Kakashi, having long since moved past his old self, showed no mercy and unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks.
Though Jiraiya's physique was imposing, under the overwhelming suppression of the new cultivation system, he couldn't even retaliate.
But Jiraiya wouldn't dare come alone without some sort of contingency plan.
"Path of Asura: Mechanized Armor!"
Jiraiya's upper garments tore open, and four additional arms bizarrely extended from his back.
Transforming into a six-armed Asura, Jiraiya, though far weaker in raw power than Kakashi, managed to barely hold his ground thanks to the advantage of extra limbs.
Moreover, having fully mastered Sage Mode, Jiraiya also possessed another form of taijutsu.
Toad Style!
A taijutsu derived from the Great Toad Sage lineage of Mount Myōboku. Though Jiraiya's six-armed style resembled that of a giant spider more than anything else, practicality mattered most. The two began their close-quarters battle.
Jiraiya aimed to capture Kakashi alive, and Kakashi, in turn, sought to subdue Jiraiya. Kakashi had keenly noticed that the origin of Jiraiya's Rinnegan was highly suspicious.
According to the intelligence Ye Wen had provided, there were only two pairs of Rinnegan in the ninja world over the past millennium.
One pair was crafted by the Warlord of the Ninja World after spending half his life unraveling the mysteries of Yin and Yang.
The other belonged to the progenitor of ninjas—the Sage of Six Paths.
Recalling the ancient intelligence about the ninja world obtained from Kaguya, Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
"So, that thousand-year-old toad couldn't resist meddling again?"
The Sage of Six Paths' Rinnegan wasn't something easily acquired. Only that ancient toad, who called the Sage of Six Paths his brother, could have had it entrusted to him—it made perfect sense.
At this thought, a flicker of killing intent flashed in Kakashi's eyes.
This unprecedented peace would not be allowed to be disrupted by anyone.
Suddenly retreating to create distance between himself and Jiraiya, Kakashi decided to end the fight swiftly.
"Eight Gates Release Technique: Night Guy! Open!"
A powerful surge of blue steam erupted. Already possessing physical capabilities rivaling Maito Guy's seventh gate, Kakashi now unlocked the seventh gate's limits, reaching the realm of Guy's future eighth gate.
"One!"
Without further words, Kakashi launched a devastating kick toward Jiraiya.
The impact, far beyond the reaction speed of any ordinary person, struck Jiraiya despite his preparations, sending him flying several kilometers away.
Though this attack didn't cause fatal injuries, Jiraiya was left in an undeniably battered state, staring incredulously at Kakashi as he closed in.
"What kind of power is this? Is this really the extent of taijutsu's destructive capability?"
Kakashi's gaze remained cold, showing no intention to respond, and immediately delivered a second kick mid-air.
"Two!"
The essence of the Eight Gates technique was to remove the body's limitations, unleashing strength so powerful it damaged the user's own flesh.
Though not yet the Eighth Gate, Kakashi's current state was comparable to it.
Witnessing the terrifying might of Kakashi's attacks, Jiraiya dared not underestimate him further.
But the limits of a shinobi's physical endurance were simply too low. Unable to evade, Jiraiya directly activated Shinra Tensei.
Two powerful shockwaves collided, their combined force wreaking havoc like a typhoon. In mere moments, the once-dense forest surrounding them was reduced to a barren wasteland riddled with craters.
A flicker of astonishment crossed Kakashi's eyes. The Shinra Tensei Nagato had used lacked this level of devastation. The scene before him could only be achieved by Nagato's supercharged Shinra Tensei after prolonged preparation.
"These eyes truly live up to being the Sage of Six Paths' Rinnegan—they're far superior to Uchiha Madara's."
At the same time, Kakashi became even more certain of his suspicions: the Rinnegan in Jiraiya's eyes was indeed the Sage of Six Paths' eye.
But so what? The Sage of Six Paths' puppet master had been personally captured by Ye Wen and handed over to Kaguya right in front of Kakashi. No matter how strong, the Sage of Six Paths was ultimately limited.
Kakashi's gaze toward Jiraiya now carried a hint of pity for someone courting death.
Realizing that Kakashi's strength far exceeded his expectations, Jiraiya began to feel overwhelmed. This wasn't how the original plan was supposed to go.
But—like a dragon returning to the sea, if the sea won't welcome it, the dragon must make its own way!
There was no time left for posturing. Jiraiya took a deep breath, his resolve hardening.
Facing such an opponent, there was no room for holding back. Jiraiya steeled himself, and the abilities of the Naraka Path and Human Path began manifesting around him.
Meanwhile, Kakashi descended rapidly through free fall.
Without a word, both parties attacked simultaneously.
Kakashi judged that simple ranged attacks would be ineffective against Shinra Tensei and opted for close combat instead.
After all, the Eight Gates technique, like an Ultraman transformation, had a time limit. Even with his enhanced physique, Kakashi couldn't sustain its use indefinitely.
Jiraiya, on the other hand, concluded that conventional ninjutsu was useless against Kakashi and resorted to eerie soul-based techniques.
Both combatants' eyes burned with unwavering determination as they unleashed a frenzy of attacks upon each other!
Each of Kakashi's punches carried the terrifying power to shatter mountains. How could Jiraiya, a fragile shinobi, possibly withstand such blows head-on? Within moments, five of his six arms were obliterated, and a gruesome hole pierced through his abdomen, revealing the scenery behind him.
It was clear that Kakashi was going for the kill.
Jiraiya's eyes widened in disbelief. Despite using the soul-attacking abilities of the Human Path, he felt as though he were striking a mountain forged from solid iron—completely immovable.
By this point, the injuries Jiraiya sustained left him unable to think clearly, his entire body wracked with excruciating pain.
Seeing Jiraiya lose the ability to move, Kakashi deactivated the Eight Gates and quickly formed a ki-infused scalpel in his hand, slicing across Jiraiya's body to sever his tendons and disable him completely.
But that wasn't enough. Kakashi then applied a full set of sealing techniques to Jiraiya.
"It's over, Jiraiya."
Kakashi spoke coldly, preparing to take Jiraiya back for treatment and interrogation.
At this moment, Jiraiya coughed up a mouthful of blood, his battered form staring at Kakashi with utmost despair.
The overwhelming disparity in intelligence was laid bare once more—even with strength comparable to the Sage of Six Paths, Jiraiya had been utterly crushed.
Suddenly, Kakashi sensed something amiss. Instead of despair, Jiraiya's eyes burned with intense fighting spirit.
"Something's wrong?!"
The thought had barely formed when Kakashi activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, its tomoe spinning rapidly as he tried to discern the issue with Jiraiya.
"Kakashi, you've won this time, but I won't give up.
*Crunch.*"
As his words faded, Jiraiya seemed to bite down on something, producing a crisp sound that caught Kakashi's attention.
Remembering something, Kakashi's expression changed. A thick mist enveloped Jiraiya's body, and he vanished.
"Reverse Summoning Technique."
Kakashi's expression darkened. He realized he should have added a contract seal to his earlier sealing package—otherwise, how could Jiraiya have escaped using this space-time ninjutsu?
Back at Mount Myōboku, Jiraiya wasted no time speaking. Instead, he immediately channeled the chakra he had pre-stored within the Rinnegan, activating the abilities of the Naraka Path.
A ghastly figure resembling Enma, the King of Hell, rose from the ground and swallowed Jiraiya whole, chewing him thoroughly.
Spit.
Jiraiya reappeared, revived.
At this moment, the three Great Sages of Mount Myōboku silently observed Jiraiya, hoping to extract valuable intelligence from him.
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