Chapter 172

Both Naruto and Sasuke felt deceived by Yoruha. However, neither blamed him; they believed Yoruha's deception was for their own good, to motivate them to become stronger. 

It could be said that during this period, Yoruha had deeply convinced the two of them.

This led to a deep trust in Yoruha from both of them. Sakura remained silent because she had long suspected that Yoruha was just pulling the wool over their eyes.

She didn't believe the two could surpass Yoruha. Kakashi felt the same way, watching them with a sense of relief. He remarked, "Finally, you've come to your senses. Realizing this issue is enough."

"Even if you can't surpass him, your progress is still terrifying. In just a few months, you've advanced from Genin to Jonin. I wasn't this outrageous back in the day." "Now, you're already stronger than I was back then." Kakashi said this sincerely.

At 12 years old, he wasn't as strong as Sasuke and Naruto. Of course, he was referring to the use of ninjutsu, not combat experience. In terms of combat experience, even Yoruha was far inferior to Kakashi.

At 12, Kakashi was already a battlefield veteran. Those who grew up in peaceful times couldn't compare. After Sasuke sighed, he looked at Naruto, "Is the ninjutsu you learned from Jiraiya the Summoning Jutsu?"

"You can summon such a huge beast to assist in battle. Your strength must have surpassed mine by now." 

Naruto smiled smugly, "It's called Gamabunta. It's strong, right?" Sasuke nodded, "With its assistance, I reckon even a Jonin wouldn't be your match."

Sasuke rubbed his chin and said, "I should find a summoning beast too." Kakashi looked at Sasuke and said, "You can use my ninja dogs." But Sasuke didn't respond to Kakashi's offer.

Though he didn't speak, Kakashi knew Sasuke wasn't interested. He felt a bit helpless; it was one thing for Yoruha to dismiss his summoning beasts, but for Sasuke to do the same was unexpected. "It seems the only one who might inherit my summoning beasts is you, Sakura."

Sitting quietly to the side, Sakura quickly shook her head at Kakashi's words, "Kakashi-sensei, I don't think your summoning beasts are quite suitable for me." Sakura wasn't fond of dogs as summoning beasts either. Kakashi was speechless, "Do you all really dislike my summoning beasts that much?"

Sasuke, Sakura, and even Naruto remained silent, not daring to meet his gaze. Naruto already had his own summoning beast and didn't need another, while Sasuke was thinking about where to find a summoning beast similar to Naruto's. Sakura simply didn't need a summoning beast.

She would rather go without a summoning beast than use Kakashi's ninja dogs. This showed just how much the three of them disdained Kakashi's ninja dogs. This left Kakashi feeling very defeated.

It was one thing for Yoruha, his personal disciple, to reject his summoning beasts, as Yoruha was strong enough. But even Sakura's rejection was too much for him to handle. If not for the mask covering his face, he might have been fuming visibly.

Over a month later.

At Tanzaku Street, in the back mountain. Orochimaru was preparing to strike down Tsunade with a sword.

Originally suffering from hemophobia, Tsunade suddenly clenched her fist as she looked at Naruto lying on the ground beside her.

Tsunade stood up, delivering a punch that sent Orochimaru flying dozens of meters away. Panting heavily, Tsunade was covered in blood, with several wounds piercing through her body inflicted by Orochimaru.

After regaining his footing, Orochimaru looked at Tsunade in shock. "You can still move even with your lungs severed? Tsunade, what kind of technique did you use?" Orochimaru was astonished.

Tsunade, who had been trembling, now stood steady. Orochimaru was surprised, "You've even overcome your hemophobia. I don't understand why you're risking your life to protect this mere genin." Unlike in the original story, Kabuto was aware of Naruto's strength, so he wasn't unexpectedly defeated.

Despite overcoming her hemophobia, Tsunade was still panting, her wounds from Orochimaru's attacks bleeding profusely. The intense pain caused her muscles to tremble uncontrollably. "I won't let you harm this child."

Unlike in the original story, Tsunade hadn't made a bet with Naruto; she was moved by Naruto's willingness to risk his life to protect her during the battle. She wouldn't allow Orochimaru to kill Naruto. Hearing Tsunade's words, Orochimaru sneered, "Tsunade, you're still as naive as ever."

"You're no longer a match for me, even if you've overcome your hemophobia." Tsunade ignored Orochimaru.

She began forming hand seals. "These injuries are affecting my ability to fight, so I'll heal them all." As she spoke, Tsunade completed the hand seals, "Yin Seal: Release." Shizune, standing nearby, panicked and ran toward Tsunade, "Lady Tsunade, don't use that technique. Let me heal your wounds."

But Tsunade paid no attention. The upcoming battle wouldn't allow her the time to heal slowly. Although using the Creation Rebirth technique would rapidly heal her wounds, it would consume her lifespan. However, as seen later, it didn't shorten Tsunade's life. Or perhaps, Tsunade's lifespan was inherently long.

After releasing the Yin Seal, Tsunade formed hand seals again, "Creation Rebirth." As the chakra was unleashed, mysterious markings appeared on Tsunade's face. Her wounds began to heal rapidly. In less than a second, a cut over ten centimeters long had closed up.

And it didn't leave a scar. Orochimaru was stunned. "It seems you haven't been idle all these years, Tsunade. What kind of jutsu have you developed?"

While forming hand seals again, Tsunade explained, "The Creation Rebirth technique uses chakra to stimulate cellular regeneration, granting me regenerative abilities." 

Orochimaru was somewhat surprised, "As expected of you, only you could develop such a jutsu." Although Tsunade made it sound easy, achieving it required highly advanced medical ninjutsu, something only Tsunade could perform.

Tsunade then wiped a bit of blood from her chest and smeared it on the back of her hand. Seeing this, Kabuto's eyes widened in shock, "That gesture... Lord Orochimaru, come quickly."

Kabuto's alarmed cry snapped Orochimaru back to his senses. He immediately jumped to Kabuto's side, urging, "Hurry."

Orochimaru was so anxious because Tsunade's gesture was the sign of summoning jutsu. She was about to summon Katsuyu. Orochimaru dared not delay.

On the other side, Jiraiya also hurriedly formed hand seals. "I have to summon it." Because the day before, Tsunade had drugged him, leaving his chakra in disarray.

At that moment, the three Sannin simultaneously used the summoning jutsu. "Summoning Jutsu!" Three clouds of smoke enveloped the battlefield.

As the smoke cleared, the figures of the three appeared. Orochimaru had summoned Manda, Tsunade had summoned Katsuyu. But Jiraiya, looking at the toad the size of a fist in front of him, twitched at the corner of his mouth, "At such a crucial moment, it still didn't work. Damn it!"

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