Clash

"Weren't you the one who said we should fight?!" Tsunade was swiftly surrounded by several members of the attendant squads and Yotsuki Ki.

"I!!%￥...%￥& Forget it, focus on the fight!" Orochimaru could only curse under his breath as he tangled with Kawanishi Kyohei.

The only good news was that Tsunade's sneak attack had at least succeeded. Tsunade's fighting style was rare in the Shinobi World, and without intelligence on her, it was easy to be caught off guard by her.

The Strength of a Hundred Seal Punch was no joke. Orochimaru understood that best. Taking Tsunade's full-force blow at such close range, that jonin had definitely suffered serious injuries.

That gave their side the advantage in fighting strength.

The sudden attack left Dada frozen on the spot.

Was the Shinobi World really this rotten?! Where was the most basic trust between people?!

I kindly let you come in for treatment, and you just attack without warning?

Kawanishi Kyohei was locked in battle with Orochimaru, and neither could determine a victor in the short term. Meanwhile, Anzai Mamoru had been sent flying by a single blow, his fate unknown. This forced Yotsuki Ki and the attendants to rush in and attack Tsunade. Even Sister Meizi had somehow pulled out a dagger, though she did not step forward, merely standing guard beside Dada.

But Dada noticed that Sister Meizi's hand was trembling slightly.

He knew that Sister Meizi was not a ninja, only an ordinary person.

After landing her sneak attack, Tsunade did not lose focus. A muscular figure glowing blue all over arrived in an instant, driving a fist at Tsunade. It was Yotsuki Ki. His merciless punch shot straight for Tsunade's abdomen, clearly choosing that spot to avenge Anzai Mamoru's ambush.

Yet just before it connected, a pair of fair hands blocked it. The ground beneath Tsunade's feet cracked apart once more.

The attack looked imposing, but achieved nothing.

"That punch had some power. Though it was still a little weaker than mine." Veins faintly bulged on Tsunade's forehead as she smiled.

Yotsuki Ki quickly withdrew. "Old hag, don't get smug too early!"

Tsunade froze. Wasn't this guy about the same age as me? Why was he calling me an old hag?! I'm only twenty! What kind of awful verbal tic is that?

"Heavy Torrent Violent Wave!" The blue glow around Yotsuki Ki became even more dazzling as he pushed his Lightning Release Chakra Secret Technique to its limit. After their brief exchange, Yotsuki Ki had already sensed that this old hag was stronger than him. Her taijutsu was likely above his as well.

But Cloud Ninja, especially as the Raikage's son, had no room for cowardice! No matter who she was, since she had struck first, Kumogakure would make her pay the price!

Tsunade twisted aside to dodge Yotsuki Ki's elbow strike, then punched him in the chest instead. Yet Yotsuki Ki's body scattered into tiny bolts of lightning amid a burst of white smoke, briefly paralyzing Tsunade!

"Lightning Clone? When did he—"

"Too naive, Justice Lightning Sinking Angry Lightning Axe!!!"

Yotsuki Ki suddenly appeared above Tsunade. Taking advantage of her fleeting paralysis, he swung a downward axe kick!

Tsunade raised her arms to block. The tremendous impact spread cracks through the surrounding ground, sending sand and stones flying.

"I told you that you were a little weaker. A little weaker was still weaker!" Tsunade sneered.

On the other side, the battle between Orochimaru and Kawanishi Kyohei was far less dramatic. Rather than trading blow after blow like Tsunade and Yotsuki Ki, they fought in a way more fitting for ninja.

Kawanishi Kyohei had been sent as a guard for this operation, so he was certainly no weakling. Yet he was feeling the pressure now. His opponent's ninjutsu was unlike anything he had ever heard of, and their lack of intelligence was severe. More importantly, he did not dare devote all his attention to the enemy. Unsure whether they had other tricks prepared, he kept part of his focus on Dada behind him, fearing something might happen.

"Ninjutsu: Striking Destruction Chaos Snakes!" Several venomous snakes as thick as arms shot from Orochimaru's sleeves. Their strength and intelligence far exceeded that of ordinary animals.

Rather than retreating, Kawanishi Kyohei advanced. These giant snakes were no ordinary ninjutsu; they possessed minds of their own. Simply evading would only allow more and more of the enemy's summoned creatures to accumulate. If those snakes hid in the forest, they would become even more troublesome.

"Lightning Release: Scattering Strike Mu Flow Fight." Indiscriminate arcs of electricity blasted outward from Kawanishi Kyohei, electrocuting every snake around him.

"After fighting this long, all you've used is summoning jutsu? You're making me look pathetic!" Kawanishi Kyohei rolled his neck.

Orochimaru stared coldly at Kawanishi Kyohei without saying a word. At some point, a palm-sized Katsuyu had crawled onto Orochimaru's shoulder, discreetly relaying information through her special ability.

"Orochimaru! What do we do next?" Tsunade's voice appeared in Orochimaru's mind.

Orochimaru ground his teeth in anger. Why didn't you think about what to do next before you attacked?! Ninja must plan before they act!

"All right, all right, we'll talk about it later. What should we do now?"

Orochimaru forcibly suppressed his anger. Since the conflict has already begun, there's no helping it. They should be a migrating Kekkei Genkai Family, but these ninja are not weak. I've already sent a Summoned Beast to notify Jiraiya. That child who spoke earlier should be an important figure. Find a way to create an opening, and we'll capture him!

"Got it!"

The unnoticed exchange ended, and the two settled on a battle plan. Relying on her superior raw strength, Tsunade began holding back slightly, making Yotsuki Ki and the several chunin believe that she had been completely suppressed. Orochimaru, meanwhile, secretly shifted the battlefield toward Dada.

At that moment, Dada had no idea that he had become their target. He was busy calming the nervous Meizi.

Dada took Meizi's trembling hand and said, "Sister Meizi, don't act rashly. Going up there won't help."

Feeling the warmth of Dada's little hand, Meizi's anxiety eased slightly. She hesitated before saying, "Young Master, before we left the village, Lord Raikage gave me a Summoning Scroll for emergencies. It can notify the village. Should we use it?"

Dada could not decide for a moment. Lacking experience, he could not truly grasp the situation on the field. Besides, what would notifying the village accomplish? By the time reinforcements arrived, it would be too late for everything.

Dada considered whether he should join the fight. Though he was not really a ninja, he believed that, setting aside his shortcomings, he could still exert the strength of a chunin.

Perhaps even stronger than an ordinary chunin. He might not be able to beat younger versions of the Sannin, but he should at least be able to help.

At that moment, Meizi noticed that Dada seemed to be considering entering the fight and instead began persuading him. "Young Master, absolutely do not act rashly. You are not a ninja. Leave the fighting to Young Master Qi and the others."

Hearing this, Dada felt helpless and looked toward Yotsuki Ki. By then, Yotsuki Ki had pushed his Lightning Release Chakra Secret Technique to its limit, moving at incredible speed. Yet with Dada's exceptional dynamic vision, he could see every detail of the battle clearly.

Then Dada noticed that the woman seemed to have used close-quarters combat from beginning to end. Her blows were powerful and heavy, capable of smashing bricks and splitting stones with ease. That fighting style suddenly reminded Dada of something.

"Wait, could that woman be Tsunade Senju? Then does that pale-faced man mean Orochimaru?" Having encountered no plot characters for years, Dada had only now identified the two.

Why would two of the Sannin attack us?

Could Jiraiya be nearby too?!

Damn it, if they really were the Sannin, our side was in a dangerously precarious situation...

The Sannin's reputation in the original story was far too great, so Dada naturally did not dare underestimate them.

And Tsunade now looked to be around twenty years old, while the future Fourth Raikage was only thirteen...