Chapter 115

There are currently two ways to limit Kazuki's speed:

One is to continue using terrain-changing ninjutsu to try to prevent Kazuki from moving.

The other is to use large-scale, intensive, and continuous ninjutsu to pursue and intercept!

Jiraiya thought for a moment and made his decision.

"Toad Oil Bullet!"

...

Jiraiya continued to form seals, spitting out toad oil to attack and block Kazuki, but Kazuki was too fast. Jiraiya's attacks couldn't land at all.

Moreover, Jiraiya originally planned to use the toad oil and the swamp to limit Kazuki's speed, but Kazuki's shoes, almost like skate shoes, kept his movements ghost-like, unaffected by the toad oil at all!

Seeing this, Jiraiya quickly changed tactics.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!!"

As Jiraiya spat out a fire dragon from his mouth, the flames ignited all the toad oil in an instant.

The entire training ground was engulfed in a sea of fire! The former forests and grasslands were destroyed in an instant, and the rivers began to evaporate, sending visible water vapor into the air under the intense heat!

Looking at the sea of flames he created, Jiraiya sighed with relief.

Normally, he wouldn't use such powerful ninjutsu against someone like Kazuki. After all, such power could inflict serious damage on anyone caught in its path. However, if he continued to hold back his strength, he risked defeat in less than a minute!

Comparing physical skills with Kazuki felt like self-destruction!

After a few seconds, Jiraiya still couldn't see Kazuki's figure, and unease crept in.

Is he dead?

If that's the case, Jiraiya would feel terribly guilty.

After all, meeting a genius like this was rare, and if Kazuki died by his hand, the guilt would be overwhelming.

As he hesitated, wondering whether to search the sea of flames for Kazuki, he suddenly heard the unmistakable sound of an apple being bitten.

He turned to look but saw no one.

"Strange."

Click, click, click!

The sound of the apple being bitten persisted.

Just when Jiraiya was confused, Kazuki suddenly appeared.

Hiding with Camouflage Technique!

This secret technique, which Kazuki rarely used since he learned it, had finally been put to the test in this battle.

In the original story, Gekko Hayate was discovered by Kabuto Yakushi using this techniques, making it seem like the technique wasn't useful. But when Kazuki developed it to its peak, even a shadow-level expert couldn't easily detect him!

This fight with Jiraiya proved it.

Jiraiya didn't expect that Kazuki had mastered this technique. He had developed a similar technique for spying in women's bathhouses, but he didn't expect Kazuki to use it in combat!

And it was effective enough to block the perception of him!

If it weren't for the sound of Kazuki biting into that apple, Jiraiya might never have found him, unless Kazuki attacked!

Danger perception is a type of awareness stronger than general perception. The more experienced a person is, the better they sense danger. However, there are exceptions—some have unique abilities, allowing them to kill shadow-level ninjas despite their lack of experience. Such people have little sense of danger.

In short, danger perception is a metaphysical trait, influenced by physical talent, combat experience, and ninjutsu mastery.

Jiraiya had sharpened his danger sense through countless battles. But as he aged, his physical abilities declined. If he let his guard down, anyone could take advantage of that moment!

"I think four minutes have passed. The match will be over in one minute," Kazuki calmly remarked after finishing the apple he had been eating for two minutes.

Jiraiya was speechless.

From the beginning, Kazuki never fought him seriously.

Had he taken the fight seriously, Jiraiya would likely be injured by now.

Perhaps only Sage Mode could subdue Kazuki!

But there wasn't enough time to activate Sage Mode, and asking for a time-out during battle was out of the question. Plus, it would be overkill to use Sage Mode against a boy!

If he summoned Shima and Fukasaku, they'd wonder if he was facing an unstoppable threat. Would Jiraiya point to Kazuki and claim he discovered a future demon capable of disrupting the ninja world? How embarrassing would it be if he admitted that even with his full power, he couldn't beat Kazuki?

Jiraiya couldn't bear such humiliation!

"Forget it, I give up."

"You're so young and talented. I never imagined that during my absence from Konoha, someone as remarkable as you would emerge."

Instead of feeling down after the defeat, Jiraiya seemed pleased.

It was almost worth celebrating that he lost to Kazuki.

Kazuki waved his hand dismissively. "The younger generation surpasses the older. It's the trend of the times."

"…"

You act like you understand, but you don't!

Jiraiya coughed twice and said, "According to our bet, since I lost, I'll take those two boys as my students. But are you sure you don't want to reconsider? You don't have to do much with me, just say the word, and I'll teach you all my ninjutsu!"

"No need. I'll learn your ninjutsu eventually," Kazuki replied, shaking his head.

With Kakashi already looming over him, adding Jiraiya would just make things worse!

Kazuki wasn't interested in becoming anyone's student.

Respecting teachers was for Naruto and Sasuke. Kazuki preferred lying down and growing stronger!

Rejected again, Jiraiya could only feel regret.

A talent like Kazuki could very well be the Child of Prophecy that the Great Toad Sage mentioned.

But if Kazuki refused to be his disciple, it meant he might not be the one to save the ninja world during its darkest times.

"Boy, I won't let those two teach you the ninjutsu I taught them. If you think you can secretly learn it from them, give up now!" Jiraiya warned, thinking Kazuki planned to learn his ninjutsu through the others.

But Kazuki paid no attention and picked up a fresh apple to eat.

-----------

+86 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg