Orochimaru's laboratory.
Orochimaru's face was so gloomy it looked as if water could be wrung from it.
His golden snake eyes were fixed on the operating lamp dangling precariously from the ceiling after the violent shaking. He was frantically calculating the cost of repairing the laboratory—and how to make Tsunade and the Third cover the bill.
Choosing his laboratory as the battleground had been the stupidest decision he'd made in recent memory. No contest.
At the very least, Tsunade had to split the cost with him!
Orochimaru had never imagined that Tsunade, who always seemed so rational, would be driven to the edge by a child and throw caution to the wind, turning a simple spar into a fight that came perilously close to a battle to the death!
Yes, a battle to the death. That final punch she'd thrown hadn't taken into account whether Hiroki could dodge, let alone what would happen if it hit. What if it really had landed? What if she couldn't save him!? Orochimaru wanted to demand an answer from her, but he couldn't bring himself to. If Hiroki couldn't even dodge Tsunade's straightforward attacks, then he'd be as good as dead on the battlefield against Hanzo.
But Tsunade had also been completely swept up in her refusal to lose. She'd let herself get thoroughly worked up!
If she'd had even a little more sense, she never would have fought like that!
At that moment, Hiroki was climbing somewhat awkwardly out of the swamp he'd created beside the crater Tsunade's Strength of a Hundred had blasted into the center of the laboratory. He was covered in slick mud, looking like a puppy that had just rolled around in a bog. Only his eyes, beneath the pallid light, still shone brilliantly.
He'd won!
No matter what,