Chapter 12: The Sooner You Win Her Over, The Sooner You Reap the Rewards

Jiraiya's shameless remark once again made Hiruzen Sarutobi look at him in a new light—though, upon further reflection, it wasn't surprising. After all, Jiraiya was infamous for his frequent peeping at women's bathhouses. Despite being caught countless times, he showed no remorse. With such a thick skin, it would be strange if he wasn't shameless.

"The second round begins now."

Danzo, uninterested in continuing the conversation, immediately announced the start of the next match.

Tsunade was paired against Akimichi Sansan, both drawing the second number.

The Akimichi clan was one of Konoha's founding families, joining during the village's creation. As an established clan, they held prominent roles in Konoha's leadership, with each generation's clan heads and elders occupying critical positions.

The Akimichi were renowned for their immense physiques, with Sansan tipping the scales at nearly 300 pounds. Each step he took caused the ground beneath him to tremble faintly. Despite his size, Akimichi Sansan stood out as one of the most exceptional talents among the younger generation of his clan. If he were ordinary, Danzo would never have taken him as a student.

For the Akimichi, their size was their strength. Their secret technique allowed them to convert body fat into chakra, meaning the more fat they had, the stronger they became. Gaining weight was considered part of their training—a unique approach that made their clan unparalleled in physical combat.

When it came to sheer destructive power in taijutsu, few families in Konoha could rival the Akimichi. Not even the Hyuga, with their Byakugan and mastery of taijutsu, could compete in raw strength.

The Hyuga's Gentle Fist style targeted an enemy's chakra points and meridians, which was precise but limited in scale. This wasn't to say the Hyuga were weak—their techniques were simply different. If the Hyuga and Akimichi clans ever clashed in war, the Akimichi would undoubtedly fall, as the Byakugan's insight gave the Hyuga an almost unfair advantage.

Tsunade and Akimichi Sansan exchanged respectful nods before Sansan wasted no time launching the first attack.

He formed hand seals swiftly, and his chakra surged into his right hand. His hand expanded several times over, ballooning into a massive, muscular weapon. With surprising speed, he swung it down at Tsunade, aiming to crush her in a single strike.

This was the Akimichi clan's signature technique: Partial Multi-Size Jutsu.

The air whistled as the massive hand descended, carrying tremendous force. Compared to it, Tsunade's frame seemed impossibly small, as if she'd be reduced to a smear on the ground upon impact.

Yet Tsunade showed no fear. With a sharp cry, she raised her right fist and punched directly at the giant hand.

Boom!

A muffled thud echoed across the arena. Tsunade's punch met the massive hand head-on, creating cracks in the ground beneath her feet. The force of her strike dispersed the chakra concentrated in Sansan's hand, causing it to shrink back to its original size.

The outcome was clear: Tsunade had the upper hand. Without using any jutsu, she had dismantled Sansan's attack with sheer physical strength.

Jiraiya observed from the sidelines, nodding to himself.

Impressive, he thought. She knew exactly where to hit to disrupt his jutsu's chakra flow. That kind of precision isn't just brute strength—it's knowledge.

It was evident that Tsunade understood the workings of the Partial Multi-Size Jutsu, including its weak points.

Looks like I need to win her over soon. The sooner I make her mine, the sooner I can access the Senju clan's archives, Jiraiya mused, his motivation renewed.

The Senju clan was undeniably one of the most powerful in Konoha's history. Although the clan had declined rapidly after the deaths of the First and Second Hokage, their archives remained invaluable treasures. They contained detailed studies of other clans' jutsu, including their weaknesses. If a technique had no inherent weakness, the Senju would create one—after all, Tobirama Senju's prowess in developing jutsu was legendary.

Most of these records had fallen into the hands of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo after the Senju's decline. While both were disciples of the Second Hokage, they had done little to preserve the clan. Instead, they systematically weakened it.

Danzo, under Hiruzen's tacit approval, had even orchestrated the assassination of Nawaki Senju during the Second Great Ninja War, ensuring the Senju bloodline would end.

This was done partly for power—by seizing the Senju archives—and partly to maintain stability in the village. A strong, independent clan was a threat to Konoha's fragile balance. The Uchiha clan's eventual downfall was another example. Without the Senju to counterbalance them, the Uchiha grew too powerful, prompting Hiruzen and Danzo to eliminate them before they could stage a coup.

Since Hiruzen's rise to power, no clan with a Kekkei Genkai had flourished in Konoha. Danzo, operating in the shadows, ensured such clans were systematically weakened or eradicated. The Hyuga survived only by dividing their family into the Main and Branch houses, voluntarily diluting their power.

Jiraiya shook his head. "If I can get access to those archives…"

...

Meanwhile, Sansan's expression darkened.

"The elders were right," he muttered. "The weaknesses of our clan's techniques have already been studied by others."

Despite his frustration, Sansan wasn't ready to give up. Even if his chances of victory were slim, he wouldn't surrender without a fight.

"Human Boulder!"

Sansan formed another set of seals, and his body swelled even larger. His head and limbs retracted into his torso, transforming him into a massive, spinning sphere. Dust billowed as he rolled toward Tsunade, the sheer force of his momentum threatening to level anything in his path.

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