Naruto: The Teaching System - 277

Chapter 277: Hey, at your age, don’t fly too high

“Right, Yusuke-senpai, Sensei is still fighting an Iwa jōnin,” Neji said, only now remembering that Sawada was still engaged. “He looks like Iwagakure’s frontline commander.”

“No wonder I haven’t seen Sawada-sama,” Yusuke said, getting to his feet at once. “Neji, fall back toward our rear line. That sector’s ours. Iwagakure just pulled their forces from here.”

He pointed the way. Neji shook his head. “I can’t. I’m going too.”

“This isn’t the time for attitude. The battlefield isn’t a game,” Yusuke said, frowning.

Neji’s expression stayed solemn. “I’m a shinobi too. Sensei’s worried for my safety, that’s all. But I can’t run from this.”

That had been his thought the entire way here. The enemy might be strong, but he had to help however he could.

“Fine. But remember to stay with me,” Yusuke said after a moment’s silence.

Neji nodded, and the two of them headed in the direction of Sawada and Kitsuchi’s fight.

As Sawada turned to search for Neji’s trail, an enormous blast ripped across the field. Heat and force surged over the battlefield in an instant. Sawada looked aside.

“Tailed Beast Ball?”

Only a bijuu’s Tailed Beast Ball carried that amount of chakra. After a brief hesitation, he raised a hand and split off a shadow clone.

“Find Neji and get him off the battlefield.”

Without looking back, Sawada sprinted toward the source of the explosion. On the way, he saw Iwagakure’s signal to retreat going up. They had likely discovered Kitsuchi. That meant the only ones left there were the Five-Tails’ jinchūriki and Ōnoki’s group.

Good. At least he didn’t have to worry about Leaf shinobi getting caught in the crossfire.

When he reached the battlefield, a massive toad stood gripping a great blade—Gamabunta. On the other side, a pure white beast roared at him. The chakra pouring off it spread like a physical wave.

“Hey! Jiraiya! Can you handle this? One more of those and I can’t block it!” Gamabunta bellowed up at Jiraiya.

“Handle it anyway! If we don’t, our comrades behind us are done for!” Jiraiya panted. His hair was a mess. He and Gamabunta had thrown everything at stopping the Five-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bomb.

“Tch. Don’t you die on me.” Gamabunta clenched his pipe behind him and glared at the Five-Tails.

“Jiraiya! Hand Roshi back! Or I’ll raze every Konoha shinobi on this field!” Ōnoki floated above, glanced at the raging Five-Tails beneath him, then shouted down at Jiraiya.

“Hahahaha! If you’ve got the nerve, come take him from the Hidden Leaf yourself!” Jiraiya laughed, loud and reckless. He was the Third Hokage’s student, the Toad Sage. He wasn’t someone to be threatened.

“Arrogant brat. Let’s see some blood from the Leaf first.” Ōnoki didn’t say more. He sent Han forward.

Han’s control over the tailed beast lagged far behind Roshi’s. They had to eliminate Jiraiya quickly. Without a commander, the Leaf would scatter.

“Looks serious this time,” Gamabunta said, face grave. The Five-Tails in the distance had begun to gather chakra again.

“Yeah,” Jiraiya said, his own expression hardening.

“Yo. Looks like you’re having a rough time?” a voice said suddenly at Jiraiya’s side. Jiraiya blinked, then stared in disbelief.

“Sawada! You took care of Kitsuchi?” He could hardly believe it. Ōnoki had said it himself at the start—Sawada had been blocked by Kitsuchi. He shouldn’t be here.

“Bit of a hassle, but yes,” Sawada said with a casual wave. He looked up at Ōnoki hovering in the air and lifted a hand in a lazy greeting.

“Hey. At your age, don’t fly too high. What if you fall and break something?”

“You damn brat. What happened to Kitsuchi?” Ōnoki demanded despite himself. It hadn’t even been that long. He knew his son’s strength. How had this kid arrived so soon?

“Oh, him? He’s fine,” Sawada said, voice flat. “I left him a whole body.”

You want me dead? Then come and try, Sawada thought.

As expected, rage twisted Ōnoki’s face. “Damn brat! I’ll take your life!”

“Sawada, look out!” Jiraiya shouted. A white column of light dropped from above like a bolt, spearing down at Gamabunta’s head.

It slammed straight for Sawada, intent on erasing him.

“Yang Release: Armament.”

Sawada’s hands were sheathed in dense Yang-nature chakra. He caught the Dust Release beam and held it in front of him.

“What?” Ōnoki stared, astonished. Someone had just caught his Dust Release with their bare hands.

“Jiraiya-senpai! Five-Tails is yours for now!” Sawada shouted. Chakra exploded under his feet, and he vaulted off Gamabunta’s head into the air.

“Hey! What’s the big idea!” Gamabunta had already been rattled by Ōnoki’s Dust Release. His head rang, and he toppled, his massive body slamming down in a cloud of grit.

“Pah! Jiraiya! Who is that brat?” Gamabunta growled, dragging himself up.

“My junior,” Jiraiya said, watching the figure pressing up toward Ōnoki. “Gamabunta, we’ve got to help too.”

“Fine. But I’m settling the bill with that brat later,” Gamabunta said, then leapt for the Five-Tails on the ground.

“Damn brat! I am the Third Tsuchikage!” Ōnoki saw Sawada driving against his Dust Release, the distance between them shrinking. He dispelled the chakra instead and shot upward once more. With the advantage of flight, he wasn’t stupid.

“Old man! You’re not the only one who can fly.” Sawada watched Ōnoki try to win with altitude and didn’t hesitate. He opened Eclipse Sage Mode.

A cloud bloomed under his feet, and he shot after Ōnoki. The Tsuchikage glanced back at the figure closing fast, and his face twisted in anger.