"End the jutsu now!"
With furious words, Tsunade closed in on Orochimaru in an instant.
Her cross raised high.
From the moment he used Edo Tensei to control her grandfather and great-uncle, all civility was gone. Tsunade even wanted to cripple Orochimaru before forcing him to dispel the jutsu.
His detestable face was right before her.
But…
At the moment of impact, countless trees suddenly sprouted from the ground.
Boom—!
Not the sound of striking flesh, but the roar of splintering wood.
Though the abruptly grown trees were completely shattered…
Orochimaru seized the chance to leap back.
"Grandfather's Wood Style…"
Tsunade gritted her teeth, recognizing the First Hokage Hashirama Senju's unique Wood Style.
"That was close," Orochimaru's raspy voice came, standing atop a tree with a raised smirk. "You've truly surprised me, Princess Tsunade, but this must be your limit."
"…" Tsunade clenched her fists.
Her initial cans were medical, and though she'd adapted some abilities for combat through experience, this was indeed near her limit.
The First Hokage stood before Orochimaru, hands forming seals.
Wood Style: Advent of a World of Trees!
Suddenly, countless trees burst from the ground, spreading and growing at breakneck speed, forming a small forest in moments.
Though far from the First Hokage's true Advent of a World of Trees…
Fueled by infinite chakra, the trees grew wildly, attacking Tsunade with ferocity—stabbing, coiling, crashing.
Within this forest, it was as if attacks came from every direction.
Tsunade swung her cross frantically, no tree able to withstand her strength, but they regrew at an alarming rate.
She was finally experiencing why her grandfather was so formidable.
"No, I can't keep up with the drain."
Tsunade downed another potion, still panting heavily.
If she went all out, she could reach Orochimaru.
The problem was…
With both Hokages protecting him, she couldn't easily threaten him.
"Princess Tsunade, if you've no more tricks, why not surrender?" Orochimaru's raspy voice echoed through the forest. "We were comrades once. Even if you want to kill me, I wouldn't do much to you."
"Empty words!"
Tsunade snapped, done hesitating.
Her hands formed seals.
The seal on her forehead, storing chakra, began to flow, black patterns spreading from her brow to her face.
Yin Seal: Release!
Her chakra erupted, forming a fierce gust.
She charged toward Orochimaru with devastating force.
Boom, boom, boom.
Like a boulder rolling down a mountain.
Every obstructing tree was brutally smashed!
Orochimaru fell silent.
He'd been using words to pressure her, but facing this Tsunade, he didn't dare be careless.
Raising his index and middle fingers, he summoned the Second Hokage to join the fight!
But…
The tardy Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, made Orochimaru's eyes widen.
Because—
On Tobirama's body was a massive wound, sizzling with white smoke as if scorched, healing agonizingly slowly.
"What's happening?"
Orochimaru stepped back, goosebumps rising on his skin.
This was an immortal body!
Boom—!
Tsunade burst through the sea of trees, witnessing the scene.
That spot…
Was where she'd struck with her cross!
A realization hit her.
It was Holy Light!
Her earlier strike, empowered by the cross's skill, had imbued Holy Light!
Shen Mo, watching from above, smiled faintly.
Finally noticed, huh?
Holy Light wasn't just for healing. Paladins were combat units too. Tsunade's Holy Light wasn't strong yet—if she'd unlocked Holy Light Infusion, every attack would carry divine light damage.
Even now…
Against undead-like Edo Tensei beings, Holy Light had a special effect!
"So that's it… the true power of Holy Light." Tsunade felt the light blooming in her heart, gazing at her weapon with understanding. "Expel evil, end suffering, protect hope and order. Edo Tensei, this evil resurrection that enslaves souls, is intolerable to Holy Light."
Her gaze grew resolute.
Embracing Holy Light and becoming a paladin brought not just power, but duty and purpose.
"Orochimaru!" Tsunade channeled her Holy Light into her cross, glaring coldly at him. "Defiling the dead, toying with souls—I won't forgive an irreverent fiend like you!"
As if stirred by her emotions…
The silver cross erupted with Holy Light, radiating a solemn, divine aura.
Blindingly unbearable to Orochimaru.
He shielded his eyes.
And in that moment, Tsunade moved.
In an instant, she appeared before the First Hokage, raising her cross and slamming him into the ground, cracking the earth and leaving a massive crater.
She swung back to block.
The spot struck by Holy Light sizzled as if burned, the Edo Tensei face contorted in pain.
Seeing her grandfather's face, Tsunade's heart ached.
But that pain fueled her rage.
"Orochimaru—!"
She locked onto him, her fiery gaze paired with the First Hokage's unconscious screams, exuding a fearsome presence.
Orochimaru's smile vanished.
For the first time, he regretted provoking Tsunade so.
But what shocked him more was her power.
"Such terrifying strength, crumbling even Edo Tensei bodies, their souls wailing," Orochimaru clenched his fists, staring at Tsunade bathed in divine light, his expression a mix of fear, desire, and reluctance.
He could feel it.
This white light was entirely different from chakra.
A new power!
But its holy, pristine nature stirred fear and bitterness deep within him.
This power would never be his.
Like a snake slithering in a damp, dark cave, forever unable to claim an eagle's wings or withstand the sun's radiance.
Amid Orochimaru's bitter turmoil…
The Second Hokage suddenly lunged like a moth to a flame, tightly grasping Tsunade's cross.
Sizzle—
As if clutching a red-hot iron.