Battle with Tsunade

After finishing a round of training, Yūske lay on the ground, gulping down fresh air.

Ever since Hiruzen Sarutobi had taken him as a disciple, he had designated a separate training ground for Yūske.

For the past few days, Yūske had been training here alone. After his fight with Jiraiya, he had gained some insight and no longer confined himself to Donquixote Doflamingo's moves.

His strings were incomparably tough anyway; he could weave them into any weapon to attack. Yūske could now create—or borrow—many techniques of his own. As long as they worked, why worry about anything else?

"Not bad. You've practically mastered your bloodline limit by now, haven't you?"

Tsunade had been standing off to the side for quite a while, yet Yūske had never noticed her.

"Tsunade, what are you doing here?"

Ever since they had gathered at Jiraiya's house last time, Tsunade had not appeared these past few days. He recalled how, in the days just after he had transmigrated here, Tsunade had trained him like a strict teacher every day.

"I only heard about it before, but after seeing your bloodline limit for myself, Jiraiya's loss really wasn't undeserved."

Seeing such tremendous progress from this junior she treated like a younger brother, Tsunade was very happy. Yet beneath that happiness, there was also a faint sense of loss.

"It wasn't that impressive. Jiraiya hid his identity last time, so he didn't dare reveal his true strength. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to force him into such a desperate situation." Yūske felt a little embarrassed by Tsunade's praise.

Jiraiya's strength was there for all to see. Even though Yūske now had a deeper understanding of the String-String Fruit, he had yet to reach Awakening. He absolutely could not defeat the current Jiraiya, nor any of the Three Legendary Sannin.

Tsunade did not continue praising Yūske. A little was enough; too much would make him arrogant.

She picked up the snacks she had placed behind her, walked over, and sat down beside Yūske.

"You made these?"

"I bought them on the way."

"Oh."

Yūske caught a faint fragrance drifting from beside him. Though Tsunade was already in her twenties, she still carried the scent of a young girl. Her figure simply had not developed as well as it would when she was fifty. Could it be that Tsunade developed late?

Perhaps sensing Yūske's gaze, Tsunade's face flushed slightly, but she made no reaction. Calmly, she opened the food box and handed it to him.

The two of them quietly ate snacks as the wind blew around them. Then, the hands they both reached out for the snacks with suddenly touched.

As though she had been electrocuted, Tsunade quickly picked up another piece of snack.

A smile hung on Yūske's face as he closed his eyes, savoring the peaceful moment.

"Tomorrow, we'll be returning to the Front Lines."

Tsunade turned to look at Yūske and suddenly spoke.

"Yeah. Even though it's hard to part, this is our duty. So you don't have to do anything today, right?"

Yūske put on a relaxed expression, easily steering the conversation away from the sad topic.

"Yeah. All the preparations before battle are done. All that remains is adjusting our mindsets. We've rested in the village for so long this time that if we don't head back soon, Senior Torifu and the others will probably quit on us." Thinking of her seniors and companions on the Front Lines, Tsunade could not help teasing them, letting out a soft laugh.

"Finished eating?" Tsunade asked.

"More or less," Yūske responded.

"Then let me test the results of your training."

"Aren't we leaving for the battlefield tomorrow?"

"Beating you up won't take much stamina."

"(ˉ▽￣~)"

After clearing the field, Yūske and Tsunade stood facing each other.

"You attack first."

Yūske looked at Tsunade as he spoke.

"Looking down on your senior isn't something to be proud of."

Tsunade did not waste words. She pushed off hard with her left foot and shot forward at incredible speed. Chakra gathered in her fist as she smashed it fiercely toward Yūske.

"String Style: Light Wall."

Countless transparent strings shot out from Yūske's body, rapidly weaving themselves into a wall.

Bang!

Tsunade's fist struck the Light Wall directly. A wild gale erupted in an instant, and as Tsunade poured more chakra into her fist, the Light Wall finally could not hold.

Seeing this, Yūske immediately dodged away.

His strings had scattered in all directions, while the spot where he had just stood had become a massive crater.

Cold sweat streamed down Yūske's face. This woman was way too violent.

"Tsunade, are you for real?"

"Hmph, do you think we're playing children's games? You're still too green to look down on me!" Tsunade shot back without reservation.

This was the Tsunade Princess renowned throughout the ninja world!

"String Style: String Spear!"

Round after round of string bullets shot from Yūske's fingertips. Tsunade dodged while accelerating toward him, then suddenly leaped up and slammed a kick into the ground.

"Heavenly Foot!"

The powerful tremor instantly threw Yūske off balance, sending the String Spears off course. Tsunade seized the chance and rushed before him, planting a size 36 shoe directly into his handsome face. He crashed through several trees before finally climbing back up.

Fortunately, Yūske had borrowed Gaara's Sand Armor, covering his entire body in a layer of high-density strings during combat.

But he had underestimated Tsunade's destructive power and was still injured.

Tsunade crooked a finger at Yūske and taunted, "What? Is that all you've got?"

Yūske wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and covered his body in a thick layer of armor before charging directly at Tsunade. Tsunade rushed forward to meet him.

Their fists collided. At the same time, eight spider legs grew from Yūske's back and stabbed toward Tsunade.

Seeing this, Tsunade used all her strength to blast Yūske away, then followed up with a sweeping roundhouse kick.

Yūske hurriedly performed several backflips in succession before finally stopping himself in midair.

"Get down here, brat." Seeing this, Tsunade became somewhat exasperated.