Zixu chuckled and slowly walked toward Jiraiya. This seemingly ordinary action made Uchiha Sasuke's muscles tense instinctively. He was unsure whether Zixu would suddenly attack.
"Relax," Zixu said with a calm smile. "I genuinely have something serious to discuss. Fifth Hokage, I'm here to negotiate on behalf of the Land of Whirlpools."
"The Land of Whirlpools?" Jiraiya's eyes narrowed slightly. Naturally, he was familiar with the name. After all, Uzumaki Kushina, the wife of his outstanding disciple Minato Namikaze, was from the Uzumaki clan. And now, Uzumaki Naruto, the very boy he was training, was also an Uzumaki. In essence, everything was linked to the Land of Whirlpools.
But why was Zixu negotiating on behalf of a nation that had long been destroyed?
Zixu sighed inwardly, realizing he had no choice but to explain the matter of the country's restoration once again. After hearing Zixu's detailed account, Jiraiya nodded slightly. Although his body remained on alert, he was clearly more relaxed than when they first met.
"You're saying the Cloud Village also accepted your invitation? Even those hot-headed guys agreed? Hmm… there must be something worthwhile there," Jiraiya mused.
Though he didn't outwardly question Zixu's claim of making Kumogakure surrender, he still harbored the urge to test the man's strength. After all, trusting only words was foolish in the shinobi world.
In Jiraiya's eyes, while Zixu's power during their last encounter was comparable to that of a Tailed Beast, he wasn't entirely invincible. Back then, Zixu clearly couldn't maintain his dragon form for long. At best, he was merely at Kage-level strength.
"So, do you agree to the invitation?" Zixu asked, his gaze sharp with curiosity. It felt oddly simple.
"I still need time to think it over," Jiraiya replied, scratching his head with a casual smile. "Naruto will be back soon. While I mull it over, why don't you guys spar for a bit?"
He flashed a carefree grin, but his eyes revealed his true intent—he wanted to test Zixu's power.
"Ha, you just want to gauge my strength, huh?" Zixu saw through Jiraiya's act instantly. "Why not be straightforward and fight me like the Raikage did?"
Jiraiya, unbothered by being exposed, simply laughed heartily and offered no further explanation.
"But it wouldn't be appropriate for me to fight against Naruto and the others," Zixu added, shaking his head slightly. "Rosinante, stop slacking off—you're up."
Zixu glanced at Rosinante, who instantly looked like a student caught napping in class. He feigned a dozen excuses in three seconds but ultimately had no choice but to accept his fate.
"Huh? Me?" Rosinante's face darkened in disbelief, but he knew there was no getting out of it.
"All we have to do is wait for Naruto," Haruno Sakura suddenly interjected, trying to ease the tension. Seeing no immediate conflict between Zixu and Jiraiya, she exhaled in relief.
Despite Zixu's calm demeanor, she could still sense the terrifying chakra within him. It was unlike anything she had ever felt, except from Tsunade.
And just as if summoned by their thoughts, Naruto appeared on the scene right after Jiraiya changed into his casual clothes.
A leaf appeared out of thin air at the center of the clearing. With a puff of white smoke, a figure in a red robe with spiky blonde hair emerged.
Naruto's appearance had drastically changed. Not only had he grown taller, but his features were sharper. His eyes were lined with red markings—proof of his mastery over Sage Mode. The whisker-like marks on his cheeks were darker, and a massive scroll was strapped to his back. Two small toads perched on his shoulders, surveying the surroundings with wise, vigilant eyes.
"I'm back!" Naruto announced, his voice brimming with confidence. His eyes locked onto Sasuke and Sakura. "Sasuke! Sakura! Long time no see!"
Then, with a smug grin, he turned to Jiraiya and declared, "Perverted Sage, I've mastered a Sage Mode even more perfect than yours! Heh heh! I've surpassed you!"
Naruto was overjoyed at reuniting with his friends. He felt his rigorous training had paid off—he had finally surpassed Jiraiya in this field. With this strength, he was certain he could become Hokage.
"Congratulations," Rosinante was the first to respond, surprisingly. "Then let's have a competition. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can all go home."
Though lazy by nature, Rosinante preferred to complete tasks quickly so he could return to slacking off.
The two small toads on Naruto's shoulders jumped onto Jiraiya, greeting him with familiarity.
"Compete?" one of the toads spoke in an old voice, clearly recognizing Rosinante. "Jiraiya, your disciple is talented. Much better than you."
"Yeah, I knew he had it in him," Jiraiya replied proudly.
Now that Naruto had returned, it was time to test his strength. Sasuke approached him, his eyes sharp with anticipation.
"Let's get started, Naruto," Sasuke said, his tone laced with provocation. "I'm curious to see how strong you've become."
The competitive glint in Sasuke's eyes revealed his intention—he wasn't going to hold back.
"By the way," Jiraiya added casually, "since the training is over, why not use this chance to test your skills? There's no need to form teams. Just spar directly—a free-for-all will test your adaptability."
Without further delay, Jiraiya announced the start of the sparring match, catching Naruto slightly off guard.
"Wait... huh? We're fighting already? That fast?" Naruto blinked in confusion but quickly adapted.
The three combatants spread out, forming a triangular formation. All were cautious, uncertain of each other's current strength.
Sasuke made the first move. He drew a massive chokutō and infused it with crackling Raiton (Lightning Release) chakra. His Chidori Nagashi (Chidori Current) surged through the blade, making the lightning dance fluidly along its length.
Without hesitation, Sasuke slashed outward. Massive arcs of lightning shot toward both Naruto and Rosinante, scattering like a torrential storm. This was his way of testing their reflexes.
Naruto reacted instantly. His Sage Mode allowed him to sense the lightning's trajectory with perfect clarity. He moved like a phantom, slipping through the gaps in the lightning barrage with elegant, fluid movements. He dodged with a dancer's grace, never losing his rhythm.
Rosinante, however, remained motionless. As the lightning approached, he merely yawned lazily. The moment the lightning reached him, it fizzled out, vanishing into nothingness. It was as if an invisible field surrounded him, nullifying the attack entirely.
Naruto, watching closely, realized something strange. Even with Sage Mode's heightened perception, he couldn't sense Rosinante at all.
It was as if the area around him was a chakra black hole, completely devoid of natural energy. The usual life energy flowing through the environment was completely suppressed around Rosinante, leaving only an eerie emptiness.
"This guy… what the hell is going on with him?" Naruto muttered under his breath, feeling slightly unnerved.
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