"Tsunade, we faced off on the battlefield for a full five or six years. In the end, you still died by my hand."
Deep within the forest.
Numerous bare craters lay scattered across the lush green forest like flatbreads.
At the center of those barren clearings, Tsunade was half-kneeling, covered in wounds, panting heavily as sweat poured down her body.
Surrounding her were more than a dozen Sand Village jonin, along with all manner of strange puppets.
The one who had driven her into this desperate situation was Chiyo, along with the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu.
"Your son and daughter-in-law died at my disciple's hands, and I died by yours. That's fair."
She remained calm.
Her dim eyes held only indifference, no longer any desire to live.
After Nawaki's death, and after the proposal she had worked so hard to create was rejected, Tsunade suddenly could no longer find any meaning in living.
Maybe death would be a good ending...
She slowly closed her eyes.
Chiyo frowned and glanced back at Ebizo.
Ebizo shook his head, signaling that they could not kill her.
Chiyo nodded, narrowing her eyes as she looked toward the border of the Land of Fire. Her gaze was as vicious as a ghost's.
Sand Village had never actually planned to kill Tsunade, because her identity truly might drive Konoha mad.
So their target had always been Hyuga Wuye!
"Hm?"
Tsunade opened her eyes, puzzled that she was still alive.
"You..."
She had only just spoken in a hoarse voice when she noticed that all those elite Sand Village ninja were staring in one direction.
Over there, birds rose from the forest and flew nearer and nearer. Clearly, a large force of ninja was approaching.
Tsunade's heart clenched violently.
Then, beneath the gloomy sky, she saw a