[NTU] [ARC-26] Chapter : 343

Facing the fearless Kabuto, Fugaku hesitated for a moment.

“It’s a sealing jutsu…”

Through the intricate swirl of his Mangekyō Sharingan, Fugaku could clearly see it—three tomoe spinning slowly as his gaze zeroed in on a concentrated mass of chakra pulsing within Kabuto’s abdomen.

Sasuke is sealed inside. There’s no doubt.

Kabuto smirked, almost reading his thoughts.

“That’s right. It’s a sealing barrier,” he confirmed, his voice calm but laced with menace. “But this one’s... special. If anything happens to me, the caster, the contents—meaning your son—might not survive the aftermath.”

Behind him, the reanimated Second and Third Hokage stood like looming statues, shielding Kabuto as a thin, dark sheen flickered across his eyes—a clear sign of chakra manipulation at a high level.

Fugaku’s jaw tensed.

The technique wasn’t unfamiliar. Jiraiya’s summoned toads, Orochimaru’s weapon scrolls, and even Kisame’s internal storage jutsu were based on similar principles. But Kabuto had taken it a step further—something far more refined and dangerous.

“Damn…” Fugaku thought, his fists tightening. By all logic, killing Kabuto should unravel the seal and release Sasuke unharmed. But what if Kabuto had rigged the seal with a dead-man’s trap? He couldn’t afford that gamble—not with his son’s life on the line.

“What’s the matter?” Kabuto sneered. “Too scared to make a move?”

His voice was laced with mockery, but he didn’t wait for an answer.

“No matter. I have more important things to do.”

A flicker of crimson flame ignited at his ankles, slowly climbing his body. His form began to dissolve—vanishing piece by piece, like an oil painting catching fire. He was leaving.

Fugaku narrowed his eyes, gaze flicking between Kabuto and the two Edo Tensei guardians. He began silently focusing chakra into his eyes, preparing to unleash a powerful jutsu.

But before he could act—

“Rasengan!”

A burst of blue chakra erupted to the side, slamming straight into Kabuto’s back. His body spiraled violently, spinning like a top through the air before crashing into the dirt, dragging a deep trench along the ground.

“Jiraiya-sama!” Fugaku called out in shock. Relief surged through him. “What are you doing here?”

“Hokage’s orders,” Jiraiya replied casually, not taking his eyes off the enemy. “He asked me to assess the situation.”

Then, squinting slightly, Jiraiya’s expression darkened.

“You… you’re one of Orochimaru’s?” he asked, his voice low, wary.

Kabuto’s snake-like features—pale skin, slitted pupils, and the purple markings beneath his eyes—immediately reminded Jiraiya of his former teammate.

“Agh… hah…”

Kabuto groaned as he tried to rise, blood trailing from his lips. The Rasengan had done more damage than he expected. His altered body, reinforced with regenerative fluids and serpent DNA, had never taken this much damage before.

“So… the Fifth Hokage sent you himself, huh?” he coughed. “Faster than I expected…”

He attempted to rise, but his limbs buckled beneath him. His body convulsed, and another mouthful of blood splattered to the ground.

“This jutsu… it’s more powerful than I thought,” Kabuto admitted through gritted teeth, forcing a grin. “To think I’d take this much damage, even after all my modifications…”

Jiraiya’s eyes narrowed, stepping forward.

“That’s the Fourth Hokage’s technique you just took. You’re lucky to still be breathing.”

Jiraiya’s eyes narrowed, still in disbelief. He hadn’t held back on that strike. In his experience, no one short of the Third Raikage should’ve survived that blow without being shredded apart.

“Give it up. You may not have died on the spot, but you’re seriously injured. With Fugaku and me working together, you’re not getting out of this.”

Kabuto let out a low chuckle.

“Is that so?”

His body suddenly writhed and convulsed before shedding a pale, white layer of skin—like a snake molting.

Jiraiya’s expression darkened.

“Of course… Orochimaru’s signature technique,” he muttered. “He really did inherit everything from that snake.”

His fists clenched. “And now he’s even defiling the souls of the past Hokage… Damn it!”

The sight of the Second and Third Hokage under Kabuto’s control stoked Jiraiya’s fury. He never imagined he'd face his sensei like this.

Kabuto stepped behind the reanimated Hokage like a phantom, his expression cold.

“So, Jiraiya-sama… are you really prepared to kill me here?”

Jiraiya's face tensed. He knew Kabuto’s type—smooth-talking, manipulative, always looking for a psychological opening.

Kabuto tilted his head slightly, watching him closely. “If I die here, who’s going to resurrect your dear friend, Lord Orochimaru?”

“You...” Jiraiya’s eyes narrowed in alarm. “You want to bring him back?”

Kabuto smirked. As a seasoned spy, he was adept at exploiting emotional weaknesses—and Jiraiya’s lingering attachment to his old teammate was a wide-open target.

“Wasn’t that bastard killed by the Uchiha kid?” Jiraiya asked, casting a glance at Fugaku beside him.

He clearly remembered: Orochimaru was defeated by Fugaku’s younger son, Sasuke. That was a fact.

“True. But… Orochimaru-sama prepared a method of resurrection long before his death.”

Kabuto’s voice was calm but confident. He glanced at the two zombified Hokage at his side, as if to say: See what I’m capable of.

Jiraiya frowned, clearly unsettled.

“Don’t listen to him, Jiraiya-sama!” Fugaku snapped, never taking his eyes off Kabuto. “He’s trying to escape!”

Fugaku’s voice was sharp with urgency. His Mangekyō Sharingan flared as he read the subtle shifts in Kabuto’s posture. There was no doubt—Kabuto was stalling for time.

“Amaterasu!”

Without hesitation, Fugaku’s left eye snapped open, unleashing the black flames of Amaterasu—flames that would burn until their target was nothing but ash.

Kabuto didn’t flinch.

“Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!”

The Third Hokage, under Kabuto’s control, sprang into action. A massive dragon-shaped torrent of water surged forward, colliding with the Amaterasu flames just in time to slow them down.

But Kabuto wasn’t done.

“Water Style: Water Wall!” the Second Hokage followed, his voice echoing.

A towering whirlpool of water erupted, swirling around Kabuto and his undead guards, creating a fortified dome that repelled the black flames from all sides.

Steam hissed as the cursed fire clashed with the flowing barrier.

Inside the dome, Kabuto exhaled slowly, his eyes narrowing.

“Fighting me won’t be as easy as you think…”