"Lady Tsunade lost?"
"Tsunade, of all people, got beaten?"
As Tsunade hit the ground, Shizune and Jiraiya gasped in unison. What shocked them even more was that Kazama could use Tsunade's signature monstrous strength.
Jiraiya already knew Kazama was extraordinary, but this still blew his mind.
"Lady Tsunade, are you okay?"
Shizune rushed to help her up.
"You really can't judge a book by its cover," Tsunade admitted, genuinely impressed by Kazama's strength.
In both defense and raw power, she'd been completely outclassed. Though their fight lasted only two brief rounds, the gap between her and Kazama was crystal clear.
"But!"
A sly grin crept across Tsunade's face.
"You lose, kid. You said I could use both hands and feet, but you used your right hand just now."
Kazama couldn't help but chuckle at her logic. She wasn't wrong—he had used his hand.
"Hey, picking on a kid like that? Don't you feel embarrassed?"
"Buzz off!"
Tsunade's fist sent Jiraiya flying with one punch.
"Since you lost, I don't owe you an apology."
With that, Tsunade turned to leave.
"Wait! You still have to face me!"
Just as Kazama was about to stop her, Naruto limped forward.
"Give me three days, and I'll take you down!"
"Hmph, kid, you really don't know when to quit, do you?"
"That's right! Never giving up—that's my ninja way!"
"Fine. I'll give you three days."
"Tsunade, we should head back to Konoha!"
"Get lost!"
Another punch, and Jiraiya went soaring again.
Kazama had no issue with the deal between Tsunade and Naruto. His main goal was to keep Tsunade here to lure out Orochimaru. Then, he could control Orochimaru and track down the divine artifact, the Fentian Bow.
"Damn it! I gave it everything I had, and I still failed!"
To prepare for his showdown with Tsunade in three days, Naruto was training day and night, relentlessly practicing the Rasengan.
Truth be told, even if Naruto mastered the Rasengan, his current strength wouldn't be enough to beat Tsunade. But that didn't stop him from pushing forward.
"Keep moving forward, never give up—that's your ninja way, isn't it, Naruto?"
Watching Naruto from behind a tree, Kazama couldn't help but admire his determination.
Without his system, Kazama might've been mocked and looked down on just like Naruto. Seeing Naruto now reminded him of his own past.
So, Kazama decided to help Naruto make a jaw-dropping comeback in three days.
"Kazama! What're you doing here?"
Drenched in sweat and exhausted, Naruto finally collapsed to the ground.
"I'm here to help you!"
Kazama extended a hand, channeling the Yang Fire from his Yin-Yang Dual Flames into Naruto's body. It instantly healed his injuries and revitalized him, leaving him full of energy.
"Thanks so much, Kazama!"
Naruto was no stranger to this technique, having been healed by Kazama before, so he took it in stride.
"Naruto, do you really want to beat Tsunade in three days?"
"Absolutely! I want to hear her apologize with my own ears. I won't let anyone insult the Hokage title!"
"Alright then, I'll help you. Learn this technique, and in three days, you'll definitely take Tsunade down!"
"Really? You're gonna help me master the Rasengan?"
Naruto's eyes lit up with excitement.
"I'm not teaching you the Rasengan. I'm teaching you the S-rank Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!"
With a piercing buzz, the powerful Wind Release: Rasenshuriken took shape in Kazama's hand.