Naruto: Kurotsuchi Mayuri

"That technique!"

Tsunade didn't even bother checking whether Orochimaru was dead or alive. In his Hogyoku Mode, his vitality surpassed even a cockroach's—nearly on par with her own full-power mode.

She was just curious about the jutsu Jiraiya had just used. As far as she knew, he shouldn't have a technique that powerful and nearly instant with no hand seals.

"That's a really impressive jutsu."

Orochimaru slithered out of the mutilated substitute body, his eyes full of appreciation for the technique.

"You think so too? Hahahaha! That jutsu was created by Minato. After fighting against A from the Hidden Cloud, he realized he lacked a powerful offensive technique. That's when he decided to develop a unique jutsu of his own."

"This is a technique he only recently managed to perfect. He taught it to me."

Jiraiya stood with his hands on his hips, laughing heartily.

"Indeed, it's quite impressive," Orochimaru nodded in approval.

"How about we end the sparring here?" Jiraiya asked tentatively.

Fighting someone who never counterattacks, even when he went all out, felt a bit boring.

The two Toad Sages he summoned seemed a little uninterested too.

"Getting bored already? But we can't let a fight end halfway like this. Since you're getting impatient, how about a little appetizer first?"

Orochimaru had noticed Jiraiya's fighting spirit fading fast. He thought about it—he hadn't gathered enough information yet, but just for a demonstration, this should be enough.

Sage Art: Soul Engraving Clone Technique!

Orochimaru pressed his hands together.

The snake skin he had shed earlier at his feet began to rapidly reform under the influence of the Hōgyoku's power within him.

In the stunned eyes of Jiraiya and the two toad sages, it transformed into a perfect replica of Jiraiya.

"What the...?"

Staring at the clone with the same eye makeup and distinctive big nose, both Jiraiya and the two sages on his shoulders looked confused and slightly alarmed.

"Dear, why do I feel familiar sage energy coming from that little Jiraiya over there?"

"Honey, I feel it too!" Shima agreed with Fukasaku. The boredom they felt earlier vanished in an instant.

Even Jiraiya found his interest reigniting.

"Well, it's not a perfect replica. This is about the limit of what I can do for now.

Now then—shall we begin Round Two?"

Orochimaru's expression was somewhat dissatisfied. If he could gather more information with his body and the Senjutsu energy from the opponent, the replica of Jiraiya should have had a higher limit.

But now?

He could only say it was barely usable. After all, Jiraiya hadn't used all of his strength earlier, which led to the imperfection of the replica.

He had to quickly create his own spiritual tool!

Only then could his Hogyoku Mode progress to the next stage, and the power brought by the Hogyoku would evolve to another level.

At that time, when he activated the Senjutsu technique, "Soul Engraving Clone Technique," he might not need to go through all the trouble like now.

He wouldn't have to take a beating beforehand or use his own flesh and blood substitute to record information and data.

This was all part of the Senjutsu technique.

In addition to the power of the Hogyoku, it was also deeply connected to his understanding of chakra, natural energy, ninjutsu, and the ninja body.

His role was that of a central control brain, using the power of the Hogyoku to materialize the knowledge and data from his mind.

He had already accumulated ideas and inspiration for creating his own Hogyoku.

Both Jiraiyas made their moves at the same time.

The two figures moved so fast that the naked eye couldn't keep up, colliding with each other. The air was filled with the sound of punches and bodies crashing together.

After a series of explosive noises like popping beans, the two blurry figures suddenly appeared from the air, each using one hand to push against the ground, sliding in opposite directions.

But in the next moment, the two figures rushed toward each other again.

Senjutsu: Super Giant Rasengan!

Senjutsu: Super Giant Rasengan!

The two massive chakra spheres collided, and both Jiraiyas showed similar expressions of strain on their faces.

The two huge spheres kept pressing and grinding against each other.

Eventually, they couldn't hold on, and their stable rotations broke down, creating two opposing shockwaves that sent both Jiraiyas flying.

"This is a bit tricky! Does using a technique mean it can be replicated? Orochimaru really brought out some incredible power!"

Jiraiya, covered in dirt, stood up from the ground, brushing himself off as he marveled.

"That state looks a bit like the Sage Technique from the Ryūchi Cave." Fukasaku Sage seemed to recall something, furrowing his brow, uncertain.

"It definitely has the characteristics of Ryūchi Cave's power! Those snakes have a unique connection between flesh, mind, and the natural energy.

This state does resemble a Sage Technique from the Ryūchi Cave in my memory, but the nature and condition are different. Did Orochimaru modify it? Or perhaps..."

Shima Sage nodded in agreement.

The relationship between the three great Sage Lands was delicate.

The Great Toad Sage was isolated, adopting a Buddhist approach of not interfering with anything.

Meanwhile, the two sages from Mount Myoboku and Ryūchi Cave had once had their share of disagreements.

Because of this, they were familiar with each other's Sage Techniques and energy properties.

The younger generation might still be a bit clueless, but Fukasaku and Shima had lived for hundreds, even thousands of years, making them the oldest members of Mount Myoboku, aside from the Great Toad Sage.

Living long lives meant they had seen and experienced a lot—truly well-versed in many things.

"Since that's the case, let's use a technique that requires both the boss and big sis to cooperate, and one we haven't used before. We'll finish off the opponent in one go!" Jiraiya suggested.

Fukasaku and Shima nodded in unison, knowing which technique Jiraiya intended to use.

Under Tsunade and Orochimaru's watch, the two sages and Jiraiya simultaneously formed hand signs, puffing up their chests and cheeks.

Wind, oil, and fire erupted from their mouths.

Fukasaku controlled the wind, Shima breathed out fire, and Jiraiya, positioned in the middle, spat out oil.

The three elements combined, creating a blazing torrent of heat, like molten lava, charging forward with overwhelming force.

The range and speed were so vast that the replicated Jiraiya had no time or space to dodge.

In the next instant, the replicated Jiraiya was engulfed by the swirling, burning oil and disappeared from the sight of everyone.

****

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