Space–Time Dōjutsu

"What arrogant nonsense..."

Tsunade merely cast him a sideways glance and stopped paying attention to him. To her, Uchiha Sen's words were nothing more than a joke.

"Hmph, there's nothing I, Big Sen, can't accomplish! How about this? Come back to Konoha with us. As long as you take up the position of Hokage and become a warrior of our planet, I'll resurrect your granduncle and second granduncle for you!"

[ Ding! The host has begun learning by analogy! ]

[ Ding! The second phase of the mission has been activated ahead of schedule. Headquarters mission: Planet Invasion Plan II. Develop Tsunade Senju, the Hokage, into your subordinate. We are pleased that the Hole-Hole Monster can now think independently. Keep it up! The planet is with you! ]

[ Mission reward: Flying Thunder God Technique developed to its utmost limit. Move as the mind wills, light follows intent; before the thought arrives, the body has already arrived. ]

"Speak normally!"

[ Simply put, it is more convenient, faster, and more energy-efficient than the Flying Thunder God Technique developed by the Fourth Hokage. ]

To everyone else, Uchiha Sen's series of bizarre actions meant only one thing... this guy was dangerous and might suffer another episode at any moment...

At the entrance of the tavern, the waiter and owner huddled beneath the cashier counter, trembling.

"Boss... should we close up..."

"You're right... this is too terrifying..."

Two minutes later...

The trembling waiter shakily approached them.

"My apologies, honored guests. Our establishment will be closing shortly."

Jiraiya's face showed a trace of displeasure.

"Since when do taverns close this early?"

In truth, Jiraiya had planned to find a couple of girls for some fun after Tsunade and the others left.

"Hehehe, well, business hasn't been very good tonight. Please forgive our poor service, please forgive us..."

The waiter's legs shook as he kept apologizing with a forced smile.

"Enough. I have no interest in listening to you any longer. Shizune, let's go."

"The Hokage is garbage. Only idiots would want to become one."

Tsunade Senju grabbed the wine cup on the table and drained it in one gulp before taking the lead out of the tavern.

"Anyone who dares mock Grandpa and the Fourth Hokage in front of me—even if you're a woman, I'll beat you flat!"

Naruto somehow found the strength to leap onto the table, shouting hot-bloodedly.

However, Jiraiya lifted him up by the collar, making him look more like a defeated dog on a leash, barking furiously.

Uchiha Sen curled his lip, feeling that communicating with women was truly exhausting.

The movies had been right after all. Women were creatures impossible to understand. If you told them lies, they would not believe you. If you told them the truth, they would not believe you either.

"Ah, this is too hard..."

Tsunade, who had been about to leave, heard Naruto's shouting. She turned around with interest and said:

"It's been a long time since anyone dared speak to me like that. If you've got the guts, come outside, brat."

[ Ding! Headquarters reminds the Hole-Hole Monster that Double-Zero Two's current odds of defeating the pretty young lady are 0.00001%. Death is certain. ]

"Hm? That won't do. I finally got myself a little brother. I can't let him die here."

[ It hasn't been easy for me to communicate normally with the host... forget it, it's all for that plan. ]

Outside, the tavern owner and waiter quickly shut the door and fled. The hostile tension between the two groups outside made it obvious that neither side was ordinary.

"Damn it! I'm definitely going to teach you a lesson!"

Naruto, who had long since run out of patience, swiftly threw three shuriken while drawing a kunai with his right hand and charging toward Tsunade.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Though he looked imposing, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that Naruto had already lost the moment he made his move.

Narrowing her eyes slightly, Tsunade listened to the whistling shuriken flying toward her.

She confidently sidestepped them with ease. At the same time, her right hand shot out, her index finger hooking the ring of Naruto's kunai and snatching it away. Then she sharply flicked it upward, knocking him back.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye, but the fight was far from over. Tsunade swung the kunai in her right hand, using its momentum to whip it upward.

"Swish!"

The kunai grazed Naruto's Leaf Village forehead protector and sent it flying with perfect precision. Then she stepped forward into a bow stance, curled her right index finger, and flicked Naruto squarely on his exposed forehead.

"Bonk~"

After getting a faceful of nature's fragrance, Naruto braced himself on the ground with both hands and struggled back to his feet.

"Clang, clang."

The Leaf Village forehead protector and kunai that had just been knocked away landed right at his feet.

"Impressive. That level of precise control... as expected, none of the Legendary Sannin are nobodies."

Those words came from Zabuza Momochi. Still, Zabuza knew that he could accomplish something at that level as well.

"Tch. In front of me, Big Sen, that's nothing but child's play."

Uchiha Sen leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, mocking her with a disdainful expression.

Yeah, yeah, you're the best. No one is better than you.

Quietly rolling their eyes, Zabuza and Haku watched without saying a word.

"Hey, before you pass out, tell me why you're so obsessed with the title of Hokage!"

Tsunade put one hand on her hip and shouted at Naruto.

"I'm different from you! I will inherit the name of Hokage, because becoming Hokage is my dream!"

Naruto's passionate declaration stirred up some unpleasant memories in Tsunade, and she lowered her head in pain.

Hm?

An opening?

If he could not defeat her even with everything he had...

Then he would use that move!

"Betting my Hokage's honor on this, I'll defeat you! This is Big Brother Sen's ultimate technique!"

A dim chakra sphere slowly formed between Naruto's hands. Air currents swirled around it as he charged rapidly toward Tsunade Senju.

"Hm? That is..."

Battle-hardened Tsunade instantly responded.

"Monster Strength Technique!"

She jabbed one hand into the ground, and a crack stretched dozens of meters.

Naruto stumbled, one foot plunging into a large pit. As his center of gravity shifted, the Pseudo-Rasengan in his hand smashed into the ground. The rebounding airflow flung him backward, and he fell into the pit.

As expected, he had no ability to fight back at all.

Jiraiya chuckled softly. Anyone present could make a move except him. Now, he could only place his hopes on Uchiha Sen behind him. Hadn't that kid just been on their side?

"Hmph! I haven't learned that move yet! If Big Brother Sen made a move, you'd definitely lose! He can make a ball as huge as a house!"

Naruto lay sprawled on the ground, shouting defiantly.

Hm?

Jiraiya was a little stunned. From Naruto's words, Uchiha Sen had not only learned that ninjutsu, but had developed it even further. That was truly surprising. Had the old Third Hokage shown that fellow the Scroll of Seals?

Having experienced it personally, Jiraiya naturally knew just how difficult that ninjutsu was to learn without anyone teaching it...

After all, it had taken him three whole years just to master it.

"Hehe, I originally wanted to interact with you all as an ordinary person, but all I got in return was distance. I won't pretend anymore. I'll lay my cards on the table—the strongest man on the surface is me, Big Sen!"

Uchiha Sen slowly stepped forward. Behind him, Zabuza and Haku desperately tried to drag him back, but even rushing with all their might, they could not hold him.

Uh...

Speechless...

Still speechless...

Dead silence...

"Hehe, you may be small, but you've got quite the mouth. The Mangekyō Sharingan isn't omnipotent. I'd like to find out just how powerful those eyes of yours truly are."

Naruto Uzumaki had not mentioned Tsunade Senju's battle prowess, and she had always been curious about Uchiha Sen as well.

[ Yes, yes, I think so too. ]

"Shut up! Is this your place to speak?!"

Uchiha Sen shouted angrily at the words on the blue prompt panel.

The key was that only Uchiha Sen could see the blue prompt panel. So the question was...

Jiraiya had already begun applauding happily in his heart for Uchiha Sen. Sen, you're definitely the first person in the world to dare speak so arrogantly to her!

Shizune was even more shocked. My god, has Sen always been this brave...?

Zabuza and Haku had already begun discussing escape routes in the back...

Naruto looked at his big brother, and fighting flames ignited in his eyes.

"Big Brother Sen is amazing! One day, I'll become someone as amazing as Big Brother Sen too!"

[ Ding! Tsunade Sen's fighting spirit has been detected. The system is beginning analysis. ]

[ Ding! Name: Tsunade Senju. Strength: Kage Level. Danger rating: 8. System advice: Although you are a brave warrior of the planet, please do not provoke your opponent. ]

"Tch. No one can last three exchanges in front of me. I said it!"

"Pretty young lady, if you lose, you'll have to come back to the Hidden Leaf Village with us~"

Sen was clearly still as arrogant as ever.

"Good brat!"

"Boom!"

Looking at the huge spiderweb-like cracks in the ground, Jiraiya knew Tsunade had gotten serious.

[ Ding! According to system analysis, the Hole-Hole Monster will absolutely not follow the planned battle route. The Mangekyō Sharingan has been activated automatically. The left eye's Space–Time Dōjutsu is being released: Near and Far—Far Horizon. ]

"Mm!"

In an instant, Tsunade sensed that something was wrong. Knowing that her opponent possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, she had swept the battlefield with her senses from the beginning and had never looked directly at Uchiha Sen.

But just now, she could clearly feel that the distance between herself and that brat seemed to be growing farther and farther. What had originally been within arm's reach now felt as though an invisible chasm lay between them.

A genjutsu? Impossible.

There were only so many conditions required to cast an ocular genjutsu.

"Genjutsu Release!"

To verify her suspicion, Tsunade stood where she was and formed hand seals, attempting to disrupt her own chakra.

It was actually not a genjutsu!

It seemed to be a Space–Time Dōjutsu!

Outside the battlefield, what Jiraiya and the others saw was roughly the same as what Tsunade sensed.

Tsunade, who should have been able to reach Sen in an instant, now seemed impossibly far away, as if some inexplicable force had forcibly pushed her into the distance.

"Why is this happening?"

"Could we have fallen under a genjutsu too?"

Everyone present was confused, though they could tell it was impressive.

After pondering for a moment, Jiraiya said:

"No, this isn't genjutsu. It's a Space–Time Dōjutsu."

A Space–Time Dōjutsu?

Though they did not fully understand it, the name alone made it clear that it was something formidable. Ordinary ninja generally knew only ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. Ninjutsu itself was divided into Wind, Fire, Water, and Lightning Release. Ninja with a somewhat deeper understanding knew of Yin–Yang Release Ninjutsu, such as medical ninjutsu and the Nara Clan's Shadow Secret Technique.

Space–Time Ninjutsu could be understood as ninjutsu combining time and space. In Jiraiya's memory, only the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had touched upon that threshold.

"Doesn't that mean Lord Sen has won?"

Haku asked softly. In her heart, she naturally supported her own side.

"Not yet. Lord Sen merely holds the initiative for now. Lady Tsunade cannot get close to him, but defeating her head-on will be extremely difficult."

Zabuza Momochi gave an objective analysis while staring intently at the battlefield. A fight like this was an invaluable lesson for every ninja.

Seemingly seeing through Sen's little trick, Tsunade Senju simply stood in place with her eyes shut and shouted:

"Brat, if we fight like this, there won't be a result even by tomorrow. You're not as impressive as you claimed!"

Sen rolled up his sleeves. He had heard Tsunade's words. No one could mock a warrior of the planet, not even a pretty young lady!

"Let me through! Watch me beat her up!"

[ The system recommends that the host give up. During the recovery period, please take care of yourself! ]

"Stop yapping!"

[ The system recommends that the host give up. During the recovery period, please take care of yourself! ]

"Damn it, I'll go myself!"

He draped the "Invisibility Cloak" over himself, wrapping it around his entire body. Sen crept closer on tiptoe like a cat.

"What kind of move is this?"

Jiraiya clearly did not understand what the blue-and-white-striped bedsheet draped over Sen was supposed to do...

"I know this one. That's Sen's special Invisibility Cloak!"

"Mm... what is Big Brother Sen taking that out for now...?"

After Naruto blurted it out, embarrassment was written all over his face. Jiraiya looked suspiciously at Zabuza, Naruto, and Haku...

Damn it... what should they do when they were so embarrassed they could dig out a three-bedroom apartment with their toes...

Lord Sen, please try a little harder...

In Tsunade's senses, a small crimson dot was steadily approaching her. A disdainful smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

Brat, get ready to cry.

With the appearance of the Invisibility Cloak, the battle became incredibly strange: Uchiha Sen moved in a zigzag pattern while Tsunade Senju stood still.

"This is really..."

Jiraiya felt that after living more than half his life, this was the first time he had ever seen a duel like this. At least throw a shuriken or something...

"An excellent opportunity!"

Sen had entered his attack range.

"Whoosh!"

In an instant, he sprang forward, raising his right leg high. This kick carried thirty years of skill!

"Heaven-Guard Kick!"

[ Ding! Danger detected. Susanoo activated automatically. Semi-Complete Form. ]

"What's that?!"

Jiraiya's eyes went wide. This was the first time he had seen Susanoo; before this, he had only heard of it from the Third Hokage.

Black chakra spilled from his body—skeleton, meridians, arms, armor. A black giant rose from the ground.

"Clang!"

The Heaven-Guard Kick slammed into Susanoo without leaving so much as a scratch.

"How is that possible?!"

The crimson chakra flickering around him changed, becoming even colder and more sinister than before. The sensation in her foot was like kicking an iron plate. Before she could think further, the sound of wind tearing through the air rushed toward her right ear. Tsunade tapped off with her left foot, using the recoil to pull away.

At the same time, lingering fear welled up in her heart. What exactly was that mass of black chakra, like a small earthen hill...?