With his low shout, the kunai in Senju Tobirama's hand instantly shrank, becoming as small as dust.
Meanwhile, his body was pierced by a black chakra rod.
"Heh, one down." Jigen sneered, his gaze carrying the arrogance of a victor.
He reached for Senju Tobirama's neck, intending to end this fight completely.
However, just as his fingers were about to touch Senju Tobirama, Tobirama's figure vanished again, leaving only an afterimage slowly fading in place.
"Space-time ninjutsu..."
A flicker of surprise appeared in Jigen's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by excitement.
"This is getting more and more interesting."
"Everyone be careful. These chakra rods can seal chakra and have a strong restraining effect on Impure World Reincarnation."
As soon as he returned to the group, Senju Tobirama immediately warned in a low voice.
His brows were tightly furrowed; it was clear the previous fight had put him under immense pressure.
He glanced down at his chest. The Impure World body could not repair itself, and the flow of his chakra was affected, as if an invisible force was suppressing his power.
Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly stepped forward and reached out to pull out the black chakra rod embedded in Senju Tobirama's body.
As the chakra rod was removed, Senju Tobirama's Impure World body began to repair at a visible rate, and his chakra flow gradually returned to normal.
"Haah... thanks, Monkey." Senju Tobirama let out a long breath.
He quickly adjusted his state and refocused his attention on Jigen in the distance.
"Heh, not bad." Jigen sneered, his gaze carrying a condescending mockery.
His hands hung casually at his sides, the black chakra rods flickering in and out of sight in his grasp, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment.
Senju Tobirama's gaze quickly swept over everyone, and he said in a low voice, "Brother, Roy, don't attack yet. Monkey and I will engage. You analyze his abilities in the meantime."
His tone carried an unquestionable decisiveness; he had clearly already formulated the next tactical move.
Senju Hashirama nodded. Though his own strength was immense, he understood that rushing in recklessly might disrupt Senju Tobirama's plan.
Roy stood off to the side, a helpless smile on his face.
He knew Jigen's abilities well, but it wasn't the right time to reveal that, so he could only observe silently.
"Understood, Lord Tobirama." Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes showed a flash of determination.
He took a deep breath, his hands quickly forming hand seals, chakra surging wildly within his body.
"Earth Dragon Flame Flow!"
With his low shout, the ground split open instantly, and a massive earth dragon erupted from beneath the surface, charging straight at Jigen with its claws bared.
At the same time, Sarutobi Hiruzen spat out a powerful fireball from his mouth, which merged with the earth dragon, transforming into a colossal flame-breathing dragon that hurtled toward Jigen with devastating force.
On the other side, Senju Tobirama's figure vanished from its spot, and in the next instant, he appeared behind Jigen, his hands rapidly forming hand seals.
"Water Release: Hard Vortex Water Blade!"
A massive water blade coalesced out of thin air and, with a howl that tore through the air, shot straight toward Jigen's back.
Senju Tobirama's gaze was stern, his mind rapidly calculating Jigen's reactions.
"Attacking from two directions. Let's see how you handle this." Senju Tobirama muttered to himself, a cold glint in his eyes.
Jigen stood in place, his gaze quickly shifting between the two attacks, a cold smirk curling at the corner of his mouth.
"You've got plenty of combat experience. Attacking from two directions, are we?" His voice carried a teasing tone, as if the attacks before him were nothing but child's play.
He slowly raised his left hand, his palm acting like a black hole, forcibly absorbing Senju Tobirama's Water Release: Hard Vortex Water Blade entirely.
The water blade dissolved into specks of light in his palm and eventually vanished.
At the same time, he swung his right hand violently. A black chakra rod instantly formed and, with a sharp whistling sound, shot straight toward Sarutobi Hiruzen's Earth Dragon Flame Flow.
"Bang!"
The chakra rod collided with the flame-breathing earth dragon, producing a deafening explosion.
The dragon's body was brutally torn apart by the chakra rod, flames scattering in all directions, dissolving into sparks of ember that faded into the air.
"Hmph. Is that all you've got?" Jigen sneered, his gaze filled with disdain.
A hint of gravity flickered in Senju Tobirama's eyes.
He quickly exchanged a glance with Sarutobi Hiruzen, and both nodded in silent understanding.
Even though their attacks had been effortlessly neutralized by Jigen, they had achieved their purpose—through this exchange, they had further clarified Jigen's abilities.
"His chakra rods have a powerful restraining effect on Impure World Reincarnation. We must be cautious."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded.
"What should we do next?"
Senju Tobirama's gaze was cold and stern as he said in a low voice, "Continue probing. Find his weakness. As soon as we have an opening, we take him down."
Jigen in the distance seemed to sense their intentions, the smirk on his lips widening.
"You ants are laughable with your struggles. But go ahead. Let's see how much longer you can last."
Senju Tobirama's figure flickered rapidly as his hands formed hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!" With his low shout, a massive water dragon surged from beneath the ground and charged at Jigen.
At the same time, Sarutobi Hiruzen also formed hand seals, lightning-release chakra gathering around him.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Water Dragon Bullet!"
The water dragon and the lightning intertwined, transforming into a giant dragon crackling with electric light.
But Jigen simply watched it all coldly.
His patience had run out. He no longer wished to waste time on these "insects."
His eyes suddenly changed, black patterns spreading across his irises.
" Sukunahikona!"
"Daikokuten!"
With his low shout, countless tiny chakra rods materialized around him, then instantly shrank to a size invisible to the naked eye.
In the next moment, these chakra rods suddenly enlarged around Senju Tobirama and Sarutobi Hiruzen, piercing Sarutobi Hiruzen's body like a torrential rain.
"Pfft!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's body was pierced by countless chakra rods.
His body shuddered slightly, then he collapsed to the ground, the flow of his chakra completely sealed.
Senju Tobirama reacted extremely quickly. The instant the chakra rods enlarged, his figure vanished abruptly, using the Flying Thunder God Technique to evade the fatal strike.
His figure reappeared in the distance, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"Tch." Jigen let out a cold snort, his gaze locking onto Senju Tobirama.
Senju Tobirama's figure flickered rapidly across the battlefield. The Flying Thunder God Technique made him as elusive as a ghost.
Though Jigen's attacks were fierce, before the Flying Thunder God, they consistently failed to hit their mark.
"Water Release: Water Blade Slash!"
Senju Tobirama shouted softly, channeling water-release chakra into the kunai in his hand, a faint watery sheen rippling across its surface.
His figure vanished again, and in the next instant, he was behind Jigen, the kunai stabbing straight toward Jigen's back.
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