Tsunade's eyes gleamed with excitement upon hearing Ryosuke's proposal. A wrist-wrestling match to determine strength? It was as if this man was offering himself up as an easy target.
Wrestling against Tsunade in a contest of brute force was like wielding a wooden sword in front of Tōsen Kaname—a fool's errand. Since this man was practically begging for humiliation, Tsunade was more than happy to grant his request.
The two onlookers, a thin middle-aged man and an overweight young one, immediately stepped aside to make room for the upcoming contest. Tsunade and Mizuki Ryosuke each took their places at the table, facing one another with arms poised for battle.
"Ready?" Tsunade smirked, resting her elbow on the table. "Do you need some time to warm up first?"
Her tone was light, almost teasing, as though she had already foreseen her inevitable victory.
This confidence was well-founded. In terms of raw physical strength, Tsunade was unmatched in the ninja world. Her Chakra Enhanced Strength, an application of Yang Release, allowed her to wield devastating force with minimal effort. Even the Akimichi clan, renowned for their size and power, paled in comparison to her sheer might. Since her debut as a kunoichi, she had never encountered anyone who could overpower her in a pure test of strength.
"No need," Ryosuke replied calmly, his expression betraying not a single hint of unease. "Let's begin."
As Ryosuke settled into position, his suspicions about Tsunade's true identity were nearly confirmed. There were few shinobi in the world who could exude such overwhelming confidence in a contest of strength.
He placed his arm firmly on the table, grasping Tsunade's hand.
"Kisame, you be the referee."
The instruction was directed at Hoshigaki Kisame, the shark-like swordsman of Kirigakure. Of course, Ryosuke used a subtle code name, careful not to reveal identities unnecessarily.
Kisame, ever the observer, grinned with intrigue before stepping forward. "Got it. Alright, you two—ready?"
Neither contestant wavered.
"Then… begin!"
The moment the words left Kisame's mouth, the battle commenced.
At first, neither Tsunade nor Ryosuke exerted their full strength. Their arms remained locked in place, unmoving.
Tsunade studied Ryosuke carefully. Despite his seemingly unimpressive build, his strength was remarkable. Still, she had yet to use even a fraction of her true power.
Let's see how much he can handle.
Gradually, she began channeling Yang Release chakra into her muscles, increasing her grip strength and applying greater force.
30% power.
Yet Ryosuke's hand did not budge.
A flicker of surprise crossed Tsunade's face. Very few shinobi—if any—had ever withstood her raw power without some form of enhancement. But rather than showing signs of struggle, Ryosuke's expression remained unchanged, his grip steady.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes and increased her strength again.
40%. 50%.
A loud crack echoed through the room as the wooden table beneath them began to splinter under the immense pressure. The sound of creaking wood filled the air, signaling imminent collapse.
Then—
Boom!
The table shattered, sending shards flying in all directions.
The thin middle-aged man reacted instantly, dodging the incoming debris with an agility that suggested Wind Style mastery. The overweight young man swiftly slammed his palms to the ground, conjuring a Doton: Doryūheki (Earth Style: Earth Wall) to shield himself.
Kisame, however, remained unfazed, merely smashing any wayward debris with his fists while keeping his focus on the contest.
Despite the destruction, Tsunade's attention never wavered.
For the first time, the gleam of amusement in her eyes was replaced with serious intrigue. The contempt she initially held for Ryosuke had vanished.
This wasn't just some foolish gambler who had stumbled into a fight he couldn't win.
His power… it was real.
And it was unlike anything she had ever encountered before.
Her warrior's pride ignited, Tsunade abandoned all distractions. If he wants to test strength, then so be it!
With the table gone, the two now stood, shifting from a mere arm-wrestling match to a contest of full-body strength. Their locked hands became the epicenter of a struggle that sent vibrations through the floor.
Boom!
The ground beneath them cracked. Their raw strength alone was fracturing the solid stone foundation.
The thin shinobi and the earth-user exchanged anxious glances. What kind of monsters are these two?
Ryosuke, meanwhile, was wholly focused.
She's this strong… even without using her full power?
He was nearing his limit, but Tsunade's strength was still rising. He could feel it—she hadn't yet reached her peak.
Even now, she still had something left in reserve.
This was the power of Tsunade Senju, the granddaughter of the First Hokage, and one of the Legendary Sannin.
Ryosuke clenched his jaw.
I refuse to lose so easily.
If he couldn't match her brute force, then he would have to outthink her.
In the original timeline, Tsunade once arm-wrestled the Fourth Raikage for the title of Supreme Commander of the Allied Shinobi Forces. Though their match was brief, it revealed a crucial lesson.
At the last moment, A had used his Lightning Release Chakra Mode to momentarily enhance his speed, disrupting Tsunade's balance and forcing her hand down.
It was a cheap tactic, but an effective one.
Ryosuke, however, was not a Lightning Release specialist. He couldn't replicate the Raikage's technique.
But he had another trick up his sleeve.
A way to turn the tide in a battle of sheer might.
One that even Tsunade would not expect.
And with that, he made his move.
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