Pursuit, Takumi the Toad

During the Second Shinobi World War, Tsunade's younger brother Nawaki stumbled into an explosive tag trap and was blown to bits on the spot, meeting a rather gruesome end.

At this moment, Tsunade was reenacting Nawaki's story; she was being focused down by enemy ninjas and, paralyzed by the onset of her hemophobia, she was on the verge of following in his footsteps.

After Master Minato cut down an enemy, he subconsciously glanced back and was instantly scared out of his wits.

No way, Lady Tsunade, you're being focused down right in front of me, why aren't you moving? This doesn't match your level as one of the Sannin.

At the critical moment, Uchiha Mai utilized Gongshoudao, leaping toward Tsunade.

He paid 50,000 ryo and set the duration to 2 seconds.

In an instant, Uchiha Mai's speed increased by a visible margin. He wrapped his arms around Tsunade's waist, threw himself to the ground, and used a rolling maneuver to tumble to the side.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Various low-level ninjutsu bombarded the spot where Tsunade had been standing, kicking up a small vortex of chakra.

"Whew!"

Uchiha Mai let out a heavy sigh of relief. Fortunately, when he saw Namikaze Minato charge at the enemy, he had already anticipated this situation and rushed toward Tsunade at the first opportunity.

Otherwise, Tsunade might have actually been taken out by a group of small-fry and the "internal traitor Master Minato."

Most ninjas have strong offense but weak defense; even physical-type ninjas with powerful bodies don't have much durability when they aren't using chakra to reinforce themselves.

Except for non-humans like the fully-realized Might Guy or the Raikage lineage—they are a different class of situation.

"Well done, Mai!" Namikaze Minato praised. Although he wasn't quite sure why Lady Tsunade hadn't dodged or evaded, he was glad he had managed to save her.

"Assassination failed, retreat!"

Seeing that Tsunade had dodged the first wave of fire, the middle-aged enemy ninja didn't want to drag out the fight. With a single command, he and his underlings fled.

Master Minato was just about to pursue, but he remembered that it was his own negligence that had put Tsunade in danger. He hesitated for a moment and ultimately gave up the chase.

He took a few steps to Tsunade's side and, together with Kakashi and Uchiha Mai, supported her waist and helped her over to a tree.

"Lady Tsunade, where are you feeling unwell?" Master Minato asked curiously. How could she have suddenly become incapacitated? Even if it were that time of the month, the reaction shouldn't be this severe.

Tsunade lay on the ground, leaning against the tree trunk, and raised a hand, pointing tremblingly at the enemy corpse not far away.

The posture looked exactly like Adam in Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam.

Namikaze Minato glanced at the corpse in confusion. Could Lady Tsunade be suspecting that the person isn't completely dead and is reminding me not to forget to finish him off?

Hmm, indeed, even if the carotid artery is severed, an ordinary person takes over ten seconds to die completely. Some strong-willed ninjas might be able to do something in those ten seconds.

How impressive. As expected of the most outstanding medical and taijutsu ninja in the shinobi world; my understanding of human vital points can't compare to hers.

"Lady Tsunade, I understand what you mean."

Namikaze Minato nodded firmly, body-flickered in front of the corpse, pulled out a Kunai, and stabbed it into the heart area again. With a "squelch," blood sprayed from the wound.

Both vital points had been pierced; there was now zero possibility of a "zombie" resurgence.

"Mm! Ugh... Minato...!!!"

Seeing this, Tsunade felt even more unwell. Her whole body trembled as she glared at Master Minato through gritted teeth, wishing she could kick that Big Blondie eight hundred miles away.

"Sigh."

Uchiha Mai sighed silently, leaned over to grab Tsunade's large backside, and shifted her position so she wouldn't have to see the sight.

A few seconds later, the fear in Tsunade's heart gradually subsided. But whenever she recalled that corpse, her body still felt weak and sore.

"Lady Tsunade, could it be that you..." Namikaze Minato, having returned to her side, saw her expression change and finally realized something. Could Lady Tsunade actually be suffering from some kind of psychological disorder?

When a person experiences or witnesses a bloody scene of death firsthand, it is easy to develop post-traumatic stress disorder that can recur persistently.

Tsunade's hemophobia was exactly that.

Reincarnation? I, Anlan, look down upon the ages and have seen death countless times! .jpg

Veteran ninjas like Master Minato and the Sannin were, like the Immortal King Anlan, accustomed to life and death; logically, they shouldn't suffer from such psychological illnesses.

In the shinobi world, those who suffer from such psychological barriers are usually civilians or weakling ninjas.

Precisely because of this, Namikaze Minato hadn't thought of this aspect at first. But after a moment of reflection, he realized it.

"Mm..."

Tsunade nodded, admitting, "Just as you thought, after the Second Shinobi World War, I developed hemophobia.

As long as I see or come into contact with blood, my whole body trembles and goes weak. Do not let anyone else know about this."

So that's how it is!

In an instant, Master Minato understood the cause and effect. No wonder the Hokage insisted on recalling Tsunade to the village, and even if he couldn't bring her back, he had to have his team protect her.

One Jonin plus three Genin protecting Tsunade—the idea sounded ridiculous, just like the Hokage Guard Platoon.

It all connects!

"Oh no, those ambushers from earlier..."

Namikaze Minato's expression changed. Although Master Minato could be a bit dense, he wasn't stupid; he certainly knew why Sarutobi Hiruzen had recalled Tsunade.

Beyond protecting her, he could also use her reputation to deter other hidden villages.

The ambushers had witnessed the entire process of Tsunade's panic attack. Even if they had been too stunned by the reputation of the Sannin to retreat immediately after their failed focused assault, they would certainly notice the anomaly once they reviewed the situation. Once word of this spread, Tsunade would lose her strategic significance.

"Kakashi, Mai, Might Guy, the three of you stay behind to protect Lady Tsunade. I will pursue the enemy." After making his assessment, Minato issued his orders decisively.

"Understood!"

"With me, Might Guy, here, no one will be able to get within a step of Lady Tsunade."

Kakashi and Might Guy accepted the order and immediately entered a state of high alert.

"Minato-sensei, there are about five enemies who escaped. If they choose to scatter in different directions rather than fight you when you catch up, even with your speed, it is highly likely you won't be able to eliminate them all. Therefore, I request to pursue the enemy with you."

Uchiha Mai stepped forward and petitioned.

"Very well."

Minato pondered for a moment before agreeing. He quickly formed hand seals and slammed his palms onto the ground, his chakra coalescing into a summoning formation.

"Poof!"

Following a burst of white smoke, a large toad about 1.5 meters tall, with pale green skin and a long sword strapped to its waist, appeared before them in a rather chuunibyou pose.

"Mount Myoboku Toad Takumi, at your~~~ service!"

"Takumi, no time for nonsense. You stay here and protect Lady Tsunade with Kakashi and the others."

"Hai!"

Toad Takumi nodded vigorously, drew the long sword at his waist to guard in front of Tsunade, and scanned the surroundings with his large, sharp eyes, alert to the slightest movement.