What incredible killing intent!
Move!
Move!
Kakashi gritted his teeth. A thin line of blood trickled from his lips. At last—
Whoosh!
In an instant, chakra erupted from his body, faint currents of electricity crackling around him.
Lightning Style chakra stimulated his body!
Even though the technique was incomplete, Kakashi didn't dare let his guard down against Tsunade.
His speed reached the absolute limit of what he could manage.
However.
The next second—
Bam!
He'd come in fast, and he flew back just as fast.
In the blink of an eye, Kakashi had been blasted into a tree, where he lay unable to move.
Tsunade put her hands on her hips. "Shizune, go see how badly he's hurt."
"Yes!"
Shizune used the Body Flicker Technique and hurried over.
Kakashi got to his feet and coughed up a little blood. Then he waved a hand to show that he was all right.
He stood there, lost in thought.
"Don't understand?"
The corner of Tsunade's mouth lifted.
Picking on kids wasn't much of an achievement, but it felt pretty good, especially when they were a bunch of "geniuses."
She smiled. "Kid, you're fast. Using Lightning Style chakra to stimulate your body, even though you haven't mastered it, can push your speed to a terrifying level. But you can't control it."
Then Tsunade's expression turned serious.
"Speed you can't control is a deadly double-edged sword. Either your enemy dies, or—like just now—I beat you with a single finger."
Tsunade flicked a finger.
She really had only used one finger—
A swollen bump had risen on Kakashi's forehead.
And she'd held back.
If she'd flicked with all her strength, she might have cracked Kakashi's skull.
Not everyone could take a beating like Orochimaru.
Kakashi had already sensed that something was wrong with his approach. Now, his suspicions were only growing stronger.
Speed didn't work. Explosive Tags...
With Tsunade's reaction speed and strength, Kakashi didn't think an Explosive Tag could get close enough to threaten her.
He'd try his swordsmanship.
He drew his blade, his gaze sharpening once more.
Then—
Kakashi charged in again.
A blade in one hand, an Explosive Tag pinched in the other.
This time, he controlled his speed.
The corner of Tsunade's mouth lifted.
The instant the blade came at her, she slipped aside and caught it between her fingers.
Then she flicked her finger.
Kakashi clung to the blade with all his might to keep the White Fang short sword from flying away, but the web of his thumb and forefinger had already been shaken open and was bleeding.
He poured Lightning Style chakra into the blade.
It grew sharper, faint sparks of lightning spilling from its edge—
He tried to use Lightning Style chakra's properties to numb Tsunade's fingers, but as soon as the chakra gathered, Tsunade flicked it apart.
However.
Kakashi had achieved his goal.
He slapped his left hand against the ground and used the force to propel himself backward.
The next moment, dust suddenly billowed into the air.
Boom!
The Explosive Tag detonated in midair.
Tsunade stood up and blew the dust off her fingertips.
"Anything else?"
"No."
Kakashi stared blankly, then shook his head in resignation.
That still hadn't worked...
He really was out of ideas.
"Next."
Kakashi had lost in two rounds, and didn't try again.
Kurenai Yuhi was shaken.
Was this the difference between the Sannin and them?
Tsunade had drawn a line around herself and beaten them senseless with just one finger.
And—
Her killing intent alone had created an effect as terrifying as a genjutsu.
No!
Strictly speaking...
That thing was even stronger than genjutsu.
There were ways to break genjutsu, but if you couldn't withstand killing intent with your will and spirit, it could cost you your life on the battlefield.
She was about to step forward.
But Kyohiko had already moved.
"I'll go."
"The kid from the Hatake Clan gave up pretty easily. Let's see if you can last a little longer. At least be as stubborn as that mouth of yours!" Tsunade joked.
Kyohiko simply said, "I'll do my best!"
"Good. Come on!"
Tsunade beckoned with a finger.
She really was only using one finger!
But—
Her killing intent pressed down on him like a mountain.
Kyohiko felt as though he were mired in mud.
This feeling...
Compared to Tsunade's killing intent, the wandering samurai and the ninja who had attacked them earlier were nothing.
If Tsunade was this powerful, what about Orochimaru?
No wonder even a look from her had intimidated Kakashi, a Jonin.
None of the Sannin or Kage Level shinobi were ordinary.
Kyohiko gritted his teeth.
Their strength was worlds apart, but he couldn't let her killing intent make him afraid.
He had to hold his ground!
He repeated "get stronger" and "survive" to himself, and his resolve slowly hardened.
I have a system!
I still have to get stronger and keep living. How can I let killing intent scare me witless?
Kyohiko charged forward in an instant.
Kakashi's eyes widened.
This...
Was he doing the same thing?
Tsunade narrowed her eyes, then suddenly thrust a finger behind her.
Bam!
A torrent of chakra surged out like a blade of air, splitting the ground. The figure that had been in front of her was now just a log.
"A clone combined with the Substitution Technique..."
Kakashi understood.
Kyohiko knew very few techniques: the Three Basic Techniques and the Body Flicker Technique. That was why he liked combining them in battle.
He'd used a feint to draw Tsunade's attention one way while attacking from another.
However.
At that speed, it was difficult to tell a fake from the real thing in an instant.
If Kyohiko had been fighting a Chunin, the tactic would definitely have worked.
Unfortunately.
His opponent was Tsunade.
Tsunade smiled. "Not bad. You're better than Kakashi at controlling your speed."
Kakashi couldn't argue.
Kyohiko stood beneath a distant tree, leaning against the trunk as he caught his breath. He looked a mess, but Tsunade hadn't hit him.
Actually.
With that terrifying killing intent combined with a finger enhanced by the Strength Enhancement Technique...
Kyohiko had nearly thought he was going to die!
But at the last moment, Tsunade's chakra had run out. She'd only managed to leave his shoulder aching, but it was obvious she'd controlled the result deliberately.
That was absurd!
Her chakra control was so incredible that, in the entire Shinobi World, no one could surpass her except Madara Uchiha, who was holed up underground.
No wonder she could cure illnesses no one else could...
"Want to keep going?"
"Yes!"
Kyohiko charged in again.
However.
He didn't rush to attack. Instead, he kept moving forward and backward, darting in and out of Tsunade's range.
At first, Tsunade was rather wary.
But—
After a few rounds, she couldn't help laughing. "You don't actually think you can wear out my chakra like this, do you?"
"Of course..."
"I don't!"
His voice came closer as he spoke.
Hm?
Tsunade abruptly twisted aside—
A Kunai shot out from her flank.
Using sound and changes in speed to confuse her judgment...
This kid wasn't as strong as Kakashi, but he was several times more devious.
Weren't they both seven years old?
The thought flashed through Tsunade's mind, but the next moment, her eyes widened—
She sensed chakra rapidly gathering in Kyohiko's arm.
What was this?
No!
Impossible!
Tsunade couldn't believe it.
The next instant, stone and soil flew everywhere, and the ground split apart.
The entire ring was smashed to pieces.
Kakashi, Kurenai Yuhi, and Shizune stared in shock—
The one who'd caused this much destruction...
Was Kyohiko!
How was that possible?
Wasn't this Lady Tsunade's technique?
How had Kyohiko learned that?!
But...
What shocked her even more was what happened next: a massive explosion erupted nearby, swallowing both Tsunade and Kyohiko.
"Lady Tsunade, Kyohiko!"
Shizune was stunned, then instantly filled with worry.
"Kyohiko!"
Kurenai Yuhi was even more anxious.
Tsunade surely wouldn't be killed by the blast, but Kyohiko might not be so lucky.
However...
The next moment, she sensed that both Tsunade and Kyohiko had escaped.
She focused her gaze.
Tsunade was holding Kyohiko by the collar, her expression stern. Yet even from a distance, Kurenai could see her body trembling.
Blood was gushing from Kyohiko's arm.
He was injured!
"I'll treat him!"
Shizune rushed over at once.
Before you continue