minato keenly narrowed his eyes. It sounded impressive and boasted great promises, 'like Sensei said. If time remains the only hurdle between great power and a person. World will descend into chaos. Or it would change to the point no one can recognise it.'

Jiraiya explained to Fukasaku and Shima. By the time he was done, Enma walked away from the fountain, standing back in front of him again. The whole process must have taken a minute before Enma was ready.

"That took longer than expected."

"Ready?" Jiraiya weaved the hand signs, "Then I will attack!"

Enma closed his eyes, "Sage Mode."

He opened his eyes again, his Sharingan started changing colour, turning orange. The natural energy mixed with chakra blasted out from his body, creating storm all around them. Minato and Jiraiya felt the storm picking up pace.

Fukasaku covered his face, "Did he really master Sage Mode!! What is that Sharingan!"

"It's not the Sharingan!" Jiraiya loudly shouted, "Fire Release: Big Flame Bullet."

Jiraiya shot the oil from his mouth, igniting it, before he spat a gigantic flame that engulfed everything in front of Enma, who leaped in the sky. Jiraiya didn't let go. He moved his head upward, and the flames chased after Enma, whose eyes landed on Jiraiya, throwing him into a Genjutsu.

"Jiraiya-boy!" Fukasaku and Shima broke the Genjutsu on him, but it was enough to stop his Flame Bullet Jutsu.

"Fighting Tongue Slash!" Fukasaku put Senjutsu inside his tongue, changing its shape. His tongue gained utmost solidity and sharpness, leaping from his mouth, striking towards Enma, who used the kunai to deflect it.

"Oh, did you just change your biological setting," Enma stared at the tongue, "that's it. I was thinking what had changed about my eyes."

A grin started breaking out from his face, though the barriers of this body overwhelmed with aura kept his emotions from leaking out too much, "Then. Face this!"

"Jūketsu no Kage," his chakra formed the shape of a body, compressing into his arms and legs. He grabbed Fukasaku's tongue, which clashed with his palm, sparking.

"Frog Tongue Bind!" Shima hurried shot her tongue towards him, circling around him to bind him. He got captured and pulled towards Jiraiya, who used his sharp white hair and put them in front of his neck, about to skewer him.

"I give up," Enma expelled the Sage Energy, tilting his head in defeat, "I truly lack the means to fight at this level."

"Boy...did you use Sage Energy to change your body..." Fukasaku stared at him, trying to hide his shock.

"Oh, that. I did. Isn't that how you used Sage Energy?"

"No! That's how we use it because we don't have chakra!" Shima complained, "How could you! Ninjas can't use Sage energy like that!"

"You can't?" Enma innocently looked towards Jiraiya, who became even more pissed.

"I can! Of course I can!" Jiraiya plainly lied, flustered, "I will soon!"

He ran over to Minato, whispering in his ear, "Minato, hurriedly learn that Reality Script or whatever! You have to learn!"

"I'll try," Minato scratched his head, trying to appease his Sensei, "But for that...I need to teach him about seals. That way, he can convert coding language to sealing language." 

"Uzumaki family's secrets," Jiraiya muttered what Minato meant, glancing towards Enma, who was talking with Fukasaku, and Shima, answering their questions, "I'll talk to Lord Third. I thought he was a normal Elite Chunin...seeing his level..."

"He won't be too far off the mark when it comes to judging strength of those behind Lady Tsunade and Senju Village, is it?" Minato could guess what Jiraiya-sensei was thinking. He thought of the same thing, "the same grade of strength as First Hokage..."

"This is becoming worrisome," Jiraiya crossed his arms, looking towards the horizon, "Tsunade..."

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Months later,

In this land filled with villages and ninjas, Konoha was one of the big five villages and the great superpower. They enjoyed fertile land, great talents from distinguished clan from the warring times. This gave Konoha an advantage over the others. Even recently, the students of Third Hokage, the Three Sanin gained the power to match the other Kage's, boosting the Village's military might.

And now, their newest star, the Yellow Flash of Hidden Leaf, was on the rise, making a name for himself in the skirmishes between the villages. While it wasn't ideal to have the villages in constant strife with one another, Konoha was doing far better than the other villages were.

Until recently, that is.

"Invitation! They are sending invitations to us! Even placing demands! Who do they think they are! Just an upstart village that shouldn't even exist!" the middle-aged man with bandages around his right eye slammed the invitation down on the table.

Jiraiya, one of the Three Sanin sat with his elbows on the table, his hands on his cheeks as he watched the man throw his tantrum. He sat beside Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, "I saw it myself. It's not one of these small villages. You should see for yourself, they are the upcoming power. In just one year, they have grown to the point of matching any of the Five Great Villages."

"I don't doubt you, Jiraiya," Third Hokage waved his hand.

"Hiruzen! It's just Tsunade! Even if she found someone to finance her she isn't capable enough!. This is unacceptable! I won't allow her to humiliate us!" The bandaged man turned his eye to the Third Hokage who watched him.

"Calm down Danzo. The name Senju is still in people's minds. We have tried a million times to get our spies to bring back information, but none of them even reach the land, let alone bring back the information. Clearly, the one supporting her isn't simple. Or have your Root Ninja found information that I haven't been able to get?"

Danzo grunted, turning his head away. He lost many of his Root Ninja to someone. He thought it was Hiruzen cutting down his powers, and everyone he sent to Senju Village didn't return, "You know I don't. But even so! This condition! For her to demand that we bring the Jinchuriki and Minato Namikaze along with us! Who does she think she is!"

"Certainly, to bring a Jinchuriki out of the village and bringing this much of our force along. It would lead us open to attack. It's not possible in the times of war," Third Hokage shook his head, "Jiraiya, you can take Minato with you. Gather as much information as you can."

"It's not the Jinchuriki she wants to see. It's Kushina," Jiraiya corrected them, causing the mood to turn awkward in the room.

Third Hokage sighed, "Jiraiya you understand..."

"I do. I have Learned Sage Mode, so has Minato. Send Enma along with us too and you wouldn't need to worry about Kushina's safety. If something goes wrong, then Minato can bring Kushina back right away."

"That dying boy," Danzo scoffed, "What can he do?"

Third Hokage frowned. If it was any other village, then he would have rejected, but he could still trust Tsunade that much, in case anything were to go wrong then Minato could escape with Kushina at any moment.

"Good. Enma wanted to talk to Tsunade too. Fine, take him," Third Hokage exhaled smoke, "the responsibility is on you, Jiraiya."

"I know, old man."