Chapter 486: A Toad and a Snake

The Sharingan, this instantly made Jiraiya think of many things.

Although he couldn't be certain that the group possessing the Sharingan belonged to Ye Zi, the odds were high, at least eight or nine out of ten.

A vision of Orochimaru flashed through his mind. Biting his lip, he didn't follow the Hebi Squad but instead remained where he was.

The continued absence of Takigakure's ninjas was a strange phenomenon. Adding to that, a team possessing the Sharingan but not wearing Takigakure's forehead protectors was coming from the direction of the village, this left plenty of room for speculation.

First, it was possible that Ye Zi had allied with Takigakure. Second, it was also possible that Takigakure had been occupied by Ye Zi.

Since he hadn't seen a single Takigakure ninja, Jiraiya naturally leaned toward the latter. Thinking of the worst-case scenario, he suspected that Takigakure had likely been wiped out by Ye Zi. That woman who had been making large-scale purchases of ninja tools was probably also working for Ye Zi.

A Sharingan unit, combined with a vast stockpile of ninja tools…

This uncertain and unverified intelligence made Jiraiya want to investigate Takigakure himself. That was why he hadn't followed the Snake Squad.

Controlling his toad, he moved into a concealed patch of grass. Then, he emerged from the toad's mouth, took out a scroll, and recorded his speculations before handing it to a messenger toad.

This was his habit. The next step was to verify his suspicions.

With a solemn expression, Jiraiya re-entered the toad's mouth. He then controlled the toad to hop toward a terrain filled with waterfalls. His plan was to have the toad jump into the river and quietly approach Takigakure.

The current state of Takigakure was weighing heavily on his mind. He had a premonition that he would encounter either Orochimaru or Ye Zi there. Moreover, the area around Takigakure was almost entirely surrounded by waterfalls. Combined with his Toad Techniques, there were numerous ways for him to escape.

Upon reaching a riverbank, just as he was about to jump in, he suddenly sensed danger.

Not far away, the ground bulged and took the shape of a human figure.

Without hesitation, Jiraiya escaped from the toad's mouth and quickly distanced himself.

The figure gradually transformed into Ye Zi, who stared at him with an expressionless gaze.

"It seems I was right. Takigakure is now Ye Zi's stronghold."

Jiraiya had no time to ponder how Ye Zi had discovered him, nor did he have any interest in engaging in conversation. Without hesitation, he turned and fled.

He knew very well that he couldn't defeat Ye Zi. The moment he turned to flee, he was already preparing to activate Sage Mode, forming the hand seal for the Substitution Jutsu.

Ye Zi's pupils transformed into snake-like slits. Black lightning threads coiled around his body as he drew his sword, Chijin, and wordlessly charged toward Jiraiya, slashing at his vital points.

Slash!

Jiraiya was cut in half without resistance, only for his body to turn into a chunk of wood and fall to the ground.

Ye Zi twisted his ankle and dashed toward the right.

This was a riverside area. The riverbank was covered with cobblestones, and further away, on both the left and right sides, sparse groves and low shrubs dotted the landscape.

Using Substitution Jutsu, Jiraiya had evaded Ye Zi's attack and reappeared within the grove. Without a moment's delay, he immediately began preparations for Sage Mode.

His goal in activating Sage Mode wasn't to fight Ye Zi, but to increase his chances of escaping.

Throughout his life, Jiraiya had fought countless battles and encountered many crises, often brushing shoulders with death. Yet this time, the crisis surpassed any he had faced before.

Back then, at least Tsunade and Orochimaru had been by his side. But this time, he was alone.

Thanks to the sensory abilities of Sage Mode, even though Jiraiya had escaped using Substitution Jutsu, Ye Zi was still able to detect his precise location immediately.

Closing the distance, Ye Zi unleashed a combined technique of Inorganic Reincarnation and Wood Release.

Inside the grove, Jiraiya keenly sensed an overwhelming chakra surge from the ground and his surroundings. His expression changed sharply, and he immediately used Body Flicker Jutsu to escape from the area.

A moment later, the entire grove was forcefully compressed into a massive sphere, trees and earth crushing together under an invisible force.

Seeing this, Jiraiya's expression darkened slightly.

This technique had already exceeded conventional jutsu. Had he not escaped in time, he would have been crushed into a pile of flesh.

The Contract Seal…

Jiraiya painted markings onto his face. This was the necessary step to merge his body with the Two Great Sage Toads. The next phase was Summoning.

"You're going to activate Sage Mode?" Ye Zi thought coldly. "Fine. I'll take the opportunity to eliminate those two old toads as well."

He allowed Jiraiya to enter Sage Mode, fully confident in his overwhelming superiority. He was certain he could claim Jiraiya's life here and now.

The last time, he had suffered a setback against Jiraiya's two summoned toads. Now, he intended to eliminate them all.

After all, Jiraiya wasn't the only one who could summon the toads of Mount Myōboku.

Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave are both mysterious sacred lands, so there should be an existence similar to the White Snake Sage.

Ye Zi did not stop Jiraiya from activating Sage Mode. The latter didn't hesitate, immediately using Summoning Jutsu to call forth the Two Great Sage Toads, then entering an incomplete Sage Mode.

"Little Jiraiya, trouble again?"

As soon as Shima appeared, she asked this question. This time, she wasn't cooking or eating, so her mood wasn't as bad as last time.

"And it seems like a big trouble," Fukasaku remarked as he stood on Jiraiya's left shoulder, gazing intently at Ye Zi, whose body was enveloped in a black lightning current. His slit snake-like pupils and sage markings made for an imposing sight.

Was this the Black Serpent foretold by the Toad Sage's prophecy? What a terrifying young man.

Seeing Ye Zi's Snake Sage Mode with his own eyes, Fukasaku couldn't suppress his shock. He had once thought that little Minato was the most talented human he had ever encountered. But now, the young man before him was even more fearsome.

"This is probably the greatest crisis I've ever faced," Jiraiya said with a bitter smile, keeping his eyes locked onto Ye Zi.

Shima looked at Ye Zi, whose very presence made her feel deeply uncomfortable. Her expression turned grim as she said in a serious tone, "Little Jiraiya, run."

Fukasaku agreed, "Ma is right. If this guy is really as powerful as you described, then it's best to flee immediately."

"That's exactly my plan, which is why I summoned the two of you," Jiraiya nodded.

They've appeared…

Ye Zi looked at the two Great Sage Toads perched on Jiraiya's shoulders. His current sensory abilities were leagues beyond what they had been a year ago. Back then, in Uzushiogakure, he had been unable to perceive the connection between Jiraiya and the two toads. But now, he could.

He could clearly sense the way Jiraiya and the two Sage Toads were fused through some kind of technique. He could also perceive that the natural energy was being absorbed by the two Sage Toads, helping Jiraiya maintain the balance required for Sage Mode.

"Do you really think you can escape…?" Ye Zi sneered coldly and said indifferently, "How can a toad possibly run away from a snake."

The moment he spoke, the expressions of Jiraiya and the two Sage Toads changed drastically.

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