Bai Lin appeared not far from the clearing and shouted, "Shuriken Manipulation Technique!"
With the Sasuke Uchiha (Snake Sasuke) template, there was no way he couldn't use shuriken. The most iconic technique was Shuriken Manipulation Technique.
He used transparent wires to control the shuriken. The instant Tsunade struck him, he used the Substitution Technique to take the hit.
As Tsunade let her guard down, he manipulated the wires in his hands. Six shuriken abruptly changed course, doubling back from six different directions to pierce the vital points around her body.
"Not good!" Tsunade's pupils contracted. Only then did she realize she had fallen into a trap.
Chakra erupted around her, and she quickly slapped at the incoming shuriken with both hands.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Three shuriken were knocked away by the force of her palms, but the other three followed the pull of the wires, slipping past the gusts and aiming straight for her waist and knees.
Forced to retreat at high speed, Tsunade also stomped hard on the ground, sending gravel flying as she tried to evade the wires' control.
A faint smile tugged at Bai Lin's lips. He gave his right wrist a slight flick.
The wires tightened in an instant. The three shuriken suddenly accelerated. Two grazed Tsunade's clothes, leaving shallow cuts, while she barely managed to block the last with her arm. Blood streamed down it.
In the end, he had caught her off guard. She hadn't reacted in time.
"Lady Tsunade is hurt? How is that possible?"
"How could Bai Lin be so strong?"
"Go, Lady Tsunade!"
The tide had turned so quickly that everyone stared in disbelief as Bai Lin left wounds on Tsunade.
"You actually managed to hurt me? Not bad. I acknowledge your strength." A flicker of anger passed through Tsunade's eyes, but disbelief was stronger.
This kid had not only held out against her until now, but had also used the Substitution Technique to set a trap and even managed to wound her. His tactical awareness and control of ninjutsu were already beyond the level of a Chunin.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Two solid clones appeared beside Bai Lin. With part of his abilities unavailable, it would be difficult for him to hurt Tsunade.
If I could use the Sharingan and Lightning Release, I might be able to beat Tsunade. She hasn't learned the Yin Seal yet, so she isn't at her true peak. He thought to himself.
Bai Lin and the two solid clones quickly spread out, surrounding Tsunade in a triangular formation.
"Shadow Leaf Dance!"
One figure charged straight at Tsunade and raised a leg to kick her in the chin.
"Hmph!" Tsunade snorted and quickly reached out, trying to grab Bai Lin's incoming leg.
But another Bai Lin appeared below her, aiming the same kick at her.
Tsunade had no choice but to change her plan. She crossed her arms to block both kicks, but the force sent her flying into the air.
"It's not over!"
Another figure appeared right above Tsunade and wrapped both arms tightly around her.
Their bodies began spinning rapidly in midair.
"Shadow Leaf Dance!" Bai Lin's calm voice sounded in Tsunade's ear.
"Where are you putting your hands?!" Tsunade shouted, her cheeks bright red and the veins at her temples throbbing.
She had just felt Bai Lin's wandering hand actually...
She couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed the arm of the Bai Lin holding her and flung him toward another Bai Lin on the ground.
The impact sent the Bai Lin on the ground up in a cloud of smoke. It was a Shadow Clone.
The Bai Lin who landed in midair slammed hard into the ground and spat out a mouthful of blood. His white kimono turned even redder as dust billowed around him.
"Damn brat! How dare you grope me!" Tsunade dropped from the air in a fury, kicked off the ground, and shot toward Bai Lin's other clone like a cannonball. Her fist gathered the full force of her Super Strength. She was clearly out for blood. "I'll break your legs today!"
"Bam!" The clone flew dozens of meters before turning into a cloud of smoke and vanishing.
Seeing this, the real Bai Lin realized he was in trouble. His instinctive move had thoroughly enraged Tsunade.
"I give up! I surrender!" Bai Lin struggled to his feet and raised both hands.
He could hit Tsunade a hundred times, but against a furious Tsunade, one hit would be enough to finish him.
"You've had your fun, but I haven't had enough yet!" Tsunade grinned savagely and cracked her knuckles, the bones creaking.
"Whoosh!"
Tsunade vanished in an instant. Even Bai Lin couldn't catch her movements.
She's on a completely different level of speed from before. Unless I activate the Sharingan, I won't be able to keep up with her. Bai Lin was already breaking into a cold sweat. Knowing he was in trouble, he vanished from the spot.
Don't think Tsunade was only at the top when it came to the attack power of Super Strength. If she used it to unleash an explosive burst of speed, she might not match the Fourth Raikage's Lightning Release Nintaijutsu, but she wouldn't be far behind.
What's more, when it came to Super Strength's destructive power, Bai Lin couldn't withstand a single hit, even at full strength.
Even elite Jonin had their differences in strength, like the genius Kakashi Hatake compared with Might Guy in the Eighth Gate.
The people around the field were already dumbfounded. They hadn't expected the battle to turn around so quickly.
Jiraiya rubbed his hands together, grinning as he watched the spectacle. "Hahaha! Tsunade's really furious! It's been ages since I've seen her like this. This kid Bai Lin is in for it now!"
A spark of interest flashed in Orochimaru's golden, slit-pupiled eyes as he licked his lips. "How interesting... That's the Kusanagi Sword—is it a replica, or...? Why do I get such a strange feeling from you, Bai Lin?"
Shimura Danzō said, "Hiruzen, why not let him join Root? He's hidden his talents for years, so he must have some plan. He could be a threat."
Hiruzen Sarutobi replied, "Danzō, put those thoughts away. I'm the Hokage! Children who inherit the Will of Fire are the future of Konoha."
Danzō scoffed. "You'll regret this!"
"Boom!" A deafening crash shook the ground, leaving a massive crater. The impact sent Bai Lin flying, and he spat out another mouthful of blood. His face was as pale as paper.
At first, he had thought he could beat Tsunade with Sasuke Uchiha's strength, or at least hold his own against her.
He hadn't expected the gap between them to be so enormous. He no longer believed he could defeat her with the Sharingan and Lightning Release alone. He would have to use his last trump card.
There was no way he could reveal all his abilities in front of everyone.
"Lady Tsunade, I was wrong. Please let me go."
Bai Lin didn't dare let his guard down. Spitting blood, he dodged Tsunade's attacks.
One crater after another appeared in the ground, a testament to Tsunade's strength.
The crowd was breaking out in a cold sweat, all thinking the same thing: If that punch hit me, there wouldn't even be a body left.
"Let you go? Even if the King of Heaven himself showed up today, he couldn't save you!" Tsunade stayed hot on his heels, her figure following like a phantom as her fists kept coming down. Each blow split the ground open into a deep crater, leaving Bai Lin scrambling to escape.
"Heh... That kid really has surprised me."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and shook his head helplessly. He cleared his throat. "Tsunade, stop! The test is over!"
Bai Lin's performance had indeed exceeded his expectations, but he was still within Hiruzen's control. At least for the next few years, Hiruzen wouldn't have to worry about him causing trouble.
If the boy proved suitable, perhaps he could become the Fourth Hokage...
Bai Lin's strength had been tested. He was at the level of a Chunin and had nearly reached Jonin strength.
The ninjutsu he'd used had all been taught by Orochimaru. Some of his taijutsu techniques were unfamiliar, but overall, he was a genuine genius.
But Tsunade was too furious to listen. She kept chasing Bai Lin. "Teacher, I have to teach this brat a lesson today! Otherwise, who knows what kind of perverted things he'll pull next!"
Grope her?
What was that supposed to mean?
What had happened?
Everyone was baffled. They had no idea that when Bai Lin used Shadow Leaf Dance, his hands had been wandering.
"Lady Tsunade, I really didn't mean to! If you keep hitting me, you'll kill me!" Bai Lin gasped.
Tsunade saw the stern look in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes. The anger in her heart gradually faded, and at last she snorted and lowered her fists. "Hmph! I'll let you off today for my teacher's sake!"
Bai Lin collapsed onto the ground in relief and thought to himself, Thank goodness. I almost died.