r8

Learning the Sage Mode was a sudden idea that Ryujiro had.

Natural energy wasn't only found in the three great sacred places: Mount Myoboku Shikkotsu Forest, and Ryuchi Cave.

To get Sage Mode, one essential requirement was natural energy. However, Ryujiro's purpose wasn't merely to get the so-called Sage Mode.

Instead, it was for experimentation. In the locations rich with natural energy, would the Hogyoku react? He believed that natural energy was an absorbable substance.

If that were true, with the terrifying power of the Hogyoku, in the future, when Ryujiro wanted to enter Sage Mode and bear immense natural energy, it would be unmatched by others.

Seeing the serious look in Ryujiro's eyes, Jiraiya sighed, "I understand."

These past days, he had been guiding Naruto in controlling the Nine-Tails' chakra. 

It could be said that Naruto had gradually become familiar with controlling the Nine-Tails' chakra in just one month.

It wasn't a matter of a day or two to travel from Konoha to Myoboku Mountain. 

It would take at least ten days to half a month, and if it was a round trip, it would need at least one or even two months.

This didn't even account for the time Ryujiro spent learning Sage Mode.

Before this, Ryujiro had also gone to see Tsunade. Of course, if Tsunade didn't agree, there was nothing she could do to stop him.

What surprised Ryujiro was that Tsunade agreed without hesitation. Moreover, when he spoke, it seemed that she had anticipated it.

Perhaps Jiraiya had already informed Tsunade about this matter long ago.

During the journey, the atmosphere between Ryujiro and Jiraiya was very strange. Several times, Jiraiya wanted to ask Ryujiro some questions but ultimately held back.

Absent-mindedly, Jiraiya kept thinking, why did Ryujiro want to learn Sage Jutsu? Did he really think his strength wasn't strong enough?

That casually unleashed Flying Slash would make any Kage's attack pale in comparison. 

If one could truly block Ryujiro's Flying Slash, it would probably only be the Fourth Raikage of Kumogakure.

The Fourth Raikage, A, the only ninja among the Five Great Shinobi Villages who specialized solely in physical prowess. 

He had honed his Lightning Release chakra mode to extreme proficiency and had even severed the left horn of the Eight-Tails in his youth.

Apart from A, the Kekkei Genkai of Onoki, the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, should also be able to counter Ryujiro's Flying Slash.

But even those two would have to use their full strength just to match one slash from Ryujiro.

Just as Jiraiya and Ryujiro were about to head to the next town, suddenly, a blazing flame surged from the side, seemingly wanting to turn everything before it into ashes.

Jiraiya's expression changed. In an instant, he disappeared using Body Flicker Jutsu, leaving no trace behind. 

The surge of flames from the original position instantly engulfed the surrounding vegetation.

"Kehehe, as expected of one of the Sannin and Konoha's prodigy, dodging my ninjutsu so effortlessly."

A shadowy figure emerged from the darkness.

A gray headband was wrapped around the figure's hair. His eyes, deep and peculiar unlike those of ordinary people, gave a very eerie feeling.

Especially the clothes on the figure made Jiraiya's eyes constrict.

"You are!"

"Member of the Akatsuki!"

Jiraiya looked solemnly at the figure in front of him.

"Oh? You actually know about our organization. That's quite unexpected," the figure, Kakuzu, looked surprised at Jiraiya.

And at this moment, several more figures appeared in the woods.

Hidan, Deidara, and...

Itachi Uchiha.

Jiraiya's eyes suddenly contracted into pinpoints.

These people were all famous rogue ninjas from other villages, and their strength was not inferior to ninja like Kakashi, if not stronger.

Damn it!

Why were Akatsuki members gathered here? Was this a premeditated plan?

Cold sweat trickled down Jiraiya's forehead.

Even as one of the Sannin, facing such a situation, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel troubled.

'Finally they're all here. I was getting bored waiting for them to show up.'

Ryujiro flashed a sinister smile, especially when Itachi saw that smile on Ryujiro's face, he was even more astonished.

Ryujiro's smile seemed as if he had known they were lurking nearby all along, pretending not to know.

In fact, that was indeed the case.

Ryujiro even knew that after he and Jiraiya left Konoha, members of the Akatsuki had been keeping an eye on them.

Was it Obito pulling the strings behind the scenes?

Huh.

Ryujiro felt even more disdainful.

"To be able to mobilize so many of us, it must be you guys."

"Our leader is quite concerned about you."

"The prodigy of Konoha."

Hidan licked the icy blade, revealing a grim, bloodthirsty smile as he looked at Ryujiro.

As if Ryujiro was his prey.

"Hey, Hidan! This kid's head belongs to me!"

"Huh? Damn it, Kakuzu, say it again!"

"Wanna fight?!"

"Bring it on! Who's afraid of who?!"

This situation made the other members of Akatsuki cover their faces. There wasn't a single day where Hidan and Kakuzu didn't fight.

In the end, it was Itachi who intervened, and the two stopped.

"Sannin Jiraiya, Konoha's genius Ryujiro."

"You will die by our hands today!"

Boom!

The overwhelming killing intent swept towards the two like a tidal wave. 

The killing intent of these few seemed to solidify into substance, as if there were evil spirits roaring towards Ryujiro and Jiraiya.

Crack! Crack!

Ryujiro twisted his neck, making a strange noise.

Jiraiya stood in front of Ryujiro and said solemnly, "Ryujiro, I'll delay them. You go back to Konoha immediately. Leave this to me!"

Fire Style! Great Fireball Jutsu!

In an instant, Jiraiya spewed out a torrent of flames like waves, instantly engulfing the grass and trees in front of him. The terrifying wave of flames seemed to devour everything in its path.

Looking at the Akatsuki members swallowed by the flames, Jiraiya's expression remained as serious as ever.

He didn't believe that they could be dealt with so easily.

"Impressive! As expected of you Jiraiya-sama, you're indeed very powerful."

"However, that's all there is to it. This is as far as it goes."

Itachi's cold voice echoed behind Jiraiya, and suddenly, a Kunai stabbed into Jiraiya's waist.

With a "poof," Jiraiya transformed into a wooden log.

Itachi's eyes narrowed.

It was a substitution jutsu.

When did he...

"Deidara!"

"We'll deal with that kid."

Hidan looked at Ryujiro with a bloodthirsty grin.

"Got it!"

Deidara agreed without hesitation.

They loved destroying geniuses.

"Art is an explosion!"

"Katsu!"

Clay spiders scattered across Ryujiro's body like flowers.

The clay spiders instantly expanded, and with several thunderous booms, flames and smoke rose skyward, nearly engulfing Hidan in the explosion.

"Hey, Deidara! Are you trying to kill me?"

Seeing Hidan's angry face, Deidara laughed sheepishly, "Sorry, sorry! I got too excited."

But on the other side, Itachi showed an expression changed as if he had seen a ghost, he shouted towards Deidara and Hidan in fear.

"You two! What are you doing!"

Huh?

Hidan and Deidara froze simultaneously.

As the sea of fire dispersed, their expressions shifted dramatically to match Itachi's horrified look.

"Kakuzu?!"

.