Due to time constraints, Tsunade had no opportunity to interrogate the Ame-nin she encountered along the way, so she could only take a risk and proceed without gathering intelligence.
Tsunade slowly entered the atrium, her sharp gaze sweeping across the dimly lit surroundings, searching for a building that might serve as a prison or an intelligence stronghold. Identifying a structure resembling an intelligence agency, she immediately sprinted toward it.
At that moment, a chill ran down Tsunade's spine.
"Giant Punch!"
Tsunade's Chakra-Enhanced Strength Technique was a signature jutsu developed through precise chakra control. By focusing chakra into her fists, she could unleash an explosive force capable of shattering the ground, causing chunks of earth to erupt and form a defensive barrier.
As Tsunade slammed her fist into the ground, a layer of upturned soil encased her, momentarily shielding her from incoming threats.
Simultaneously, six figures clad in Ame-nin gear burst from the shadows. They wielded razor-sharp ninja swords, each targeting one of Tsunade's vital points with calculated precision.
The perfectly synchronized strike left Tsunade with nowhere to retreat.
Fortunately, Tsunade had anticipated the ambush. The six blades stabbed into the protective earth barrier instead of her body. However, one of the blades penetrated the weakened soil and sliced into Tsunade's arm.
A sudden numbness spread from the wound.
"Poison?"
Tsunade's eyes darkened as she caught sight of the faint blue sheen coating the blade—a telltale sign of Hanzō's infamous poisons.
Before she could react, additional Ame-nin appeared, taking positions on rooftops, tree canopies, and the ground. Kunai with explosive tags rained down from all directions.
The ambushers immediately retreated, ensuring they weren't caught in the detonation. The moment they withdrew, the explosives detonated in rapid succession, engulfing Tsunade in flames and debris.
"Boom!"
The smoke had barely begun to clear when even more elite Ame-nin emerged, reinforcing the perimeter. Within seconds, the entire mansion was locked down, trapping Tsunade in an inescapable net of enemies.
As the smoke dissipated, the battlefield revealed an unexpected sight.
Tsunade was gone.
In her place, a fat, blue-and-white slug rested in the epicenter of the attack.
The Ame-nin did not rush forward recklessly. Even as they surrounded the slug, their grips tightened around their weapons, their postures rigid with caution.
Unlike ordinary Ame-nin, this group bore clear distinctions in both their combat ability and equipment.
Each wore the same respirator mask as Hanzō of the Salamander, shielding them from airborne toxins. Their one-piece vinyl raincoats provided resistance against corrosive substances. They wielded standard-issue steel blades coated with potent poison.
These were not mere ninjas. These were cold, emotionless killing machines, trained from childhood to be Hanzō's personal enforcers.
The elite Ame-nin corps formed the backbone of Amegakure's military. Unlike standard troops, they underwent relentless conditioning under Hanzō's rule, molded into merciless executioners. Their skills and tactics were honed through brutal, unforgiving training regimens.
The cold night rain drizzled from the sky, merging with the scent of blood and explosives.
Yet, despite their advantage in numbers, the Ame-nin did not attack immediately. They were not reckless predators; they were hunters waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
They knew the strongest force in Amegakure was already approaching from the depths of the mansion. Their orders were clear: Contain Tsunade. Do not let her escape.
Their patience was absolute. As long as the Wolf King arrived, the hunt would end effortlessly.
Meanwhile, inside Katsuyu's body, Tsunade remained hidden.
At the last moment, she had summoned Katsuyu to absorb the brunt of the explosion.
Katsuyu was not just a defensive measure. The giant slug's unique properties allowed it to heal injuries, resist physical damage, and even withstand poison. The wound on Tsunade's arm had already fully healed thanks to Katsuyu's healing enzymes.
For a normal shinobi, the Ame-nin's poison would be lethal.
But for Tsunade, the world's greatest medical-nin, such poisons were insignificant.
A soft, calming voice echoed in Tsunade's mind.
"Shizune, this situation is not ideal."
"There are at least fifty elite Jonin-level Ame-nin in the area."
"You must find a way to escape immediately."
It was Katsuyu, communicating with Tsunade through telepathic resonance.
"I can prepare a Reverse Summoning Jutsu to bring you back to Shikkotsu Forest," Katsuyu continued, "but it will take time."
Tsunade's expression turned grim. She had walked straight into a trap. The enemy had carefully drawn her into the depths of their stronghold, and now she was fully encircled.
Even this was not the most concerning part.
The fact that the enemy had set such a meticulous ambush suggested something even more dangerous:
Hanzō of the Salamander had not left Amegakure.
Tsunade clenched her fists. She could handle fifty Jonin, but against Hanzō, an S-rank shinobi who once fought the Three Legendary Sannin to a standstill, her chances of survival plummeted.
"Katsuyu-sama, how long do you need?"
Tsunade's silent question was laced with urgency. The Reverse Summoning Jutsu was now her best hope.
Summoning jutsu was a two-way contract. While shinobi could summon beasts for assistance, powerful summons could also reverse summon their summoners—but it required careful preparation.
Unlike humans, summoning creatures rarely practiced traditional ninjutsu. Even those that did, like the Toads of Mount Myōboku, relied on unique secret techniques rather than conventional shinobi skills.
For most summons, Reverse Summoning a human took hours of preparation.
But Katsuyu was not an ordinary summon.
Tsunade's contracted summon was a fragment of the Great Katsuyu, the ruler of Shikkotsu Forest, one of the Three Legendary Summoning Clans.
The true Katsuyu existed as a single entity, and all summoned fragments were merely extensions of its body. This was why even Tsunade treated Katsuyu with deep respect—it was not just a summon, but a divine being among slugs.
After a brief pause, Katsuyu's answer came.
"I need ten minutes."
Tsunade exhaled sharply.
Ten minutes.
Fighting off fifty Jonin for ten minutes was a near-impossible task.
Blindly running would be useless. She had to buy time through strategy and maximize every second.
With that thought, Tsunade dispersed Katsuyu, allowing herself to be revealed.
The instant she emerged, another barrage of kunai and explosive tags rained down.
By now, the elite Ame-nin had memorized her attack patterns. They knew better than to engage her in direct combat.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
She slammed her hands onto the wet ground, forming a solid rock barrier around herself.
"BOOM!!!"
The deafening explosion consumed the battlefield once again.
Yet, in the midst of the smoke and flames, Tsunade remained standing.
And the fight was far from over.
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