"Heh heh, it looks like you're worried about something, Jiraiya."
Sword light flickered like shadows, movements eerie and unpredictable. Orochimaru's Kusanagi Blade pressed relentlessly against Jiraiya.
And right at that moment, a pink figure burst forth, accompanied by a howling gust of wind, charging straight toward him!
"Orochimaru!"
Sakura's furious roar made the corner of Orochimaru's mouth twitch.
"Heh heh, looks like I'll have to call it quits for now."
Jiraiya shot Orochimaru a cold smirk, immediately pulling back. At the same time, he bit his finger, smeared the blood across the eyeshadow on his face, and began preparing to summon the two great Toad Sages of Mount Myoboku.
Jiraiya's mastery of Sage Mode was far from perfect, so he needed to call upon the Toad Sages. They would gather the natural energy required for Sage Mode on his behalf, allowing him to enter that state.
Summoning Jutsu: Monkey King Enma!
Facing Orochimaru left little room for words. Sakura raised her hand and unleashed her summoning jutsu without hesitation.
In an instant, the towering form of the Monkey King Enma materialized.
"Hmph."
Orochimaru, now facing both Sakura and the monkey, gritted his teeth, debating whether to use the Impure World Reincarnation.
But the technique was still imperfect, and he'd already used it once before. His opponents wouldn't give him the time to insert the talismans into the reincarnated bodies.
Without those talismans, it could end up like last time. Though they'd all be fighting the same enemy, the First Hokage's summoned Rashomon gates might deliberately block the Second Hokage's water jutsu, buying the enemy precious time to counterattack.
With himself, the Raikage, and the First and Second Hokages all facing the same foe, the interference of the reincarnated shinobi could cause significant trouble for his side.
That wouldn't be summoning allies to bolster his strength—it'd be inviting disaster!
Summoning Jutsu: Manda!
In the end, Orochimaru decided against the Impure World Reincarnation.
Boom!
A massive cloud of white smoke erupted across the battlefield!
A colossal, winding purple body slithered into view!
"Orochimaru, summoning me this time is gonna cost you a hundred—"
Monkey King Enma: Adamantine Nyoi Rod!
Bang!
Before Manda could finish its arrogant spiel, a thick, elongated staff came crashing down on its head!
Boom!
Under the combined force of Sakura's monstrous strength and the Nyoi Rod, Manda's head was smashed into the ground with a single blow!
From a distance, Jiraiya—hands clasped together, mid-summoning of the Toad Sages—watched the scene unfold, cold sweat trickling down his brow.
That was Sakura's style, alright…
Her strength might even surpass Tsunade's.
Manda, reeling from the blow to its head, nearly rolled its eyes back!
"Who?!"
"Which bastard ambushed me?!"
Manda struggled to its feet, shaking its head as it searched for the culprit.
Then it spotted the pink figure wielding the Nyoi Rod.
Recognizing that familiar black staff, Manda instinctively wanted to turn tail and flee.
But when it realized the one holding it wasn't that familiar old man, its confidence surged back.
"Damn little girl, I'll swallow you whole!"
Without needing Orochimaru's command—especially after Sakura had smashed it mid-sentence—Manda lunged at her with vicious intent!
Its massive body crushed the ground beneath it, closing the distance in mere moments!
Sakura stared coldly at the monstrous beast before her, leaping straight toward its gaping maw without hesitation!
The Nyoi Rod whirled in her hands with ferocious momentum. Before she even entered striking range, she raised the staff high!
In that instant, the Nyoi Rod extended to dozens of meters!
"Dead snake!"
"Unless you want to end up as snake stew, slither back where you came from!"
With a fierce shout, she brought the iron staff down on Manda's head once more!
Its enormous size made aiming unnecessary—any wild swing would hit the mark.
Boom!
Manda, still mid-boast, was smashed back into the ground!
Dust billowed into the air, the impact reverberating through the battlefield!
Even with its massive frame, Manda couldn't withstand two consecutive blows to the head from Sakura's strength-enhanced Nyoi Rod.
Orochimaru glanced at Jiraiya in the distance, then charged forward with his sword without a second thought!
Seeing Orochimaru coming for him, Jiraiya didn't hesitate—hands still clasped, he turned and bolted.
Sakura, having just floored Manda with a single strike, saw this and didn't think twice. She abandoned Manda and charged straight at Orochimaru!
"Orochimaru!"
"We've still got a score to settle!"
Her body transformed into a streak of cherry-blossom light as she barreled toward him!
What Sakura meant was how Orochimaru had sold her intel to the Hidden Cloud. That betrayal had forced her into a head-on clash with the Raikage last time, when she'd hoped to catch him off guard with an information advantage.
That incident had sparked a chain of events.
Though she'd made it through unscathed, this debt wasn't something she'd let slide!
"Hmph, damn it."
Seeing the pink-haired fury charging at him, Orochimaru had no choice but to turn and face her.
His sword clashed against the Nyoi Rod, but he couldn't hold his ground. With one swing, he was sent flying!
Sakura's strength was already on par with Tsunade's, and after suppressing Inner Sakura, there was no way Orochimaru could withstand her power.
"Sakura, that kinda hurts…"
A faintly resentful voice came from the Nyoi Rod in her hands.
Glancing at the white scratch left by the Kusanagi Blade, Sakura apologized sheepishly:
"Sorry, Lord Enma."
"It's a special situation—bear with it for now. Next time, I'll ask Sasuke to take you to the ninja cat clan's granny for some maintenance at her tool shop."
Right now, the battlefield left no room to fuss over Enma.
"…"
Enma was speechless. Sure, he could transform into the Nyoi Rod, but that didn't mean he was just some ninja tool.
Still, it was a battlefield, so he let the complaint slide with a grumble.
Sakura, swift as a comet, charged toward the airborne Orochimaru!
But as fast as Sakura was, someone outpaced her.
A bolt of fierce lightning streaked from the distance, closing in on Sakura at breakneck speed!
Raikage's Hell Stab!
A man's wild roar echoed across the field, his body crackling with lightning pushed to its limit as he barreled toward Sakura!
Seeing this, Sakura abandoned Orochimaru. Pink chakra surged around her forearm, coiling into her elbow. Matching his speed, she charged straight at the Raikage!
Compared to a slippery snake like Orochimaru, Sakura preferred facing someone like the Raikage—someone who'd meet her head-on!
Boom!
Their elbows collided!
Lightning raged, pink flames danced wildly!
"Die!"
The Raikage roared with primal fury, like an ancient beast!
But no matter how fiercely he raged or how much power he poured in, the harsh reality remained: he only held the edge in speed. Against the current Sakura, he was outmatched.
Thanks to the Yin Seal, even if he landed a hit, her Strength of a Hundred Seal would kick in, restoring her to full strength.
Sakura could afford countless mistakes. The Raikage couldn't afford even one!
"Heh, you're hurt, aren't you…"
Sakura tilted her head slightly, her sharp emerald eyes locking onto the man before her.
As a skilled medical ninja, she'd sensed his condition the moment they clashed.
He might try to hide it, forcing himself to mask any weakness, but nothing could slip past Sakura!
"Your attacks… they're softer than before…"
"Honestly, right now, you're weak!"
A flash of killing intent flickered in her emerald eyes, sending a chill down the Raikage's spine!
Heavenly Guard Kick!
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