"Originally, Orochimaru came to Lady Tsunade for medical treatment after Hiruzen Sarutobi sealed his arms with the Reaper Death Seal, hoping to heal his hands. Why is Orochimaru seeking Lady Tsunade again now?!"
Naruto, startled, immediately rushed out the door and headed towards Moutoku Castle.
On the other side.
Tsunade, who was sightseeing the ancient ruins of Moutoku Street with Shizune, who was holding a pink piglet, looked gravely towards Moutoku Castle.
The once magnificent Moutoku Castle had been crushed by a giant purple-scaled python, turning into a pile of rubble.
On top of the purple python's head, on a scale as large as a millstone, stood two people.
The man in the lead, wearing a loose kimono, had a sickly smile on his pale, bloodless face, and his golden snake-like eyes gleamed with cold and greedy light. It was Orochimaru!
Behind him, Yakushi Kabuto's glasses reflected a cold glint, and a calm, unhurried smile played on his lips.
"Orochimaru!"
Shizune's pupils constricted, and she instantly blocked Tsunade, her hand already clutching poison needles. Tonton also let out a warning growl. As two of the Legendary Sannin, they had mostly left Konoha Village and rarely met. Orochimaru's presence here could only mean trouble.
Tsunade's beautiful face was covered in frost, she frowned slightly and asked coldly, "Orochimaru, what are you doing here?!"
"Of course, I came to visit an old friend, and by the way—"
Orochimaru's gaze, like a tangible entity, clung to Tsunade, filled with an unsettling chill.
"...ask you for a small favor."
He continued unhurriedly, "Originally, I was going to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi."
"Unfortunately, because of some meddlesome people, I only severely injured the old man; I couldn't kill him."
"Orochimaru, you tried to assassinate Hiruzen Sensei?"
A flicker of disbelief crossed Tsunade's eyes.
Orochimaru's sinister expression remained unchanged, a cold smile playing on his lips.
"The good news is that the old man has finally resigned as Hokage, but he has retired and is not dead. A new Hokage will be appointed. Who do you think would be the best candidate for the new Hokage?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"Are you trying to say Jiraiya?"
"No, no, no—" Orochimaru waved his hand, "That guy can't be the Fifth Hokage, and he won't be Hokage."
"Clearly, you are more suitable to be the Fifth Hokage."
Orochimaru flicked his snake-like tongue, licking his thin lips, and sneered, "I want to completely destroy Konoha Village, so, I have no choice but to ask you to die, Tsunade!"
"This is good, isn't it? I can let you see the two people you love most again—Nawaki, and Dan."
"You can go to 'Naraku' to see them and apologize to them."
"Shut up!"
Tsunade was struck by lightning, her body swayed violently, and her face instantly turned ashen white.
Orochimaru's words were like the most venomous curse, accurately piercing the deepest wound in her heart!
Tsunade, with her head down, angrily punched the wall behind her. The terrifying monstrous strength caused the indestructible wall to largely collapse with a thunderous roar.
"Oh? As expected of one of the Legendary Sannin, your strength doesn't seem to have declined much."
"But—as a junior, I still want to experience the strength of Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin!" Yakushi Kabuto pushed up his glasses, a cold arc forming at the corner of his mouth, "Then allow me to 'persuade' you to seriously consider Lord Orochimaru's proposal."
Before he finished speaking, Yakushi Kabuto's figure instantly vanished!
His speed was so great that he left an afterimage in his original spot.
He ghost-like bypassed Shizune, rushing straight for Tsunade behind her, with five fingers together, fingertips wrapped in highly condensed Chakra Scalpels capable of severing Chakra pathways, aiming directly at the vital point of Tsunade's back neck.
"Don't even think about it!"
Shizune reacted extremely quickly, letting out a sharp cry. Countless poison needles, as fine as ox hair and laced with potent venom, rained down like a storm of senbon towards Yakushi Kabuto.
At the same time, she herself lunged forward, attempting to intercept him!
"Petty tricks."
A hint of disdain flashed in Yakushi Kabuto's eyes. His body twisted eerily like a boneless snake, effortlessly weaving through the dense rain of poison needles.
At the same time, his free left hand shot out like lightning, precisely gripping Shizune's attacking wrist!
"Ngh!"
Shizune felt her wrist clamped as if by an iron vise, and sharp pain surged through her.
Yakushi Kabuto's strength far exceeded her estimation!
"Miss Shizune, your poison techniques are good, but your taijutsu—is too poor."
Yakushi Kabuto sneered, then forcefully twisted his left hand, which was gripping Shizune's wrist, and violently flung her like a rag doll into the nearby brick wall.
"Bang!!"
Shizune grunted, crashing heavily against the wall, sending dust flying. The poison needles in her hand scattered everywhere, and Tonton was also thrown off, letting out a whimper.
She struggled to get up, but the intense pain and chaotic Chakra made her unable to move for a moment.
Having dealt with Shizune, Yakushi Kabuto was no longer hindered. The Chakra Scalpel, glinting with cold light and carrying deadly killing intent, once again stabbed towards Tsunade, who stood motionless.
"You brat, are you worthy of experiencing my strength?"
A clear and pleasant voice rang out. Yakushi Kabuto, who had lunged close, suddenly met Tsunade's gaze as she turned her head.
"Not good!"
That coldness and oppressive feeling immediately set off alarm bells in Yakushi Kabuto's heart, but he was already too late to react. Tsunade delivered a kick; the fierce wind howled, simple and unadorned, yet more ferocious and powerful than Rock Lee opening the Eight Gates Formation. It landed squarely on Yakushi Kabuto's abdomen.
"Boom—"
The powerful impact made Yakushi Kabuto question reality, as if he had been hit by a train. His entire body was sent flying hundreds of meters in a white blast of air, smashing through one wall after another, until he was finally buried beneath the rubble.
"Orochimaru, I don't know what your true intentions are, but it's clear you shouldn't have provoked me, and you certainly shouldn't have angered me by mentioning those two people!!"
Tsunade roared, stomping her foot with immense force!
"Boom!!!"
The street ground where she stood instantly shattered, spiderweb cracks rapidly spread, rocks sank, walls collapsed, and debris shot out.
And she herself had transformed into a dark green lightning bolt, tearing through the air, carrying a terrifying momentum capable of crushing everything, and charged straight at Orochimaru!
She raised her fist and slammed it forward!
A pure monstrous strength punch!
Without any frills, only absolute power and speed!
"Excellent!" A flicker of excitement crossed Orochimaru's eyes, and he instantly formed hand signs.
Ram - Un - Monkey!
"Summoning: Triple Rashomon!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three giant bronze gates, carved with demonic faces, burst out of the ground, layered one behind another, blocking Tsunade's path and exuding an ancient, chilling aura of absolute defense.
"Break for me!"
Tsunade's momentum remained unchecked. Her fist, imbued with the power to shatter mountains and crack the earth, slammed heavily into the first Rashomon!
"Clang—!!!"
A deafening metallic roar echoed through the sky!