The Rudiments of the Monstrous Strength Punch

Compared to Chishima Chiba, Tsunade was far less patient.

"Hah!"

With a sharp cry, Tsunade ended her mutual probing with Chishima Chiba. She dashed forward, clenched her fist, and drove it straight at his face.

Chishima Chiba did not evade, choosing to meet force with force. He likewise stepped forward, raising a hand to block Tsunade's straight punch while turning sideways and closing in, his shoulder slamming toward her chest.

Bang.

Tsunade reacted in time, crossing her left arm before her chest. As she blocked Chishima Chiba's attack, she twisted her wrist and seized his collar. With a fierce exertion from her waist, she lifted him off the ground and hurled him high into the air.

Chishima Chiba inwardly marveled at Tsunade's strength. His upside-down body abruptly tensed in midair, and both hands seized the collars at her shoulders. With a sudden kip-up, he used the force of his waist and abdomen to plunge downward, lifting Tsunade in turn and flinging her away in the opposite direction.

But such an exchange was not enough to trouble Tsunade. After landing, she immediately crouched and rolled. By the time she straightened up again, she had already completed her hand seals.

Shadow Clone Jutsu!

Poof, poof, poof.

Three clouds of white smoke burst forth and spread, blocking Chishima Chiba's vision. Tsunade mixed herself among identical Shadow Clones, swiftly creating a simple yet indistinguishable disguise.

Once the smoke cleared, four Tsunades charged at Chishima Chiba from left and right, front and back, moving with incredible speed.

"Her Shadow Clone Jutsu is very proficient, and her timing is excellent as well."

In the stands, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, nodded faintly, highly satisfied with Tsunade's performance.

"As expected of Sensei's granddaughter. She has truly mastered the Ninjutsu you developed." Sarutobi Hiruzen chimed in. "Chiba is going to suffer!"

While the two spoke in low voices, Chishima Chiba had already reacted.

Rather than force a confrontation, Chishima Chiba rapidly retreated while forming hand seals. However, he did not use the Shadow Clone Jutsu. Instead, he chose an Earth Release Ninjutsu with an extremely wide attack range.

Earth Release: Earth Spikes!

In an instant, dense, sharp stone spikes erupted from the ground. Not only did they cut off Tsunade's path forward, but they also pierced her Shadow Clones apart.

Though it did not cause Tsunade much harm, without the Shadow Clones as cover, she no longer had the chance to pass off fake for real.

At the same time, Tsunade's real body could only leap into the air to evade the dense barrage of Earth Spikes, temporarily becoming a living target.

"What a beautiful response!"

Kagami Uchiha suddenly slapped his thigh, his words full of admiration. "Since he cannot tell which are Shadow Clones and which is the real body, he can simply break the technique with a Ninjutsu that covers a vast area. Very wise!"

"Kagami, have you overlooked the fact that Earth Spikes is a C-rank Ninjutsu?"

Shimura Danzō interjected. "Judging by Chishima Chiba's age, the Chakra in his body can only support two or three C-rank Ninjutsu. Using an Earth Release Ninjutsu over such a wide range may have given him the upper hand for now, but he will lack the strength to follow up."

"Danzo, you are right, but look at Tsunade now. She has nowhere to brace herself and has become Chishima Chiba's living target."

As Kagami Uchiha's words fell, Chishima Chiba had already completed his preparations and made his next move.

"What fast hand seals!" Kagami Uchiha greatly admired Chishima Chiba and did not stint on his praise.

Likewise, Senju Tobirama secretly nodded, showing his approval of Chishima Chiba.

The next second, puffs of smoke burst around Chishima Chiba. As the spreading smoke concealed his figure, a string of Kunai shot toward Tsunade in midair.

"I was already prepared for that!"

Tsunade had actually begun preparing the moment she leaped into the air, forming hand seals in advance to deal with Chishima Chiba's follow-up attacks.

And this Water Release Ninjutsu required only two hand seals!

Water Release: Water Formation Wall!

"Th-this... is that one of your signature techniques, Sensei?" Sarutobi Hiruzen abruptly leaned forward in the stands. "A Water Formation Wall that can defend all around the body—aren't you the only one who can use that? Tsunade is still so young. This is far too unbelievable!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen could hardly be blamed for reacting this way. Tsunade using this technique at her age was simply outrageous.

As everyone knew, there were currently only two kinds of Water Release Ninjutsu in the Shinobi World: ordinary Water Release Ninjutsu, and Senju Tobirama's Water Release Ninjutsu.

Take the Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique, for instance. An ordinary shinobi had to use forty-four hand seals to cast it, but in Senju Tobirama's hands, the Water Dragon Bullet Technique had been simplified to four seals!

Furthermore, in the hands of other shinobi, the Water Formation Wall could only erect a thick wall of water from the ground or before them as a defense. But in Senju Tobirama's hands, the Water Formation Wall became a spherical water barrier with all-around, flawless defense.

This showed just how masterfully Senju Tobirama had wielded Water Release. Calling him the greatest of the current age would not have been an exaggeration.

But Tsunade...

"Learning the improved Water Formation Wall I developed is not very difficult. Tsunade happens to possess that talent, and she also has enough Chakra."

Senju Tobirama curled his lips. "And it is also thanks to Mito-san. Without her careful instruction, with Tsunade's playful nature, she would never have developed her talent to this extent."

There was actually something Senju Tobirama did not say: Tsunade's tremendous rate of improvement in strength also had much to do with Chishima Chiba pushing her from behind.

But Kagami Uchiha beside him began to spoil the mood again. "Sensei, Hiruzen, it seems you have overlooked something." He pointed at the white mist gradually dispersing on the field. "That child Chiba has played a little trick. If Tsunade does not notice it, she will suffer badly."

Hearing this, Senju Tobirama fixed his eyes on the field for a closer look, and his expression gradually turned strange.

Meanwhile, Tsunade, still in midair, blocked every one of Chishima Chiba's hidden weapon attacks. After landing, she took several heavy breaths, and fine sweat beaded on her forehead.

Her expenditure had not been small!

Tsunade had not wanted to use Senju Tobirama's improved Water Formation Wall. The main issue was that Chishima Chiba was too crafty; the angles of the Kunai, Shuriken, and other hidden weapons he had fired were far too tricky.

Furthermore, Tsunade had been unable to leverage herself in midair and could not guarantee that she could block them all, so she could only use this technique to respond.

But just as Tsunade landed and was about to move, a Kunai that had fallen to the ground almost at the same time suddenly transformed into a cloud of smoke.

A black shadow flashed past. Tsunade lowered her gaze in astonishment, only to discover that one of her ankles had been firmly seized by a hand.

The next second.

"Ah!"

Along with Tsunade's startled cry, her entire body was dragged underground, leaving only her little head exposed.

Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!

At the same time, Chishima Chiba appeared beside Tsunade and looked down at her from above. "You lost, Tsunade."

"I did not!"

Tsunade's little face flushed red, and veins faintly throbbed on her forehead. She was clearly exerting herself.

Boom.

A neither-loud-nor-soft sound rang out as Tsunade violently burst from the earth. She put all her strength into her little fist and punched Chishima Chiba directly in the chest.

"So much strength?"

Chishima Chiba staggered back two steps. Before he could steady himself, Tsunade charged at him again, sticking close and dragging him into close-quarters combat.

To be honest, trading blows was Tsunade's fighting style. Her fists and kicks carried astonishing power, faintly showing the rudiments of monstrous strength.

Secretly groaning, Chishima Chiba, having been dragged into close combat, could only choose to meet Tsunade head-on.

Their battle had already entered its most intense stage...