Chapter 286: Orochimaru Retreats, Tsunade Kisses Makoto
"Orochimaru!"
Jiraiya then turned to look at Orochimaru and said, "You are no longer our comrade. You are too evil."
"Comrade? Hee hee hee hee, what a sad word."
Tsunade immediately agreed, "From today on, we are no longer the Sannin."
Then she stomped lightly. Katsuyu under her feet immediately understood, opening her mouth and spewing acid at Manda.
Tongue Tooth Sticky Acid!
This was one of Katsuyu's few attack ninjutsu, spitting corrosive liquid from her mouth to attack the enemy. It could dissolve anything it hit.
Although it looked slow and not easy to hit the enemy, that was because Katsuyu's size wasn't enough.
If Katsuyu's mountain-like main body appeared here, the acid she spewed would roll in like a flood. Those who couldn't dodge such an attack would know the value of the title "Slug Sage."
However, Manda was obviously not among them.
Although huge, he was incredibly fast.
In the blink of an eye, he turned into a purple streak of light and wrapped around Katsuyu's body. Katsuyu quickly deformed under his enormous constriction force, and the next second turned into... countless small slugs all over the sky.
What Katsuyu feared least was physical attacks, because she could turn into countless small slugs and reorganize at any time.
The Katsuyu Tsunade summoned via the Summoning Jutsu was only a small part of Katsuyu's main body.
Taking advantage of Manda's attack, Gamabunta drew his sword and slashed straight at Manda's head. Manda opened his mouth and caught Gamabunta's blade.
Then his huge tail whipped at Gamabunta like a steel whip. Amidst the roaring earth, a huge gully dozens of meters long suddenly appeared.
This was the deterrent power of a top-tier summoning beast.
Although in the future stage where gods fought, the appearance of summoning beasts would no longer play a decisive role.
But in the current old version where Tailed Beasts weren't out, every top-tier summoning beast had the combat power of a Kage-level powerhouse.
"Bunta, oil!"
"Got it."
Jiraiya and Gamabunta coordinated tacitly. Jiraiya breathed fire, and Gamabunta spat oil.
Taking advantage of the gap when Manda needed to adjust his breath after attacking twice in a row, they unleashed the Toad Oil Flame Bullet together.
Huge flames formed a sea of fire with a radius of a hundred meters, directly engulfing Manda.
The Sannin were actually very familiar with the strength of each other's summoning beasts, but what they weren't familiar with was that they hadn't fought a civil war with summoning beasts.
Therefore, Jiraiya didn't know the result of this move until he saw Manda's figure crumbling in the fire shadow, realizing that Manda had shed his skin.
Just then, the ground suddenly bulged, and a black shadow rushed towards Gamabunta's neck.
Gamabunta subconsciously hugged the opponent with both hands, thinking it was Manda's head, but it was just Manda's tail.
And Manda's real head appeared behind Gamabunta, drilling out of the ground and biting towards the back of Gamabunta's head.
The huge snake mouth opened one hundred and eighty degrees, looking like it wanted to swallow Jiraiya and Gamabunta in one gulp.
"You seem to have forgotten me!"
Tsunade descended from the sky, a Heaven's Pain Foot hitting Manda right on the forehead, instantly smashing Manda into the ground.
No matter how strong Manda was, he couldn't fight four against one. This result was not unexpected.
And at this moment, Orochimaru made his move.
His arms couldn't move, but he still had a flexible tongue.
His tongue shot out and wrapped around Tsunade's neck, dragging her back, trying to buy Manda time to breathe.
However, physical contact with Tsunade was the biggest mistake. The next second, Tsunade grabbed Orochimaru's tongue, swung him around like a yo-yo, and finally smashed him fiercely onto the ground.
Just as Tsunade planned to pursue the victory, she suddenly felt her body go numb. It turned out there was poison on Orochimaru's tongue.
Jiraiya immediately rushed towards Orochimaru, forming seals with both hands. The hair on his back formed lion heads, wrapping towards Orochimaru.
He knew very well that ordinary attacks were meaningless against Orochimaru. Ninjutsu that couldn't kill Orochimaru would only facilitate his counterattack and escape. It was better to bind him and seal him.
On the other side, taking advantage of Manda's dizziness, Gamabunta retrieved his sword and planned to pierce Manda's heart with one strike.
Seeing that his situation was disadvantageous, Orochimaru giggled. Lying on the ground, he opened his mouth and spat. Thousands of snakes poured out of his mouth, rushing towards Jiraiya and Gamabunta.
This was one of Orochimaru's signature ninjutsu, the Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes.
If it were just snakes, Jiraiya and Gamabunta wouldn't be afraid.
But each of these snakes opened its mouth, and a sword protruded from it. The attack power was incomparable.
Even Jiraiya didn't dare to resist head-on and quickly used the Body Flicker Technique to dodge.
Under the cover of the army of poisonous snakes, a blade drilled out of the ground, piercing Tsunade's abdomen and skewering her. Then Orochimaru's main body drilled out of the ground.
This was Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword, which could extend and retract, and could even be controlled by Orochimaru from a distance.
Unfortunately, Orochimaru's fingers couldn't move now, so he could only use its most basic functions.
Orochimaru's skin on the ground had turned into flying ash. It turned out that when the ten thousand poisonous snakes swept across the ground just now, Orochimaru had already used the Shedding Technique to hide his figure and take the opportunity to sneak attack.
Blood trickled from the corner of Tsunade's mouth. This injury was naturally equivalent to no injury for her.
She even boldly grabbed the blade with her hand, then tried to pull Orochimaru over.
Orochimaru wouldn't be pulled close by Tsunade and beaten up again, so he immediately retracted the Kusanagi Sword.
At this time, the brawl between the three summoning beasts also ended.
Manda's eyes were white from the acid corrosion, but Gamabunta's leg had also been bitten by Manda.
"Orochimaru, hee hee, I really want to see you beaten to death like this. But if you die, my sacrifice cannot be fulfilled, so survive, Orochimaru."
Manda turned into smoke and disappeared with a whoosh. Gamabunta also nodded to Jiraiya and disappeared.
Although summoning beasts had a contract with the summoner, they generally wouldn't fight to the death—unless they were pitted to death by the ninja.
A small slug lay on Tsunade's shoulder, treating her, and then disappeared along with the rest.
With Katsuyu's combat ability, staying here to face the flexible and changeable Orochimaru was useless.
The battle entered the second stage. The relaxed expressions on Jiraiya and Tsunade's faces disappeared.
Although they knew each other very well, that familiarity was from more than twenty years ago.
Now, all three had developed or learned more powerful ninjutsu, and they all lamented each other's strong combat power.
"Tsunade, are you okay?"
Jiraiya glanced at Tsunade. Tsunade snorted coldly. "He's still early if he wants to kill me with just that."
"On the contrary, is this all you've got? Can't even defeat an Orochimaru with crippled hands?"
Jiraiya grinned. "His strength has always been higher than mine. I'm just performing normally right now."
"If we continue fighting, I'll have to reveal my trump card. But I'll need you to buy me some time then."
Jiraiya still had many elemental jutsu and conventional ninjutsu he hadn't used, but seeing Orochimaru's performance just now, he understood that those ninjutsu couldn't hurt Orochimaru.
Hearing this, Tsunade frowned. "I can do that, but if he doesn't fight me and sneak attacks you instead, I don't have a good solution either."
On the other side, Orochimaru looked relaxed, but his inability to form seals greatly limited him.
If the fight continued, he would indeed have to risk his life. But that move was prepared for Itachi Uchiha, and he didn't want to waste it here.
Just then, Naruto's killing intent echoed across the battlefield.
Tsunade and Jiraiya immediately turned around, shocked to see Kabuto, who was with Orochimaru, had somehow gotten close to Naruto and slammed a palm onto Shizune's back.
Although Shizune had Jōnin strength, she was a medical ninja after all, so her combat power was naturally inferior to Kabuto's.
Although Naruto's strength had improved, it was still not easy for him to defeat Kabuto without relying on the Nine-Tails.
Kabuto succeeded and wanted to attack Naruto.
The bone-chilling killing intent made Kabuto's expression change drastically. Then Naruto raised his hand and used the Rasengan, sending Kabuto flying.
However, Kabuto wasn't seriously injured, because Naruto's Rasengan was still incomplete at this time.
Because of Makoto's intervention, Naruto's ninjutsu ability had improved a lot compared to his peers, which also allowed him to learn the Rasengan faster.
But it would take at least another ten to fifteen days for Naruto to completely master the Rasengan, especially the one-handed Rasengan.
"It seems I won."
Kabuto spat out a mouthful of blood. This triumphant look made Naruto want to rush forward in anger, but he suddenly felt suffocated.
He subconsciously touched his chest, where blood was spilling out. Kabuto had actually cut his pectoral muscles.
If this continued, Naruto would die of suffocation.
Shizune crawled up, trying to treat Naruto, but how could Kabuto allow such a thing? He used Hidden Shadow Snake Hands on Shizune.
Poisonous snakes opened their big mouths, revealing fangs. Jiraiya and Tsunade tried to rush over to rescue them from a distance.
But Orochimaru wouldn't let go of this opportunity. Stretching his neck, he spat out the Kusanagi Sword, sneak attacking Tsunade and Jiraiya from behind.
Tsunade stopped voluntarily to deal with Orochimaru. Jiraiya rushed over with the Body Flicker Technique, but was still a step too late.
The poisonous snake bit Shizune's arm, and Kabuto's chakra scalpel slashed across Shizune's neck.
The feeling of death struck. Shizune looked at Kabuto unwillingly and slowly closed her eyes.
As for Kabuto, he quickly tried to use Earth Style to escape Jiraiya's Rasengan, turning to join Orochimaru.
"Well done, Kabuto."
Orochimaru didn't skimp on praising Kabuto. Kabuto spat out a mouthful of blood and said, "Lord Orochimaru, I have no combat power left. Shall we retreat?"
"Thinking of running? Impossible!"
Tsunade wanted to rush over to stop them, but Orochimaru said calmly, "Tsunade, if you treat your follower now, she can still be saved. Why waste time on me?"
Then, facing the slowed-down Tsunade, Orochimaru and Kabuto slowly sank into the ground.
Facing Jiraiya and Tsunade going all out, Orochimaru wasn't at a disadvantage in a one-on-two.
Of course, Jiraiya still had Sage Mode, and Tsunade hadn't released her Yin Seal yet.
And Orochimaru also had the Eight Branches Technique as a trump card unused.
Again, perhaps Orochimaru wasn't a match for Jiraiya and Tsunade in a full-on death match, but if Orochimaru wanted to leave, unless Jiraiya activated Sage Mode and used a genjutsu sneak attack, the possibility wasn't high.
Tsunade clenched her fists, then turned and rushed towards Shizune.
Naruto's face was already red from holding his breath, and Shizune's blood had dyed her whole body red.
Seeing this, Tsunade quickly treated Shizune.
Jiraiya on the side wanted to speak but stopped, forcing himself to wait for Tsunade to treat Shizune first.
"Let me do it."
Makoto, arriving late, had light shining on his hand, then patted Naruto's chest.
Almost instantly, Naruto recovered, gasping for breath with his mouth wide open.
In fact, without Makoto, the Nine-Tails chakra in Naruto's body had basically healed his injuries.
On the contrary, Shizune's poisoning and severe injuries were tricky even for Tsunade.
Makoto came to Tsunade's side. Seeing him, a look of relief flashed in Tsunade's eyes.
She didn't blame him for arriving late, because she didn't know he could monitor this place all along.
Tsunade and Orochimaru had specifically left Tanzaku Town to fight. Even if Makoto had the Flying Thunder God Technique, he had to know the target location to use it.
It seemed he hadn't left a Hiraishin mark on her—what is this feeling of both relief and disappointment?
"You detoxify, I'll treat her injuries."
Makoto spoke, and Tsunade nodded immediately.
Then Makoto poured life force into Shizune's body. Her wounds healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, while his own face began to turn pale.
Treating Shizune naturally wouldn't make his body weak, but he had just sensed the existence of White Zetsu, so he chose to show weakness to the enemy.
Soon, Shizune coughed, coughing up the blood clot in her throat.
Most of the toxins in her body had also been extracted by Tsunade. Plus, Shizune herself was an expert in poison and had considerable resistance to toxins, so she had basically recovered her health.
Tsunade had just breathed a sigh of relief when she saw his body sway.
She quickly let go of Shizune, letting Shizune fall on her butt, and hugged him.
"Hey, are you okay? Don't scare me!"
Looking at his pale face, Tsunade's voice was urgent.
Jiraiya on the side wanted to complain about why Makoto arrived so late and why he had become so weak, but then he saw the necklace on Makoto's chest and was stunned for a moment.
As Tsunade's teammate, Jiraiya also knew the importance of this necklace. Why was it hanging on Makoto's neck now?
Looking at Tsunade's trembling appearance, which didn't seem fake, could this necklace really be cursed, and was now cursing Makoto to death?
Wasn't Makoto with them all along? Although Jiraiya knew it was a shadow clone following them, had Makoto's main body found Tsunade first?
Under Jiraiya's puzzled gaze, Tsunade's next move made his jaw drop, because she actually took the initiative to kiss Makoto.
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