Ch-101 The Path to Mount Myoboku.

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Jiraiya grunted as he pushed the rubble away, slowly rising to his feet, coughing heavily. His body ached from the impact, but determination burned in his eyes.

"You should learn the limits of your strength before attacking me," Jiryoku remarked, his voice laced with an air of superiority.

Jiraiya's brow furrowed with frustration. "Why? Why do you want to attack Mount Myoboku? All that has happened is because of me, so let's settle this with a fight," he declared, his voice tinged with resolve.

Jiryoku shook his head, his tone cold and unforgiving. "You know that with your current strength, you won't be able to defeat me. You'll surely die."

Jiraiya nodded, acknowledging the grim truth. "I understand that, but protecting Homura and Koharu, ensuring the stability of Konoha—those were my decisions. The toads of Mount Myoboku were merely assisting me; they are not to blame. And even if I perish in this battle, so be it."

Jiryoku remained steadfast. "I cannot kill you. It's the first promise I made to Tsunade, as part of the deal when I took Lady Katsuyu as my summon. I will not break my word. Your willingness to sacrifice yourself stems from the belief that those who make mistakes must face the consequences. The so-called Sages of yours underestimated me and my strength, thinking they could handle someone like me with ease. Well, let them try."

Finally, the Anbu ninjas, who had been closing in on Jiryoku's location, reached their destination. They encircled Jiryoku, their senses honed, poised for action. Meanwhile, Tsunade was also on her way, having received the news of Jiryoku's arrival. Jiraiya had arrived ahead of her, for two critical reasons. Firstly, he was in proximity to the scene, and secondly, he had dispatched his toads throughout Konoha in anticipation of Jiryoku's arrival, ready to counter the threat at a moment's notice.

Jiryoku, however, dismissed the presence of these Anbu ninjas as inconsequential. He turned to Jiraiya and remarked with a hint of irritation, "See, just because of you, I have to waste a few more minutes here."

As Jiryoku's words hung in the air, his 'Conqueror's Haki' began to exert its influence, from him as the centre, on the Anbu ninjas as well. Despite their unwavering determination to protect Konoha, even the most formidable among them struggled to maintain their composure. The weaker ones succumbed, collapsing to the ground, unconscious. However, a handful of resolute Anbu ninjas refused to be defeated by Jiryoku's overpowering aura alone. They bit their tongues, fighting through the pain to stay awake and alert.

The sheer power of Jiryoku's 'Conqueror's Haki' was palpable, evident from the houses in the vicinity as they continued to develop ominous cracks, as though they teetered on the brink of collapse. Even Jiraiya, who had once been relatively resistant to the effects of Jiryoku's 'Conqueror's Haki,' now keenly sensed its weight pressing down on him. However, he to counteracted the effects of 'Conqueror's Haki' with his own aura.

Jiryoku, uninterested in engaging in another debate with Tsunade, who was steadily approaching the scene, decided to take flight. He soared into the sky and swiftly departed from Konoha, leaving behind a sense of unease and uncertainty among those who had witnessed the clash of their formidable forces.

"Jiraiya, are you alright?" Tsunade's concerned voice echoed as she arrived on the scene. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of Jiraiya, who was panting heavily. Nearly half of the Anbu ninjas lay unconscious on the ground, and even those who had managed to withstand Jiryoku's 'Conqueror's Haki' were now seated, drained by their own willpower.

She helped Jiraiya to his feet, her gaze searching for answers. "And where is Jiryoku? The Intelligence department informed me about his entry into Konoha."

Jiraiya grimaced, his exhaustion evident. "He left Konoha just before you arrived," he replied.

Tsunade's brows furrowed in frustration. "What was he doing here in Konoha?"

Jiraiya shrugged, equally puzzled. "No idea, but he definitely had some purpose."

Tsunade's mind raced with possibilities. "Could he have come to meet Ino?"

Jiraiya shook his head. "I doubt it. He arrived and left so swiftly, as if he had already obtained what he wanted."

Tsunade sighed in confusion. Just then, an Anbu ninja approached and knelt before her, delivering crucial information. "Lady Tsunade, we have sealed the entrance to Mount Myoboku."

Tsunade's eyes widened, and a realization struck her. Simultaneously, Jiraiya voiced the same thought, "The path to Mount Myoboku."

Jiraiya's face contorted with regret. "Why didn't I think of this earlier? Jiryoku must have come to Konoha to learn the path to Mount Myoboku—the route that connects Konoha to the Mount Myoboku."

Tsunade nodded in agreement. "With his extraordinary senses, he could have discerned the path's location, even though it's hidden deep underground."

Determination ignited in Jiraiya's eyes. "I need to inform Elder Fukasaku about this immediately," he declared, to which Tsunade nodded in approval.

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