Like a comet crashing into the Earth, a blinding golden flash instantly filled Jiraiya's entire field of vision. Shiki, having transformed into a cluster of pure light, appeared right in front of the Sannin in the blink of an eye. Wary of any unforeseen surprises, Shiki didn't even waste time on his signature catchphrase. He simply planted his foot squarely into Jiraiya's stomach!
The golden radiance seared the eyes, and the monstrous force of the blow tore Jiraiya's body to pieces, which immediately melted away into a cloud of smoke. But the golden flash didn't stop; piercing through the smokescreen, it hurtled onward and crashed into the trees deep within the Forest of Death.
Watching the approaching beam of light, the real Jiraiya, who was hiding in the thicket, felt a chill run down his spine. His intuition, honed by years of ceaseless battles, screamed at him: if he didn't treat this attack with the utmost seriousness, things could end very badly. Without a second thought, he bit his finger and summoned a gigantic fragment of a toad's stomach to shield himself from the impact.
The golden flash culminated in a colossal explosion, sweeping away everything in its path.
BOOM!
A deafening roar shook the forest. Roaring flames devoured centuries-old trees, scattering flocks of frantically cawing crows.
At that exact same moment, far, far away from Konoha, on Mount Myoboku, the Great Iwayado Toad suddenly let out a heart-rending wail. This colossal toad, the largest on the entire mountain, rarely opened its eyes, but now it grumbled in displeasure, "Just what kind of monster did that brat Jiraiya manage to pick a fight with?!"
It was a part of its body that Jiraiya had just summoned to block Shiki's light-based attack. The Great Iwayado Toad's size was comparable to a mountain, so even a Sannin could only summon a tiny fragment of its stomach.
"Sorry about that, Great Iwayado Toad," Jiraiya muttered, patting the stomach wall before canceling the Summoning Jutsu.
Shiki, standing a short distance away, still maintained his posture from the kick. Jiraiya's clone had vanished without a trace, leaving behind nothing but a bell, half-melted from the unbearable heat. Only now did Shiki, leisurely stuffing his hands into his pockets, deliver his signature catchphrase:
"Speed is power."
The hair cocoons binding Kushina and Minato crumbled to dust along with the clone's disappearance. Freed, they still couldn't recover from the shock. They stared at Shiki with wide eyes that conveyed a silent question: Just what kind of monster are you?!
Rubbing his aching temples, Jiraiya emerged from the Forest of Death. He, too, looked at Shiki as if he were some sort of monster. Then, his gaze shifted to Kushina. His eyes practically screamed: So which one of you is the Kyuubi jinchuriki, anyway?! Recalling the recent attack, Jiraiya still felt a slight tremor. Even an experienced Konoha Jonin, had they taken such a hit unprepared, would have walked away with severe injuries at best.
Shiki lowered his leg. A barely perceptible rustle echoed from the nearby bushes. If his intuition was correct, a report detailing his incredible abilities was already flying to the ears of the Third Hokage via the Anbu operatives. However, that concerned him little. The main thing right now was something else entirely...
"Jiraiya-sensei, we won, right?" Shiki hooked the half-melted bell with his finger.
Jiraiya merely threw his hands up in defeat. The condition of the test was to take the bell. Shiki hadn't just taken it—he had literally pulverized his shadow clone! What complaints could he possibly have?
"The test is passed. And passed with flying colors," he admitted with a heavy sigh. Although he hadn't managed to knock these youngsters down a peg and deliver a pompous lecture on the importance of the bonds of camaraderie as he had planned, Shiki's display of power instilled him with confidence: the future of Konoha was in safe hands. So what if the kid was as lazy as a seal; with that kind of strength, it was forgivable.
"Splendid," Shiki shoved his hands into his pockets, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He turned to Kushina. "So, about those fifty thousand ryo?"
Kushina rolled her eyes. "Don't worry, I pay my debts!" Though deep down, she was already bitterly regretting her promise. Having arrived in Konoha all alone, she received a modest stipend, and fifty thousand ryo made up her entire budget for a whole month.
Shiki scoffed dismissively. "Alright, whatever. You can pay me back once you start earning money from missions." He casually draped his cloak bearing the word "Justice" over his shoulders and resumed his usual relaxed demeanor. Looking at this slacker, it was impossible to believe that just a minute ago, he had delivered such a devastating blow.
Dusting off his cloak, Shiki glanced at his wristwatch and raised a hand. "Um, Jiraiya-sensei, it's already five o'clock. Isn't it time for us to... clock out?"
Jiraiya sighed in resignation. This kid... his laziness simply knew no bounds! It was only five in the evening... But remembering how this slacker had obliterated his clone with a single strike, Jiraiya couldn't find the strength to object.
"Yeah, that's all for today. You're dismissed."
Shiki immediately turned around and strode off. Kushina and Minato exchanged glances and shook their heads in unison. Jiraiya hesitated for a moment before suggesting, "Listen, since this is our first time gathering as a team, how about we go get some barbecue? My treat."
Shiki slowly turned back around, thoughtfully scratching his chin. "Now that sounds highly tempting."
Kushina's face darkened with anger. She marched up to Shiki and grabbed him firmly by the shoulder.
"Damn it, Shiki! I suggest you wipe that smug grin off your face and start talking normally!"