Unrivaled

The two sides maintained a certain distance. The Takigakure ninja were confident in their abilities; even if it were Konoha's Tsunade, it wouldn't matter if it wasn't Tsunade.

While there were indeed many female ninja during the war, most, aside from Tsunade, were ninjutsu or genjutsu users. If she weren't Tsunade, at this distance, any ninja would be confident in subduing two people—a female ninja and a child—in an instant. If she weren't Tsunade.

If Oguri Hayashi had carefully studied Naruto, or even if he were a fan who could recite it by heart, he would have surely recognized the blue-haired High Ninja before him as the future puppet for Pain's Human Path.

Unfortunately, Oguri Hayashi was merely an anime enthusiast, not a hardcore otaku or an author writing fanfiction who gets confused by various established settings.

Although Oguri Hayashi had watched Naruto, he no longer had many clear memories of it.

Being able to remember key characters like Tsunade, Naruto, and Sasuke was already a sign of a good memory.

After walking for a short while, they arrived at Takigakure.

They hadn't seen many ninja along the way, meaning that one High Ninja leading three Genin constituted the entire defense of this area.

Excluding the sea, Takigakure only had three sides, and if each side had one High Ninja leading three Genin, the number of High Ninja in Takigakure probably wouldn't exceed ten.

This was even with the Waterfall Kage and the Tailed Beast host included.

So weak.

Oguri Hayashi thought coldly.

No wonder Orochimaru would rather create Otogakure in the Land of Fields than come to the Land of Waterfalls, a country with a Tailed Beast. The benefits of the Land of Fields were undoubtedly obvious: more land, higher yields, capable of supporting a large population, and very close to Konoha.

Having land to support a population would allow for the cultivation of a large number of ninja, as well as many experimental subjects.

Orochimaru, like the First Hokage, was a very intelligent person, Oguri Hayashi knew this in his heart, but he had different ideas.

After all, he wasn't from this world and wouldn't be influenced by its inherent concepts.

For example, even rogue ninja would slash a line across their headbands, but Oguri Hayashi, after defecting from Konoha, didn't do that; instead, he put his headband away entirely.

Differences in mindset naturally led to different choices for Oguri Hayashi and Orochimaru.

Their group entered the village. The message the blue-haired ninja had sent ahead had caused the ninja in the village to come out.

If it were truly Konoha's Tsunade, it would be perfectly acceptable for the village's Kage to come out and greet her.

Takigakure was a small ninja village, so its Kage didn't wear the ceremonial robes and straw hat like the Kage of the Five Great Villages. Instead, they looked like ordinary ninja, with perhaps only minor differences in clothing style compared to Konoha ninja.

Konoha's green vest was too distinctive, but Tsunade, in her haste to stop Oguri Hayashi, hadn't worn that easily recognizable vest.

However, her striking light blonde hair, coupled with her obviously taijutsu-oriented physique and the gleaming Yin Seal on her forehead, meant that after her battle with Hanzo, there were hardly any people in the ninja world who didn't recognize her.

"I never imagined Princess Tsunade would grace us with her presence! Welcome, welcome!"

A middle-aged man with thick eyebrows and large eyes, wearing a blue top and the Takigakure headband, walked forward with seven or eight ninja surrounding him, spreading his arms as he spoke.

Four High Ninja, including the Waterfall Kage.

If they were Konoha High Ninja, just two of them would be enough to wipe out this place with six Chunin.

Truly weak.

Tsunade remained silent. She was self-aware; as a captive, she had no room to speak. More importantly, the fate of Takigakure had nothing to do with her. What she needed to know was what Oguri Hayashi, who would become a Kage-level powerhouse in the future, was doing now.

Trading Takigakure for information about Oguri Hayashi was a worthwhile deal, and Tsunade wouldn't stop.

"Everyone, your premise is mistaken." Oguri Hayashi was only twelve years old, and indeed, he couldn't attract much attention. He had to prove his strength.

He released the Heavier Rock Technique, and blue lightning instantly erupted from his body.

As if undergoing a Super Saiyan transformation, he was enveloped in indigo light. This was chakra made tangible, visible to the naked eye. This was a ninjutsu applied to oneself.

A ninjutsu that made the user's body indestructible.

Lightning Release Body Cultivation Technique.

"Now, let's talk," Oguri Hayashi opened his eyes. Faint sparks flickered within them, his pupils almost blue, like the sky.

"Waterfall Kage, Takigakure ninja."

He spoke.

"Who are you?" the Takigakure ninja frowned. The Waterfall Kage at the forefront was slightly tense, but with Tsunade present, he wasn't as nervous.

Konoha and Takigakure had maintained friendly relations for generations; otherwise, Hashirama Senju would never have wanted Takigakure to be a frontline against Iwagakure and given them a Tailed Beast.

With Tsunade here, it meant the other party was considered an ally?

Oguri Hayashi seemed to see through their thoughts and glanced back at Tsunade.

Is that it? Is that why there's no sense of urgency?

"This is infuriating."

"Show a little respect to the strong." Oguri Hayashi stomped his foot on the ground.

As if an earthquake had struck, or a cannonball had hit, the ground beneath his foot instantly caved in. The earth trembled, and the Takigakure ninja's bodies shook uncontrollably from the tremors.

"The Princess Tsunade you respect is merely my captive. I am the one you should be talking to on equal terms," Oguri Hayashi said coldly. "Now, listen to my demands."

"Takigakure ninja."

All the Takigakure ninja drew their kunai, staring at Oguri Hayashi with serious expressions.

Tsunade seemed unable to bear watching these Takigakure ninja, who had generations of friendly relations with Konoha, being slaughtered by Oguri Hayashi. She couldn't help but say from the side, "He is now infinitely close to the Five Kage level. If you intend to fight him, you should think carefully. After all, I was captured by him in a single encounter."

Her words did not win over the group of Waterfall Ninja, who even suspected that Tsunade wasn't the Tsunade from Konoha, but merely a female ninja impersonating her.

At the same time, two High Ninjas charged towards Tsunade, while the others instantly surged towards Oguri Hayashi.

But the next second.

Tsunade and Oguri Hayashi simultaneously let out a breath.

The two High Ninjas who charged at Tsunade were instantly grabbed by the neck and pinned to the ground by Tsunade using Taijutsu and explosive power. The other five High Ninjas who rushed at Oguri Hayashi, including the Waterfall Kage, were all kicked flying in an instant.

In just a moment, Oguri Hayashi delivered five kicks, striking five different weak points on five individuals simultaneously. This sent the High Ninjas, who had intended to spar with him in Taijutsu, flying four to five meters away, landing around Oguri Hayashi like scattered petals.

Looking at the fallen Waterfall Ninja, Oguri Hayashi spoke, "Can we talk properly now?"

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