Old Hag, I Won the Bet

Kabuto knew there was no chance of Orochimaru receiving treatment from Tsunade now. He raised his kunai and stabbed viciously at her. The sound of flesh being pierced rang out clearly, but Tsunade was not the one injured.

Naruto rushed over as fast as he could and thrust his left hand in front of Tsunade. The kunai pierced straight through his palm, but he clamped down on Kabuto's arm, refusing to let him move another inch.

"Hey, old hag, get ready to pay up!" Naruto said, raising his other hand. A highly compressed, perfectly formed sphere of blue chakra gathered in his palm. "Hey, Kabuto, try healing this, you monster! Rasengan!"

With a furious roar, he drove the Rasengan he had fully mastered straight into Kabuto's stomach. Kabuto's eyes went wide, and he was blasted away like a kite with its string cut.

Naruto stood where he was, his face brimming with the joy of victory. But a moment later, a sharp pain tore through his chest. He doubled over, gasping for breath.

"Don't get cocky... you're finished. I just severed the chakra pathways to your heart. You won't survive." Kabuto lay on the ground, struggling to stand, only to collapse again. "Still, that last move of his really was powerful. Anyone weaker would already be dead."

This brat has to die. If he survives, he'll become a serious problem. Orochimaru immediately abandoned his fight with Jiraiya and charged straight at Naruto, the Kusanagi Sword in his hand aimed at Naruto's heart.

As Tsunade watched Orochimaru rush toward the boy, something inside her snapped. She wanted to protect this boy, the boy whose dream had shaken her awake. Her brother's dream and Dan's lived on in him. No matter what, she would protect that dream.

She leaped in front of Naruto, and the Kusanagi Sword pierced her chest.

"Heh heh heh. How foolish, Tsunade. Throwing away your life for a brat like him," Orochimaru sneered.

But a moment later, Tsunade mustered every ounce of her monstrous strength and sent Orochimaru flying with a single punch. The Yin Seal markings of Creation Rebirth spread across her body, and the sword wound in her chest healed before their eyes, leaving not even a scar.

"Because he's a ninja of Konoha. Just like my grandfather and great-uncle, I won't hesitate to give my life to protect the people of Konoha. Because I am the Fifth Hokage!" Tsunade's gaze was resolute as she rapidly formed hand seals.

"Oh? What ninjutsu is this, Tsunade? I'm growing more and more interested," Orochimaru said sinisterly.

Nearby, Yugito knelt beside Naruto, desperately trying to save him with what little medical ninjutsu she knew. Tears streamed down her face. Tsunade summoned Katsuyu, and Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta. The Sannin stood atop their respective summons, facing one another from a distance. Yugito could only watch helplessly as she fought with everything she had to keep Naruto alive.

"Little kitten, his heartbeat is getting weaker. It doesn't look good." The Two-Tails' voice, too, carried an unprecedented sadness. It knew this boy had brought more smiles to its host's face than anyone else in her life.

No, he'll pull through... he has to! I can't let him die! My chakra control might be poor, and I haven't learned any advanced medical ninjutsu, but I can still help a little! Green chakra glowed around Yugito's hands as she poured every ounce of her strength into saving the blond boy who had stolen her heart.

Just then, Tsunade hurled Gamabunta's short sword through the top of Manda's head. Knowing he had lost, Orochimaru grabbed Kabuto off the ground, turned, and fled.

Tsunade immediately turned and ran to Naruto, who lay on the ground. She knelt beside him and joined Yugito in treating him.

A few minutes later, Naruto finally opened his eyes. Unmistakable joy instantly spread across the faces of the two blonde girls. Naruto reached out and grasped the necklace around Tsunade's neck, saying weakly, "Old hag, I won the bet."

Then he turned toward the tearful Yugito and managed a smile. "Yugi-chan, don't cry. You're prettier when you smile."

With those words, he exhausted the last of his strength and passed out again.