This battle between two of the Sannin had Shen Mo as its sole spectator.
Popcorn, drinks, and Hiju were all ready.
Shen Mo's face was full of anticipation.
Unlike Gato's earlier fight, this was a true clash between high-tier players. One had painstakingly trained their skills, while the other, besides training, had invested heavily in a second class through cans.
And…
Shen Mo zoomed his remote vision onto Tsunade.
Beneath her loose gray vest, she seemed to be wearing special equipment.
—Plate armor.
Though simple, it met the requirements of Paladin Plate Mastery.
A true high-tier player.
Shen Mo was pleased. Tsunade had clearly mastered the abilities and items from her cans in this time, combining them with her tactics for maximum effect. This was what an elite player should be.
At that moment…
An invisible clash of auras sparked between them, shaking the surrounding grass and trees.
"I didn't want it to come to this, but you've mastered such a forbidden jutsu," Tsunade said, her smile fading. "Since you won't reveal your purpose, I'll have to ask my own way."
The current Tsunade wouldn't allow anyone to threaten Konoha.
Orochimaru had sought her out, probing with talk of revival.
He definitely had an agenda.
Of course, part of her was also angered by his words, wanting to teach him a lesson before he could buy any cans.
"Let's see, after over a decade apart, if the Princess of Konoha has changed more than just her bravado," Orochimaru said, casually raising his sleeve.
Suddenly…
Dozens of large snakes with brown patterns burst from his sleeve, their gaping maws lunging forward.
Ninjutsu: Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!
The snakes coordinated—intimidating, restraining, capturing, even releasing mild poison.
A clear division of roles.
Most jōnin, caught off guard, would be swiftly captured, the fight over.
"Still the same, sneaking in hand signs for surprise attacks," Tsunade said.
She didn't react, standing still as the snakes surrounded her.
Orochimaru's brow twitched.
The Tsunade he knew would struggle if entangled by these giant snakes.
But now…
Thud!
A sound like a heavy blow on flesh rang out. In an instant, all the snakes were shredded by a meat-grinder-like assault.
A whirlwind mixed with blood and debris surged toward Orochimaru.
Before his eyes…
Tsunade held a massive, ostentatiously designed hammer, its single swing obliterating his snakes. Resting it on the ground, it crushed a millstone-sized rock like tofu.
Orochimaru's eye twitched.
What was that weapon? He'd never heard of it.
And…
Despite all the blood, Tsunade showed no reaction.
Her hemophobia was truly cured.
Another piece of bad news.
"Its name is Divine Blessing," Tsunade said, gripping the cross-shaped hammer, her gaze as cold as a battlefield general's. "Orochimaru, you're the first to make me draw it."
"Should I feel honored?" Orochimaru said.
Though surprised, he wasn't overly worried.
After so long apart…
It was only natural Tsunade would have some unexpected tricks.
Without warning…
Orochimaru flicked his wrist.
A shuriken shot toward Tsunade at blinding speed, accompanied by hand signs.
Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!
One shuriken multiplied into a sky full of them, leaving no room to dodge.
Sharp whistling filled the air.
His hands prepared another ninjutsu.
"Still using the techniques our teacher taught you?" Tsunade said.
She raised her cross, stomping the ground. With a thunderous boom, the earth shattered, and she shot toward Orochimaru like a cannonball, the sheer air pressure blowing all the shuriken away!
Orochimaru's pupils contracted.
What speed and power!?
In that instant…
His calm was shattered without reason.
He even had to abandon his ninjutsu, instinctively leaping back.
Boom—!
A sound like a thunderclap.
Where Orochimaru had stood, the ground rippled like waves, trees collapsed, and dirt sprayed dozens of meters high. From above, it looked like a meteor had struck, leaving a massive crater! The forest's birds and beasts fled in panic.
"This power… how!?"
Orochimaru felt like he'd been slammed by the air, sent flying. Mid-air, his eyes bulged, his raspy voice filled with disbelief, unable to hide his shock.
Tsunade was known for her monstrous strength, but this was beyond that.
He had no doubt…
A single hammer strike to his body would turn him to pulp without a chance to scream.
"I don't have the patience for your probing games," Tsunade said, stepping out of the swirling dust, her exaggerated cross aimed at Orochimaru on a tree. "You're no match for me now!"
Using medical knowledge to briefly amplify her body's power…
Combined with equipment, skills, and her already-enhanced physical condition…
Frankly speaking…
Tsunade's strength was at least three times what it used to be.
Truly unmatched in raw power.
"Incredible…" Orochimaru didn't know what expression to make. "How could your strength increase this much? This should exceed the body's limits!"
"Hmph, surrender now while you can!" Tsunade said.
But her actions didn't slow. With another burst, she charged at Orochimaru with terrifying speed!
No ninjutsu, no traps.
Just a direct assault, yet it gave Orochimaru an overwhelming sense of unstoppable force, like facing a natural disaster.
What was going on!?
Orochimaru hurriedly used ninjutsu to dodge, his hands flashing through signs.
Fierce Snake Step!
Snake Extinguishing Chaos!
Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes!
All summoned snake-based attacks, filling the air with serpentine shadows.
"These attacks are meaningless!" Tsunade said.
She swung her cross, each strike unleashing earth-shaking booms, wielding terrain-altering power. All the snakes were reduced to mush under her onslaught, with no chance to resist.
The scene was spectacular.
Shen Mo was very satisfied.
Though Tsunade wasn't strictly using paladin powers, her brutal female paladin style had its own charm.