Chapter 285: The Sannin Gather, The Summoning Beasts Appear
Kabuto had already helped Orochimaru jump onto the wall. Looking at the big tree and the ground pulverized by Tsunade's punch, he sighed softly. "Such power... it seems she really has a deep relationship with that person."
"Lord Orochimaru, we'd better be mentally prepared."
"It doesn't matter. She has always been like this. And regardless of her relationship with Akiyama Makoto, it doesn't affect our deal."
Orochimaru remained confident. In his view, what could surpass Tsunade's affection for her brother?
Impossible.
Unless Makoto was Tsunade's other brother.
Seeing Orochimaru so confident, Kabuto could only speak up.
"Lady Tsunade, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. No one else in the ninja world has mastered this jutsu."
"If you're really worried about disturbing their rest, Lord Orochimaru can release the jutsu and return them to the Pure Land after you meet them. All you need to pay is one treatment."
Tsunade was silent, seeming tempted.
A long time later, Tsunade crooked her finger. "Orochimaru, show me your hands."
Orochimaru jumped off the wall, walked up to Tsunade, and extended his hands, which had lost their souls and begun to rot.
The light of the Mystical Palm Technique lit up on Tsunade's hands. Just as her Mystical Palm was about to touch Orochimaru, Kabuto's kunai shot straight at her face.
With a clang, Tsunade flicked the kunai away with her finger, looking at Kabuto gloomily. "Kid, aren't you Orochimaru's loyal dog? Trying to betray him now?"
"No, Lady Tsunade. I am also a medical ninja, and I can sense your killing intent. So you are not trying to treat Lord Orochimaru, but to kill him, correct?"
Tsunade didn't answer immediately, but looked at Orochimaru with a smile. "Do you trust me or him?"
"Orochimaru, we've been comrades-in-arms for more than ten years."
Orochimaru smiled sinisterly. "Tsunade, I trust you very much too, but where is the First Hokage's necklace?"
"In the past, you only gave it to the person you fancied most. Now... you wouldn't have pawned it because of gambling debts, would you?"
"Also, compared to you, I trust my subordinates more."
Orochimaru jumped back, putting distance between himself and Tsunade.
Seeing that Tsunade didn't argue, he continued, "Tsunade, I'm really curious why you would turn against me. I really want to revive them, and I have the ability to do so. What changed you?"
"Heh... Revive?"
Tsunade's eyes gradually turned cold. "Even if what you say is true, after they are revived, should I let them see me decadent for ten years?"
"If we meet again one day, I must have achieved enough feats to make them admire me. Otherwise, what face do I have to see them?"
"What they failed to do... I will help them achieve."
Orochimaru's pupils gradually constricted. "Tsunade, I didn't expect you to change."
"Really? People change."
Tsunade wiped the corner of her eye. Orochimaru shook his head gently. "But people don't get younger. What you just said sounded very much like you from more than twenty years ago, not something you could say now."
Tsunade was stunned, then her expression became complicated.
She was actually slightly surprised by her impassioned speech just now. Then she realized that this was because she had been rejuvenated for a week, awakening her youthful spirit.
Yes, even if she wasn't willing to be Hokage back then, she admired and supported those who became Hokage.
How could she be like she was now, treating those who wanted to be Hokage as fools, and those who sacrificed themselves to protect others as idiots?
Because she lived a life that was too boring, uninteresting, and hopeless, she felt that death was no big deal. If this wasn't stupidity, what was it?
Sure enough... a person can age, but their mentality cannot.
At this moment, Tsunade missed Makoto very much, even though they had just separated.
Because Tsunade felt that she should spend her last moments of youth with Makoto.
Only by remembering this youthful experience in the future could she avoid falling further into depravity on the road of life ahead.
"It seems I have to force you with force, Tsunade."
Orochimaru sighed softly, then prepared for battle.
Although his hands were crippled, Orochimaru was very confident in defeating Tsunade.
The reason was simple: Tsunade's fighting style was very singular, or rather, she could only rely on monstrous strength to kill enemies.
And Orochimaru's body modifications and shedding jutsu almost completely countered Tsunade's monstrous strength ninjutsu.
Plus, with Kabuto's assistance, Orochimaru felt there was no reason he couldn't win.
"Is that so? Then let's try it."
Tsunade was ready to release her Yin Seal for a big fight. It was also a good opportunity to experience the feeling of fighting in her youth.
As for not being able to beat Orochimaru or whatever, Tsunade didn't care at all.
At this distance, Makoto could easily catch up.
And Tsunade had reason to suspect that Makoto had already placed a Hiraishin mark on her when he patted her butt. Otherwise, how had he appeared silently behind her several times this week?
Thinking this, Tsunade threw away her coat, then unleashed a Heaven's Pain Foot, shattering the wall under Orochimaru and Kabuto's feet.
Kabuto and Orochimaru just used the Body Flicker Technique to dodge. With their strength and preparation, it was difficult for Tsunade to hit them.
Tsunade attacked more than ten times in a row, her breathing becoming chaotic. Kabuto spoke up, "Is it time for us to counterattack?"
Almost the moment he spoke, a Kabuto drilled out of the ground, waving his hand to slash at Tsunade.
Tsunade dodged lightly and kicked Kabuto away, but Kabuto turned into smoke and disappeared.
Tsunade frowned. When did Kabuto create a shadow clone?
She didn't have a dōjutsu, so her observation skills were naturally inferior to dōjutsu users.
After thinking for a moment, Tsunade felt that Kabuto had created the shadow clone using Orochimaru as cover.
Just as she was about to pursue, she suddenly felt her right arm lose sensation.
Then she touched her right arm with her left hand. The muscles and nerves there had been cut.
When... right, it was when I shattered Kabuto's shadow clone!
Using a shadow clone in exchange for one of her arms?
Indeed a good calculation.
To have such medical ninjutsu skills at such a young age, worthy of being Orochimaru's subordinate.
Kabuto adjusted his glasses triumphantly. To achieve such a record against a Sannin was already something to be very proud of.
However, his performance had just begun. He pulled out a kunai, cut his palm open, and blood dripped down.
Seeing this, Tsunade's pupils constricted, and the Mystical Palm intended to heal her arm slowly disappeared.
"Sure enough, my intelligence was correct. The Sannin Tsunade, best at medical ninjutsu, is actually afraid of blood. This is really a strange thing."
He held his bloody hand forward, as if trying to suppress Tsunade, and finally grabbed her arm.
"Lady Tsunade, please trouble yourself to treat Lord Orochimaru with me. I guarantee that as long as you can cure Lord Orochimaru, our previous promise remains valid."
Just then, the panic-stricken Tsunade suddenly revealed a sneer.
"Hemophobia? Seven days ago, I did have that disease, but now... you're too late!"
Then her right arm, with its muscles and nerves supposedly cut, turned into a heavy hammer and smashed into Kabuto's chest. Amidst the sound of bones shattering, Kabuto was sent flying into a pile of rocks in the distance, his body twisted.
Only then did Tsunade stand up with a smile.
She still had a momentary habitual reaction when seeing blood now, but the hemophobia itself had been cured by Makoto. She had proven this several times in the past few days by biting Makoto's lips and tongue until they bled.
It could only be said that Orochimaru and Kabuto were a few days late. Otherwise, Tsunade really wouldn't have known how to deal with them.
Orochimaru didn't even look at Kabuto, instead staring straight at Tsunade and her side.
The next second, Jiraiya's figure appeared.
"Sure enough, you're still so vigilant, Orochimaru."
"I originally wanted to take you down in one fell swoop while you were distracted, but now it seems difficult to have that chance."
Naruto rubbed his head in confusion. Who's who?
But the moment he saw Orochimaru, a fierce expression appeared on his face, and ominous chakra leaked from his body.
"Orochimaru, you killed the Third Hokage!"
Orochimaru looked at Naruto with interest. "Jiraiya, to dare bring the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki out... aren't you worried other countries will covet the Nine-Tails?"
"It doesn't matter," Jiraiya said confidently. "I think I can still protect his safety. Or do you want to try and take him from me?"
Orochimaru remained silent.
If it were only Tsunade, he was confident he could win.
Now that Jiraiya was here, he only had the confidence to escape smoothly.
So he spoke. "Kabuto, how long are you going to play dead?"
Kabuto stood up with a bitter expression, blood oozing from all over his body. However, compared to his previous twisted appearance of almost certain death, he seemed to have only suffered superficial injuries now.
"Lord Orochimaru, at least give me a little more time to gather chakra. I'm currently unable to restrain Lady Tsunade. Please allow me at least not to drag you down."
Tsunade glanced at Kabuto in surprise. This guy could still survive?
Worthy of being Orochimaru's subordinate indeed; his durability was comparable to Orochimaru's.
The reason Kabuto survived just now was that he had already observed Tsunade's attack method and had a general grasp of the range and effect of this attack.
Finally, just before the punch hit him, he used the Cellular Activation Technique, barely managing to survive.
But he had also reached his limit. His current nonchalant tone was just bluffing.
"Senior Kabuto... no, you traitor!"
Naruto was about to rush up, claws bared, but was grabbed by the back of his collar by Jiraiya.
Kabuto said calmly, "Naruto, you're mistaken. I have always been Lord Orochimaru's subordinate, a spy in Konoha."
"Only after standing with you would I be a traitor."
Naruto didn't care what Kabuto said or what he had encountered.
He turned to Jiraiya. "Leave this guy to me."
Jiraiya saw through Kabuto's bluff at a glance, so he nodded. Using the current Kabuto to train Naruto was fine.
With two against one on his side, the advantage was clearly his.
So Jiraiya nodded, and Naruto raised his hand to create ten shadow clones.
The ten shadow clones rushed towards Kabuto together, using taijutsu, throwing weapons, and Wind Style... all sorts of methods together. It looked quite impressive.
"Eh, is this kid your new disciple? Interesting!"
Tsunade knew her stuff. Ten shadow clones meant a lot of chakra, and different methods used by each clone meant good all-around qualities.
With this skill configuration, a little progress would make him Special Jōnin level.
"Haha, Minato's son. Excellent, right?"
Almost as soon as the words fell, Naruto's shadow clones were sent flying.
A giant snake appeared out of nowhere. It was the summoning beast Manda.
Only then did Kabuto push up his glasses. "Unfortunately, I have no intention of fighting you one-on-one."
"Interesting. And on your side?"
Jiraiya looked at Tsunade. Tsunade summoned her summoning beast without hesitation, and Jiraiya immediately followed suit.
The next second, three huge summoning beasts appeared together.
At the same time, Makoto observed all this from a distance using the Mind's Eye of Kagura.
He had no intention of interfering.
Orochimaru was still useful to him. Even if he didn't cooperate with Orochimaru in reality, he would use Orochimaru to solve some difficult problems in the simulation.
Now that Tsunade's hemophobia was cured, he could let her vent her anger on Orochimaru to prove her strong return.
As for why he didn't act if Tsunade or Jiraiya asked him later, he had already thought of an answer: he couldn't bear to disturb the reunion of old friends.
He didn't need to explain more. He was already a Kage-level powerhouse and not a Konoha ninja, so he naturally had the freedom to do or not do things.
It was also a good opportunity to owe Orochimaru a favor, making it more convenient to communicate if he sought cooperation in the future.
Back to the battlefield, Shizune took Naruto and withdrew from the range of the battle. This was no longer a level they could interfere in.
Manda, Gamabunta, and Katsuyu also looked at each other. Clearly, they were also very nostalgic about this scene.
"Jiraiya, is this a reunion of old friends? But I don't see any food. Are you making us fight amongst ourselves?"
"Orochimaru, after this battle, I want to eat a hundred live humans. If there's one less, I'll settle the account with you."
"Lady Tsunade, are you injured? Do you need treatment?"
Tsunade moved her wrist and said, "I'm fine."
Then she looked at Jiraiya. "Jiraiya, are you ready? Shall we take out Orochimaru together today?"
Jiraiya's hair danced in the wind. Being invited by Tsunade again after so many years, his fighting spirit soared immediately. "I couldn't ask for more!"
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