Golden chains shot out, extending rapidly like dragons, winding toward Gamabunta.
Sensing the danger, Gamabunta wasn't about to stand idle. He drew the massive blade at his side, spinning midair to slash at the golden chains.
Clang!
Although the chains were formed from chakra, they were incredibly sturdy. Gamabunta's blade struck them, creating a metallic clash and sparking on impact.
Despite Gamabunta's skill with the blade, the sheer number of chains—each maneuvering with extraordinary precision under Jiraiya's control—made it impossible to fend them all off. No matter how hard Gamabunta tried, he couldn't cut through the chains.
Before long, the golden chains coiled around him, tightening with a force that made even the mighty toad helpless. From a distance, Gamabunta resembled a glowing mountain wrapped in a web of light.
Bound tightly, Gamabunta felt his chakra suppressed, unable to flow properly. His movements ceased entirely.
Boom!
With a thunderous crash, his massive body hit the ground, sending tremors through the earth and kicking up clouds of dust.
Gamabunta struggled against the chains, but the sheer pressure from the adamantine bindings was overwhelming. He couldn't channel chakra, and his limbs were immobilized.
"Just chop me up already! This is unbearable!" Gamabunta bellowed at Jiraiya, his frustration echoing across the battlefield.
The feeling of being completely restrained, unable to move, was unbearable. He would've preferred a few solid slashes over this torturous restraint.
Satisfied with the effectiveness of his Adamantine Sealing Chains, Jiraiya dismissed the bindings with a wave of his hand. As the chains vanished, he glanced at Gamabunta, whose earlier cries for him to attack seemed... peculiar.
"Gamabunta, you're overthinking it. You're way too adorable for me to hack apart," Jiraiya said, grinning as he leapt onto the toad's head and gave him a playful pat.
"Don't talk to me like that!" Gamabunta retorted, gulping nervously. "Seriously, just chop me a few times if you have to. I'll feel a lot better that way!"
Jiraiya's playful demeanor clearly made Gamabunta uneasy. Reflecting on their first meeting, Gamabunta couldn't help but regret his decision to show off instead of calmly signing the contract.
"I've never had anyone make a request like yours before," Jiraiya said, shaking his head.
Gamabunta's enormous body trembled slightly. It was obvious he was still on edge.
With a sigh, Jiraiya unsheathed the Lightning Flame Blade and gave Gamabunta a few light slashes on the back.
"Ahh... much better."
A satisfied groan escaped Gamabunta as he visibly relaxed, his entire body loosening.
Jiraiya, however, was left speechless.
"I swear, you're starting to lean into some weird habits, Gamabunta," Jiraiya muttered.
"What can I say? If I go a day without getting slashed, I feel restless. Nothing tastes good, nothing feels right. When I wake up, I've got no energy unless I give myself a few cuts first. After that, I'm good as new—full of energy, no aches or pains, and ready to take on anything!" Gamabunta explained with a matter-of-fact tone.
For a moment, Jiraiya was at a loss for words. Had he accidentally unlocked a strange new hobby for Gamabunta?
"Let's go find Fukasaku and Shima," Jiraiya said, steering the conversation back on track.
Gamabunta nodded and began bounding toward their destination. Before long, they arrived at a serene pool surrounded by towering stone pillars that seemed to pierce the sky. Waterfalls cascaded nearby, and the area was dotted with frog statues and training grounds where numerous toads practiced their techniques.
This was Mount Myoboku, the sacred land where toads trained.
At the center of it all, Fukasaku and Shima—the two elder sages—stood, instructing a group of toads in their training.
"Oi, Jiraiya-boy! Your chakra feels different—so much stronger all of a sudden!" Fukasaku exclaimed as he and Shima leapt toward Jiraiya. Their astonished gazes locked onto him.
Jiraiya's recent awakening had dramatically increased his chakra reserves, a change so profound that even the elder sages noticed immediately.
"Well, yesterday during my training, my chakra just... surged. I'm not exactly sure why," Jiraiya admitted, feigning ignorance. "You mentioned before that learning senjutsu requires a massive amount of chakra, so I came to see if I'm ready to start my training."
He left the details to the elders, knowing they'd craft their own explanation.
"Wife, Jiraiya-boy really ready. His chakra has completely transformed—this must be the full awakening of his Sage Body!" Fukasaku declared, brimming with excitement.
The elder toad's earlier suspicions about Jiraiya's potential were finally confirmed. Without a doubt, Jiraiya's newfound chakra reserves were proof of his heritage.
"This is excellent news! With Jiraiya-boy's talent, he should be able to master Sage Mode perfectly," Shima added with equal enthusiasm. "That'll make him even more capable of fulfilling the Great Toad's mission."
"Jiraiya-boy, you're now qualified to train in the senjutsu of Mount Myoboku," Shima said, hopping onto his shoulder.
"From today onward, we'll guide you in mastering it," Fukasaku affirmed.
"Thank you both. I'll be counting on your guidance," Jiraiya replied, his excitement matching theirs.
Once he mastered Sage Mode, Jiraiya would finally have the power to stand against the strongest of foes. Even if he didn't yet reach Kage-level strength, Sage Mode would ensure he could hold his own against Kage-level opponents—or at the very least, guarantee his survival.
Most importantly, with Sage Mode, he could achieve great victories in the Second Shinobi War, gaining both renown and merit. Once the war ended, Jiraiya would finally have the qualifications to compete for the title of Hokage.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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