The moon had vanished without a trace, leaving only the campfire in the forest to illuminate the darkness and provide warmth for Tsunade.
"Tsunade-sama, you should rest!" A nearby ANBU urged with concern, but Tsunade shook her head in refusal.
"No need. The two teams can take shifts. I have a feeling something might happen tonight."
The ANBU fell silent and retreated into the shadows.
As Tsunade stared into the flickering flames, an inexplicable sense of nostalgia for Kamizuki Hikari washed over her.
'If that bastard were here, maybe I wouldn't have to deal with this alone... No, what's the point of thinking about him now? It's not like he'll just appear out of nowhere.'
'This is my trial to face. If something does happen... They're here!'
Sensing the sudden emergence of life forms within a two-kilometer radius, Tsunade's eyes flickered briefly before settling into calm determination.
She wanted to see what these people were planning.
The attackers moved faster than she had anticipated.
"Agh—!"
Two screams echoed, followed by the swift extinguishing of two ANBU life forces.
"Protect the Hokage!"
The remaining ANBU immediately formed a defensive formation, their senses sharpened against the unseen threat.
A mysterious figure prowled in the darkness, circling them with movements more akin to a beast than a man—swift, ruthless, and precise.
*Whoosh!*
Before one of the ANBU could react, a tremendous force struck, dragging him into the darkness.
The sight rattled the remaining three ANBU to their core.
If the initial ambush could be blamed on lowered guard, this was a blatant humiliation—proof of their helplessness against the enemy.
"Hold your formation. Let's see what this guy's planning!" Tsunade stepped forward, her stature unassuming yet radiating an unshakable presence that steadied the shaken ANBU.
"Come—!"
This time, Tsunade reacted instantly.
"Heaven-Smashing Kick!"
Her stomp shattered the earth within a hundred-meter radius, uprooting trees and sending debris flying. The ANBU struggled to maintain their footing.
"How amusing. As expected of Tsunade!"
The assailant's voice was deliberately distorted into a hoarse rasp, masking his true identity. "That kick almost got me!"
"Just... almost."
Tsunade remained unfazed. This opponent's strength was beyond her expectations.
Now, she took a proper look at him—towering at nearly 190 cm, with thick limbs and a muscular build, resembling a bodybuilder.
Her first suspicion was that he hailed from Kumogakure.
Yet sensing no trace of Lightning chakra within him, she dismissed the thought.
The shinobi of Kumo were naturally attuned to Lightning Release due to their environment, and their secret techniques relied heavily on it. If this were truly a Cloud shinobi, he wouldn't abandon such an advantage.
So... who was he?
"Now, Tsunade, allow me to demonstrate my techniques!"
With that, the man lunged at her.
"Super Strength!"
Her fist, capable of rivaling the Fourth Raikage's, shot forward.
"Good power, but too slow!"
Effortlessly dodging, the man reappeared beside the ANBU, his hands snapping their necks with chilling ease.
"As for this last one... I'll rip out his heart. Tsunade, your medical ninjutsu is renowned across the shinobi world. I wonder—can you save someone without a heart?"
His tone was eerily casual as he launched his next attack.
"Don't even think about it!"
Tsunade stomped the ground, sending shattered rocks flying like cannonballs toward the enemy.
*Crack!*
*Snap!*
One stone was crushed in his grip, while another struck his body—only tearing his clothes to reveal skin as hard as forged steel.
"Your strength... is far too weak."
In an instant, he appeared before the last ANBU, his hand piercing through the man's chest and yanking out his still-beating heart.
"Since your taijutsu is lacking, let's see your medical prowess. Go on."
He tossed the ANBU's body toward her, standing arrogantly as if observing a performance.
"You... bastard!"
Regret gnawed at Tsunade. If only she had brought Hikari along, these loyal ANBU might still be alive.
Catching the dying shinobi, she channeled the green glow of Mystical Palm Technique, if only to ease his suffering.
"Cough... Tsunade-sama... be careful..."
His voice faded to a whisper, forcing Tsunade to lean closer.
Sschick!
The sound of metal piercing flesh echoed.
Tsunade's expression twisted as she shoved the man away—but it was too late.
A kunai had stabbed deep into her abdomen, its blade smeared with a lethal poison that already darkened the wound.
"You—!"
She wanted to demand answers, but the ANBU was already dead.
"Beautifully done!"
"Such a compassionate Hokage-sama, thinking of saving her subordinate even at death's door. Truly touching!"
As she applied the Mystical Palm to her own injury, Tsunade smirked.
"Impressive tactics. In fact... you feel familiar now. There aren't many in Konoha capable of planting spies among the ANBU. And since I'm already wounded... why not show your true face?"
The man hesitated.
Tsunade's resilience was staggering—even a toxin potent enough to kill a beast instantly only left her severely injured.
When he didn't respond, she pressed further.
"If you resort to such schemes, it means you lack confidence in your own strength. Do you really think you can become Hokage like this?"
"If this is all you've got... you'll never be Hokage."
"Shut your mouth, hag! Just die already!"
The man refused to engage. The shinobi world had too many ways to transmit information, and he couldn't risk exposure.
His only option was to kill her—fast.
"Die!"
He charged, fists aimed squarely at her chest—as if intent on crushing her beneath his brute force.
"Super Strength!"
Despite her weakened state, Tsunade retaliated.
But her strike barely fazed him. Instead, he seized her wrist, snapping it effortlessly before driving his fist toward her heart.
"Old woman... PERISH!"
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