"Poison? Since when did you start using poison, Kazuyama?"
Jiraiya also glanced at Kazuyama in surprise.
The latter simply responded with an eye roll.
"Come on, my sensei is Orochimaru. Isn't it only natural for me to use poison?"
"The Three Sannin's vices are gambling, lust, and drugs."
"Lust is obviously you, Lord Jiraiya."
"My sensei, Orochimaru, represents drugs, and Lady Tsunade is gambling."
"Tsk tsk, you're not the Three Legendary Sannin—you're the Three Great Vices of Konoha…"
If there was one thing Kazuyama excelled at, it was definitely his mouth.
Every word he spoke was like a rusty sword coated with tetanus, stabbing deep into people's hearts.
It hurt, and it was poisonous!
Jiraiya's face darkened, while Minato covered his mouth, struggling to suppress his laughter.
I mustn't laugh! This is my sensei! I have to hold it in!
"Kazuyama, you've got it all wrong!" Jiraiya protested.
"Why am I labeled as 'lust'?"
Kazuyama shot him a knowing glance before calmly exposing Jiraiya's shameful past.
"Peeping at the women's bathhouse…"
"Even dragging the Third Hokage along with you…"
"He claimed it was for research, but he was just peeping…"
"Not only that, you even wrote a book about it…"
"And do you know why Minato has blond hair? Because you're the very embodiment of 'yellow' (黄)—as in lust, aren't you?"
"Hey, Lord Jiraiya… maybe it's time you reflected on yourself."
Jiraiya's face grew redder and redder, but as Kazuyama finished, his expression suddenly returned to normal. He looked up slightly, sighing deeply.
"It's all for the sake of art…"
Kazuyama couldn't take it anymore and nearly kicked him.
Minato Namikaze, meanwhile, fell into deep thought. My hair has always been yellow… Could this really have something to do with Jiraiya-sensei?
"I can't listen to this anymore."
"I'm releasing the poison. Jiraiya, Minato, cover me."
"Remember, as long as I'm inside, don't come near me. If something happens, I won't be responsible."
With that, Kazuyama activated his Transparent Escape Technique and vanished.
As he moved, Jiraiya and Minato exchanged glances before swiftly advancing. Minato already had his kunai in hand, ready for battle.
"Jiraiya-sensei… did you really take Lord Third to peep at the women's bathhouse?" Minato suddenly asked hesitantly.
Jiraiya shot him an annoyed glare.
"Too bad for you, Minato. Last time, I invited you to come along, but you flat-out refused."
"What's this? Having second thoughts now?"
Minato quickly shook his head, but his eyes flickered as if he was contemplating something.
What he was thinking, no one knew.
Meanwhile, Kazuyama had already made his way to the edge of the large pit he had observed earlier.
He crouched down—then jumped.
"Chōmei, let's get started. I need a lot of paralytic powder."
"Remember, a lot!"
Chōmei chuckled and, without a word, began using his chakra to condense Scale Powder.
Since the amount required this time was immense, the process took longer than usual.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya and Minato, stationed at the pit, were fully focused on their surroundings. They had been waiting for ten minutes.
Jiraiya's heart pounded as more and more Iwa ninja sped past in their direction.
"Damn it, Kazuyama, why aren't you done yet?"
Though Jiraiya and Minato remained well hidden, the Iwa group included sensor ninja.
As they advanced, a thin-looking ninja suddenly let out a quiet exclamation.
A swarm of bees had suddenly appeared around him. His eyes locked onto a distant tree branch.
"Someone's there! My bees sensed something!"
"In that tree!"
He raised his hand, pointing straight at Jiraiya's hiding spot.
Immediately, several Iwa ninja drew their weapons and launched an attack toward the tree.
"Damn it, are those the Kamizuru Clan's bees?"
"Cut the crap, we have to fight!"
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
Since he had already been discovered, Jiraiya didn't hesitate. He unleashed a fierce wave of fire at the oncoming enemies.
"It's a Konoha ninja!"
"That face—it's Jiraiya, one of the Konoha Sannin!"
"Hurry up and signal!"
The Kamizuru Clan ninja shouted the moment he recognized Jiraiya.
At the same time, he thrust his hands forward, and countless bees instantly whizzed out of his body.
"Damn it! These pesky bees are bringing back bad memories!"
"I'll give you something to remember!"
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Jiraiya's face twitched slightly at the sight of the swarming bees. As he had said, they brought back bad memories.
Back when he was a child… well, forget it, better not to mention those sad memories!
Fueled by irritation, he unleashed an even stronger Fire Release technique.
A wave of high-temperature flames instantly incinerated the bees, turning them to ash.
At the same time, the fire engulfed two Iwa ninja, reducing their team from four to two.
One unfortunate Kamizuru Clan member had even been burned to death by his own bees.
"Damn it! My bees!"
"Too bad! The signal has been sent—reinforcements will be here soon!"
"Even if you are Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, you'll be crushed under the might of Iwagakure's forces!"
The Kamizuru Clan was Iwagakure's insect-user clan, as renowned as the Aburame Clan.
But once a large number of their bees were destroyed, they lost their fangs and became completely powerless.
"Hmph! If you want to kill me, then come on—enough talk."
Jiraiya glanced at the two remaining enemies, his expression filled with disdain.
He had survived all kinds of battles. Even Hanzō of the Salamander had failed to kill him—why would he fear a few Iwagakure ninja?
Just as he was about to act, someone beat him to it.
In an instant, a figure with yellow hair appeared behind the Kamizuru ninja and decapitated him in a single strike.
The last surviving Iwa ninja turned to flee but was cut down just as swiftly.
"Jiraiya-sensei, this isn't good."
"We've been exposed."
Minato shook the blood off his kunai, his expression serious as he looked at his sensei.
Jiraiya nodded, anxiety flickering in his eyes.
"That brat Kazuyama… is it not over yet?"
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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