"Tsunade-sama!"
Itachi Uchiha leaned against a rock, pressing his hand over his wound in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding.
"Hm, you're Itachi, right?"
Tsunade had some memory of this young heir of the Uchiha Clan and recognized him immediately.
However, her eyes kept glancing sideways without meeting his directly.
"Yes!"
Itachi's eyes widened in surprise. He had been worried earlier about lacking medical support, but now Tsunade-sama was here—renowned as an elite in the field of healing.
"Someone come over here! Start treating his injuries now!"
Without wasting words, Tsunade commanded the medical ninja behind her while continuing to scan the surroundings.
The ground showed clear signs of intense battle.
"And someone check that other area too!"
Her gaze landed on Kakashi's side where several bodies lay, prompting a frown on her face.
Throughout it all, she hadn't spotted Jiraiya or Orochimaru anywhere.
"The Third is currently fighting Saitama Uchiha—they went off in that direction!"
A medical ninja released a green glow from their palms placed onto the worst injury on Itachi's abdomen, causing him to hiss in pain.
Taking advantage of the treatment, Itachi spoke up toward Tsunade since he noticed her looking around anxiously.
"Saitama..."
Tsunade followed the direction Itachi mentioned and could faintly see the ongoing fight, hearing faint sounds of combat reach her ears.
"What about that idiot Jiraiya!"
Changing direction slightly, Tsunade asked urgently.
Though she tried to avoid looking, the bloodstains on the ground unsettled her, her hands clenching tightly at her sides.
"Jiraiya-sama and Orochimaru went in the opposite direction—it's quite far."
Itachi pointed toward the exact opposite direction of the Third, which Tsunade examined and found indeed distant—no sounds reached her from there.
"Hizashi!"
Tsunade signaled Hizashi standing nearby observing the scene.
"Understood!"
Hizashi gave a short nod, then formed ninja seals.
[Byakugan!]
The world snapped into view—colors faded into crisp black and white outlines.
"I found them!"
Quickly confirming what he saw, Hizashi announced to Tsunade.
"Jiraiya-sama is fighting just one kilometer ahead—the opponent really is Orochimaru!"
After a brief pause for confirmation, Hizashi identified the chakra signatures of the battling pair.
"Hmph!"
"Hizashi, your team will go assist the Third. Medical ninjas stay here and continue basic treatment for the injured. I'll head to help Jiraiya!"
Tsunade issued orders before stomping her foot forward and heading toward Jiraiya's location.
She trusted the Third more, so she decided to back up Jiraiya—he was likely to lose against Orochimaru otherwise.
"Understood!"
Hayato gave a slight nod before signaling to several accompanying ninja nearby. He then strode directly toward The Third.
"Your wound is serious, but you did some initial treatment yourself—good thing, or else the massive blood loss would've been deadly!"
The ninja treating Itachi spoke while slowly removing his hand from the injury. Then he pulled out some gauze and bandages, getting ready to wrap up the wound for now.
"Team leader! Over here's a severely injured one still breathing. Come check it out!"
A ninja who was treating others shouted over this way.
At the ninja's feet lay Shisui, whose body had previously been pierced by Saitama.
"Shisui!"
Itachi shot a sharp glance in that direction. His eyes went wide as he tried to sit up, but even the smallest move ripped his wound open again.
"That's your teammate, right? Don't move around recklessly—I'll go have a look!"
The medical ninja pressed down on Itachi's shoulder, pinning him against the rock behind, then quickly strode off toward the other side.
Itachi's eyes gleamed intensely as he stared over, hope flickering across his face.
He never thought Shisui would still be alive. With injuries like that, he'd assumed Shisui had died instantly upon seeing them, but somehow he was still clinging onto life.
Just thinking about it, Itachi felt a wave of relief wash over him.
"Ugh…ugh!"
Lying flat on the ground, Shisui had a large gaping wound in his left chest. Blood soaked his entire upper body, dyeing his clothes crimson. Under the previous medic's care, he groaned unconsciously from pain.
"How is he?"
The medical ninja crouched down and asked the ninja who had first tended to Shisui.
"It's very severe, though strangely fortunate in one aspect."
"The enemy aimed for his heart, but this guy's heart is on the opposite side—on the right side of his chest instead of the usual left."
"As for the other piercing wound through the lung, internal bleeding must've built up badly, obstructing his breathing."
"Understood. Help me prepare—we need to drain the blood from inside his body. Also, call another medic over here to help stop the bleeding!"
"Got it!"
...
*BOOM!*
Saitama swung his leg forward, crashing into The Third's clenched hands. A powerful burst of air immediately erupted from where they collided.
"Hmph!"
Battling through exhaustion, The Third used his slightly less damaged right leg to push himself upward and slid backwards into the distance.
*Crack!*
Holding tightly onto his left leg, The Third forced the severely bent parts back into place, twisting them in the opposite direction. His face instantly paled significantly.
*Thud!*
Saitama didn't give The Third much breathing room, rushing forward once more.
*Whoosh!*
His right leg swept sideways, covered in lightning, looking extremely powerful and intimidating.
*Zzzzt!*
Though The Third had somewhat restored mobility to his leg, using it still brought intense pain.
Moreover, the injury impacted both his speed and movements. Even though mentally he could keep up with Saitama's attacks, physically his body couldn't match up.
*BOOM!*
That kick smashed straight into The Third's face.
The Third wore a ninja-style helmet on his head, with soft leather armor protecting the sides of his cheeks.
Saitama's kick sent his helmet flying and his entire body tumbling sideways.
[Lightning Release: Chidori Light Sword!]
Lowering his stance, Saitama crouched down and stretched out his right arm. A brilliant glow formed in his palm.
"Whoosh!"
A long spear composed entirely of lightning tore through the air, chasing after the backward-flying Third Hokage. Its speed was slightly faster than the Third himself!
[Lightning Release: Thunderclap!]
Still midair, the Third reacted instantly, pressing both hands together at chest level and activating a ninjutsu technique.
"Boom!"
Opening his mouth slightly, a beam-like bolt of lightning shot forth, intercepting Saitama's incoming attack head-on.
The two bolts of lightning clashed violently, erupting into a thunderous roar.
"Zap!"
Clearly, Saitama's technique held superior power. Within a split second of stalemate, it pierced straight through the Third's technique and continued its deadly trajectory toward him.
"Tap!"
Instantly following up after launching his technique, Saitama accelerated rapidly, keeping pace with his own attack until reaching the Third's position.
"Bang!"
Smiling faintly, Saitama placed his right hand against the Third's chest, detonating a Rasengan directly there.
"Ugh!" The Third spat out blood as his already unstable body flew backward once more.
But this time, Saitama wouldn't allow him escape. Grabbing the Third's shoulders, he thrust his right hand forward into his chest again.
Lightning flashed past briefly, altering the Third's expression.
"Zap!"
"Eh...?"
Eyes widening in disbelief, the Third nonetheless swung an elbow outward, forcing Saitama to retreat temporarily.
Another "zap!" sounded as Saitama withdrew his hand from the Third's chest, bringing with it a spray of blood splattering onto the ground.
[Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu!]
In the next instant, the Third unleashed another technique.
A torrent of flames burst from his mouth, quickly engulfing the close-range figure of Saitama.
[Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!] Instantly, a wall of earth erupted from the ground, forming a barrier in front of Saitama.
"Impact!"
As the flames struck the earthen shield, the Third seized this opportunity to retreat backward.
"Thud!"
Kneeling halfway on one knee, one hand still pressed against his chest, he kept his eyes fixed ahead.
He hadn't expected this Saitama Uchiha to be so formidable and ruthlessly decisive.
Just a momentary hesitation on his part had been mercilessly exploited by his opponent, leading to several seemingly unstoppable offensive waves.
Although chakra had suppressed the fracture in his shinbone, the piercing pain still ravaged his entire body.
Without decades worth of experience as a ninja forging both his mental fortitude and tolerance for pain, he'd have already lost his fighting ability completely.
The Third could sense that his chest wound wasn't particularly deep.
If he hadn't reacted promptly just then and released a technique to push back Saitama, that strike might've pierced straight through him.
"This is really troublesome!"
Shifting his gaze, the Third looked past Saitama toward what lay beyond, his expression gradually returning to normal.
As a Kage-level fighter, he would never admit defeat so easily!
On the other side, Saitama frowned, and irritation had already begun to stir in his heart.
The fact that he still hadn't finished off The Third unsettled him greatly.
"Zzzt!"
Lightning burst from his body, radiating outward in all directions.
The sight was truly awe-inspiring!
Beneath his feet, the stones he stood on were struck by electricity—some pierced directly, others repeatedly hit until they rolled far away.
Soon enough, an empty space formed around Saitama.
The electric currents surged relentlessly, intensifying rapidly.
From thin threads of lightning as fine as hair, to thick arcs now the size of arms.
These growing bolts of lightning swirled around Saitama's body under his control, refusing to dissipate.
"I have to admit, you're the most incredible person I've ever seen! Such growth speed is absolutely astounding!"
"Konoha cannot allow someone like you to remain unchecked. So today, even if it costs me my life, I will make sure to end you here!"
The optimism The Third once carried upon arrival—the belief that he could easily defeat Saitama—was gone.
After this battle, he already understood the gap between himself and Saitama.
It wasn't just his age holding him back; there was also a clear difference in power.
This guy named Saitama Uchiha truly possessed the strength to stand atop the Shinobi World.
And furthermore, he still had enormous potential—he was even younger than Kakashi, with an endlessly evolving Sharingan and Hashirama's cells!
Thinking about the Hashirama cells, The Third's eyes turned cold. He suspected that Saitama's possession of Wood Release and Hashirama's cells must be linked to his former student Orochimaru.
Back in Konoha Village, there was still an incomplete test subject created by Orochimaru and Danzo—a Bloodline User with Wood Release known only by the codename Tenzo.
Saitama didn't speak. Instead, he focused intently on controlling the surrounding lightning.
The crackling energy hovered near his body, as if held together by some invisible force field, unable to scatter outward.
"Well then, let's see if you've got what it takes!"
All preparations were complete. Saitama narrowed his eyes at The Third standing ahead.
He raised his right hand. With chakra and another strange force pulling at it, the lightning swirling around him gradually converged upward toward the palm above his head.
"Zzzt!"
"Crackle! Bang!"
The electricity coalesced into a massive ball of lightning, continuously erupting in explosive bursts.
As Saitama gathered his jutsu, The Third acted without hesitation.
His hands moved rapidly through seals. He performed [Clone Jutsu], and in a flash of white smoke, two clones appeared by his side.
By now, the chakra within his body was no longer sufficient for unlimited use.
[Shadow Clone Jutsu] was the only option left—he had no choice but to use it.
Saitama's techniques were anything but simple. He needed these clones to help withstand Saitama's attacks.
Because the Shadow Clone technique would divert a portion of his chakra to the clones, this could also significantly weaken his main body due to the reduced chakra reserves.
[Composite Ninjutsu – Wind-Fire-Thunder Roar!]
Three figures simultaneously formed hand seals, their words perfectly synchronized.
One unleashed the [Fire Release – Giant Blaze Dragon Technique], another used the [Wind Release – Cyclone], and the last one once again executed the [Lightning Release – Thunderclap].
"Roar!"
A fire dragon roared with the enhancement of the Wind Release, emitting crackling lightning sounds across its body.
Its form shimmered with hints of blue, and the flames danced not just in red but with a fierce, otherworldly glow.
The Third appeared resolute, a calm smile appearing on his face.
He gazed at Saitama, then slowly raised his eyes skyward past him.
Memories flickered in his eyes. His previously clouded gaze suddenly sharpened and grew clear, sparkling with countless reflections.
[Lightning Release – Thunderous Grand Detonation!]
Over a meter wide, a lightning sphere had already formed atop Saitama's right hand.
Without waiting, Saitama hurled the jutsu forward like a projectile.
This technique was blazingly fast, lacking the usual sluggishness of colossal-scale techniques. It moved with an unmatched swiftness beyond even ordinary ninjutsu.
"Come on!"
The Third pursed his lips, as both his clone and himself activated their respective techniques together. The composite dragon of elemental force soared toward the incoming lightning sphere barreling toward them.
"Boom!"
In an instant, the two techniques collided.
The dragon threw open its maw to swallow Saitama's attack whole, but the lightning sphere tore right through it like paper.
"Whoosh!"
Unhindered, the lightning orb pressed forward, heading straight for the Third.
Too weak to move, the Third stood rooted to the spot.
The blinding white light from the lightning illuminated his face, clearly revealing every age spot!
"Pop! Pop!"
His clones vanished first, dispersing into puffs of smoke beside him.
"Hehehe…"
In the Third's eyes, something bright seemed to shimmer.
The next second, Saitama's technique struck him head-on—and erupted into a cataclysmic blast.
"BOOM!"
Crackling lightning burst apart, radiating brilliant light!
At the moment he threw the technique, Saitama immediately leapt backward—he understood better than anyone the sheer power of this jutsu!
...
"This is..."
Orochimaru and Jiraiya stopped fighting simultaneously, turning their gazes toward where Saitama stood.
Tsunade, who had been rushing toward Jiraiya, looked back too, surprise evident on her face.
"Old man, don't you dare get hurt now!"
Tsunade murmured under her breath, then quickened her pace toward Jiraiya even more.
"Everyone, hurry up!"
Hayato activated his Byakugan and saw the familiar chakra signature swallowed by the explosion, a chill running through his heart as a dreadful thought arose.
Urging his teammates to speed up, he watched as the explosion blossomed within their line of sight.
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