"Sage Art: Demonic Illusion: Toad Confrontation Chant"—Fuma had always known this was an incredibly powerful jutsu. In the lore, it was even said to rival Kotoamatsukami as one of the strongest genjutsu.
In the original timeline, this technique cleanly and efficiently took down three of the Six Paths of Pain, showing far greater effectiveness than even the "Sage Art: Rasenshuriken."
For Fuma, who was currently focused on strengthening his mental resilience to better control his rampaging cells, this jutsu was the perfect test.
At the same time, natural energy—something separate from the chakra system—had become a key focus in Fuma's path of cultivation through devouring.
Jiraiya happened to master both these powers, making him the perfect target for Fuma to experience natural energy and test his spiritual strength.
Sage Mode, the state that fuses chakra with natural energy, was incredibly rare even across the thousand-year history of the ninja world.
Apart from those with Ten-Tails characteristics who could absorb natural energy directly, only Hashirama, Naruto, Jiraiya, and Kabuto had mastered it.
Even Tsunade and Orochimaru, despite being connected to the Three Great Sage Lands, had never managed to step through that door.
Orochimaru eventually used Jugo's body fluids and his own soul to create the Cursed Seal, but it was a pale imitation of the true Mount Myoboku inheritance Jiraiya had gained.
"Instant activation, immense strength, and such a large reserve of senjutsu chakra... Jiraiya, it seems like Mount Myoboku has been treating you quite well."
Jiraiya's attack had genuinely surprised Fuma.
In the original timeline, "Demonic Illusion: Toad Confrontation Chant" required preparation time—it wasn't an instant-cast technique.
But the version Jiraiya and the two Toad Sages had just released was far more powerful and far faster than Fuma remembered.
Clearly, Jiraiya's current strength hadn't surpassed his future self who had traveled the ninja world.
That meant the change could only be due to Mount Myoboku!
Fuma's massive arm tensed as he gripped Mount Myoboku's stone sword and crushed it into dust.
As the sword disintegrated into powder, the ancient genjutsu space shattered violently!
Was the technique strong? Yes, incredibly so.
By combining immense chakra with natural energy and channeling it through the sacred chant of the Toad Sages, it even had the power to distort space itself—truly capable of rivaling Kotoamatsukami.
In terms of genjutsu potency, this technique was powerful enough to forcibly drag Fuma into its illusion and restrain his movements.
But its ability to truly incapacitate was lacking.
With [Inseparable Union] guarding him, Fuma's mind and spirit were as tough as his physical body—far more resilient than any ordinary person.
Although [Inseparable Union] conversion power had nearly reached its limit due to Fuma's rapid physical growth, Mount Myoboku's stone sword simply wasn't enough to breach his defenses.
More importantly, Fuma had partially absorbed Indra's chakra, awakening the Sharingan and gaining formidable resistance to genjutsu.
"Jiraiya… I'm glad to see how much you've grown. But after today, I doubt we'll ever fight again…"
Freed from the illusion, Jiraiya collapsed, both arms completely shattered.
The two Toad Sages were equally exhausted, having pushed themselves to their limit to unleash a fast-cast version of the Toad Chant.
"Sage Art: Hair Needle Senbon!"*l
Seeing the murderous intent in Fuma's eyes, Jiraiya desperately whipped his long white hair forward.
Countless strands of hair, hardened like steel and charged with senjutsu chakra, shot toward Fuma.
"…"
Fuma stood silently as the deadly needles struck his skin with a sharp clinking sound.
*CRACK!*
Fuma's hand shot out like a vice, seizing Jiraiya's throat. His claw-like fingers dug in, tearing open Jiraiya's abdomen as easily as ripping open a plastic bag.
Crimson blood sprayed across the ground, and Jiraiya's internal organs spilled out into the open air, releasing a pungent metallic scent.
"AAAAHHHHH!!"
Even Jiraiya's legendary resilience couldn't withstand the blinding pain, and he screamed in agony.
"Mind your composure… You're supposed to be Mount Myoboku's honored sage, remember?"
Fuma's gaze was icy.
The moment Jiraiya had driven that stone sword toward his heart, any past friendship over drinks had been erased.
The sickening crunch of breaking bones echoed as Fuma's hand pressed down harder. Vertebrae, shoulders, ribs, and femurs—Fuma crushed Jiraiya's skeleton with brutal precision.
Dark red threads erupted from Fuma's fingertips, invading Jiraiya's body and ravaging his chakra network.
In the shinobi world, the chakra network was real—a system that governed the flow of chakra. If destroyed, it was equivalent to severing a person's foundation.
The black threads gnawed through Jiraiya's chakra network, effectively ending his life as a ninja.
"Shhh!!"
Two thick, wart-covered tongues coated in corrosive acid shot toward Fuma's arm.
Fukasaku and Shima, the two Toad Sages, had finally intervened.
But with a casual flex of his arm, Fuma broke free of their grip. His hands latched onto the toads' heads and slammed them together.
*BOOM!* *SPLAT!*
Their skulls burst under the pressure.
Milky white brain matter and dark red blood splattered across Jiraiya's face.
The two ancient toads, who had lived for over 800 years, were dead—crushed like insects.
"You… bastard…"
Through the agony, Jiraiya forced himself to speak.
Fuma's cold expression shifted slightly.
He nodded, as though acknowledging Jiraiya's insult. With a flick of his finger, Fuma shot a tiny pressure bullet through Jiraiya's vocal cords.
Jiraiya's eyes widened in agony as his voice reduced to a strained rasp. The sheer brutality of the scene left everyone frozen.
"Asuma… Kakashi… What did we just witness?"
Asuma collapsed to his knees, hands over his head, trembling uncontrollably. Kakashi took an unconscious step back, his face pale beneath his mask.
Fuma's gaze lingered on Jiraiya's crumpled form before turning toward Minato. He mouthed two words: "Mount Myoboku."
Minato narrowed his eyes, sensing the Flying Thunder God mark on Gamabunta. But after a moment, he shook his head.
'As expected… the coordinates of the Sage Lands aren't so easily discovered.'
For Fuma, the hostility from the Toad Sages was infuriating. Even Danzo and the elders, despite their political games, hadn't aroused this kind of anger in him.
But Mount Myoboku—protected under the legacy of the Sage of Six Paths—had crossed the line.
"I don't understand… Why would Mount Myoboku, of all places, challenge me?"
Blood and black smoke coiled around Fuma's hands as he reached into Jiraiya's body, crushing his organs.
"What… what's happening here?"
Hiruzen finally arrived, his face twisted in shock at the sight of Jiraiya's broken body.
"Fuma… What have you done?"
Fuma's gaze sharpened.
"This was Mount Myoboku's doing. If you want an explanation, ask the toads."
Sarutobi trembled in silence.
"Good luck with his recovery."
Fuma turned and gestured toward Minato, signaling their departure.
Watching Fuma's retreating figure, Sarutobi's heart sank, 'Fuma… has already reached a level beyond our control…'
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