Naruto: A Century as an Arrancar, Starting Off by Killing the Demi-God

Hearing those words, Lucas frowned.

"You're really this stubborn? You're willing to die just to take Orochimaru back?"

Why did that sound so familiar?

Naruto had said something similar once about Sasuke.

Of course. No wonder Naruto chose Jiraiya as his teacher.

In some ways, their personalities were strikingly alike.

Off to the side, Orochimaru couldn't help but sigh at Jiraiya's resolve.

So like you... Once you've made up your mind, nothing can stop you. But this time, your opponent is anything but ordinary. Don't die, Jiraiya.

With a last glance, Orochimaru signaled Kabuto, and the two began their retreat.

This battlefield was no place for anyone else to remain.

Jiraiya's hands quickly formed seals. With a low shout, he unleashed:

"Sage Art: Great Flame Bomb!"

Whoooosh!!

A massive fireball roared from his mouth.

Lucas swiftly raised his hand.

"Bakudō Number 21: Water Curtain!"

Reiatsu surged.

In less than a second, a thick wall of water formed in front of him.

Hisssss!!

The fireball struck the water wall. The two jutsu canceled each other out.

But the heat from the flame instantly vaporized the water, and thick steam flooded the field.

"A perfect chance!"

Jiraiya's eyes flashed.

Using the Body Flicker Technique, he appeared silently behind Lucas.

He pressed low to the ground, his white hair bristling upright.

"Sage Art: Hair Needle Senbon!"

Shhhk-shhhk-shhhk!

Hundreds of hardened hair needles fired like a rainstorm of steel.

Lucas furrowed his brows and moved to dodge.

But before he could react, his feet were already trapped.

At some point, a muddy bog had formed beneath him, clinging tightly to his legs.

He couldn't move in time.

The needles struck him head-on.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A sharp chorus of metal-on-metal rang out.

But this time, it was different.

Lucas's skin showed punctures. Blood seeped through.

Jiraiya's Hair Needle Senbon had pierced through his Hierro.

"Well, now. Interesting."

Lucas raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself,

So Sage Mode Jiraiya has already stepped into the realm of super-Kage-class. Looks like I need to take this seriously.

He raised his right hand and pointed into the air.

Cero.

A massive wave of green spiritual energy burst forth.

Its range was so wide that Jiraiya had no room to dodge.

His body was obliterated on the spot.

But in the next instant 

Poof!

It vanished into smoke.

"A shadow clone?"

Lucas's eyes narrowed.

Just as he turned, he saw Jiraiya descending from above.

"If the Senbon worked, then…"

Jiraiya's confident voice echoed through the steam.

"This one will too! Sage Art"

"Ultra Big Ball Rasengan!!"

He raised his right hand.

A massive orb of condensed chakra formed instantly and was hurled straight at Lucas.

Lucas had no time to turn.

He quickly clapped his hands together.

"Bakudō Number 81 Danku!"

Spiritual energy surged behind him.

A translucent crystal barrier materialized just in time.

BOOM!!

The Rasengan slammed into it with an ear-splitting blast that echoed through the forest.

The barrier held for several seconds before shattering. The Rasengan dispersed soon after.

Taking advantage of the gap, Lucas flared his spiritual pressure.

It erupted outward in a wave, flattening the swamp under his feet into solid earth.

He turned.

And saw Jiraiya and the two elder toads on his shoulders opening their mouths wide.

"Sage Art: Amphibian Technique Goemon!"

A torrent of burning oil erupted from their mouths.

Hsssshhhh!

It engulfed the field in an instant.

This was one of Jiraiya's most devastating Sage Techniques, combining three natures.

Jiraiya provided the oil.

Fukasaku the wind.

Shima the fire.

Together, they unleashed a blazing tsunami of oil with temperatures soaring over a thousand degrees, capable of melting anything it touched.

Watching Lucas disappear into the inferno, Jiraiya muttered,

"Even you shouldn't be able to survive that."

But then 

Lucas's voice echoed calmly from above.

"Afraid I'll have to disappoint you. That wasn't enough to end it."

Jiraiya's expression froze.

He looked up and saw the dark-haired youth standing calmly in mid-air.

"You… you can fly?!"

He was stunned.

"What kind of secret technique is that?! Is it Ōnoki's Light-Weight Rock Technique?!"

Even Orochimaru was momentarily speechless.

"Lucas can fly? No… this isn't that jutsu."

As he observed carefully, he noticed Lucas wasn't simply floating.

His feet appeared to be standing on solid ground yet there was nothing beneath him.

Unlike Ōnoki's technique, which merely lightened the body to enable levitation, this was flight at high speed.

And they hadn't even noticed when he took off.

That speed alone was terrifying.

It was obvious now 

This was a flying technique far superior to Ōnoki's.

Jiraiya realized this too. His heart sank.

Is there anything this man can't do?!

What he didn't know…

Was that to Lucas, this ability was as basic as breathing.

It was nothing more than condensing ambient spiritual energy beneath his feet.

A fundamental skill for any Soul Reaper.

"What now?!"

Jiraiya looked up, scowling.

"If he stays airborne, most of my ninjutsu won't reach him. Damn it!"

Fukasaku and Shima exchanged a glance.

Then Shima muttered, "Seems like it's time for us to use genjutsu. We'll create an opening for you, Jiraiya."

"You two know genjutsu?" Jiraiya was surprised.

"Yes, though it's a bit embarrassing. Still, desperate times…"

The two toads channeled chakra. Their expressions sharpened.

"Sage Art: Frog Song!"

They opened their mouths and let out an eerie chorus.

Guuu… guuuu…

Echoing sound waves expanded toward Lucas.

In an instant, his pupils spun.

His footing vanished.

He began to plummet.

Jiraiya's eyes lit up.

"It worked! Their genjutsu is really that strong?!"

He moved in fast.

Forming a Rasengan in his hand, he leapt straight at Lucas's falling body.

The previous attack had worked, but Lucas had recovered almost instantly.

This time, Jiraiya wasn't taking chances.

He targeted the head.

Let's see you recover from this if I blow your skull apart!

The moment the Rasengan touched 

Lucas's eyes snapped open.

He stood upright mid-air.

Then 

A smaller Cero blasted the Rasengan apart.

Lucas's blade came down.

Its edge halted at Jiraiya's throat.

"Jiraiya. You can't stop me from taking Orochimaru. Let it go."

"Never! Even if I die, I won't let you take him!"

Jiraiya's eyes burned with resolve.

"I already sent the flare. Tsunade, Minato, and a whole team of elite Anbu are on the way. I don't believe you can win against all of them!"

"I see," Lucas said coldly.

"So that's the illusion I gave you that what you've seen so far is the limit of my power. I respect Minato. I respect you too."

His voice chilled.

"But that doesn't give either of you the right to keep pushing me. If you insist on standing in my way…"

"Then I'll end your life right here."

As he raised his blade, his voice deepened.

"Seal…"

"Black… Winged… Demon!!"

BOOM!!

A torrential wave of spiritual energy erupted skyward.

It twisted and scattered into droplets of dark green rain.

Spiritual pressure falling like a storm.

This was the second time Lucas had released his Resurrected Form since arriving in the ninja world.

But this time…

He was truly furious.