Tsunade Not That Strong, But Cunning As Hell!

What terrifying killing intent!

Move—

Move!

Kakashi gritted his teeth as a trickle of blood ran down his lips. At last—

Whoosh!

In an instant, chakra erupted from his body, faint crackles of lightning dancing across his skin.

Lightning Release Chakra to stimulate the body!

It wasn't fully mastered, but facing Tsunade, Kakashi couldn't afford to hold back.

His speed had reached its personal peak.

And yet—

Bang!

As fast as he'd charged in, he was sent flying just as fast.

In the blink of an eye, Kakashi crashed hard into a tree and was left immobile.

Tsunade stood with her hands on her hips and said, "Shizune, go check if he's badly hurt."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Shizune body-flickered over.

Kakashi sat up and coughed lightly, spitting out a bit of blood. He waved his hand, indicating he was fine.

He remained still, deep in thought.

"Can't figure it out?"

Tsunade smirked.

Beating up kids might not be a big accomplishment, but it was definitely satisfying—especially those so-called prodigies.

She said, "Brat, you're fast. Using Lightning Release to stimulate your body boosts your speed to scary levels, even if it's unrefined. But you can't control it."

Then, her tone turned serious.

"Speed you can't control is a deadly double-edged sword. Either your enemy dies—or, like just now, I only need one finger to beat you."

Tsunade flicked her finger.

She really had used just a single finger—

On Kakashi's forehead now sat a large, red bump.

And that was her holding back.

If she'd flicked him with full power, she might've shattered his skull.

Not everyone was as durable as Orochimaru.

Kakashi had sensed it earlier—his current strategy was fundamentally flawed. And now, that feeling had only been confirmed.

Speed was useless. Explosive tags…?

With Tsunade's level of reflexes and strength, he didn't believe explosive tags could even threaten her.

Time to test his kenjutsu.

He drew his blade, eyes once again sharp.

Then—

Kakashi dashed forward once more.

Blade in one hand, an explosive tag gripped in the other.

This time, he controlled his speed.

Tsunade gave a slight smile.

Just as the blade came slashing in, she sidestepped and pinched the blade between her fingers—

Then flicked it.

Kakashi held on tightly, preventing his White Fang blade from being blown away, but the impact tore open the skin between his thumb and index finger.

He surged Lightning Release chakra into the blade.

The edge grew sharper, crackling faintly with electricity—

He was trying to use the numbing property of Lightning Release to paralyze her fingers. But just as the chakra gathered, Tsunade's flick shattered it.

Even so—

Kakashi had achieved his aim.

His left hand slammed against the ground, using the recoil to spring back swiftly.

In the next instant, a cloud of dust exploded—

BOOM!

The explosive tag went off in midair.

Tsunade stood up, brushing dust from her fingertip.

"Got any more?"

"Nope."

Kakashi looked stunned, then sighed helplessly.

Even that didn't work…

He was out of options.

"Next."

After losing twice in a row, Kakashi didn't make a third attempt.

Kurenai was left shaken.

So this is the gap between us and a Legendary Sannin…?

She stayed in place, using only a finger, yet still thrashed them so thoroughly they couldn't even respond.

In fact—

Just her killing intent alone felt like a genjutsu.

No—strictly speaking…

It was even stronger than genjutsu.

Genjutsu could be dispelled. But killing intent? If you couldn't resist it with sheer willpower, you might really die on the battlefield.

She was just about to step forward—

When Kyōen Ryōmine took a step out.

"I'll go."

Tsunade laughed, "That brat from the Hatake clan gave up nice and quick. Hopefully you'll last longer than he did—at least as long as your mouth is tough."

Kyōen simply said, "I'll do my best."

"Good! Come!"

Tsunade crooked her finger.

She really meant it—just one finger.

But—

Her killing intent surged like a mountain crashing down.

Kyōen felt like he was trapped in a swamp.

This feeling…

Those wandering swordsmen, the rogue ninja that attacked them before—compared to Tsunade's killing intent, they were nothing.

If Tsunade was like this, what about Orochimaru…?

No wonder just her gaze had shaken Kakashi, a jōnin, to his core.

There wasn't a single simple Sannin—or Kage-level ninja.

Kyōen clenched his teeth.

Even though their strength was worlds apart right now, he couldn't let killing intent shake his resolve.

He had to endure it.

Over and over in his heart, he repeated: "Get stronger. Stay alive."

His will solidified.

I have the System.

I will grow stronger. I will survive. How can I be scared off by just killing intent?

In an instant, Kyōen shot forward.

Kakashi's eyes widened.

This…

Just like me?!

Tsunade's eyes narrowed—and suddenly, she stabbed her finger behind her.

BOOM!

A violent surge of chakra burst forth like a blade of air, splitting the ground open. But the figure in front of her had already turned into a block of wood.

"A clone and a substitution jutsu combo…"

Kakashi understood.

Kyōen didn't know many jutsu—only the Three Basic Academy Techniques and the Body Flicker Technique—so he liked to mix and match them creatively.

This was a classic feint.

But—

At that speed, it was nearly impossible to tell real from fake.

Against a chūnin, it would've worked.

Too bad—

His opponent was Tsunade.

She smiled, "Not bad. In terms of controlling your speed, you're better than Kakashi."

Kakashi had no rebuttal.

Kyōen was standing under a distant tree, panting heavily as he leaned against the trunk. He looked like a mess—but he hadn't been hit.

In truth—

The killing intent, combined with that chakra-enhanced finger flick…

He'd almost thought he was going to die!

But at the last second, Tsunade had clearly held back. He only felt a searing pain in his shoulder.

That kind of control—

Was absurd!

In terms of chakra control, aside from Madara Uchiha hiding underground, no one in the entire shinobi world could match her.

No wonder she could cure illnesses others couldn't.

"Still want to go?"

"Yeah!"

Kyōen charged again.

But—

This time, he didn't attack right away. Instead, he moved in and out of her range, darting back and forth repeatedly.

At first, Tsunade was on guard.

But after a few times, she chuckled, "Don't tell me… you think this'll tire out my chakra?"

"Of course…"

"I don't!"

The voice came from far, then near—

Huh?

Tsunade suddenly twisted aside—

A kunai came slashing from her flank.

Using sound and speed variation to mislead her perception…

This brat was weaker than Kakashi—but way more cunning.

Aren't they both seven years old?

That thought flickered through Tsunade's mind—but then, her eyes widened.

She sensed Kyōen rapidly gathering and condensing chakra in his arm.

This was—?

No way!

Impossible!

Tsunade couldn't believe it.

In the next second, stone and dirt exploded—cracking the entire training field.

Kakashi, Kurenai, and Shizune stared in shock.

That destructive power—

It came from Kyōen?!

No way.

Wasn't that Tsunade-sama's technique?!

How the hell did he learn it?!

But—

What shocked them even more—

Was the huge explosion that followed, engulfing both Tsunade and Kyōen.

"Tsunade-sama! Kyōen!"

Shizune's face twisted with panic.

"Kyōen!"

Kurenai was even more anxious.

Tsunade surely wouldn't die from the blast—but Kyōen might.

But—

In the next instant, she sensed both Tsunade and Kyōen had escaped the blast.

Looking up—

Tsunade was carrying Kyōen by the collar, face stern, but even from afar, they could see her body was trembling slightly.

Blood was gushing from Kyōen's arm.

He was hurt!

"I'll handle the healing!"

Shizune immediately rushed forward.