"Sage Art: Thousand Needle Jizo!"
This was a ninjutsu that required no hand seals—just harden one's hair and shoot it out like a volley of needles. With the help of the two Toad Sages, Jiraiya could make the hair ROOTs come alive, allowing him to fire endlessly without pause.
Seeing Jiraiya's attack, Seisui charged straight toward him, ignoring everything else.
Jiraiya, still restrained by Seisui's water technique, needed time to break free.
When he saw Seisui rushing at him without dodging, he froze for a moment, a flash of memory surfacing—the first time he had met this boy.
That giant panda, Panda Ming, had done the exact same thing.
As expected, the thousand hardened hair needles struck Seisui but were all blocked by the white glow surrounding him, ringing out with the sound of clashing steel.
Pushing through the barrage, Seisui swung his blade and slashed straight across Jiraiya's throat.
But the next instant, Jiraiya's body turned into a block of wood—a substitution jutsu!
His real form reappeared a short distance away.
"Phew… that was close." Jiraiya patted his chest, looking as though he'd just escaped death.
He wasn't exaggerating—had he been a second slower in breaking free, that would've been the end of him.
That would've been truly embarrassing.
As he was catching his breath, Minato's voice suddenly rang out behind him.
"Youth is the Flying Raijin!"
Minato appeared above Jiraiya's head, a Rasengan in hand, and slammed it downward like a crushing cap.
"Fire Blade!" Uchiha Haru, having broken free of the genjutsu, drew her sword. A crescent-shaped arc of flame shot toward Jiraiya.
"Youth is the Body Dominating Rasenshuriken!"
Seisui tossed his katana aside—his hands now holding a massive Sage Art: Rasenshuriken.
"Let's see how you handle this!" he said, hurling it forward.
The Rasenshuriken spun furiously through the air—above it was Minato's Rasengan, and from the sides came Haru's flaming slash and Minato's follow-up strike.
Jiraiya barely dodged, but Minato's blow sent his head snapping back—and then poof! Jiraiya's body dispersed into white mist once again.
He emerged from Minato's shadow, grinning. "That's terrifying, really!"
In the same motion, he grabbed Minato's ankle.
"Four Limbs Weighting Seal!"
A sealing array flared beneath Minato, and Jiraiya twisted his body, flinging him away like a rag doll.
Jiraiya was no stranger to sealing techniques—this one had sealed Naruto's jutsu in the original tale, cutting off his chakra flow.
Minato felt it immediately—his Flying Raijin no longer worked.
Forming a quick seal, he muttered, "Seal Release!"
Three years of studying sealing arts weren't for nothing.
Undoing this one was simple for him.
The moment the seal lifted, Minato vanished and reappeared behind Jiraiya, slicing with a tri-pronged kunai that released a blade of wind.
"This is troublesome…" Jiraiya muttered as he sensed Haru's flaming slash and Seisui's Rasenshuriken closing in. He flickered away, hands weaving signs.
"Sage Art: Goemon!"
A combined Sage Technique of Jiraiya and the two Toad Sages—oil from Jiraiya, Wind Style from Fukasaku, Fire Style from Shima.
The result: a sea of boiling oil at thousands of degrees, hotter than the surface of the sun, capable of dissolving all matter in an instant.
"Minato, take Haru and get out of here!" Seisui shouted seriously, giving Minato a knowing glance.
"Got it!"
Minato understood immediately. He dashed over, leaving the mark of his "Sword of Love" on Seisui's coat before vanishing to Haru's side. The two disappeared from the battlefield together.
From afar, Nagato and his friends had already recovered. Though the Frog Song had affected them earlier, it hadn't been too severe from that distance.
Watching the battlefield filled with overwhelming ninjutsu, Yahiko couldn't help but gulp.
"So this is the power of Jiraiya-sensei and his disciples…"
"It's amazing!"
"No," said Minato, who had just appeared beside them with Haru, shaking his head. "It's the power of Jiraiya-sensei… and Seisui."
He looked out at the blazing oil-filled battlefield. "Sensei's ninjutsu really is incredible."
The sudden appearance of the two startled Yahiko and the others.
"Minato-senpai, Haru-senpai! You appeared out of nowhere!" Konan said shyly—she knew better than to pry into another's jutsu, but she was curious.
Minato smiled. "It's my technique—the fastest in the ninja world.
But… even with that, I'm still not Jiraiya-sensei's match."
Konan, Yahiko, and Nagato exchanged admiring glances.
"So cool…" Yahiko breathed. "Jiraiya-sensei really is strong. It's no shame losing to him."
"Exactly," Haru added. "Minato, you should work on jutsu with greater power and range. You're fine against normal shinobi, but against someone like Jiraiya—you'd only be able to run."
Though she kept her guard up around Minato, she still offered sincere advice as a teammate.
Minato thought deeply for a moment before smiling. "Thanks, Haru. I'll try developing something new.
Can't keep letting Seisui do all the heavy lifting."
He looked toward Seisui, who was still standing amid the molten battlefield.
"Can you make it any hotter?" Seisui called out, half his body submerged in the boiling oil, brow furrowed.
"This temperature still feels a bit lacking."
Jiraiya twitched. "Oh really? You're complaining now? Then I won't hold back!"
"Sage Art: Swamp of the Underworld!"
Still spewing oil, Jiraiya pressed a hand to the ground, turning it soft and viscous.
The swamp expanded beneath Seisui, sucking him in.
But Seisui's expression didn't change.
"Old man, do you really think this will beat me?"
Seeing Seisui trapped between Goemon's oil and his swamp, Jiraiya smirked.
Just a brat—how could he possibly win?
"Summoning: Clay!"
A scroll appeared in Seisui's hand—and Minato's eyes went wide.
He remembered that blast all too well.
"RUN!" Minato shouted, grabbing Nagato and Yahiko, sprinting away at top speed.
Haru did the same, seizing Konan and bolting.
Seeing them flee, Jiraiya's heart sank. He moved to stop Seisui, but he was too late.
Seisui unrolled the scroll—and waves of explosive clay poured out beneath his feet.
Minato, glancing back mid-run, went pale.
There was so much more than last time—ten times more.
"This is insane!" he gasped, turning back and running harder.
Seisui grinned, watching Jiraiya stop his attack. "Too late to back out now."
He pressed a hand to the ground, chakra surging—
The clay began glowing red-hot.
"Jiraiya-sensei," he called out, smiling wide. "Enjoy it.
This is the beauty of art!"
Then he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Minato! Save me!"
Without hesitation, Minato appeared beside him, grabbed him by the collar, and vanished again—all in one smooth motion.
The two reappeared far away, exchanging a brief look before sprinting with everything they had, carrying Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan as they fled.
Behind them, Jiraiya watched the glowing clay.
Fukasaku and Shima's voices spoke in his mind.
"Jiraiya-boy, this clay feels dangerous."
"Yes, something's off about it."
Even with Sage Mode's heightened senses, the danger rolling off that clay was overwhelming.
Jiraiya sighed. "You two should return. Even if we don't die here, the pain won't be pleasant."
"No need," Shima replied with a grin. "We'd like to experience death ourselves."
"Indeed," Fukasaku agreed. "It'll be quite the experience."
Jiraiya smiled faintly. "Even facing death, you two never change."
He gathered chakra in his legs and bolted.
But it was already too late.
The clay's glow reached its peak—
BOOM!
BOOOOOOM!
An explosion beyond imagination tore through the battlefield.
Even Jiraiya, though fleeing at full speed, was consumed instantly, reduced to dust by the roaring flames.
Far away, Seisui and the others didn't dare look back.
But Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan couldn't resist turning their heads.
What they saw froze them in awe—
A colossal mushroom cloud rising into the sky.
A massive shockwave rolled toward them.
Konan stared, eyes wide.
"So beautiful…" she whispered.
"One day, I'll make an explosion like that too."
Hearing that, Seisui turned his head slightly, speechless.
You will, he thought. And yours will be even greater.
Then he winced, remembering Konan's future—billions of explosive tags.
Even if it wasn't his money, it hurt to think about.
So many tags… so much wasted ryo…
The explosion went on and on, until finally the battlefield began to dissolve, reality returning.
When they opened their eyes again, they were back in the real world.
The first thing Seisui felt was a thunk on his forehead.
"You little brat!" Jiraiya roared, flicking him hard. "You needed that big of an explosion just to hit me?!"
Rubbing his head, Seisui grumbled, "Well, sensei, you're too strong! What else could I do?"
That soothed Jiraiya's pride.
At least it wasn't that humiliating.
"Sensei, you were amazing!" Yahiko said eagerly. "I wish I could be as strong as you all!"
"You can," Seisui smiled. "Just put in the effort others won't, and you'll surpass them someday."
Yahiko nodded seriously.
Jiraiya looked at his six disciples, smiling softly.
"Alright," he said. "Now tell me—why exactly did you come looking for me?"
Minato blinked. "You… don't know?"
"What would I know?" Jiraiya asked, confused.
"The Hokage sent us here to find you," Seisui explained. "He said there was a mission you'd brief us on."
Jiraiya stared. "Huh?!"
A moment later, realization dawned. That old man… I see what he's doing.
"Well, looks like you're with me for now," Jiraiya said. "You'll help me teach these three."
He sighed inwardly. So that's it. The old man didn't trust them to handle missions alone.
But after witnessing their power, he almost laughed.
Three elite jonin in one team—what's there not to trust?
With Seisui's combat arena, Minato's Flying Raijin, Haru's fire, and those damn clay bombs…
Even he might get beaten senseless by the three of them.
Sure, he could've escaped using reverse summoning in reality—but if Seisui pulled him into that battle of his, there'd be no running.
Thinking that, Jiraiya felt both frustrated and oddly proud.
Being surpassed by one's students… was a complicated feeling.
Seisui ignored his expression, forming hand seals and summoning a large scroll.
When Jiraiya and Minato saw it, they both jumped up.
"Y-You! What are you doing with that?!" Minato's voice shook.
He hadn't thrown any marked kunai—if that scroll exploded, there'd be no surviving.
"Relax," Seisui snapped. "I'm not suicidal. It's just a summoning scroll."
He unrolled it and handed it to Haru.
Her eyes softened with emotion. "Is it really alright?"
"Of course," Seisui said. "Once you sign a contract with the Panda Clan, you can contact me anytime through them.
And since even Minato can learn Sage Mode, you can't fall behind."
Minato's face darkened. "What do you mean even I?!"
"Pipe down, Minato. I'm the captain—I say what I want!"
Their banter made Jiraiya chuckle—it felt nostalgic somehow.
Haru pricked her finger and signed the contract in blood.
Seisui nodded and dismissed the scroll.
A moment later, Haru's fingers flashed through hand seals. "Summoning Jutsu!"
Seisui paled. "Wait—don't—!"
But it was too late.
With a puff of smoke, the Panda Sage appeared.
Seeing who it was, Seisui sighed in relief. At least it wasn't one of the massive ones—otherwise the house would've been crushed.
"Oh, it's you, little girl," said the Panda Sage gruffly. "I was wondering who this brat gave the contract to. Turns out it's his girlfriend, huh?"
"Hello, Panda Sage," Haru greeted politely.
The old panda grinned from ear to ear. "Good, good! Polite and respectful—unlike some people." He shot Seisui a glare and snorted.
Jiraiya blinked. Why does this panda sound like a gang boss?
The Panda Sage turned back to Haru.
"With the Panda Clan at your back, who dares claim invincibility? If you're in trouble, call me!
The Panda Clan's eight hundred warriors still have plenty of fight left in them!"
"Can you summon all eight hundred?" Seisui deadpanned. "You'd drain me dry before that."
"That's because you're weak! The last contractor summoned them all on day one!"
"Sure, sure," Seisui said dryly. There was no previous contractor.
"You—!" The Panda Sage clenched his paws, trembling. "Hmph! Don't expect my help next time!"
With a puff of smoke, he vanished.
Jiraiya scratched his cheek. "…You two have a unique relationship."
Seisui shrugged. "He's just a playful old fool. It's how we get along."
Then he turned to Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.
"Will you come with me to Konoha? There, you can live peacefully—safe and happy."
Nagato and Konan hesitated, but Yahiko shook his head firmly.
"No. I want to stay here—to bring peace to this land!"
"Peace?" Seisui smiled faintly. "And what is peace, to you?"
Jiraiya leaned back with interest. He wanted to hear their answer too.
Yahiko answered without hesitation, "Peace is when people can live safely—when they have food, clothes, and homes. When there's no war, no pain."
"And how will you achieve that?" Seisui asked.
"By gathering like-minded people," Yahiko said passionately. "We'll spread our ideals to everyone!"
"And if someone doesn't agree with your ideals?"
"Then we'll part ways."
"And what if they're not satisfied with that?" Seisui pressed.
Yahiko faltered. "Not satisfied? Why wouldn't they be? If everyone's fed and clothed, what's there to complain about?"
Minato sighed softly. Yahiko still thought in ideals, not reality.
Seisui glanced at him, signaling him to continue the next question.
Minato exhaled, then said, "Then tell us, Seisui—what's the real way to achieve peace…?"
"Then how do you make people forget their hatred?"
"On my way here," Seisui said calmly, "I saw many kinds of people in Amegakure—commoners, bandits, wandering shinobi, even Ame-nin."
"They were all full of resentment toward one another."
"This…" Yahiko hesitated, at a loss for words.
Seeing that he couldn't answer, Seisui shot Minato a knowing glance.
Minato sighed helplessly but played along. "Then tell us, Seisui—what is the true path to peace?"
"Good question!" Seisui clapped his hands on the table, grinning. "Back in Konoha, I liked talking with people."
"Along the road here, I did the same—learning about all kinds of folks."
"I saw people from every walk of life."
He paused for a moment before continuing. "Ordinary people just want enough food and clothes to live. Bandits and raiders chase after gold, fine food, and drink."
"And above them?"
"The wandering shinobi wish to seize some territory and rule as local lords. Wealthy merchants want to become nobles, nobles want purer bloodlines, and daimyō… they dream of immortality, of enjoying their lives forever."
"Everyone is chasing something. No one is ever content."
Minato exchanged a brief look with Uchiha Haru.
When did he see all that? We've been together this whole time. How could he have met merchants, nobles, or even daimyō?
Though puzzled, Minato kept quiet, simply listening.
Seisui's words left everyone stunned.
"Men toil all day for a meal,
Once fed, they long for finer wear.
With clothes and food, they crave a beauty fair,
With wife and son, they sigh for land to share.
With fields and homes, they lack a steed,
With horse in stall, they still lament their need—
That strength eludes them, and the strong take heed."
He softly recited the old verse he remembered from his past life, though only the first half—he couldn't recall the rest.
"Human desire is like a boulder rolling down a mountain," Seisui said slowly. "Once it starts, it can never be stopped."
His words struck Yahiko and the others deeply. Even Jiraiya unconsciously straightened his posture, his expression turning solemn.
"Then, Master Seisui," Yahiko asked with a lost look, "how can the path to peace ever be achieved?"
"It's simple," Seisui replied.
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