Naruto: Starting with Infinite Chakra

Ryūga wasn't killed by the Fire Release, but his current state was utterly wretched. His entire body had been scorched black, barely resembling a human figure.

"What a powerful jutsu," murmured one of the combatants.

Both Sakumo Hatake and the Ame-nin jōnin he was facing off against turned their attention to the destruction wrought by the Great Dragon Fire Technique.

'For a mere chūnin to unleash such a terrifying jutsu, Konoha's shinobi are truly formidable,' the Ame-nin jōnin muttered, his brows furrowing. He had already decided to flee.

Ryūga was essentially done for. While he was still alive, the severity of his burns left him utterly crippled. Once Jiraiya finished him off and teamed up with Sakumo to attack, the Ame-nin jōnin would be doomed. Sakumo's strength alone far exceeded his own, and paired with someone as talented as Jiraiya, he stood no chance.

The Ame-nin's own situation was dire. His body was covered in numerous wounds, though none were fatal, the steady flow of blood was draining his stamina. Sakumo's relentless and precise attacks gave him no opportunity to treat his injuries.

"I won't lose to a chūnin," Sakumo growled, his gaze cold as he lunged toward the Ame-nin jōnin. His chakra surged into the White Fang blade, and suddenly, a brilliant flash of white light erupted from it without warning.

Caught off guard, the Ame-nin jōnin instinctively shut his eyes against the blinding light. Seizing the moment, Sakumo slashed his blade toward the jōnin's neck. Blood sprayed into the air as the blade connected, leaving a deep gash. However, the Ame-nin jōnin managed to avoid a fatal blow, relying on his years of combat experience even in his blinded state.

The two clashed once more, their battle intensifying. Meanwhile, the surrounding elite chūnin of Ame remained largely passive, occasionally launching jutsu at Sakumo but gradually retreating further and further away.

Ryūga's agonized screams echoed across the battlefield. His entire body was severely burned, the pain almost unbearable. Yet his will to live was strong. Gritting his teeth, he performed the Body Flicker Technique in an attempt to escape.

"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld," Jiraiya said with a cold smile, slamming his hands onto the ground.

The earth beneath Ryūga's feet turned into a viscous swamp, and his body sank into the mire. Half his body was quickly submerged, leaving him struggling desperately. However, the swamp's suction was too strong. In his weakened state, escape was impossible. Soon, only his head remained above the surface.

Jiraiya activated the Body Flicker Technique, his figure blurring as he darted forward. A flash of his blade was all it took—a severed head flew into the air, and the swamp was stained crimson.

"Tsunade, were you worried I might die just now?" Jiraiya asked with a grin as he landed beside her.

Tsunade's earlier expression had not escaped his notice.

"Don't flatter yourself, Jiraiya. I wasn't worried about you at all," she huffed, turning her head away.

Still, she couldn't deny it—somewhere along the way, she'd begun to care deeply about him.

"I'm pretty sure I saw tears in someone's eyes," Jiraiya teased, his grin widening.

"Idiot! If you keep talking nonsense, I'll knock you flat," Tsunade snapped, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"You can hammer me all you want after this fight," Jiraiya replied, his tone turning serious as he glanced toward Sakumo's ongoing battle. The White Fang had gained the upper hand, and it was only a matter of time before the enemy jōnin fell.

With Ryūga dealt with, Sakumo's attacks grew even more ferocious. Jiraiya refrained from interfering.

At that moment, Sarutobi Jūrō and the rest of their reinforcements arrived on the scene.

"Finally, something interesting," Orochimaru said with a sinister smile, licking the blade of a shuriken in his hand as he surveyed the battlefield.

"To invade Konoha… what fools," Sarutobi Jūrō said grimly. Without waiting for explanations, the reinforcements unleashed their jutsu, targeting the retreating elite chūnin. Since Sakumo was already engaged in combat, there was no doubt that these were invaders, and mercy was unnecessary.

Jiraiya and Tsunade charged forward as well. The arrival of Konoha's reinforcements sent the Ame-nin chūnin into a full retreat. One of their jōnin had already been killed, and the other was barely holding on. If they didn't escape now, death was inevitable.

Jiraiya quickly caught up to one of the fleeing elite chūnin.

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet," he intoned, launching a fiery blast that incinerated the unfortunate shinobi.

Jiraiya deliberately avoided assisting Sakumo. He knew the White Fang didn't need help and would likely interpret it as an insult to his abilities. Maintaining good relations with Sakumo was important to Jiraiya. He valued Sakumo's strength and saw him as a crucial ally in his vision of a unified, peaceful shinobi world.

"Please, spare me!" one Ame-nin chūnin cried, collapsing to his knees and bowing his head to Jiraiya. "I have a family. I'm begging you…"

Jiraiya's eyes hardened. "The only mercy I can offer is a quick death," he said softly.

The life of a shinobi was fraught with peril. Anyone who chose this path knew the risks. Missions could end in death at any moment.

With a swift slash of his Lightning Flame Blade, another head fell.

Glancing around, Jiraiya noted that Orochimaru had already dispatched another chūnin. He had summoned a giant snake to constrict his opponent, then used a shuriken to slit their throat.

"The blood of the weak is tasteless," Orochimaru muttered, licking the blood off his shuriken. But suddenly, his expression twisted. He dropped to his knees, clawing at his throat.

"Damn it! That bastard poisoned their blood," Orochimaru cursed inwardly, spitting onto the ground in disgust.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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