Sand Ninja Assaults, Wave After Wave

At the border between Sunagakure and Amegakure, Konoha Camp.

The heavy stench of blood mingled with the scent of medicinal herbs, filling the tents as suppressed groans rose and fell.

The golden hair on Tsunade's forehead was soaked with sweat, clinging to her pale cheeks.

The Chakra Scalpel in her hand precisely cut open a wounded man's abdomen.

Three poisoned Senbon were deeply embedded in his organs, and the toxin had already spread into his chest cavity.

"Forceps."

Her voice was hoarse as she held out her hand. The medical trainee beside her immediately passed her the tool, though his fingers were trembling.

Tsunade did not reprimand him. She merely pulled out the concealed weapons swiftly as the light of Healing Jutsu blazed from her palm.

"Inject the Antivenom Serum intravenously. Prepare a blood transfusion."

She gave the order without looking up. The Medical Ninja beside her frantically searched through the medicine chest, the clinking of glass bottles especially crisp within the tent.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside, and the cloth flap was violently thrown open.

"Lady Tsunade! The frontline casualties are severe. At least twenty critically wounded are on their way here!"

The messenger ninja's face was smeared with blood, and his voice trembled.

Tsunade's hands did not pause in the slightest as she stitched the wound.

"Arrange the critically wounded by priority."

Her voice was like a bowstring drawn taut.

"Have every wounded person who can stand evacuate immediately."

Seeing no one move, Tsunade barked coldly.

"What are you standing around for? Go prepare Hemostatic Bandages!"

The Medical Ninja who had snapped out of it rushed out to act.

New stretchers kept pouring in, and the cramped medical tent was soon packed to the brim.

A Chunin who had lost his left arm suddenly grabbed the hem of Tsunade's clothes, blood froth spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Lady Tsunade, I... my younger brother is still on the front lines. I can't stop..."

Tsunade pressed down on his ruptured artery, glowing green chakra flowing into the wound like water.

"You can only see him again if you make it back alive."

Her voice was soft, yet it silenced the wounded around her, who had been crying in despair.

The medical trainee in the farthest corner suddenly broke down sobbing. The wounded man she had been tending had just stopped breathing.

Tsunade strode over and heavily pressed her bloodstained hand onto the trainee's shoulder.

"Tears can't save anyone."

She pulled over a white sheet and covered the dead man's face.

The latest wounded man wore a Konoha Ninja vest, with three Puppet Steel Blades embedded in his back.

That build... seemed somewhat like Chiyo's...

"Chiyo?"

The name was practically squeezed out through her clenched teeth.

She pounced toward the stretcher, then froze when she saw his face.

It was not Chiyo.

Tsunade closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she had regained her composure.

"Prepare for surgery. Treat those with penetrating wounds first."

Just then.

The sound of puppet gears suddenly came from outside the tent, drawing closer and closer.

"Enemy attack!"

An urgent shout rang out beyond the tent.

Tsunade remained unmoved, her fingers stitching the wound as steady as stone.

Just as the thirteenth wounded man was out of danger, the tent suddenly shook violently.

Sunagakure's poisonous smoke seeped in through the gaps, and several trainees began coughing violently.

"Take the wounded who can move and evacuate through the rear exit."

She reacted swiftly, slamming a fist into the ground. Spiderweb-like cracks spread beyond the tent, followed by the screams of Sand Ninja who had just crept in.

She turned back, her expression grave.

"Evacuate, now!"

"You are Medical Ninja. No matter what it takes, you will stay alive. That is an order!"

The flames of the medical camp dyed the sky blood-red. Poisonous smoke filled the air, its pungent stench suffocating.

Sunagakure's Puppet Force surged forward like a tide, their wooden joints clicking with a chilling rattle as poisoned hidden weapons gleamed with eerie blue light beneath the moon.

"Damn it!"

Tsunade kicked over the foremost puppet, splintered wood flying everywhere, but more puppets continued to close in.

She looked back and saw the wounded being supported away by the medical trainees.

But they were too slow. At this rate, everyone would be surrounded!

"Lady Tsunade! We've been cut off!"

A medical trainee cried out in terror.

Tsunade gritted her teeth, a flash of resolve passing through her light-brown eyes.

She suddenly bit her thumb, rapidly formed hand seals, and pressed one palm against the ground.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

The earth trembled as dust billowed into the air. A massive white figure rose from the ground, standing before everyone like a mountain.

The Great Slug Sage, Tsunade's Summoning Beast.

Its soft yet resilient body was especially awe-inspiring upon the battlefield.

"Lady Tsunade, the situation seems rather dire."

The Slug's gentle voice rang out. Its appearance brought Sunagakure's Puppet Force to an abrupt halt, and even the Puppet Masters showed fearful expressions.

"Slug, protect them for me!"

Tsunade shouted sharply, chakra boiling around her body.

"Understood."

The Slug's body rapidly split apart, countless smaller clones crawling toward the wounded and medical trainees, wrapping them in soft bodies that shielded them from poisonous smoke and hidden weapons.

Tsunade stood alone at the very front, her fists clenched as the ground cracked beneath her feet.

She coldly stared at Sunagakure's puppets.

The next second, her figure shot out like a cannonball, her fist smashing toward the puppet horde!

Bang!!!

Terrifying Superhuman Strength erupted, instantly blasting dozens of puppets into fragments. Sunagakure's ninja retreated in terror, but Tsunade gave them no chance to catch their breath.

She grabbed a puppet by the head with one hand and violently smashed it into the ground, the shockwave sending all the surrounding enemies flying!

"Retreat! Retreat, now!"

A Commander of Sunagakure finally realized that they were facing not merely Tsunade, one of the Three Legendary Sannin, but an enraged beast!

However, Tsunade would not give them the chance.

"Since you came, don't even think about leaving!"

Her figure flashed across the battlefield, every punch carrying crushing force. Puppet wreckage piled up behind her like a mountain.

Meanwhile, the Slug's clones firmly protected everyone in the medical camp, ensuring that not a single person was harmed again.

When the last Puppet Master fell, Tsunade stood amid the ruins, panting heavily.

She turned to look at the people protected by the Slug. Only after confirming that no one had been injured did her taut nerves relax slightly.

"Lady Tsunade..."

The medical trainees stared at her in shock, their eyes filled with reverence.

She let out a long breath. Even as a member of the Senju Clan, she could barely endure such relentless exhaustion.

Tsunade wiped the blood from her face and moved to pick up the medical kit in the distance.

"I never expected the one leading them to be the Princess of the Senju Clan. What a surprise."

A strong, resonant voice suddenly carried over from afar.

Everyone looked toward the sound, their hearts jolting violently.

Beside the middle-aged man at the front, ninja appeared one after another within their sight.

Then, large numbers of ninja appeared on the surrounding mountains.

Everyone's hearts sank to rock bottom.

Just one day earlier, Hatake Sakumo had received word and led everyone to ambush the Sand Ninja forces.

Now, only Lady Tsunade's medical squad and several dozen combat ninja remained in the camp...

Facing a Sand Ninja force of at least three or four hundred men, they had become trapped prey.

"Princess Tsunade, you should surrender without resistance!"

The middle-aged man at the front looked at Tsunade, his eyes brimming with confidence.