He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart.
He was very clear about his current situation.
With his hands crippled and his Chakra in disarray, he was no match for the boy before him who possessed the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Let's go."
Orochimaru gritted his teeth and gave the order.
He took Kabuto Yakushi with him and turned to disappear into the darkness.
After leaving Tanzaku Town.
Orochimaru stopped walking in the desolate forest.
"Pocket."
Orochimaru's voice was hoarse.
"Notify Sakon and the other three to immediately head to Konoha and bring Sasuke Uchiha back to me."
Dou paused for a moment.
" Lord Orochimaru, Sasuke's current strength is too weak; he is not the most suitable vessel."
Orochimaru snorted coldly.
"I can't wait that long."
Orochimaru glanced at his bleeding arms.
Even if he's not perfect, it's the only thing we can do now. I need to find a new body as soon as possible.
Dou nodded respectfully, accepted the order, and left.
Tanzaku Town.
Xin did not use the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to the Land of Snow.
He went directly to the hotel where Tsunade and Shizune were staying.
Xin leaped and landed on a large tree opposite the hotel.
He sat cross-legged on a thick tree branch, closed his eyes to rest, and quietly waited.
Time passed second by second.
It's around 2 or 3 a. m.
The entire town fell asleep, and all around was deathly silent.
The hotel's back door was quietly pushed open.
Tsunade, carrying a large backpack and pulling Shizune along, tiptoed out.
Shizune held Tonton in her arms, not daring to even breathe loudly.
The two men crept furtively along the wall, preparing to escape the town under the cover of night.
"Hey you two, where are you headed in the middle of the night?"
A calm voice came from above.
Tsunade froze, then abruptly raised her head.
Xin sat on a tree branch, looking down at them with a mocking smile on his face.
Tsunade in anger, her cheeks turning bright red.
She hadn't expected this kid to be so alert, staying up all night to stake out this place.
"Can't I... can't I just come out for some fresh air?!"
Tsunade, neck stiff, was still stubbornly putting on a last act of defiance.
Xin leaped down from the tree and landed steadily in front of the two.
"Go back to sleep after you've had some fresh air."
Xin pointed to the back door of the hotel.
We still have to travel early tomorrow morning.
Tsunade looked utterly helpless; she knew she truly couldn't escape this time.
Faced with that terrifying speed, any attempt to escape would be futile.
Tsunade, dejected, could only return to her hotel room with Shizune in tow.
The next morning.
Sunlight streamed down the streets of the small town.
Xin knocked on Tsunade's door right on time, Tsunade her up from her sleep.
Tsunade, sporting dark circles under her eyes, Earth Flow downstairs.
After a quick breakfast, the group set off on their journey back to Konoha.
After leaving the town, the roads became rugged.
Tsunade walked ahead, her mind still racing.
She really didn't want to go back to Konoha to deal with that mess.
As we walked through a dense forest.
Tsunade suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"My stomach hurts, I need to use the restroom."
Tsunade made up a lame excuse and turned to disappear into the depths of the forest.
Xin flashed forward, blocking her path.
" Lady Tsunade, don't waste your energy."
Xin's tone was flat.
Tsunade was completely enraged.
You persistent little brat!
Tsunade clenched her fist, her knuckles cracking.
"Since you won't let me leave, I'll beat you until you agree!"
Chakra gathered a surge of violent chakra in her Tsunade and slammed it down hard towards Xin's face.
This punch carried an overwhelming force, compressing the air and producing a piercing explosion.
Shizune was terrified.
" Lady Tsunade, please have mercy!"
Shizune knew how terrifying Tsunade's superhuman strength was, and was terrified that she would kill the boy with a single punch.
Faced with this powerful punch, Xin didn't even activate his Sharingan.
He took a deep breath, and the power of the max-level 5 Eight Gates Released Formation within him instantly circulated throughout his body.
Xin's muscles tensed, and without flinching, he swung his right fist to meet Tsunade's fist head-on.
boom!
The two fists collided violently in mid-air.
A visible Shockwave emanated from the two individuals and spread rapidly outwards.
The surrounding trees were violently shaken by the gust of wind, and leaves fell one after another.
Tsunade felt a terrifying force, no less powerful than her own, emanating from her opponent's fist.
She was so shocked that she took three steps back before she could barely regain her balance.
Tsunade stared at Xin in utter shock.
"You little brat, how can you have such strength!"
Tsunade could hardly believe her eyes.
Her extraordinary strength, which she was so proud of, was actually met by a thirteen-year-old boy using only his physical strength.
Xin stood still, without moving an inch.
" Lady Tsunade, your superhuman strength is truly impressive."
Xin flicked his wrist.
"However, it's still a bit lacking."
Tsunade's competitive spirit was completely ignited by those words.
"How arrogant!"
Tsunade shouted and charged forward again.
She unleashed all her skills, unleashing a barrage of punches, kicks, elbows, and knees, a torrent of Taijutsu raining down on Xin.
Each strike carried the terrifying power to split mountains and shatter rocks.
Xin still did not use any Ninjutsu or Dōjutsu.
With the exceptional physical abilities granted by the Eight Gates Released Formation, he countered every move with ease.
Bang bang bang.
The dull thuds of flesh colliding echoed through the woods.
The two fought from the ground to the tree, and then from the tree back to the ground.
They trampled huge craters into the ground around them, and large trees collapsed one after another.
Shizune, holding Tonton, watched from a distance, dumbfounded and with a chill running down her spine.
She had never seen anyone who could fight Lady Tsunade to a standstill in pure Taijutsu, or even have a slight advantage.
After several hundred rounds.
Tsunade was panting heavily, her forehead covered in sweat.
She had exhausted most of her strength, and her movements were becoming sluggish.
In contrast, Xin remained completely calm, his face expressionless and his breathing perfectly steady.
Tsunade stopped what she was doing and waved her hand.
"I'm not fighting anymore!"
Tsunade plopped down on the ground, completely convinced.
She knew that she was no match for the monster before her, whether in terms of speed or strength.
The escape plan was completely scrapped.
"You win. I'll go back to Konoha with you."
Tsunade sighed helplessly.
Xin walked up to her, reached out and helped her up.
"It would have been better to do this earlier."
Xin patted the dust off his clothes.
Tsunade became completely obedient and never entertained the thought of running away again.
The group left the forest and made their way smoothly towards Konoha.
On the main road leading to Konoha.
Although Tsunade gave up on escaping, she still harbored a strong resistance to returning to the village to become Hokage.
She began to employ a different strategy.
Delaying time.
Normally, a ninja could travel from Tanzaku Town to Konoha in just six or seven days.