The scene in the Heavenly Screen continued; Edo Madara's body had fully recovered, and he looked down at Tsunade, his Rinnegan filled with cold contempt.
"Compared to him, what abilities do you have, even though you are a descendant of Hashirama?"
Ban's voice was deep and oppressive, as if he were judging a pathetic counterfeit.
She can't use Wood Release, her Medical Ninjutsu is Hashirama's... and she's a frail woman.
A slight, mocking smile appeared on his lips.
"The weak are ugly, and the weak Senju are even more so."
Upon hearing this, the Raikage's forehead veins bulged, and his Lightning Release Chakra exploded around him as he roared:
Stop spouting nonsense!
However, Tsunade raised her hand, signaling the Raikage to calm down. She slowly took a step forward, her golden ponytail fluttering in the wind, her eyes firm and sharp.
"I am indeed a descendant of the First Hokage, but I do not know Wood Release."
She readily admitted it, her tone unwavering.
"Medical Ninjutsu is nothing special compared to the First who didn't need hand seals."
Madara sneered, seemingly having anticipated her answer. However, Tsunade's next words made his eyes narrow slightly.
"And besides, I'm a woman."
She raised her head, a confident smile playing on her lips.
"That being said, I am not the 'weak woman' you describe."
"What I possess is not simply power."
She slowly clenched her fist, Chakra gathering in her palm, and a green medical light burned like flames.
"What I inherited from the First and has been passed down to this day—that is my true power!"
At that moment, Ban's pupils suddenly contracted.
Behind Tsunade, he seemed to see the phantom of Hashirama Senju, the man who had once stood shoulder to shoulder with him, but who had ultimately parted ways with him.
"Don't underestimate the 'Will of Fire'!"
Madara was silent for a moment, then chuckled:
"Do you think you can defeat me with the 'will' left behind by Hashirama death?"
His Rinnegan narrowed slightly, his tone cold and resolute.
"Power is not 'will,' but a phenomenon caused by matter."
However, Tsunade did not back down. She took another step forward, her voice firm and resolute:
"Wrong!"
The will of the dead inspires the living, and in turn, manifests its power!
Her eyes were piercing, as if burning with the beliefs of countless predecessors.
"The Medical Ninjutsu I created is born from this very will!"
Her voice echoed across the battlefield, as if even the air itself was trembling.
A slight change finally appeared in Ban's expression.
Tsunade continued, "And she established guidelines for medical-nin."
"The first rule— medical-nin must never give up on treating a team member before they die!"
She formed a hand seal, and the Yin Seal on her forehead suddenly emitted a dazzling purple light. Black lines spread like living things, instantly covering her entire body!
"Secondly— medical-nin must never be on the front lines!"
Chakra surged wildly, and her skin glowed with a pearly luster under the blessing of the Strength of a Hundred Technique, while her muscle fibers were continuously strengthened by the ultimate regenerative power!
"The third rule— medical-nin must never die before any member of the team!"
Her voice was strong and resonant, echoing across the battlefield.
"These are the principles I teach my students."
Edo Madara narrowed his eyes, a hint of surprise flashing in his Rinnegan.
"But!"
Tsunade suddenly looked up, her eyes blazing!
"Rule Number Four -- Only medical-nin are proficient in 'Ninja Art: Creation Rebirth: Strength of a Hundred Technique' are permitted to break all the above rules!"
Boom--!
Her Chakra exploded completely, and the ground beneath her feet shattered!
In other words --
"Only I can fight!!"
"The pollen has been dispersed by Dust Release; there's just one more medical-nin." Edo Madara retorted.
But before he could finish speaking, Tsunade rushed over!
"What?!" Edo Madara's pupils contracted.
The next second--
Bang!!
Tsunade's fist slammed into the blue skeleton of Susanoo, and the terrifying Monstrous Strength created spiderweb-like cracks!
"This woman...!" A hint of seriousness finally appeared in Madara's eyes. "Although her speed is not as good as the Raikage's, is her strength above his?"
"If four people aren't enough, then five will do!" she shouted sharply. "Don't think I'm just an ordinary medical-nin!"
Ban sneered and leaped backward, his hands quickly forming hand seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!" Madara opened his mouth and spewed out a raging inferno, instantly engulfing the battlefield in flames!
"Water Release: Water Formation Pillar!" Mei Terumi rushed forward from beside Tsunade, forming hand seals. A massive wall of water rose from the ground, colliding violently with the flames, and steam filled the air!
Mei Terumi's red lips curved slightly, her hand seals changing once more. "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Roar--!
A massive water dragon roared out of the steam and swallowed Edo Madara!
Mei Terumi's water dragon roared and slammed into Edo Madara, sending him flying. The immense impact rendered him unable to control his movements.
"Now!" Ōnoki shouted, instantly teleporting behind Madara with the Raikage.
Earth Release: Ultra-Added-Weight Rock Technique!
Ōnoki pressed his hands heavily onto the Raikage's back, instantly applying a terrifying weight! The Raikage's muscles tensed under the extreme force, his Lightning Release Chakra surged wildly, and his entire right arm transformed into a blinding bolt of lightning!
"Thunderous Torture: Horizontal Chiyo Dance!!"
Boom--!
The Raikage's fist slammed into Susanoo's back like a meteorite, and the already crumbling skeleton shattered completely under the blow!
"It's not over yet!" Tsunade suddenly appeared, leaping high into the air, her right leg slashing down like a battle axe!
"Heavenly Foot of Pain!!"
Bang--!
A violent shockwave exploded, scattering fragments of Susanoo. Edo Madara's body was blasted into the ground like a cannonball, creating a huge crater!
As the dust slowly settled, Madara sat at the bottom of the pit, the fragments of Impure World Reincarnation on his body gradually repairing themselves. He raised his head, a hint of surprise flashing in his Rinnegan.
"That's right..." He slowly stood up, a cold smile playing on his lips. "You are indeed not a weak woman."
His gaze swept over the other four Kage standing beside Tsunade, his voice cold and resolute:
"However, since you've chosen to seek death, the other shadows are doomed too."
"You're the only one who can be healed, aren't you?"
Tsunade didn't back down, her fists clenched so tightly they cracked. "Unless you can really kill me!"
The four Kage stepped forward simultaneously, standing Tsunade.
Seeing this, Edo Madara suddenly chuckled softly.
"Hashirama..." He seemed to be talking to himself, "I don't know what you left behind, but with this little bit of skill, I'm far inferior to you."
His tone carried a hint of sarcasm, yet also implied a complex and indescribable emotion.
"Since you want your descendants to inherit something, why not do what I did and pass on the method of resurrection to them?"
"What you leave behind after you die is nothing more than the life force attached to the cells in my body."
"All my brother left me was the Dōjutsu in my eyes."
Tsunade suddenly took a step forward, her voice booming like thunder:
"I told you... I told you, you're wrong!"
Madara's Rinnegan narrowed slightly, and finally, he slowly raised his hand, his Chakra gathering like a tide.
"If something can be inherited..."
"Then, there is only hatred!"
Above the Heavenly Screen, the fierce battle between the Five Kage and Edo Madara continued, and the entire Shinobi World was abuzz with discussion about their words.
Konoha
"Lady Tsunade is right!" A young Konoha Ninja clenched his fist, his eyes gleaming with determination. "The Will of Fire is not some empty, unattainable thing!"
"But..." An older ninja beside him frowned. "Madara's words aren't entirely without merit. Hatred can indeed be passed down from generation to generation, just like between us and other villages..." "Those Orochimaru even killed the Third Hokage."
Sunagakure
"Hmph, the code of medical-nin? Ridiculous." A Sunagakure Jonin sneered, arms crossed. "What use is such weak conviction in the face of absolute power?"
"What do you know!" another female ninja glared at him. "Without medical-nin, so many of our comrades would have died on the battlefield long ago!"
Kumogakure
"Well done, Lord Raikage!" A group of Cloud Ninja cheered. "That attack, coordinated with the Tsuchikage, was brilliant!"
"But Madara has a point," a one-eyed ninja mused. "Power is fundamental; willpower is meaningless."
"Bullshit!" A young female ninja kicked him in the leg. "What's the difference between power without conviction and that of a beast!"
Kirigakure
"Mei Terumi's Water Release are still as magnificent as ever~" Several Kirigakure Ninjas gazed at the Heavenly Screen with fascination.
"But what Madara said is worth pondering," a masked Anbu whispered. "Bloody Mist Village era, weren't we driven by hatred?"
"That's why we need to change now!" Chōjūrō suddenly stood up, his voice trembling with excitement, "The Fifth Mizukage is leading us into a new era!"
Iwagakure
"The old man is actually working so hard..." A ninja from Iwa wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Hey, don't you guys think Madara's words are realistic?" another ninja muttered. "Historically, which village didn't rely on strength to prevail?"
"But without conviction, we'd still be killing each other!" Kurotsuchi suddenly stepped out of the crowd, hands on her hips. "Wasn't this what the Five Kage Summit was all about?"
The argument in the tavern
"If you ask me, Madara sees things most clearly!" A samurai dressed as a ronin gulped down a mouthful of sake, "This world is inherently a jungle where the strong prey on the weak!"
"Then why are you still drinking here?" a ninja beside him sneered. "According to you, I should be robbing you of your money for your drinks right now."
The samurai was speechless, and a burst of laughter erupted in the tavern.
Border outpost
When two ninjas from different villages met, they both looked up at the sky.
"Hey, what do you Sunagakure think?" The Konoha Ninja broke the silence.
"..." The Sunagakure touched his Forehead Protector, "At least for now, I think Lady Tsunade is right."