Tsunade's Transformation

The temptation on Orochimaru's face was instantly replaced by ruthless ferocity, his eyes brimming with killing intent:

"Since you refuse to help me, I can only cripple you myself and find a way to break the seal on my own! Kabuto, do it!"

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru!"

Kabuto Yakushi gave a low shout, his body flashing forward like a ghost as he charged Tsunade. Chakra erupted around him, and his hands rapidly formed seals as dense poison-nature chakra gathered at his fingertips. "Poison Release: Paralysis Technique!"

Pale violet poisonous mist instantly surged from Kabuto Yakushi's fingertips and spread toward Tsunade. A pungent stench filled the air wherever it passed, while the grass and plants on the ground withered and yellowed at once.

This was a potent paralytic poison. Once contaminated by it, one's chakra would become unstable, the body would stiffen, and all ability to move would be lost.

Tsunade's gaze sharpened. She swiftly retreated while forming seals with both hands. "Water Release: Water Wall!"

A massive wall of water instantly formed before her, trying to stop the poisonous mist from spreading.

But Kabuto Yakushi's Poison Release was far more powerful than she had expected. The mist struck the Water Wall and instantly corroded countless tiny holes into it. The water wall shook violently, cracks soon appearing across it before it finally shattered completely. The poisonous mist continued spreading toward Tsunade.

Tsunade was about to cast another ninjutsu when Kabuto Yakushi suddenly raised his hand. A bloodstained kunai shot toward her, and the blood splashed across the back of her hand. That glaring red instantly filled her vision.

"Ah—ah!"

Tsunade let out a scream. Her entire body trembled violently, and her face instantly turned deathly pale. The chakra around her fell into disarray, the Strength of a Hundred Seal released at once, and her legs gave out beneath her, nearly sending her crashing to the ground.

Hemophobia!

It was the weakness of her life, a fear she had never been able to overcome. Whenever she saw a great deal of blood, all strength left her body. She could not use ninjutsu or even remain standing.

A cold smile appeared on Kabuto Yakushi's face. He had investigated Tsunade's weakness long ago and knew of her hemophobia, which was why he had deliberately set this trap—to restrain her.

"Lady Tsunade, your weakness is still so obvious."

Kabuto Yakushi sneered, his figure flashing again as he instantly appeared before Tsunade. Chakra gathered in his hand as he struck toward her chest. "Since you refuse to help Lord Orochimaru, then die!"

Tsunade's entire body was stiff, unable to move. She could only watch helplessly as Kabuto Yakushi's palm drew closer and closer, her eyes filled with fear and unwillingness.

She was unwilling. Unwilling to die like this, unwilling to fail Konoha, unwilling to leave Nawaki's and Dan Katō's wishes unfulfilled.

"Don't touch Granny Tsunade!"

At that critical moment, an enraged roar

suddenly rang out as the Nine-Tails chakra around Naruto erupted at full force.

Golden chakra burst forth like a volcano, instantly enveloping his body. His hair turned golden, his pupils became slit like a cat's, and the phantoms of two Nine-Tails tails appeared behind him as his aura surged dramatically.

"I can't run away! I have to fight alongside Master Jiraiya! I have to protect Granny Tsunade! I have to defeat that demon Orochimaru!"

Naruto roared, shooting forward like an arrow loosed from its bow.

He was so fast that only a golden afterimage remained. Just as Kabuto Yakushi's palm was about to touch Tsunade, Naruto placed himself in front of her.

Bang!

With a deafening crash, Naruto raised his hand and forcibly blocked Kabuto Yakushi's strike. Nine-Tails chakra and Kabuto Yakushi's chakra collided violently between their palms, and a furious shockwave of energy instantly spread outward, shattering the surrounding tables, chairs, and benches.

Naruto's arm went numb, and his blood churned violently within him.

He nearly spat out a mouthful of blood, but he clenched his teeth and did not retreat a single step. He stood firmly before Tsunade, his gaze resolute like a little warrior protecting his home.

"You brat, you think you're worthy of stopping me?"

Kabuto Yakushi sneered as the chakra in his hand erupted again, trying to blast Naruto away.

"I am!"

Naruto roared, and the Nine-Tails chakra around him surged once more. The phantom of a third tail emerged. "I'll never let you hurt even a single hair on Granny Tsunade's head!"

With that, Naruto rapidly formed seals with both hands, chakra pouring madly into his palm. "Rasengan!"

A golden Rasengan spun rapidly in his hand. Carrying violent power like a miniature vortex, it blasted toward Kabuto Yakushi, twisting even the air in its wake.

Kabuto Yakushi's expression tightened, and he did not dare take it lightly. He quickly dodged to the side. The Rasengan grazed his clothes and slammed into the wall behind him with a thunderous boom, blasting a massive hole through it as rubble scattered and dust billowed.

At that moment, Jiraiya let out an angry shout. Sage chakra erupted around him at full force, pale green sage chakra enveloping his body. His pupils turned red, and his aura instantly soared far beyond its usual level.

"Orochimaru, Kabuto, you dare harm Tsunade and Naruto? Today, I will deliver justice and deal with you both!"

Jiraiya moved, instantly charging toward Orochimaru as his hands rapidly formed seals. "Sage Art: Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

Pale green flames instantly surged from his mouth. Vast and scorching, they carried destructive force as they blasted toward Orochimaru.

Empowered by sage chakra, this Fire Release was far more powerful than ordinary Fire Release—enough to burn everything to ashes.

Though Orochimaru could not form seals or use ninjutsu, his taijutsu and regenerative abilities

were still formidable. He sneered, swiftly dodging while opening his mouth and spewing out a mass of black snakes toward Jiraiya.

"Summoning Jutsu: Myriad Snake Formation!"

Countless black venomous snakes surged from Orochimaru's mouth like a tidal wave.

With their bloody maws wide open and their tongues flicking, they lunged at Jiraiya, densely covering every route of escape.

Jiraiya's gaze sharpened, but he showed no fear. He formed seals with both hands. "Sage Art: Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!"

A pale green Rasenshuriken rapidly formed in his hand.

Carrying violent wind-nature chakra, it slashed toward the venomous snakes. Wherever the Rasenshuriken passed, the air itself was sliced apart with a piercing shriek.

Screech!

With a sharp sound, the Rasenshuriken instantly cut countless venomous snakes in two. Their corpses littered the ground, their blood staining it red as the pungent stench of blood filled the entire tavern.

Meanwhile, Tsunade watched Naruto, who stood before her and fought with all his strength. She watched Jiraiya desperately battle Orochimaru to protect her. She watched the glaring blood on the ground, and the fear in her heart was gradually replaced by courage.

She thought of Nawaki. She thought of Dan Katō. She remembered how, when they were alive, they had disregarded everything to protect Konoha and their comrades. She remembered Naruto's resolute gaze, Jiraiya's hopes, and Konoha's safety.

I can't be afraid. I can't back down!

Tsunade roared inwardly, forcibly suppressing the fear in her heart as she fixed her eyes on the blood on the ground.

I am Tsunade, the First Hokage's granddaughter, one of the Sannin. I will overcome my fear. I will protect those I want to protect. I will defeat Orochimaru!

With that cry from her heart, the chakra around Tsunade gathered once more. Though it was still somewhat unstable, it was far steadier than before. The Strength of a Hundred Seal activated again, the diamond-shaped mark on her forehead reappearing as the fear in her eyes was replaced by determination.

She slowly rose to her feet, wiped the wine from the corner of her mouth, and fixed a cold, resolute gaze ahead.

Step by step, she walked toward the battlefield.