A violent surge of chakra rippled through the battlefield, tearing through the ground and forcing even a figure as composed as Orochimaru to retreat several steps.
The air trembled.
Dust scattered.
The sheer pressure of the clash left no room for hesitation.
"Jiraiya!"
Orochimaru's voice cut through the chaos.
"I know!" Jiraiya responded immediately, his gaze sharp. "I'll handle sealing the Second Hokage!"
With the current limitations of Edo Tensei, the resurrected Senju Tobirama could not fully display his original strength. Against someone like Jiraiya in a one-on-one battle, he was already at a disadvantage.
Orochimaru's expression gradually darkened.
"I didn't expect Tsunade to not only overcome her fear of blood… but also to possess such a powerful trump card."
His golden eyes flickered.
"First Naruto… and now Tsunade. Both of them have exceeded my expectations."
He wasn't afraid—far from it.
But the situation was no longer under his control.
Jiraiya had already forced back the Edo Tensei Tobirama and was preparing to seal him. Even Hashirama, who had previously been restrained, was beginning to slip out of Orochimaru's grasp.
For the first time—
A trace of unease appeared in Orochimaru's mind.
"Hmph… it seems today's plan will not succeed so easily."
Without hesitation, he chose to withdraw.
His body flickered, vanishing like a white serpent slipping into the shadows.
But before leaving—
Clap!
He brought his hands together.
The ground trembled once more as two coffins rose from beneath the earth.
With a dull creak, they opened—
Revealing the figures of Senju Tobirama and Senju Hashirama.
Although Naruto had previously used a sealing technique on Hashirama, it was not designed to seal souls permanently. Instead, it merely restricted movement.
And now—
With Naruto unconscious, the shadow clones maintaining the technique had disappeared.
The seal collapsed.
Orochimaru's voice echoed faintly as he retreated into the distance.
"Jiraiya… Tsunade…"
"This isn't over."
"No matter who becomes Hokage…"
"I will destroy Konoha."
His laughter faded into silence.
For a moment—
No one spoke.
Jiraiya and Tsunade stood still, watching the direction Orochimaru had disappeared.
Then, almost simultaneously—
They let out a long breath.
The tension that had gripped their bodies finally loosened.
"It's over… for now," Jiraiya muttered.
But Tsunade didn't respond.
She had already rushed to Naruto's side.
"How is he, Shizune?"
Shizune's hands were still stained with blood, her face pale from exhaustion.
"I managed to stop the bleeding and stabilize the wound," she said, her voice tense.
"But…"
She hesitated.
"Even with Naruto's vitality… his heart has suffered severe damage."
Tsunade nodded.
"I understand."
Her expression hardened with resolve.
"Leave the rest to me."
She raised her right hand.
A vibrant green chakra gathered around it, emitting a sharp humming sound—like a blade formed purely from energy.
A Chakra Scalpel.
"Lady Tsunade… what are you going to do?!" Shizune asked, alarmed.
Without answering—
Tsunade thrust her hand directly into Naruto's chest.
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
Even he felt his heart skip a beat.
But Tsunade remained calm.
Focused.
Her chakra extended delicately into Naruto's body, reaching his damaged heart.
"I'm going to restart it…" she said quietly.
"And give him everything I have."
Shizune clenched her fists.
"Lady Tsunade is going to transfer all the chakra and vitality stored in her Yin Seal to Naruto!"
Jiraiya fell silent.
His gaze fixed on Tsunade.
On Naruto.
Memories flooded his mind—countless battles, countless losses.
Students he couldn't save.
Regrets he carried to this day.
But this time—
He refused to lose another.
Time passed.
Seconds.
Minutes.
Or perhaps longer.
The world seemed to hold its breath.
Finally—
Tsunade's body trembled.
Her hand slowly withdrew.
And she collapsed to the ground.
"Lady Tsunade!"
Jiraiya rushed forward, catching her before she hit the floor.
"Tsunade… how is he?!"
For a brief moment, there was no response.
Then—
A faint smile appeared on her exhausted face.
"Don't worry…"
"He won't die."
Jiraiya froze.
Then, relief washed over him like a tide.
He exhaled deeply, his shoulders finally relaxing.
At that exact moment—
Naruto stirred.
His fingers twitched.
Slowly, painfully—
He opened his eyes.
"Perverted… Sage…"
His voice was weak, barely audible.
"Am I… dead?"
Jiraiya burst into laughter, though his eyes were slightly moist.
"If the Shinigami wants you," he said, "he'll have to get past me first!"
Naruto blinked, confused.
"No… Tsunade saved you," Jiraiya added softly.
Naruto turned his head.
His gaze fell on Tsunade, lying weakly beside him.
Her face was pale.
Her breathing shallow.
A wave of emotion surged within him.
"Granny Tsunade…"
"Thank you… and I'm sorry…"
Tsunade lifted her hand with difficulty and gently tapped his forehead.
Her smile was warm.
"You don't need to thank me… or apologize."
Her voice softened.
"If anything… I should be the one thanking you."
Naruto blinked.
"Huh?"
"You helped me overcome my fear of blood," she continued.
"And you untied the knot that had been in my heart for years."
Her eyes grew distant, as if recalling the past.
"You made me believe in myself again."
Naruto didn't fully understand.
But—
He smiled.
Brightly.
"Hehe… I guess I really am amazing!"
"I mean, I am a genius ninja after all!"
Tsunade laughed softly.
"Uzumaki Naruto…"
"Yeah!"
With the battle over, the group began their journey back to Tanzaku Town.
Jiraiya carried Naruto on his back.
At the same time, he supported the exhausted Tsunade.
Shizune followed behind, dragging the unconscious Yakushi Kabuto.
The once fierce battlefield now felt distant.
The legendary clash between the Sannin—
Had finally come to an end.
For Jiraiya, this mission had been a success.
Despite the danger—
He had found Tsunade.
More importantly, he had helped her rediscover her will.
Convincing her to become Hokage was now only a matter of time.
As for Naruto—
His performance had been nothing short of astonishing.
In just three days, he had mastered three high-level techniques:
Wind Release: Vacuum Blade
Summoning Technique
Rasengan
And in this battle—
He had played a decisive role.
He had defeated Tsunade, earning her recognition.
He had fought Yakushi Kabuto head-on, ultimately overcoming him.
And even after being gravely injured by Orochimaru—
He had launched a counterattack.
Such achievements—
Were unbelievable for someone his age.
Back in Tanzaku Town—
The group stayed for over a week to recover.
Naruto rested.
Tsunade healed.
Jiraiya regained his strength.
Day by day—
They recovered.
But what shocked them the most—
Was Naruto's resilience.
Despite having his heart pierced by Orochimaru's Kusanagi blade—
He survived.
Not only that—
After just seven or eight days of treatment—
He showed no signs of his previous life-threatening condition.
He was energetic.
Cheerful.
Completely restored.
Even Tsunade couldn't help but feel amazed.
"Your vitality…" she said, shaking her head slightly.
"It rivals that of my grandfather."
Naruto tilted his head.
"Your grandfather?"
"The First Hokage?"
"Yes."
Jiraiya nodded.
"The man who ended the Warring States era."
"The one known as the God of Shinobi."
Tsunade added quietly—
"He could heal wounds without hand seals."
"Killing him was nearly impossible."
"Compared to him… even my Yin Seal feels insignificant."
Naruto's eyes sparkled.
"But I'm nowhere near that level!"
Tsunade smiled.
"My grandfather wasn't a genius from the start."
"He accumulated strength step by step."
"Each step… like climbing an unreachable mountain."
She looked at Naruto.
"Honestly… at your age, he might not even compare to you."
Naruto scratched his head awkwardly.
But inside—
He was bursting with joy.
"Hahaha! Am I really that amazing?!"
"Of course you are," Jiraiya said with a grin.
"Mastering three high-level techniques in three days…"
"Only someone like the Fourth Hokage could compare."
Naruto's confidence soared.
Because—
He had done more than just train.
He had completed the system's impossible mission.
And as a reward—
He obtained a new technique.
Wind Release: Pressure Damage!
A powerful ninjutsu once used by Kakuzu.
By compressing wind chakra into a dense sphere—
It could be launched like a cannonball.
And upon impact—
It would explode with devastating force.
A technique of pure destruction.
Naruto clenched his fist, excitement burning in his eyes.
He had grown stronger.
Much stronger.
And this—
Was only the beginning.
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