"Mei-sama!"
On the deck, Ao, who was about to help, was startled when he saw the two people suddenly disappear, and couldn't help but call out.
Watching this, Naruto couldn't help but feel that Izumi's ability was quite useful. No matter how strong the opponent was, she could pull them into a one-on-one duel.
"Tell the others not to come any closer."
Naruto spoke to Inabi. After all, he didn't have the ability to trap people in a one-on-one duel. The upcoming battle would be intense, and it was best to avoid unnecessary losses.
"Understood!" Inabi immediately pulled out another signal flare from his Ninja Pouch and launched it.
Seeing the signal flare, the two ships behind them began to turn around.
"Damn it!"
Ao was furious at Naruto's dismissive attitude, but his own strength was insufficient. Moreover, Chojuro was still pinned under an Uchiha's foot.
"Jiraiya-dono, are you just going to stand there and watch?"
Ao shouted through gritted teeth, suddenly feeling a pang of regret, 'When had the Land of Waves become so strong?!'
Kakashi glanced at Naruto, who stood above them with a smile, then hesitated before looking at Jiraiya, who was slowly regaining his composure.
Just now, when Jiraiya looked at Naruto's appearance, he couldn't help but fall into memories.
The golden hair, the blue eyes, and the confident smile… it was as if he was looking at his most accomplished disciple once more.
However, despite the identical appearance, the path this young man had taken was entirely different.
Jiraiya looked at Naruto with a bitter expression, his voice tinged with sorrow: "Naruto, perhaps you don't know this yet... I was your father's teacher..."
"Is that so? That's quite a surprising revelation."
Naruto's face held a hint of mockery, and the Uchiha behind him exchanged strange glances. After all, they had met Minato.
"Then... do you know who your father is?" Jiraiya's face lit up with excitement.
"Namikaze Minato? The legendary Yondaime Hokage?"
Jiraiya's excited expression froze: "You... Naruto, the reason you suffered in the village was because no one knew your identity. I share some of the blame for that..."
"Enough, Jiraiya!"
Naruto cut off Jiraiya's rambling and said in a flat tone: "I will return to Konoha."
Before Jiraiya could show any joy, Naruto continued, "When my army reaches Konoha, I'll listen to the Will of Fire once more."
Jiraiya's expression darkened as he suddenly remembered the Great Toad Sage's prophecy.
'The blue-eyed boy who controls the Tailed Beasts...'
Jiraiya's eyes slowly widened, and he stared at Naruto in a daze.
"Naruto, what exactly are you trying to do?"
"Jiraiya, after searching for the Child of Prophecy for so many years, have you ever stopped to truly look at the world?"
"What are you trying to say?"
Jiraiya's expression became incredibly complex. He didn't expect he would have to kill his own disciple's child.
"You want to gaze at the sky, but you have no idea how vast it truly is. Jiraiya, after spending so much time with the toads, you've become a frog sitting at the bottom of a well, seeing only a sliver of the sky."
"This world is too chaotic, and the old order is already in ruins. I will create a new world, Jiraiya. Would you like to join me in witnessing the last remnants of the old era?"
Jiraiya's face had completely darkened. Staring at Naruto, he realized that Naruto was the Child of Destruction, the one who had strayed onto the wrong path.
"Naruto, your actions will plunge the entire Ninja World into war. The Five Great Nations will be devastated, countless people will lose their homes, and you have completely lost your way!"
"Hahaha--"
Naruto couldn't help but let out a low laugh. He looked down at Jiraiya from above, his eyes filled with mockery.
"Jiraiya, you're too arrogant. You firmly believe that you're right, yet you fail to see that in just fifty years, the Ninja World has already endured three world wars. How many people from the smaller nations, turned into battlefields, have died?"
"No, perhaps you've always seen it. You just never cared, because you only know how to run away. You believe that the visions of some toads can change the world, yet you've never thought to use your own hands to make even the slightest change."
"I will destroy the world, and then I will create it anew. Since The Beginning, no one has ever stood in the heavens, neither you, nor I, not even the Sage of Six Paths, but that emptiness in the throne of heaven will be filled. From this day forth, I will be the one to stand in the heavens."
Naruto then ran his right hand through his golden hair, pushing it back. The three tomoe in his eyes appeared one by one.
"Goodbye, Jiraiya. Today, you will die here."
Naruto knew that among the older generation of Ninja, Jiraiya was the most brainwashed.
'Those toads sure knew how to pick their people.'
Hearing this, Jiraiya's expression gradually calmed, but Ao and Kakashi both paled.
To be honest, Ao felt a sense of relief. Since Naruto had only mentioned Jiraiya's death, he figured he might survive regardless of who won.
Kakashi, on the other hand, grew serious. He hadn't expected Naruto to truly harbor killing intent. He couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated.
'Why had I been so lightly injured? Otherwise, I wouldn't have been assigned this troublesome mission.'
"Naruto, I must stop your plans!"
Jiraiya suddenly leaped into the air, rising above Naruto.
Biting his finger, Jiraiya clasped his hands together mid-air and let out a roar.
"Summoning Technique!"
With a deafening boom, a thick cloud of smoke erupted, enveloping the area and obscuring everyone's vision. Within the haze, an enormous object descended from the sky, crashing into the sea and sending massive waves surging. The two already damaged ships were completely overturned.
Everyone on the ships quickly jumped away, emerging from the smoke. Chojuro was carried by an Uchiha, standing on the water as they watched the smoke gradually dissipate.
Naruto also leaped high into the air, a platform materializing beneath his feet to keep him steady.
As the smoke cleared, a giant purple-red toad with a 'U'-shaped black marking on its face, a pot-lid shield on its back, and a spiked trident in its hand stood firmly on the water.
Since Gamabunta was afraid of seawater, Jiraiya had summoned Gamaken instead. Then, he let out a hearty laugh.
"Hahahahaha! Naruto, let this Toad Sage see if you have what it takes to keep me here!"