273. Battle of the Toad Sage

A/N:- I won't be able to update chapter on this weekend. I have to present in a very important meeting in front of my research project instructor on Sunday. So, I will have to prepare for it.

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Huff… Huff…

Gamabunta is breathing heavily as Urashiki easily parries his attack.

"A low-life creature dare lay its hands on me?!"

Urashiki extends his arm towards Gamabunta.

"Shinra Tensei"

Swoosh…

He releases a strong directional repulsive gravitational force.

Bang…

Gamabunta stabs his blade in the ground to resist the push.

Hmph…

Urashiki snorts and throws a black receiver rod at Gamabunta.

Swish…

The rod turns into a two-pronged fork and pins down Gamabunta.

Haah…

Jiraiya jumps down and slams his palm on the ground.

Poof…

White smoke surrounds him, and he enters the Sage Mode. Fukasaku and Shima are sitting atop his shoulders as Jiraiya enters the Sage Mode.

"Looks like Izuna-boy failed to handle the enemy!"

Shoom…

Urashiki's powerful chakra assaults them and their eyes turn into slits as they notice his appearance.

"Such sinister chakra!" Shima stares at him in trepidation.

"It's not Izuna-boy's fault! This enemy is too strong for him to handle alone!"

"Baa! Paa! Now isn't the time for chatter! Let's focus on him first! Ninjutsu and Taijutsu won't work against his Rinnegan. He can steal our chakra, so beware of his tricks!" Jiraiya warns them.

"Jiraiya-boy! Buy some time for us as we accumulate enough chakra!"

"Alright!"

Jiraiya claps his hands together and summons a pair of stone swords. The blades of the swords are slate grey. The swords have circular, hollow pommels with long grips.

A long chain connects both of the swords at their hilts.

Jiraiya wields the swords in his hands and dashes towards Urashiki.

"Sage Art: Toad Sword Beheading"

The blades glow with a blueish hue as Jiraiya infuses his chakra into them.

Jiraiya uses his toad-like physique to leap at Urashiki. He instantly covers the distance between them.

Swish…

He horizontally slashes with his blades while spinning in the air.

Clang…

Urashiki blocks the attack with his fishing rod.

Swoosh…

The second blade spins from behind and attacks Urashiki's blind spot.

Clang…

A dense red chakra Kusari appears behind Urashiki and blocks the second attack.

Urashiki clenches his fists and punches through the stone sword, shattering it. He swings the Kusari chain and wraps it around Jiraiya's leg.

Swoosh… Bang…

Jiraiya got hurled into the ground.

Argh…

Jiraiya groans in pain as his muscles rupture. He ignores the bleeding and claps his hands.

Haah…

"Needle Jizō"

Jiraiya hardens his hair and shoots them towards Urashiki.

Swoosh… swoosh…

Urashiki dodges the hair needles and extends his arms.

Fwoosh…

He gathers a dense orb of energy in his hand.

"Baa! Paa! Do it!" Jiraiya yells in urgency.

"Demonic Illusion: Toad Confrontation Chant"

Fukasaku and Shima release sheets of musical notes. The musical notes enter Urashiki's ears and disrupt his chakra.

Puff…

The energy ball in his hand dispels and Urashiki enters in a trance.

"Jiraiya boy! Hurry up! We can't maintain this for long." Shima urges him.

"Yes!"

Jiraiya summons another pair of stone swords and slashes them towards Urashiki.

"Toad Three Slashes"

He coats his blades with chakra and releases three crescent slashes aimed at Urashiki's neck.

"This is the end, Urashiki!"

Hehe…

Urashiki smirks as his Byakugan flickers slightly.

Bleurgh…

A phantom appears behind Jiraiya. Its claw pierces through Jiraiya's gut. Jiraiya pukes out a mouthful of blood and falls to the ground.

"Jiraiya boy!"

Fukasaku and Shima throw a smoke bomb and grab Jiraiya.

"I… I am fine!" Jiraiya breathes heavily.

"He missed my vitals thanks to my toad transformation."

Phew…

Fukasaku and Shima heave a sigh of relief.

Swoosh….

Urashiki appears in front of them. He raises his palm and releases a volley of energy attacks.

Swish…

Izuna appears in front of the toads. He swings his blade and releases a barrage of vacuum blades to counter them.

Whoosh…

A phantom of Urashiki appears behind Izuna.

Bang…

The phantom kicks Izuna and sends him flying. He slams into the ground and forms a crater.

Bleurgh…

Izuna pukes out another mouthful of blood. Izuna has a haggard look as he slowly gets up from the crater.

'Is that a clone Technique?! No, it's a Limbo!'

Izuna activates his Rinnegan, but there is no trace of anything.

'I am almost out of chakra. If things go on like this, I will have to borrow chakra from the Nine-tails.'

He helplessly shakes his head.

'He is too strong. More powerful than what I expected. This is the true power of a pure breed Otsutsuki.'

Swoosh…

Urashiki's Byakugan flashes and another phantom appears behind Izuna.

Bang…

The phantom kicks him from behind, sending him flying.

Haah…

Izuna riles up his remaining chakra and regains balance in mid-air.

'What kind of ability is this? He summons a phantom out of nowhere. It's doesn't seem to be a clone technique nor can I sense any Space-Time Fluctuations.'

"Amenominakanushi"

Izuna activates his left eye ability and slows the flow of time around him. He constantly shifts his gaze from one place to another, looking out for Urashiki's sneak attack.

Whoosh…

A phantom appears behind Izuna. The phantom has a fishing rod in his hand as it swings the rod at Izuna.

Haah…

Izuna spins in mid-air and dodges the attack. He performs a roundhouse kick to attack the phantom.

Swoosh…

His kick phases through the phantom and the phantom disperses.

"What?! I can't hit him!"

Izuna is dumbfounded.

'It looks like a Limbo and has the abilities of one but I can't land a hit on it.'

Whoosh…

The phantom reappears behind a now recovered Sasuke and kicks him.

Bang…

Sasuke is sent flying through the air.

Swoosh…

Izuna flickers behind Sasuke and catches him.

"Are you alright?"

"I am fine." Sasuke steadies his breath.

'Dad! That phantom seems similar to my space remnant. I don't quite understand its powers but the principle must be the same.' Tatsuya informs Izuna.

Hmm…

Izuna and Sasuke engage in another round of close-combat with Urashiki while looking out for his phantom.

Hahaha… Ahahah…

"Die! Die! Die you monkeys!"

Urashiki is frantically attacking them.

'What's with him? Even I have run low on chakra but this guy is still rampaging.'

Shoom…

The phantom reappears behind Izuna and attacks him.

Swoosh…

Izuna barely dodges its attack.

"Huh!"

Izuna notices some changes in Urashiki's Golden Byakugan and Rinnegan.

To confirm his speculation, he continues to engage in Urashiki's attacks while monitoring his movements.

Fwoosh…

Urashiki infuses some chakra in his Byakugan and Rinnegan.

Swoosh…

A phantom appears behind Sasuke and kicks him away.

Swirl…

Sasuke coats himself with his Susanoo to protect himself.

'Sasuke! Buy me some time. I think I found a clue on how his technique works.' Izuna sends a mental message to Sasuke.

'I will try.' Sasuke nods his head.

Izuna continues to study Urashiki's technique while Sasuke keeps Urashiki distracted.

Sasuke draws his blade and infuses some chakra in it. He takes out a kunai and throws it towards Urashiki.

Swish…

Urashiki tilts his head and avoids the kunai.

"Amenotejikara: Instant"

Whoosh…

Sasuke disappears from his place as he slashes towards Urashiki at an insane speed.

Clang…

Urashiki's Rinnegan flickers slightly as he grabs Sasuke's blade with his bare hands.

Bzzt…

Sasuke infuses purple lightning chakra in his left hand.

"Chidori Sharp Spear"

He aims it towards Urashiki's head.

Bzzt…

Urashiki's Rinnegan flickers slightly, and his shadow appears behind Sasuke.

Swoosh…

Sasuke turns around and blocks the attack of the shadow with his blade.

BANG…

Urashiki kicks Sasuke from back and sends him flying.

"I figured it out."

Whoosh…

Izuna flickers beside Sasuke and supports him.

"Sasuke, that phantom of his is the ability of his Golden Rinnegan. He uses his Byakugan to lock on a specific chakra signature. Then he uses his Rinnegan to travel to the future for a few seconds.

His future version appears as a phantom and attacks us. That time remnant represents every potential outcome where he fails to land a hit on us. But since the phantom is able to hit us, it ceases to exist after every successful hit."

Izuna explains the principle behind Urashiki's attack.

"Subarashii!" Urashiki exclaims.

"An insignificant being like you possess some level of intelligence to be able to see through my most powerful technique. How praiseworthy. But it's futile, you will still die in the end."

"Amenosubaruboshinomikoto: Tamatebako"

Haah…

Urashiki clasps his hand.

Swoosh…

Another phantom appears behind Izuna and Sasuke. The phantom has a glowing purple orb in its hand as it attacks Izuna.

"Amenosubaruboshinomikoto: Ryūgū"

A gigantic demonic white snake appears behind the purple orb and attacks Izuna.

Haah…

Izuna makes One-hand signs and opens his mouth.

"Sage Art: White Rage Technique"

He expels a giant crimson dragon from his mouth. The gigantic serpent has a purple orb in its hand.

BOOM…

Both orbs collide with each other as the crimson dragon swipes its claws at the giant snake. The giant snake bites on the crimson dragon's neck.

BOOM…

Both of the techniques cancel each other out.

Huff… Huff…

Izuna breathes heavily as his cyan chakra cloak disperses.

'I have used up all of my nature energy reserves with that last attack. Looks like I have no choice but to borrow some chakra.'

"I am on it!" Yin Kurama clasps his hand and gathers his chakra to pass onto Izuna.

Hmm…

Minato and Kushina sense Izuna's intention since they have formed a connection with the Nine-tails.

"Kushina! I have recovered enough. Let's buy some time for Izuna to recover his chakra."

"Alright!" Kushina nods her head.

She turns to Urashiki and yells.

"Do you think I will let you harm my Naruto? In your dreams!" Kushina clenches her fists.

Haah…

A large amount of yellow chakra emanates from her body in form of flickering flames. The chakra coats her body with a yellow cloak as Kushina enters the Nine-Tails chakra Mode.

Both Minato and Kushina have fed on Nine-tails chakra for eleven whole years. The Nine-tails chakra has merged with their chakra system and has granted them access to the first form of Kurama Chakra Mode.

Even Kurama was amused to see this as he recalls a similar incident. Sixty years ago, the infamous Gold and Silver brothers of Kumogakure challenged him. In a fit of anger, Kurama swallowed them. The brothers fed on his chakra for two weeks and gained access to the version two of six-tails.

However, there are some limitations. The user has to slowly accumulate chakra to enter this form. Once used, they won't be able to utilize it again unless enough chakra is amassed.

Kushina claps her hands.

"Adamantine Sealing chains"