ch-91

Panic. Confusion. Cold dread…

Tsunade stood frozen in place, fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop the overwhelming sense of dread spreading through her heart.

Not far ahead, the giant iron sphere had vanished, along with the massive Shuriken Transformation Jutsu that had been sustaining it. In its place, two grotesque piles of bloody flesh remained on the battlefield—right before her eyes.

She didn't want to see it.

She didn't want to hear it.

She didn't want to touch it.

The crimson liquid. That sickly-sweet, metallic stench. The sticky, squelching texture.

Once hailed as the greatest medical ninja of the entire Shinobi World, Tsunade had been broken even before the Third Great Ninja War truly began.

Hemophobia.

A condition deadly enough to ruin the life of any shinobi—let alone someone who had spent her life tending to wounded comrades on the battlefield.

"Little Tsuna, what are you waiting for?"

"Join forces with that girl already!"

A voice, familiar yet foreign, echoed from the direction of the battlefield. Tsunade trembled visibly. Her eyes strained open against her will, desperate not to fall on the blood-soaked ground, as she looked toward the one who had spoken—her kin. Her grandfather. Her guide. Her protector.

Even after so many years, Tsunade could still vividly remember the warmth of that man's embrace—the one place where the once-frightened little girl felt entirely safe.

With great effort, Tsunade forced herself to look forward, doing everything she could to avoid glancing at the blood and gore in the corner of her vision. She searched instead for the presence that once brought her peace.

But…

He wasn't there.

All she saw was a massive demonic-faced iron gate blocking her view, and just beyond it—a figure in pale pink.

Sakura.

Sakura sensed Tsunade's unease behind her and instinctively turned to glance back. That single glance made Tsunade reflexively take a step back.

Sakura wiped her cheek. Blood smeared on her fingers.

She sighed internally.

If only—if only the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, could help Tsunade overcome her hemophobia…

But there was no time to dwell on such hopes. Sakura remained focused, doing her best to buy time for Hashirama and Tsunade to communicate.

Orochimaru, however, had no intention of allowing such a luxury.

He tightened his control over the two Hokage.

Hashirama's body surged forward uncontrollably, leaping atop the Rashōmon Gate, barreling toward Sakura with terrifying speed!

Boom!

Sakura met his powerful punch with a single arm. The earth beneath her feet shattered instantly!

And that wasn't all. Tobirama Senju had already begun weaving hand seals.

"Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!"

Suddenly, Sakura's world was plunged into complete darkness.

Light. Sound. Everything vanished.

Damn it!

Tobirama gritted his teeth, his face twisted with frustration.

In the past, to protect the new leaves of Konoha, he willingly gave his life—refusing to allow the budding future of the village to be sacrificed.

And now? Controlled by the enemy, forced to raise his blade against the next generation of the village he had sworn to protect?

How could he not be filled with rage?

Tobirama charged forward.

But—

Boom!!

A shockwave burst from Sakura's fist, nearly invisible yet immensely powerful!

The blue-clad figure shot backward like a loose arrow!

Tobirama wasn't angered. On the contrary, he was overjoyed. His gaze locked onto the unfocused green eyes of the girl.

The Bringer-of-Darkness Technique had definitely activated.

Yet she remained unaffected.

A sensory-type jutsu!

A highly practical sensory technique—perfect for counteracting genjutsu in battle.

Beautifully done.

Hashirama didn't hesitate. He seized the opening and launched another fierce punch. Sakura didn't dodge. Chakra gathered on her forehead, and she directly headbutted his incoming fist!

She had actually stopped Hashirama's attack with her forehead!

"Little Tsuna, I don't know what happened to you…"

"But I am the First Hokage!"

"And you are the granddaughter of the First Hokage!"

"This girl is fighting with everything she's got!"

Hashirama knew that Sakura, now blinded and deafened by the genjutsu, couldn't see or hear him. So he shouted, directing his words toward Tsunade, standing in the distance.

Tsunade trembled as she lifted her head, eyes locked onto the man who had once meant everything to her.

"Grandpa…"

That single word, spoken in a trembling voice, was enough for Hashirama to sense the fragile thread of emotion.

"This child is the most remarkable I've ever seen!"

"And not just her—everyone in Konoha is fighting!"

"Little Tsuna!"

"The Tsunade I knew wasn't like this!"

While attacking Sakura under Orochimaru's control, Hashirama continued shouting.

"Right now, that young man is trying to use me and Tobirama to erase the village's future!"

"This is something I would rather die than do!"

"Little Tsuna!"

"Stop me!"

"Stop all of this!"

"You are my granddaughter!"

"Please!!"

Meanwhile, Tobirama retrieved a single explosive tag from his pouch and began rapidly forming seals.

No doubt about it.

He was preparing to use the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags technique.

Hashirama sensed it instantly, and his panic deepened.

Dammit, Tobirama!

Why couldn't his younger brother have just stayed out of forbidden techniques?

First he got himself resurrected with Edo Tensei.

Then it was Flying Thunder God.

Then the Bringer-of-Darkness.

Now this?

Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags?!

Couldn't he just stick to Wood Style and good old-fashioned Taijutsu like himself?

But now wasn't the time to complain. Hashirama had no choice—he continued holding back Sakura while trying to reach Tsunade.

At this point, only Tsunade could change the tide of the battle.

"Little Tsuna!"

"Stop Tobirama!"

"The explosive tags won't weaken just because of Edo Tensei. A tag is a tag—it doesn't care how strong the user is!"

"Little Tsuna!"

"Li—"

Tsunade stared at her trembling hands, as if pulled back to that terrible night long ago.

Her hands were stained with the blood of the one she had loved most.

That night—the one she could never forget.

Watching the one she loved die right before her eyes.

She had experienced that kind of nightmare—twice.

And now, Hashirama's voice seemed to pierce through that nightmare like a shaft of light.

Like a drowning soul being dragged back to the surface by a firm, warm hand…

"G–Grandpa…"

Tsunade slowly raised her head, locking eyes with that familiar face.

"Little Tsuna!"

Hashirama's heart was about to explode from worry. If they didn't stop Tobirama, the entire battlefield would be reduced to ash.

Tobirama had already finished preparing his technique.

Even though he was trying to delay the seals as much as he could, his Edo Tensei form was too weak. Earlier, it had taken all his effort just to redirect a kunai.

"Damn it!"

Tobirama clenched his jaw, and the final words of his technique spilled from his lips…

"Mutually Mu—"

BOOM!!!

Before he could finish, a fist faster than lightning smashed into him, blasting half his body into shredded pieces of paper!

"Blabbering on and on… 'Little Tsuna' this, 'Little Tsuna' that… Can you give me a bit of face already?!"

Tsunade gritted her teeth, forcing back the tears at the corners of her eyes. With one mighty punch, she obliterated Tobirama's form.

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(End of Chapter)