Qinglong hadn't landed yet when Shizune anxiously grabbed Tsunade's arm.
"What do we do, Lord Tsunade? Qinglong doesn't know any ninjutsu! He can't get any leverage in midair, so he's bound to fall into Hanzo's Explosive Flame Formation again!"
Sure enough, unable to get any leverage in midair, Qinglong landed squarely in the middle of the Explosive Flame Formation. Countless Explosive Tags swarmed toward him like leeches.
"Kid! Give up! If you do, I might just let you keep your life!"
Standing atop Ibuse, Hanzo formed Hand Seals and shouted smugly. With a single move, he could make the countless Explosive Tags beneath Qinglong's feet detonate at once.
"Hah! Hanzo, you think your Explosive Tags can hurt me?"
Qinglong stood in the middle of the Explosive Flame Formation, letting the Explosive Tags crawl up his legs without resisting. Even though he looked like a complete mess, he wasn't afraid in the slightest!
"Qinglong, what is he doing?"
Tsunade watched anxiously, utterly confused. Her disciple was actually letting the Explosive Tags stick to him.
"Hmm?"
Hanzo was furious. The kid was actually looking down on his Explosive Flame Formation. He was filled with murderous intent!
"Come on, Hanzo! Show me the true power of your Explosive Flame Formation!"
Qinglong stood in the middle of the Explosive Flame Formation. Though he was standing in an extremely dangerous spot, lower than Hanzo, it was as if he were the one looking down from above, his gaze sweeping over everything in contempt!
"Detonate!"
Hanzo could hold back no longer. He decisively activated the Explosive Flame Formation. The Explosive Tags blanketing the ground ignited and exploded in an instant. The boy in their midst didn't so much as flinch, letting the tags detonate against his body as flames soared into the sky!
Tsunade and Shizune stared in shock. Why wasn't Qinglong fighting back? Was he really just going to let the Explosive Tags blow up on him?
Even the surrounding shinobi were dumbstruck! Had that kid been scared witless? Why wasn't he resisting? Was he planning to tank the Explosive Flame Formation?!
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Tsunade slapped her palm against the ground, and a huge slug appeared. She was already prepared to go save him.
Even the giant slug was bewildered. It had just been summoned, and already it was looking at a boy standing dazedly in the Explosive Flame Formation, letting the tags blast him!
"What's going on? That boy..."
A gentle voice asked Tsunade.
"Mm, that boy is my disciple."
"Boom! Boom-boom!"
The Explosive Flame Formation roared as it detonated!
Fierce flames surged into the sky, the thunderous explosion shaking heaven and earth as if it could overturn the ground. The boy at the center of the blast had already been swallowed by the flames!
The scorching heat sent orange-red fire billowing high into the sky, evaporating even the rain. A blazing shock wave swept in every direction. Even at the edge of the battlefield, they could feel the tremendous force and heat at the heart of the explosion.
"Is he dead?!"
Standing atop Ibuse, Hanzo stared fixedly at the center of the explosion. He was certain that no one caught in such a powerful blast could still be alive. Even he wouldn't survive if he were at the center!
The watching shinobi were all convinced the boy in the middle couldn't have survived, either!
Only Tsunade and Shizune watched the center of the explosion anxiously, hoping for a miracle. Her disciple was extraordinary. She hoped with all her heart that he would be all right.
The heat faded, and the rain began to fall again. Raindrops pattered onto the scorching ground, raising a veil of steam that obscured the scene.
The blast's heat set the air in motion, stirring up a breeze. The gentle wind slowly scattered the steam.
The boy at the very center of the explosion came into view. He looked even more disheveled now, and the spot where he stood had become a deep crater, its soil blasted apart and charred black.
But the boy was still standing tall, his clear eyes shining even brighter!
"Impossible!"
Hanzo stared at Qinglong in shock. How could he be unharmed after such a powerful explosion?
The watching shinobi around them were stunned as well!
"How did he tank an explosion that powerful?!"
"How is that possible?!"
The Amegakure shinobi couldn't believe it. Some even doubted their own eyes.
Seeing Qinglong standing tall in the middle of the field, the tension finally left Tsunade's face. Her lips curved into a slight smile. As expected, this disciple of hers always managed to surprise her.
After withstanding the explosion, Qinglong felt his blood surge with excitement. As expected, he could take the force of the blast!
When Hanzo was young, he'd used the Explosive Flame Formation, and the tags had crawled all the way up to Tsunade's thighs. Though Jiraiya's Hell's Hide had protected her, she'd still been injured.
In his old age, Hanzo had also used the Explosive Flame Formation against Nagato, blasting one of his legs.
So when the first wave of the Explosive Flame Formation detonated earlier, Qinglong had jumped out of the center of the blast. After feeling its power from the outer edge, he'd been confident he could withstand the next explosion.
Sure enough! He'd withstood it!
At that moment, Hanzo felt a flicker of panic in his heart!
He tried with all his might to control it, but he couldn't. That flicker of panic even turned into a hint of fear.
While everyone was still staring in shock, Qinglong began taking off his clothes.
The surrounding shinobi were once again bewildered by Qinglong's strange behavior, but Tsunade was already smiling. She knew that familiar move. Her disciple was finally getting serious!
Qinglong took off his shirt and tossed it to the ground. As it fell, it struck the ground like a boulder weighing a thousand pounds, making the earth tremble.
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