Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 40: The Familiar Scent of Hokage

Boom!

The aftermath of the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken continued to wreak havoc.

Even those outside the jutsu's range had to take several steps back. Shizune, who barely maintained her balance, looked up with great concern.

She then saw a huge toad descend from the sky, looking rather battered.

"Although I'm useless and will work hard to improve, this time it really hurts, Jiraiya!!"

The painful voice came from the mouth of the large purplish-red toad.

Gamahiro, summoned by Jiraiya, hadn't yet figured out what was happening when he felt a heavy blow land on him.

Usually honest, this was the first time he couldn't help but complain to Jiraiya.

Looking down at Gamahiro's shield, which had turned into a battered lid, Jiraiya awkwardly scratched his head and said:

"Sorry! Sorry! There was no time this time. I'll make sure to warn you next time, Gamahiro."

If it were Gamabunta, he would definitely give Jiraiya a whack with his pipe after hearing there'd be a next time. But Gamahiro was a straightforward toad.

After hearing Jiraiya's assurance, his anger subsided, and he raised his only intact weapon, a fish spine fork, and asked:

"So, is the enemy that strange person over there?"

At this moment, amid the familiar fluttering paper scraps, Hagoromo Gengetsu's right arm, severed by the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, was rapidly regenerating.

"Yes!" Jiraiya nodded solemnly, "Time is running out. We must deal with him quickly."

"Understood."

Gamahiro nodded and leaped powerfully toward Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Hagoromo Gengetsu didn't confront him head-on but flashed and disappeared from the spot.

Boom!

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In the next second, Gamahiro descended from the sky.

The dust flew up, and the ground couldn't help but tremble a few times.

"There!"

Jiraiya quickly located Hagoromo Gengetsu and clapped his hands together.

"Shop-Crushing Technique!"

Another giant toad named Gamaken descended from the sky, aiming to crush the area where Hagoromo Gengetsu stood.

This time, Hagoromo Gengetsu evaded again, but the shockwave from Gamaken's landing sent him flying.

"Good opportunity!"

Gamahiro swung his fish spine fork horizontally at Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Gamaken, who had just been summoned, didn't waste time either, drawing two giant ninja swords from his back and slashing toward Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Jiraiya knew that against Hagoromo Gengetsu, large summoning beasts were more effective than ninjutsu.

Of course, it would be best to use Sage Mode.

However, given his half-baked level, entering Sage Mode would take too long and was clearly not suitable now.

Watching Gamahiro and Gamaken unleash their power, Naruto felt itchy to help and said, "Pervy Sage, I'll summon the Boss Toad to help you."

Jiraiya didn't refuse and even suggested, "Don't help me. Have Bunta take you and Shizune to Tsunade."

Jiraiya had shifted his strategy to stalling Hagoromo Gengetsu himself. Bunta could provide substantial help at Tsunade's side.

"Alright."

Having suffered at Hagoromo Gengetsu's hands a few times, Naruto knew he couldn't be much help here and obediently agreed this time.

He bit his finger confidently.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Boom!

White smoke billowed out.

"Come out, Boss Toad!" Naruto shouted excitedly.

And then...

A small tadpole hopped on the ground with a "plop" and "plop."

"Nani???"

Naruto clutched his head in disbelief, his mouth agape at the sight.

Shizune, who was about to move, froze with a smile.

Jiraiya was also stunned.

"The familiar formula, the familiar taste."

Hagoromo Gengetsu, who was being attacked by Gamahiro and Gamaken, noticed this comical scene.

He had to admit, this was the Hokage he was truly familiar with.

Naruto blushed for once, hastily making the tadpole return, and then tried summoning again, unwilling to give up:

"Boss Toad, come out!"

Boom!

"Hey, Naruto."

Amid the white smoke, Gamakichi, Gamabunta's son who hadn't yet grown up, raised his hand to greet Naruto.

Jiraiya turned away, afraid he couldn't resist cleaning up the mess himself.

At this moment, Hagoromo Gengetsu, who had used Earth Release to restrict the two large toads, turned his head and reminded:

"By the way, just now, Tsunade's hemophobia acted up."

Jiraiya and Shizune's expressions tightened.

Without time to verify Hagoromo Gengetsu's words, Shizune, looking anxious, was about to rush to Tsunade.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Once again, a large cloud of white smoke appeared, and this time, it was Gamabunta, with his giant pipe in his mouth, who finally showed up after Naruto's third attempt.

"Why is it you again, kid? And Gamakichi, why are you here?" Gamabunta, who had been enjoying his leisurely life, sounded a bit annoyed.

"Hey, Dad," Gamakichi, perched on Bunta's head, greeted.

"Boss Toad!" Excited, Naruto was about to explain everything animatedly.

Finally, Jiraiya turned back and succinctly said, "Bunta, go to Tsunade! She needs your help!"

Compared to Naruto, Bunta was more familiar and in sync with Jiraiya.

"I smell the stink of the snake."

Without delay, and letting Shizune get on, Bunta's massive body leaped, crossing hundreds of meters toward the distance.

"I can't let you succeed."

In a few blinks, Hagoromo Gengetsu, retreating rapidly, formed seals with his hands.

"Earth Release: Earth Core Motion!"

Boom!

The ground shook violently.

As Bunta landed and was about to jump again, a giant earth block suddenly rose rapidly in front of him.

With a "bang," Bunta collided head-on.

This was just the beginning.

Over the next moments, under Hagoromo Gengetsu's jutsu, the area turned into a chaotic grid of rising and falling earth blocks, creating heavy obstacles and preventing the toads from jumping effectively.

"Boss Toad, slow down!" Dodging left and right, Naruto almost got thrown off if not for Shizune grabbing him in time.

Drawing his short sword and slicing an incoming stone wall in two, Bunta impatiently replied, "If I slow down now, do you want us all to become sandwiches?"

Not far away, noticing this, Jiraiya's brows furrowed. He instinctively wanted to use long-range ninjutsu to interrupt Hagoromo Gengetsu's technique but hesitated, remembering the opponent's Yin Release. Frustrated by his own slackness in Sage training, he charged forward himself.

Unlike the large toads, Hagoromo Gengetsu noticed Jiraiya maneuvering skillfully through the shifting ground and was quickly approaching. While maintaining his jutsu, Hagoromo Gengetsu's gaze shifted to the two large swords in Gamaken's hands.

Clang!

In the next second, the massive, cold blades descended, aiming at Jiraiya.