Lightning flashed, and Jiraiya's hair "armor" slowly dispersed.
"Huh, you're still standing? That's unexpected!" remarked Yishilan with surprise.
At this moment, Jiraiya was on one knee, panting heavily. His spiky hair remained intact, but his entire body was emitting wisps of black smoke, with burn marks from lightning all over. His face was a patchwork of black and yellow, looking quite unrecognizable.
"It's oil," Jiraiya said, wiping his face, revealing some unknown grease on his fingers.
In the instant he was hit by the Storm Release, Jiraiya had smeared toad oil on himself.
Oil is an insulator. (Look it up if you don't believe it.)
Unfortunately, the time was too short to apply it completely, so he still suffered significant damage.
"Not bad, you've got some tricks, but how much oil do you have left?" Yishilan smiled, forming hand seals again.
"Storm Release: Soul-Chasing Electric Chains!"
"Damn, here we go again!" Jiraiya scrambled to his feet, dodging frantically. The "electric chains" were already closing in on him.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Jiraiya placed his hands on the ground, instantly surrounding himself with an Earth Release fortress, temporarily thwarting the Storm Release "electric chains."
"Not bad, this Jiraiya has quick thinking, but..." Third Raikage praised Jiraiya's strategy, but before he could finish, Yishilan attacked again.
"Five-Finger Thrust!"
The sharp hand thrust pierced the earth barrier like a chopstick through tofu, eliciting a scream from inside the Earth-Style Wall. It seemed the target had been hit.
Nearby, Kushina and Zetsu looked tense.
Slowly, the Earth-Style Wall began to crumble, revealing the scene inside.
The audience gasped in shock!
"Oh no, someone's going to die!"
"So it was a real fight all along."
At this moment, Yishilan's hand thrust was deeply embedded in Jiraiya's chest. Jiraiya was coughing up blood, his face ashen.
"Don't worry, he shouldn't die. I've got precise control, but he'll be in the hospital for a year or so," Yishilan said smugly.
"Not... necessarily," Jiraiya forced a grim smile.
Yishilan suddenly sensed something was wrong.
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"
Yishilan found himself sinking, trying to break free, but Jiraiya held him tightly. In an instant, he was submerged up to his waist.
At that moment, Jiraiya turned into a puff of white smoke—it was a shadow clone!
From the hard ground beside the Swamp of the Underworld, a head emerged—it was Jiraiya. He quickly crawled out of the ground, holding a kunai to Yishilan's back.
"I think we can call the match. What do you two say?" Jinghang asked for the opinions of Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi and Third Raikage A.
"Hmm," Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in agreement with a smile.
Third Raikage didn't object, remaining silent.
Seeing this, Jinghang pressed the red button.
"The match is over, Jiraiya wins!"
The crowd erupted in thunderous applause.
Kushina and Zetsu quickly used their abilities to extract Yishilan.
Jiraiya collapsed to the ground, exhausted.
This guy has made great progress in the past three years, Jinghang thought to himself as he watched Jiraiya.
To quickly create a strong shadow clone within the Earth-Style Wall, then swiftly burrow underground to lie in wait, and finally use Swamp of the Underworld beneath the enemy—completing such a complex tactical plan in such a short time shows that Jiraiya has matured into a seasoned ninja.
Moreover, Jinghang believed Jiraiya still had more tricks up his sleeve. After all, he hadn't used the combined sage techniques with Fukasaku and Shima, nor had any toads from Mount Myoboku appeared. If this guy unleashed his full strength, he would have reached Kage level. This ninja named Yishilan lost fair and square.
"Alright, folks, that's it for today's match. Thank you for watching. Tomorrow at the same time, the second peak duel between Konoha and Kumogakure will take place. Stay tuned!"
With that, Jinghang turned off the chakra microphone, smiling at Hiruzen Sarutobi and A.
"The result of the first match is out. Regarding the ownership of Area 1..."
Third Raikage A shrugged.
"We Kumogakure keep our word. We can sign the contract later, but don't get too cocky, old monkey. There are still eleven matches to go."
"No worries, I brought enough people to handle it," Hiruzen Sarutobi said cheerfully, having won the match.
"Take it easy, take it easy..." Jinghang interjected, trying to smooth things over.
"It's getting late. I'll call in Mizukage and Tsuchikage. I'll treat you all to dinner, and then we can hit the Crystal Palace for some fun tonight. After all, we have another match tomorrow, and there are some details about the World Ninja Tournament I want to discuss with you."
"I think we should form an organization around this event."
In front of the bubbling hotpot, Jinghang picked up five chopsticks, laying them out one by one.
"The rules of the competition need to be refined, the venues constructed, the hosts selected and decided upon, the distribution of profits, and the promotion of the event. Of course, this can't be left to Sunagakure alone, so we need to establish an organization to manage these tasks. I propose we call it the International Ninja Alliance."
Jinghang chuckled to himself at the thought—he had inadvertently created an International Ninja Federation, what should its English acronym be? FIRA?
The other four Kage nodded in agreement.
The main goal of this Ninja Way Tournament was to resolve territorial disputes, but they hadn't expected such significant economic benefits. Now, with each ninja village having just finished a war and in need of funds, who wouldn't be tempted by such a lucrative opportunity? Tens of billions at stake!
"Such a large-scale event shouldn't be held annually. Firstly, organizing it takes time, and secondly, the audience might get bored. I think once every four years is about right."
"That long?" Third Raikage A said.
"An event held less frequently is more cherished, but if you all think the money is coming in too slowly, I have an idea."
"Oh? Please share, Kazekage-sama."
Fourth Tsuchikage Zetsu said, piquing the interest of the other Kage.
"Each of our villages has its own Chunin and Jonin promotion exams, usually consisting of three stages: intelligence gathering, teamwork, and individual ability. The individual ability stage is typically a one-on-one match..."
"Kazekage-sama means to bring the Chunin and Jonin exam authority under the Ninja Alliance and turn the PK stage into a tournament similar to the Ninja Way Tournament?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was quick on the uptake.
"Exactly, but first, we five need to set up the framework of the Ninja Alliance and establish the rules and regulations."
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