"Can we still reach a settlement?"
Jiraiya asked with a forced smile.
Everyone held their breath. Even the international students watching the battle from afar now stood with their mouths wide open, staring in a daze at the white-haired middle-aged man who had crawled out from the ruins.
Facing that god-like Perfect Susanoo, facing Madara Uchiha whose mere chakra pressure caused the world to change color...
You're actually asking if a settlement is possible?
Is this truly one of the legendary Sannin?
This man's thick skin was probably thicker than the mecha's armor!
High in the air.
From the forehead of that sky-blotting blue giant, Madara Uchiha stood with his arms crossed, looking down at Jiraiya like he was an ant.
His face twitched slightly.
Being blindsided by that iron hunk earlier and nearly capsizing in a small pond had already been an immense humiliation for the proud Madara.
And now this fellow dared to mock him with such a grinning, playful attitude?
"A settlement?"
Madara's voice was as cold as ten-thousand-year-old ice. "Are you trying to insult me, brat?"
Boom!
As Madara's emotions fluctuated, the Perfect Susanoo violently drew the chakra blade from its waist.
The moment the long blade was unsheathed, the terrifying wind pressure swept up debris from the ground, forming a small sandstorm.
That sword was too enormous; the blade alone was several hundred meters long. It felt as though a single swing could cleave the entirety of Konoha in two.
*Gulp.*
In the distant shelter, Kankuro swallowed hard, his legs trembling uncontrollably. "Is this... is this the power of Madara Uchiha? Can humans really defeat a monster like that?"
The gap was simply too vast.
This wasn't even a battle on the same dimension.
In the center of the battlefield.
Jiraiya looked at the giant sword hanging over his head, and fine beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
"Hey, hey, hey, it was just a joke. There's no need for such a massive display, is there?"
Although Jiraiya was still joking around, he was inwardly cursing.
Damn it!
The Perfect Susanoo was nothing but a cheap turtle shell!
Unit 0's full-power strike didn't even leave a mark. Now that the mecha is scrapped, it's impossible to break through this level of defense with just Sage Mode and ordinary ninjutsu.
What should I do?
Should I use that portion of Six Paths power?
No, that's way too precious!
Escape?
No, Konoha is right behind me. Although Minato is nearby, he has to maintain the barrier and guard against Madara's Limbo. If I retreat and Madara swings that blade, at least half of Konoha will be gone.
I have to find a way to make him deactivate that turtle shell!
Jiraiya's mind whirred at high speed as his gaze swept across Madara's arrogant face.
Suddenly, he seemed to think of something, and a faint, imperceptible smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Ahem!"
Jiraiya cleared his throat and suddenly dropped his playful demeanor.
He tossed his messy white hair back, placed his hands on his hips, and struck a flamboyant pose, his wooden clogs stepping heavily onto the mecha's wreckage.
"Since you're unwilling to settle this, then I have no choice!"
Jiraiya focused his breath and roared, "The mecha might be broken, but yours truly is the Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku! Since technology didn't work, I'll let you witness the terror of Sage Arts!"
"From now on, I'm getting serious!"
Hearing this, a flash of contempt crossed Madara's eyes.
"Sage Arts?"
Madara sneered. "The same kind of technique that blonde brat used, relying on natural energy? It's somewhat interesting, but before these eyes, it's still not enough."
In his later years, he had studied the power of Sage Arts, but he had abandoned further research for the sake of the power of All Creation.
Because Sage Chakra wasn't anything special; it could be easily tamed.
Madara knew well that Hashirama was not powerful solely because of Sage Arts.
Therefore, in his view, the Jiraiya who had lost the protection of his mecha was nothing more than a slightly stronger ant.
"Not enough?"
Jiraiya's eyes widened as he pointed at Madara with an exaggerated expression. "Ha! You wouldn't happen to be afraid, would you?"
"What did you say?" Madara's gaze sharpened.
"You must be hiding inside that blue turtle shell because you're afraid of my Sage Art!"
Jiraiya shouted with absolute certainty, "Makes sense. After all, you're an old man now. Your bones are probably brittle, so it's normal to be afraid of a youngster breaking them. I understand, I understand. I'll stop here so I don't bully the elderly."
As he spoke, Jiraiya actually patted the dust off his hands, wearing an expression that said 'consider yourself lucky' as he turned to leave.
Normally, Madara would have seen through this series of provocations in an instant.
But things were different now.
Who was he?
He was Madara Uchiha! The Ghost of the Uchiha!
He had just been resurrected and toyed with by a bunch of juniors using underhanded methods, and now he was being called a 'coward hiding in a shell' to his face?
How could he endure this?!
"Did I say you could leave?"
Madara's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a bone-chilling killing intent.
Jiraiya stopped in his tracks and turned around with an innocent look. "What's wrong? Does the elder have more instructions? Do you want me to recommend some calcium supplements?"
Veins pulsed on Madara's forehead.
He took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the urge to slash this bastard to death.
As a powerhouse standing at the peak of the shinobi world, he had his pride.
If he truly used the Perfect Susanoo to kill this clown today, what would happen to his reputation?
People would say that after Madara Uchiha was resurrected, he had to rely on Susanoo just to win against a junior who didn't even possess a Bloodline Limit.
Such a stain must never be allowed to exist!
"You say... I fear your Sage Art?"
Madara spoke slowly, a dangerous light gleaming in his Rinnegan.
"Isn't it obvious?" Jiraiya shrugged. "If you've got the guts, then come out. Let me try hitting you once with my Sage Art? I bet you don't dare!"
"Heh..."
Madara suddenly laughed.
It was a laugh born of sheer irritation.
"Fine. Very well."
Madara looked at Jiraiya as if he were a clown who didn't know the meaning of death. "Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish."
"I will stand right here and take one of your moves."
"If your Sage Art can make me take even half a step back, I will acknowledge that you have the right to dance before me."
Before the words had even faded...
*Hum—*
That sky-blotting blue giant actually began to dissipate.
The chakra turned into specks of blue light and vanished into the air.
Madara slowly descended from the air and landed on the ground.
He had deactivated the Susanoo!
"Heavens! He really deactivated it!"
The Anbu ninjas in the distance cried out in shock. "Lord Jiraiya... actually managed to talk Madara out of it with 'Talk no Jutsu'?"
"No, that's arrogance."
Minato stood on a tree branch, a sharp light flashing in his eyes as he watched. "Madara is too confident. He believes that in this world, no one besides the First Hokage can harm his physical body."
"Especially since... he now possesses the Preta Path ability of the Rinnegan, allowing him to absorb all ninjutsu."
Minato looked at Jiraiya, feeling a secret sense of admiration. 'As expected of Sensei, to be able to accurately grasp the weakness in Madara's personality at a time like this.'
On the battlefield.
Seeing that Madara had truly deactivated the Susanoo, Jiraiya's heart thudded twice.
The gamble paid off!
This old guy really is as obsessed with his reputation as ever!
"Hehe, you're the one who said it!"
A trace of panic appeared on Jiraiya's face, as if he were intimidated by Madara's aura, but he was inwardly overjoyed.
"Come."
Madara stood with his hands behind his back, not even bothering to take a defensive stance as he looked at Jiraiya indifferently. "Let me show you that even Sage Arts are useless against me."
He had the right to be confident.
He had absorbed the opponent's Sage Art once before and quickly suppressed it.
Doing it again?
It would do nothing but add more despair to the opponent's face!
What kind of waves could a mere Toad Sage cause?
What adult would truly get worked up over a child's antics?
In Madara's view, Jiraiya's provocation earlier was nothing more than the incompetent rage of a weakling before death.
"Fine! Then make sure you stand firm!"
Jiraiya took a deep breath and slammed his hands together.
*Clap!*
Following his movement, the red paint on his face instantly became vivid, his eye markings elongated, and his pupils transformed into the horizontal slits of a toad.
Mount Myoboku Sage Mode, full power!
Jiraiya's thoughts raced.
Madara will definitely be able to absorb ordinary Sage Arts with the Preta Path.
I have to use that!
Jiraiya's gaze subtly drifted toward Minato in the distance... or more accurately, toward the purple toad perched on Minato's shoulder.
Gamakon.
The fellow who called himself the 'Sage Sovereign.'
Even though Gamakon spent all day hanging around Minato now, looking every bit like the 'Hokage's personal accessory.'
But don't forget!
The one who signed his name on the Summoning Scroll back then was Jiraiya!
Gamakon was his summoned beast!
There was a soul contract connecting them!
"Hehehe..."
Jiraiya laughed inwardly.
Madara, oh Madara, do you think I'm going to use ordinary natural energy?
Wrong!
Dead wrong!
What I'm going to use is Gamakon's unique energy—the Demon Qi that even Orochimaru couldn't analyze!
'Gamakon! Lend me some strength!'
Jiraiya called out frantically in his mind.
In the distance, Gamakon, who was perched on Minato's shoulder watching the show, suddenly rolled his eyes.
'This old pervert finally remembers this Sage Sovereign when things get tough.'
Although he grumbled, Gamakon didn't refuse.
He was also quite annoyed by the way Madara was acting so superior.
*Hum!*
A surge of purple energy, filled with a violent and cold aura, instantly flooded into Jiraiya through the summoning contract's channel.
This energy was completely different from natural energy.
It was overbearing, frenzied, and full of aggression.
If Jiraiya hadn't undergone that half-month of 'hellish training' and significantly improved his physical constitution, the mere entry of this energy would have probably caused him to explode.
"Ooooooh! It's here!"
Feeling the surging power within him, Jiraiya couldn't help but let out a roar of satisfaction.
The white Sage Art chakra cloak on his body was instantly stained with an eerie purple hue.
The surrounding temperature plummeted.
The gravel on the ground began to tremble as if in fear.
"Hmm?"
Madara's indifferent expression finally shifted.
He keenly sensed that something was wrong.
This aura... it wasn't Sage Art!
That hair-raising sensation felt like being targeted by some ancient, ferocious beast.
"What power is this?"
Madara's Rinnegan stared fixedly at Jiraiya.
Before he could figure it out, Jiraiya moved.
"Take this, Madara Uchiha!"
Jiraiya threw his mouth open wide, and a brilliant purple light surged deep within his throat.
"Sage Art: Demon-Style: Purgatory Peerless Explosive Wave Cannon!"
Boom!
What erupted was a purple-black torrent!
That torrent was like physical magma, carrying a terrifying aura that could corrode anything. It instantly crossed dozens of meters to reach Madara.
"Hmph, just parlor tricks."
Although Madara sensed danger, his long-standing confidence kept him from choosing to dodge.
"Preta Path: Blocking Technique Absorption Seal!"
Madara extended his right hand, pointing his palm toward the purple-black torrent.
In his view, since he had already suppressed natural energy, no matter what kind of chakra it was, as long as it was energy, the Preta Path could absorb it!
However.
The next second.
*Sizzle—!!!*
The moment the purple-black torrent touched Madara's palm, it didn't dissipate as expected.
Instead, it emitted a piercing screech like strong acid corroding metal!
"What?!"
Madara's pupils shrank violently.
*Pain!*
An excruciating pain radiated from his palm!
The energy was actually resisting absorption!
Not only that, it was frantically eroding his meridians and spreading along his arm toward his entire body!
"This isn't chakra!!"
Madara finally realized.
This wasn't an energy system from the shinobi world at all!
The Preta Path's absorption mechanism was built on the foundation of 'chakra.'
But this purple energy was of an extremely high level and filled with a chaotic will; it couldn't be converted!
"Get away!"
Madara roared, wanting to pull his arm back.
But the purple torrent was like maggots on a bone, clinging tightly to his hand.
*Rumble!*
A massive explosion rang out.
Madara's figure was instantly swallowed by the purple-black light.
The terrifying shockwave swept across the surroundings, carving a bottomless pit into the ground.
Dust billowed.
Total silence fell over the area.
Everyone's eyes went wide as they watched in disbelief.
Madara Uchiha... was hit?
And it was a direct hit?
*Huff... huff...*
Jiraiya panted heavily, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
That single move had nearly drained him dry.
But as he looked at the massive pit, a triumphant grin spread across his face.
"Hehe, how about that?"
Jiraiya straightened his back, feeling incredibly pleased with himself.
No matter how strong you are, Madara Uchiha.
Before my summoned beast's Demon Qi, you're nothing but a joke!
More importantly...
Jiraiya peeked at Minato in the distance and hummed inwardly.
'See that? Gamakon still favors me when it counts!'
'Even though he perches on Minato's shoulder all day acting like they're close...'
'At the end of the day, he's my summoned beast!'
'We're the true best partners!'
At that thought, Jiraiya couldn't resist the urge to place his hands on his hips and laugh.
This move hadn't just slapped Madara's face; it had also conveniently asserted his 'ownership' over Gamakon.
Refreshing! Truly refreshing!
However, just as Jiraiya was soaking in the joy of victory...
The dust slowly dispersed.
A slightly battered but still upright figure slowly emerged from the pit.
Madara's right arm had turned scorched and black, and even his white bones were visible.
But the expression on his face was even more terrifying than before.
It was pure, unadulterated... killing intent.
"Good."
Madara looked at his crippled right arm, then raised his head, his Rinnegan burning like the fires of hell.
"Very good."
"To actually wound Madara Uchiha's physical body."
"As your reward..."
The chakra on Madara's body erupted once more, and the Susanoo began to manifest again.