"Then I will leave it to you, Katsuyu-sama."
After speaking, Tsunade leaped down from Katsuyu's head and charged toward Kakuzu.
With the Slug Sage present, the safety of Seiryū and the other two should be ensured.
She needed to end this as quickly as possible.
She did not seek to kill him, only to force him back.
A quick battle, a quick decision.
"Heavenly Foot of Pain!"
Using the force of her fall, Tsunade's right leg descended like a battle axe. Her immense strength caused the ground in that area to crack and shatter instantly.
Countless stone fragments shot outward.
But the attack missed.
"The famous Summoning Beast of the Konoha Sannin. Its size is indeed impressive."
Dodging Tsunade's strike with a leap, Kakuzu narrowed his eyes as he looked at the massive Katsuyu.
He did not care too much.
A giant Summoning Beast could indeed play a significant role in battle.
An ordinary Jōnin facing such a creature would find it extremely troublesome, and might not even possess many Ninjutsu capable of harming it.
But he was not an ordinary Jōnin. His strength far exceeded that level.
Although it was somewhat troublesome, it was not enough to make him retreat.
Completing this mission would equal several years of income.
For a man who valued money above all else, the temptation was enormous.
He would not give up easily.
Kakuzu stared at Tsunade not far away and said coldly, "The time a Summoning Beast can remain is limited. Do you think you can defeat me within that time? Do not underestimate me."
"Composite Ninjutsu: Thunderbolt Explosive Flame!"
Kakuzu formed hand seals, controlling the Lightning Release and Fire Release mask monsters to move and merge.
The two masks opened their mouths at the same time, combining Lightning Release and Fire Release.
Raging flames erupted with a roar, interwoven with terrifying lightning.
Lightning and fire intertwined, the flames enhancing the lightning, forming an even more violent attack that surged forward with fierce momentum.
"Why don't you try it and see?"
Tsunade replied coldly.
She raised her slender right leg and stomped the ground again. Her Monstrous Strength erupted, causing a giant rock several meters high to rise from the earth.
Bang!
With a kick from Tsunade, the giant rock shot forward like a cannonball.
It collided head on with the incoming attack.
Boom!
The giant rock was shattered by the lightning and fire Ninjutsu, but it successfully blocked the assault.
Swish!
Immediately afterward, Tsunade pushed off the ground and leaped forward.
She rushed toward Kakuzu at high speed, ignoring the scattered flames and lightning ahead.
The glow of fire and lightning reflected on her serious and beautiful face, revealing her focus and determination.
In the blink of an eye, she appeared before Kakuzu, swinging her fair fist with terrifying force capable of shattering the earth.
"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"
Facing the punch, Kakuzu did not dodge. He completed his hand seals.
His arms crossed in front of him, turning pitch black as if covered in armor, as he chose to block Tsunade's strike head on.
Boom!
Her heavy fist landed with a thunderous sound, but it felt as though she had struck solid steel. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
An Earth Release that hardened his body.
This man actually possessed all five Chakra nature transformations.
"The Senju's Monstrous Strength truly lives up to its reputation."
The punch was powerful. Although he blocked it, Kakuzu was forced backward.
Thud, thud, thud.
His feet stomped heavily into the ground, leaving deep footprints.
This was enough to show the force behind Tsunade's punch.
Even Earth Release: Earth Spear could not fully negate it. Kakuzu felt a slight numbness in his arms.
After steadying himself, Kakuzu shifted his gaze toward Katsuyu in the distance and sneered. "However, right now you cannot worry about them."
Over there.
Under his control, the Wind Release mask monster spread the wings on its back with a buzzing sound and charged toward Seiryū and the others atop Katsuyu's head.
Its speed was extremely fast.
The ability to fly gave it a tremendous advantage.
"I will not let you succeed."
Katsuyu's perception was sharp, and she had already sensed the approaching mask monster. Her voice was gentle but firm.
Puff, puff, puff.
Like Water Release, Katsuyu spat pale yellow corrosive slime from her mouth. This was one of her few offensive Ninjutsu.
However, against the agile, dragonfly-like movements of the Wind Release mask monster, although the slime covered a wide area, it was too scattered and easily avoided.
Even what could not be avoided was blown away by Wind Release.
It posed little threat, at most buying some time.
Katsuyu felt somewhat helpless. She truly was not suited for combat.
She gently told the three standing on her, "Stand close together. I will use my Chakra to protect you. Do not worry."
She could only use a simple method, enduring the enemy's attack directly.
In any case, she would not die. It would only hurt a little.
She could endure it.
A large amount of gentle Chakra surged from her body, forming a tangible, water sphere-like barrier that enveloped Seiryū and the other two.
It ensured their safety.
Wrapped in Katsuyu's gentle Chakra, Seiryū's eyes flickered as he murmured inwardly, 'This is Senjutsu Chakra, right? I wonder if my previous hypothesis was correct.'
He once had a theory. Senjutsu Chakra might be the correct way to use Kido Incantations.
Because Kido Incantations enhance the power of Kido, and Senjutsu Chakra also enhances the power of Ninjutsu.
That was the common point.
He wondered whether he could borrow the Slug Sage's Senjutsu Chakra to test his theory.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
Just as Seiryū was thinking, a buzzing sound rang out ahead.
The Wind Release mask monster opened its mouth, releasing a terrifying hurricane that swept toward them.
Like a storm capable of destroying everything, it enveloped Katsuyu and the three of them.
Seeing this, Katsuyu hurriedly reminded them, "Stand steady. Do not fall off."
Before she could finish speaking, she saw the red-haired boy on her head make his move.
"Damn it, do you really think I'm easy to bully? Just a mere mask monster."
Seiryū said coldly.
Not fighting back was not his style.
He could not handle Kakuzu's Kage-level strength right now.
But could a mere mask monster really turn things upside down?
Go.
"Hadō #33: Sōkatsui!"
Forming a hand seal, Seiryū raised his hand. Brilliant blue white flames burst from his palm, spreading forward in a wide arc.
Boom!
Wind and fire collided, causing an explosion across the field. Brilliant white flames shot into the sky, wind waves surged, and the violent shockwave swept across the surroundings.
"B-blocked it?"
Katsuyu was shocked.
Judging by his appearance, he was only around ten years old.
He could actually release a Ninjutsu of such power.
The Wind Release just now was not weak, yet it was blocked so easily.
This little one was truly extraordinary.
(To be continued.)