Flying Thunder God activated—Tsunade's team of four appeared directly on the tree trunk where Gekko Chizan had been earlier.
"This is the Flying Thunder God Technique, huh? It really is amazing."
After landing, Hizashi couldn't help but marvel, then immediately activated his Byakugan.
"There are Kumogakure shinobi advancing around us, closing in from multiple directions."
"Looks like the enemy really did deploy quite a few people."
"And straight ahead... tsk, what terrifying chakra. Is this the A and B combo Chizan mentioned?"
This temporary squad had been assembled solely to go head-to-head with the A and B combo.
That was Chizan's idea, of course. After all, aside from the A and B duo, most Kumogakure shinobi favored water and lightning styles.
But whether it was the Inuzuka clan's secret techniques or the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist, neither cared about what element the opponent had. They'd just charge in and fight.
"Tsunade-sama, should we take out the Kumogakure around us first?"
Gekko Chizan smirked slyly. He'd been itching to test out his One Thousand Years of Death after all—why else would he suggest taking the initiative?
"Hmm? You're thinking..."
"Hehehe... Even if we're the ones initiating, the main goal is to buy time for our base. So why not lead them on a chase while we're at it...?"
His laughter made the other three shudder.
The three suddenly realized—they might not know Chizan that well after all.
Since when did this guy get so... sleazy?
Gekko Chizan: Hey! Don't go saying that. I'm not sleazy, okay? This is called strategic thinking!
"That could work. Let's get started."
"Hizashi, lead the way!"
Hizashi nodded, then immediately charged in a certain direction.
Tsunade and the others followed closely behind.
"Five enemies directly ahead."
"I'll take two. You each handle one. Any objections?"
Upon Hizashi's report, Tsunade gave the command. Chizan and the others all nodded in agreement.
They charged toward the Kumogakure squad.
Inuzuka Tsume moved first.
"Ninja Art! Four Legs Technique!"
"Kuromaru! Let's go!"
The Four Legs Technique was the Inuzuka clan's secret technique that gathered chakra in the limbs, transforming them into beast-like forms. It increased grip and attack power.
In an instant, Inuzuka Tsume and Kuromaru darted forward.
Using their superior sense of smell, the girl and her dog locked onto one of the Kumogakure shinobi.
"Damn! Enemy attack!"
"Counterattack!"
Anyone deployed on the battlefield had some skill.
Though Inuzuka Tsume's charge was fast, it still alarmed the enemy.
Before the shinobi could finish speaking, the girl and her dog had already rammed into him.
The other Kumogakure shinobi quickly drew their weapons and entered combat stances.
Not wanting to fall behind, Hizashi also accelerated and charged at another enemy.
"Gentle Fist! Air Palm!"
Locked on using his Byakugan, he released a vacuum shockwave formed from compressed chakra, blasting a shinobi back.
He immediately followed up, closing the distance for close combat.
"Tch. These guys are all fired up."
"Tsunade-sama, maybe you should take a break. Let them handle it."
Tsunade hadn't expected those two to be so fired up. The moment they saw action, they dove in headfirst.
While she was still processing things, Gekko Chizan grinned.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Dozens of long snakes suddenly shot from Chizan's right hand, lunging straight at the three Kumogakure shinobi in front of him.
In moments, the snakes wrapped around all three and sank their bloody fangs into them.
Ever since learning how effective venomous snakes were, Chizan never attacked without poison.
The Kumogakure shinobi bitten by the snakes instantly felt the venom flooding their systems—so potent they couldn't even scream.
Though the poison wasn't instantly lethal, it completely immobilized them.
"I'm not done yet!"
"Thousand Years of Death: Spiral Ascension !"
Chizan lunged with the posture of a panther, launching three attacks that triggered three spine-chilling screams.
"Aaahhhhh!!!!"
Thud!
The screams cut off as heavy bodies slammed to the ground.
It all happened in a flash—so fast that even Inuzuka Tsume and Hizashi, who had attacked first, hadn't finished off their own targets.
"No way!"
The Kumogakure shinobi fighting Inuzuka Tsume gasped when he saw what had just happened.
That immediately irritated Inuzuka Tsume.
"You're fighting and still getting distracted?!"
Girl and dog crossed past the enemy, their sharp claws leaving deep gashes that spurted fresh blood.
Chizan, who had already finished off his enemies, caught this scene out of the corner of his eye. He immediately used Flying Thunder God to appear beside Tsunade, blocking her line of sight from Inuzuka Tsume and her victim.
"Tsunade-sama, that's way too brutal over there. You shouldn't watch."
Tsunade blinked, then quickly understood what Chizan meant and silently felt grateful.
Blood easily spilled on the battlefield. Though her hemophobia had improved, a sudden sight of blood could still hinder her combat ability.
"Gentle Fist! Air Palm!"
Boom!
Hizashi's angry shout rang out again, followed by the sound of a heavy hit.
Clearly, his opponent hadn't been able to withstand the power of the Gentle Fist either.
"Hmph, Chizan, didn't we agree I'd take two? What's your deal, clearing the field in one go?"
"And that last move—did you learn it from Hatake Sakumo? Of all things, why that one?"
Tsunade had clearly seen Chizan's One Thousand Years of Death, and she couldn't help but feel exasperated.
"That jutsu's super effective! It hurts physically and emotionally! Double damage!"
Chizan grinned pervertedly—he really gave off an indecent vibe.
"Tsunade-sama, someone's heading toward us. A lot of them."
"Probably drawn by the screams just now."
Using his Byakugan, Hizashi caught all surrounding movements.
Inuzuka Tsume nodded as well—her sharp nose picked up many approaching scents.
"Avoid them. Head toward the Land of Hot Water!"
Tsunade made a swift decision, and the four moved again.
Thanks to their superior sensory abilities, they evaded squad after squad, heading in the direction of the Land of Hot Water.
Soon after, the bodies of the defeated Kumogakure team were discovered.
Above the forest, Kumogakure smoke signals flared into the sky.
When A saw the smoke signals, a terrifying killing intent radiated from him.
"Damn Konoha rats!"
"Head toward the smoke!"
"Use sensory ninjutsu. The moment you detect them, report to me."
The slightly chubby ninja in A and B's unit nodded and began performing a sensory technique.
Meanwhile, Tsunade's squad struck again—taking out another five-man team.
Chizan started with a snake strike, then followed up with another Thousand Years of Death: Spiral Ascension . Screams echoed through the forest again.
But this time, their actions were detected by A and B's sensory ninja.
And within Hizashi's Byakugan field of vision—he saw the A and B combo appear.
"A-sama, northeast 500 meters!"
"Tsunade-sama, southwest 500 meters!"
The two squads were finally about to collide.