Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand, throwing a shuriken, and quickly formed hand signs.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
One shuriken instantly transformed into countless Shadow Clones, attacking the Hidden Mist ANBU Ninja and his water clone from all directions.
"Fire Release: Great Flame Technique!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's movements didn't stop. He formed hand signs again, spewing violent flames from his mouth. The flames rapidly spread, engulfing the Hidden Mist ANBU Ninja and his water clone!
Sizzle—!
The seawater was evaporated by the flames, making a boiling sound. Water vapor spread in all directions, and the rising seawater condensed into a human form, creating the Hidden Mist Ninja's water clone.
"What powerful Fire Release! However, this is the vast ocean; water is inexhaustible here! This is my main battlefield!"
The Hidden Mist ANBU Ninja let out a mocking laugh.
Is the original body not among them?
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to the Hidden Mist ANBU Ninja's mocking words, reached into his Ninja tool pouch, hooked out a Kunai with his finger, and looked at his disciples who were dealing with the pirates, not rushing to act.
Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique and Fire Release: Great Flame Technique... Orochimaru noted how Hiruzen Sarutobi formed the hand signs and how he used them. After this mission, she would try to master these two Ninjutsu.
"Lightning Release: Earth Run!"
Orochimaru formed hand signs, Lightning Release Chakra wrapped around her hands, and she struck a pirate's chest with one palm. A strong current instantly spread throughout the pirate's body. She bent down, placed her hand on the ground, and the spreading lightning was conducted through the seawater on the deck to another pirate's body.
The pirate trembled violently, his hair stood on end, smoking, and he collapsed.
Indeed, as I thought, Lightning Release: Earth Run has great limitations, but it taught me the nature transformation of Lightning Release Chakra. With my control over Chakra, I can keep the lightning generated by Lightning Release: Earth Run wrapped around my palm without releasing it.
Orochimaru looked at the pirate lying on the ground, still twitching. A satisfied curve appeared on her lips, and she threw two Kunai, piercing the pirate's heart.
Even if I don't kill these pirates, the Land of Tea fishermen won't let them go. It's better for them to die by my hand.
Orochimaru's Shadow Clone had a cold expression, holding a Kunai, and swiftly killed pirate after pirate.
Blood stained the seawater, spreading outwards with the flow of the water.
Orochimaru snatched the katana from a pirate's hand, infused Lightning Release Chakra into it, cut off the weapons in the pirates' hands, splitting them in half, and then threw the katana, piercing the chest of a pirate trying to escape, pinning him to the mast.
Bang—!
Tsunade punched a pirate down, the hard wooden deck cracked from the pirate's head hitting it. From the corner of her eye, she saw a sharp glint, dodged a Kunai shot at her, and took out a Kunai from her Ninja tool pouch to block the attack.
"That symbol..."
Tsunade looked at the symbol on the Hidden Mist Anbu mask, "You are a Hidden Mist Ninja. What are your intentions?!"
"I don't want to waste words with dead people!"
The Hidden Mist ANBU Ninja kicked Tsunade away, and his figure vanished from the spot.
The sound of waves rose; the once calm seawater became turbulent, stirring up monstrous waves, engulfing fishing boats and dragging them into the sea.
A Genjutsu activated by sound?
Hiruzen Sarutobi realized he was under Genjutsu and instantly dispelled it. He swung his Kunai, slashing a wound across the Hidden Mist ANBU Ninja's chest, from which water streamed out.
Hiruzen Sarutobi dodged an attack from behind, took out another Kunai from his Ninja tool pouch, and wielded the Kunai so fast that afterimages appeared, instantly dealing with the surrounding water clones. Looking at the seawater below his feet, a hint of understanding flashed in his eyes.
So that's how it is.
"Is this a Genjutsu?!"
Jiraiya realized he was under Genjutsu, clasped his hands together to disrupt his Chakra, and dispelled the Genjutsu. He saw the fishermen clutching their throats in pain and struggling, knowing they were also under Genjutsu, and quickly went to dispel it for them.
Although Jiraiya had no talent in Genjutsu, he was quite skilled at dispelling it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed Jiraiya's actions, a smile flashed in his eyes, happy for Jiraiya's growth.
Orochimaru and Tsunade, though a little slower than Jiraiya, also dispelled the Genjutsu.
"The Genjutsu has been dispelled? Then, Summoning Technique!"
Seeing his Genjutsu broken, the Hidden Mist ANBU Ninja who cast it bit his thumb, smeared blood on his palm, quickly formed hand signs, and slapped his hand on the sea surface, summoning several sharks, several meters long. Their sharp teeth gleamed coldly in the sunlight. Enveloped by seawater, they burst from the sea, attacking the fishermen and Sarutobi Squad on the fishing boat's deck.
The fishermen screamed in terror, looking at the sharks with their gaping maws.
"Summoning Technique, huh? Let me show you Lord Jiraiya's Summoning Technique!"
Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Teacher Sarutobi, let me show you the results of my training during this time!
Jiraiya bit his thumb, smeared blood on his palm. Thinking of immediately showing off the results of his training, his hand sign speed increased by a few points.
"Watch closely!"
Jiraiya jumped from the fishing boat, slapping his hand on the sea surface.
Bang—!
The smoke cleared, and a red toad with a scar over its left eye appeared.
"This is... the ocean?!"
Gamabunta, as soon as he appeared, felt his whole body itching terribly and couldn't help but scratch his back.
"Gamabunta, this time we will fight side by side!"
Jiraiya stood on Bunta's back, saying with a smile, and looked at Tsunade and Orochimaru, showing off.
Just as he was feeling smug, Bunta's tongue wrapped around his waist, throwing him into the air.
"Jiraiya! I am a freshwater creature, and you summoned me to the ocean!"
Gamabunta roared in rage. His whole body itched so much he wanted to beat Jiraiya up. Summoning him to this godforsaken place, just throwing him into the air was already giving him a lot of face.
Jiraiya fell headfirst into the sea, half his body submerged with his butt sticking up. He pressed his hands on the sea surface, stood up, a smile of embarrassment mixed with a hint of flattery, and said, "Don't say that! At a time like this, you need to show your perseverance, Bunta! We are brothers who've faced death together!"
"Unable to even command his own summoned beast, is this the level of Konoha's next generation?"
The Hidden Mist ANBU Ninja mocked, ordering the sharks to attack Jiraiya and Gamabunta.
"What?!"
Gamabunta frowned and narrowed his eyes, "Jiraiya, I'll show you the righteousness of Gamabunta of Mount Myōboku!"
Gamabunta leaped, kicked two sharks away, clapped his hands, sending two more sharks flying. Before landing, his tongue lashed out, wrapping around one shark, swinging it to smash into another shark.
"Jiraiya, use Toad Oil Flame Bullet."
Gamabunta looked at the surrounding sharks and said to Jiraiya.
"Understood!"
Jiraiya jumped onto Gamabunta's back. Gamabunta crouched slightly, gathering strength, then leaped high into the sky, spitting toad oil from his mouth. Jiraiya then spat flames from his mouth, igniting the toad oil.
"Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"
The scorching Toad Oil Flame Bullet not only evaporated the seawater enveloping the sharks but also landed on the sharks, setting them ablaze. Even when the sharks hid in the sea, the burning toad oil did not extinguish.
The Hidden Mist ANBU Ninja, unable to dodge in time, watched in terror as the surging, fiercely burning toad oil came towards him, letting out a terrified scream as he was engulfed by the Toad Oil Flame Bullet, struggling as he was burned to ashes.
(The Toad Oil Flame Bullet is essentially using fire to ignite the toad oil spat out by Gamabunta. Its power has little to do with the current Jiraiya; he acts as a lighter, similar to Naruto in the original work.)
"Lightning Release: Lightning Strike!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi formed hand signs, placed both hands on the sea surface, and released a powerful lightning from his palms.
Two bolts of lightning attacked in different directions, conducting and spreading through the seawater at an extremely fast speed. In an instant, the entire sea area shimmered with lightning.
It hit.
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his hand, which still had a faint lightning glow.
The Hidden Mist ANBU Ninja, steaming as if electrocuted, floated up from the sea.
Gamabunta, who had landed on the fishing boat, was very glad he hadn't landed on the sea surface; otherwise, he might have been affected by the Lightning Release.
Lightning Release: Lightning Strike... It seems that mastering all the Ninjutsu that Teacher Sarutobi possesses will be a long and arduous journey!
Orochimaru stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi with excitement.
Indeed, it's not a Hidden Mist Ninja... Hiruzen Sarutobi walked up to the Hidden Mist ANBU Ninja, took off his mask, and saw another set of clothes underneath his attire, which turned out to be the Ninja uniform of the Hidden Sand Village in the Land of Wind.
Since the Second Mizukage established the secret law, Hidden Mist Village has been isolated from the outside world for a long time. Even to prevent information leaks, they wouldn't do such a thing, let alone deal with Konoha Ninja in this manner.
Suddenly, Hiruzen Sarutobi heard something burning, and he abruptly pulled open the Sand Ninja's clothes, seeing burning exploding tags.
"Not good!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly retreated, forming hand signs as he did so.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
The seawater surged up, forming a water wall that surrounded the Sand Ninja.
Boom—!
Smoke rose, and the Water Release: Water Formation Wall surrounding the Sand Ninja greatly reduced the impact generated by the exploding tags' explosion.
Another new Ninjutsu!
Orochimaru was incredibly excited.
Are you that fond of Ninjutsu?
Tsunade noticed the expression on Orochimaru's face, and a hint of displeasure flashed in her eyes.
Even in death, he doesn't want the person who killed him to take this information?
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly. If it hadn't been himself and his disciples carrying out this mission, but another team... Thinking of this, a shadow fell over Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart. The hard-won peace hadn't lasted long, and minor conflicts between the great Ninja Villages were constant. He wondered how much longer peace could be maintained.
If possible, he hoped peace could last a little longer.