Boom!!!
The burly man, wrapped in violent arcs of lightning, was blasted away like a kite, smashing through several massive trees before crashing to the ground!
A slowly stood up, brushing the dust from his body, his expression grave as he looked at the seemingly delicate woman before him.
To think someone could overpower him in terms of raw strength…
His opponent—
One of the Three Legendary Sannin.
Tsunade.
From her appearance, she looked like a graceful and alluring woman.
Yet inside her body lay power comparable to a raging dragon.
However…
Though her strength was terrifying—
Her speed was too slow!
A transformed into a bolt of lightning and shot forward!
Before Tsunade could fully react, she felt as if she had been hit head-on by a speeding train!
With a single punch from A, she was sent flying!
Tsunade quickly stabilized herself midair and landed heavily, carving two deep trenches more than twenty meters long into the ground!
"Die!"
"Lightning Release: Lariat!"
Without giving her any chance to breathe, A appeared beside her again in a flash!
His elbow slammed down with overwhelming force!
Tsunade's eyes sharpened.
Her slender hand shot up and pressed against his elbow!
Crack!
The ground centered around Tsunade shattered instantly!
It was clear just how terrifying A's power was—
And even clearer that Tsunade's was even greater!
"What?!"
A stared in disbelief.
His ultimate strike had been stopped with one hand?!
"Had enough?"
"Bastard, now it's my turn!"
Tsunade's phoenix-like eyes burned coldly.
The hand blocking his attack grabbed his wrist.
A felt an immense force yank him forward!
In the next instant—
A pale fist smashed into his chest!
If it were any other woman, it would have felt like playful tapping.
But this was Tsunade.
A Senju.
The First Hokage's granddaughter.
Konoha's greatest "second-generation elite"!
Boom!
A was sent flying like a snapped string, faster than he had charged in!
He was launched over a hundred meters away!
Trees shattered, rocks exploded, dust filled the air!
He skipped across a nearby lake like a stone!
But suddenly, a hand caught him.
Tsunade's monstrous strength was instantly neutralized.
"Kid, you alright?"
Ōnoki glanced at A calmly.
"Pff!"
A spat out a mouthful of blood, staring at Tsunade in fear.
"Shut up, old man… that was barely a scratch…"
He wiped the blood from his mouth and stood up.
Then he looked at the fist mark on his chest.
If not for his Lightning Armor…
He'd be dead.
One of the Sannin, Tsunade.
Truly worthy of her reputation.
—
Orochimaru no longer had time to care about Tsunade.
He was being pinned down by the Third Kazekage.
With aerial combat abilities, the Kazekage had a massive advantage.
Neither Orochimaru nor Tsunade excelled at fighting airborne opponents.
Orochimaru glanced at the retreating Konoha forces.
After dodging another sand-iron spear, he pulled a strangely shaped kunai from his robe.
It was kaoru 's Flying Thunder God kunai.
He infused it with chakra and tossed it behind him.
It embedded itself firmly into a giant tree.
With the signal sent, he focused fully on the Kazekage.
"B!"
A roared toward the Eight-Tails.
"Oh yeah! Big bro can't beat a woman, calling me for help!"
"Shame, shame, thick skin!"
The Eight-Tails' voice echoed through the night.
A's forehead bulged with a vein.
"Little Eight, Tailed Beast Bomb!"
As the Eight-Tails began gathering chakra, Ōnoki glanced at the Five-Tails.
Han immediately understood and began charging as well.
The Third Kazekage, seeing this, flapped his wings and retreated without hesitation.
Even in the darkness, Orochimaru could feel the massive chakra gathering.
Cold sweat streamed down his back.
He knew the power of Tailed Beast Bombs.
He and Tsunade couldn't withstand even one.
Now two were aimed directly at them.
With their range and speed, escape was impossible.
Orochimaru looked toward the retreating troops.
If he used Triple Rashōmon to deflect them again…
They might hit his own people.
But if he didn't…
He and Tsunade would die.
His mind descended into chaos.
Then—
The Eight-Tails and Five-Tails fired.
Two enormous Tailed Beast Bombs shot toward them!
Everything in their path was annihilated!
Move, Orochimaru!
Move!
Use Triple Rashōmon!
It's too late if you don't!
He screamed at himself internally.
But somehow…
His mind drifted to his teacher.
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
That resolute face.
Those decisive commands.
That unwavering devotion to Konoha.
"Orochimaru…"
"You are my most outstanding student…"
"You've done well…"
Voices echoed through his mind like a revolving lantern.
"…Heh, Sensei…"
Orochimaru lowered his hands.
He stopped forming seals.
Standing upright, he calmly faced the incoming annihilation.
A hand rested on his shoulder.
He turned.
It was Tsunade.
Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled.
"Orochimaru… I didn't expect we'd die together."
"But… it's not so bad."
"At least I'm not alone."
Seeing her calm smile, something stirred in his heart.
Compared to her…
Had he failed as a person?
Just as they prepared to face death—
A figure suddenly appeared before them.
"Giving up at a time like this…"
"…doesn't sound like the Tsunade I know, big sister!"
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