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Jiraiya immediately refuted, "I understand your pain. But no matter what, blind revenge won't solve anything. I can tell you with certainty that your actions now are wrong."
Kagaya was momentarily taken aback, then burst into loud laughter, the sound filled with utter disdain. "Understand? You understand? And you're telling me not to seek revenge? You think what I'm doing is wrong? Hahahahaha!! How can you prove that? Tell you what, let me kill everyone important to you. Then, if you can still refrain from seeking revenge against me, I'll admit you're right. How about that? Let me think... the Third is your teacher, right? Kill him. You have many comrades in Konoha, right? Kill them too. And finally, isn't there a Tsunade? Kill her as well, how about that? After experiencing all that, if you can still remain calm, if you can still think revenge is wrong, if you still don't hate me... then I will kneel and apologize to you on the spot. How about that?"
Kagaya stared coldly at Jiraiya. Spouting nonsense about revenge being wrong was nothing but hypocritical talk from someone who hadn't suffered the loss. Even Naruto, after Jiraiya was killed by Pain, was filled with seething hatred.
Jiraiya fell silent once more. He was never a man of mere words. Jiraiya had traveled many places, experienced many things. He had witnessed too much tragedy. He understood the depth of Kagaya's hatred. He also knew that trying to persuade Kagaya with words alone was impossible.
Whirr!
Suddenly, a glint of light flashed. Kagaya, gripping a kunai, appeared precisely where Jiraiya had been standing just a moment before. Jiraiya, however, had retreated to a distance.
Jiraiya touched the fresh cut on his cheek, breathing heavily, his eyes wide as he stared at Kagaya.
If he had been even a fraction of a second slower, it wouldn't have been just a scratch on his face. His entire head might have been sliced clean off!
Jiraiya realized his mistake. This terrifying speed was not something an unknown nobody possessed. He had likely stumbled into serious trouble this time.
It wasn't just Jiraiya who was shocked. Even Kisame behind Kagaya broke out in a cold sweat. This was Kisame's first time witnessing Kagaya's speed. To be honest, he hadn't been able to react at all!
Partly because Kisame hadn't been on guard against Kagaya, but mainly because Kagaya's speed was simply too fast!
Even someone of Jiraiya's caliber, one of the Legendary Sannin, had nearly been instantly killed.
Kagaya raised his kunai, pointing it at Jiraiya. "Since you know I'm a survivor of the Uchiha, can't you guess who I am?"
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinizing the person before him. Uchiha survivors... He only knew of three. One was Sasuke. One was Itachi. And the last one... Jiraiya had only a vague, fuzzy memory of, something like... Kagaya? He couldn't quite remember.
It was largely because when Kagaya defected, he held no real notoriety—just a child. At that time, Jiraiya was traveling the world, and he had only heard snippets about Kagaya before dismissing the matter from his mind.
However...
Jiraiya glanced towards the direction of the Forest of Death. Who this person before him was didn't really matter right now. The most important thing was the old man's situation.
Jiraiya knew Orochimaru was fighting the Third Hokage. Knowing Orochimaru's nature, Jiraiya understood that Orochimaru wouldn't make a move against the Third without a significant degree of confidence. Therefore, Jiraiya was genuinely worried about the Third. He had been rushing towards the Forest of Death the moment he received the news.
It was on the way there that Jiraiya had encountered Kagaya and Kisame. Initially thinking they were two nobodies he could easily capture, it now appeared they were far from being nobodies.
Jiraiya's mind raced. Should he stay here to hold off these two, or should he break past them to rescue the Third?
"Hmph. Though I don't know what you're thinking, we have no interest in dragging this out with you."
Kisame charged forward with the Samehada sword, swinging it heavily at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya shook his head, his long white hair whipping forward to block Kisame's strike.
Both Kisame and Jiraiya were forced back a couple of steps.
Kisame couldn't help but click his tongue in annoyance.
"Damn tough hair."
Jiraiya, meanwhile, looked at the Samehada in Kisame's hand. The moment they made contact, he felt a portion of his chakra being absorbed by that white cloth-wrapped blade.
A blade that absorbs chakra... A face like a shark...
Jiraiya looked at Kisame. "You are... the missing-nin from Kirigakure, former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—Kisame Hoshigaki?"
Kisame smiled, a hint of surprise in his expression. "Oh? One of the famous Sannin knows of me too? What an honor."
Jiraiya couldn't help but sigh. One Uchiha with terrifying speed, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen... This was truly troublesome. Facing both of them alone, his chances of winning weren't high. Even if he did win, it would take him a considerable amount of time. The old man wouldn't be able to hold out that long.
Clang!
Kagaya's kunai slashed again. This time, due to his full concentration, Jiraiya managed to block it with his own kunai.
But that was all he could block. The moment his attack was parried, Kagaya immediately lifted his leg and delivered a powerful kick to Jiraiya's abdomen, sending him flying.
Jiraiya couldn't suppress a grunt of pain as he flew through the air. This guy was too fast! Just after blocking the first strike, before Jiraiya could even react, Kagaya had already kicked him away.
This won't do! I can't keep going like this!
Jiraiya knew that continuing this fight would inevitably lead to his defeat. He had to use stronger techniques. Thinking this, even while airborne, he began forming hand seals.
However, Kagaya instantly caught up to the still-airborne Jiraiya, drawing another kunai and thrusting it towards Jiraiya's chest!
An expression of utter disbelief flashed across Jiraiya's face. He hurriedly tightened his grip on his own kunai, barely managing to deflect Kagaya's attack.
Too fast!!! No time to form seals!!
After facing two attacks, Jiraiya was mentally prepared for Kagaya's speed. Therefore, blocking the attacks was still possible. Yet, even so, Kagaya's speed remained horrifically fast for Jiraiya, leaving him absolutely no time to complete any hand seals!
Kagaya's three tomoe spun, fixing directly on Jiraiya's eyes.
Jiraiya instantly realized Kagaya intended to cast a genjutsu on him and immediately shut his eyes.
By closing his eyes, he did avoid Kagaya's genjutsu. But without his vision, Jiraiya had no way to prevent Kagaya from forming seals himself.
Snake - Ram - Monkey - Boar - Horse - Tiger!
The hand seals were completed in an instant, almost as if there was no process at all.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A point-blank Great Fireball!
Times had changed. The power of Kagaya's Great Fireball was now far beyond what he could muster in the past.
The massive fireball engulfed Jiraiya, crashing down upon him with tremendous force.
BOOM!
A huge explosion erupted instantly. A fierce wind blasted outwards, forcing both Kisame and Kagaya to step back slightly, shielding their faces with their arms.
A moment later, Kagaya lowered his arm, tightening his grip on the kunai.
He had hit Jiraiya with a point-blank Great Fireball. Yet, that Jiraiya had still managed to evade at the last possible moment, escaping with only minor injuries!
It seem the Sannin truly lived up to his reputation!