Among the legendary Sannin, each possessed strengths that set them apart.
In terms of overall power, they could be considered evenly matched—but the paths they had walked were very different.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru had never stopped training. They had refined their abilities through constant practice, honed their instincts in countless battles, and repeatedly pushed themselves to the brink of death in pursuit of greater strength.
Tsunade, however, had chosen a different path.
After leaving Konoha, she had wandered for years, burying her grief in gambling and alcohol. The once-proud kunoichi who stood at the peak of the ninja world had gradually grown distant from battle.
Her skills had dulled.
Her reflexes had slowed.
Her strength… had faded.
At present, she could barely exert thirty to forty percent of her former power.
Against ordinary opponents, that level of strength was still overwhelming. But now, she stood before a legend—
The First Hokage.
Even though the Senju Hashirama before her was only a fraction of his original self—barely one-tenth of his true power—he was still crushing her completely.
"How are you feeling, Tsunade?"
Orochimaru's voice slithered through the battlefield like a venomous whisper.
"If you agree to come back with me, I can grant you true freedom… even allow you to meet your deceased loved ones again."
He licked his lips, his golden eyes gleaming with temptation.
"Isn't that what you've always wanted?"
"Don't listen to him, Tsunade!"
Jiraiya's voice cut through sharply, filled with anger.
"He desecrates the dead! All he wants is to trap you in illusions, to make you depend on them—until you become nothing more than his puppet!"
Tsunade clenched her fists.
Of course, she knew Orochimaru's intentions were sinister.
But still…
"Orochimaru… Jiraiya…"
Her voice trembled—then suddenly rose into a roar.
"Don't either of you dare tell me what to do!!!"
Boom!!!
A terrifying surge of chakra erupted from her body.
With a single explosive punch, she struck forward, unleashing monstrous strength that shattered the ground beneath her feet.
The force slammed directly into the Edo Tensei form of Senju Hashirama—
And for a brief moment, his body was blasted apart, fragments scattering into the air.
Tsunade panted heavily, her chest rising and falling.
But her expression quickly darkened.
Because…
The broken body reassembled.
Dust gathered.
Flesh reformed.
In mere seconds, Hashirama stood there once again, completely restored.
"Damn it…" Tsunade muttered under her breath.
Jiraiya's face hardened.
"Infinite chakra… an immortal body…"
"If this keeps going, we can't win."
He turned toward her, his tone serious.
"Tsunade, the only way to deal with Edo Tensei is sealing techniques. You know that."
Tsunade nodded, though her expression remained grim.
"I know. But we have to suppress his movements first—otherwise, sealing him is impossible."
She hesitated for a moment, then added reluctantly,
"…And I'm not exactly skilled in sealing techniques."
"Then leave it to me."
A voice suddenly rang out from above.
Before anyone could react, a figure dropped from the sky and landed firmly in front of Tsunade.
Standing between her and Hashirama—
Was Uzumaki Naruto.
Tsunade's eyes widened in shock.
"Naruto?!"
Without turning back, Naruto spoke calmly.
"Granny Tsunade… I still don't fully agree with you becoming Hokage."
"But you admitted your defeat, recognized my strength, and apologized."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"You're still a good person."
His gaze sharpened as he looked toward Orochimaru.
"And I definitely won't let someone like him win."
Orochimaru chuckled softly.
"Naruto… you just defeated Yakushi Kabuto, and now you think you can join a battle at the level of the Sannin?"
"Even for a genius, that's quite arrogant."
Naruto nodded without hesitation.
"I know I still have a long way to go."
"But that doesn't mean I can't help."
He turned slightly toward Tsunade.
"Granny Tsunade, hold down the First Hokage. Create an opening—just for a moment."
"I'll use that chance to activate a sealing technique and trap him."
Tsunade's heart trembled.
That confidence.
That determination.
For a brief second… she saw a familiar shadow in him.
"Naruto…"
Orochimaru smirked.
"If you can manage that, then by all means—try."
Clap!
He brought his hands together.
Instantly, the controlled Hashirama mirrored the motion.
The air trembled.
Chakra surged.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Boom!!!
The ground exploded.
Massive trees burst forth from the earth, growing at an unimaginable speed. Thick trunks twisted upward, branches spread like a living web, and countless vines lashed outward like serpents.
In an instant—
The entire battlefield transformed into a dense, suffocating forest.
Even with only a fraction of his original power, Hashirama's chakra far exceeded everyone present.
Naruto, Tsunade, and even Jiraiya were swallowed by the overwhelming technique.
"Be careful!"
Tsunade shouted as she leapt aside.
Naruto reacted instantly, darting left and right to evade the incoming vines. He had seen this technique before—he knew just how terrifying it was.
But his body was already exhausted.
After continuous battles, his chakra reserves were nearing their limit.
His movements… were slower than before.
A thick vine shot toward him—
Wrapping around his body.
"Tch—!"
Just as it was about to bind him completely—
"HAH!"
Tsunade descended from above like a meteor.
"Heel Drop!"
BOOM!!!
Her kick shattered the vines instantly, the impact tearing apart not only the wood but also the ground itself.
Debris scattered in all directions.
Naruto landed safely, breathing heavily.
"That was… incredible…"
He looked at her with genuine gratitude.
"Thanks, Granny Tsunade."
He raised his hand, about to create Shadow Clones—
But Tsunade stopped him.
"Don't waste your chakra, Naruto."
"Hashirama's Deep Forest is too vast. Clones won't last long—they'll just drain your energy."
Naruto frowned.
"Then what do we do?"
Tsunade clenched her fists.
"There's only one way."
"We do exactly what you said earlier."
"Defeat him—then seal him."
"Any other attack is meaningless."
She scanned the forest, her expression tense.
"But right now… even finding him is difficult."
Naruto's eyes sharpened.
"Then we destroy the forest first."
Tsunade smirked.
"Exactly. Do you still have the strength?"
Naruto grinned brightly.
"Of course I do!"
For a moment, Tsunade was stunned.
His chakra reserves… were astonishing.
Almost comparable to her grandfather's.
"Alright," she said, determination returning to her eyes.
"Let's go together!"
Boom!!!
She slammed her fist into the ground.
The earth split apart, and the trees in front of them were uprooted violently.
Naruto followed immediately.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A powerful gust roared forward, tearing apart branches, leaves, and vines.
Then—
He drew the Kusanagi sword.
Wind chakra surged along its blade, forming a massive, glowing edge.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!"
Slash!!!
The giant wind blade swept forward, slicing through tree trunks like paper.
Together, their coordinated assault began to suppress the overwhelming forest.
Of course, part of the reason was that Hashirama, in his Edo Tensei state, couldn't fully utilize his power.
Still—
They were making progress.
"Naruto! I see him!" Tsunade shouted.
"Got it!"
Naruto immediately swung his blade.
A massive wind slash tore through the forest—
But Hashirama reacted instantly.
Clap!
Countless trees and vines surged together, forming a massive shield in front of him.
Boom!!!
The attack shredded layer after layer—
But ultimately failed to reach him.
However—
That was never the real goal.
Tsunade had already moved.
She leapt high into the air, her strength gathering into her leg.
"Heel Drop!!!"
BOOM!!!
The impact shattered the defensive structure completely, tearing apart wood and earth alike.
Hashirama's body was struck again, heavily damaged.
Under Orochimaru's control, his movements were slightly less fluid than his original self.
That moment—
Was enough.
Naruto created two Shadow Clones.
Together with his main body, he rushed forward.
"Sealing Technique—!"
"Sanpō Fūin!!!"
A green chakra barrier erupted outward, forming a pyramid-shaped seal that completely enclosed Hashirama.
Tsunade's face lit up with joy.
"You did it, Naruto!"
"I didn't think you'd actually succeed!"
Naruto grinned proudly.
But—
In the very next moment—
Something changed.
From within the forest—
A white snake shot out like lightning.
Its mouth—
Held the Kusanagi blade.
Before anyone could react—
Stab!!!
The sword pierced straight through Naruto's chest.
Blood exploded outward.
Splattering across the ground—
Across Tsunade's body—
Across her face.
Her pupils shrank violently.
Her body began to tremble uncontrollably.
"N… Naruto…"
For someone with hemophobia, the sight of blood was already unbearable.
But this—
This was far worse.
The dizziness.
The panic.
The overwhelming fear—
All crashed into her at once.
And yet—
None of it compared to the terror of what she was witnessing.
Someone she cared about…
Dying right in front of her.
Again.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)