Chapter 41: Truly the Last Time

In three days, the four eliminated five outposts.

The mission went smoothly—they took out 27 Cloud ninja, mostly genin and chunin, with only two jonin.

For a first-time team, this was an amazing result.

Night fell.

No lights.

The four huddled in sleeping bags, but none were asleep.

They were baiting the enemy.

Earlier at dusk, Tsunade had noticed they were being tracked, but the pursuers were skilled and hadn't been found.

After three days of activity in the area, even the dumbest Cloud ninja would notice.

No one was surprised they'd been tracked.

On the contrary, Tsunade was confident enough to let the enemy try an ambush.

Natsume glanced at Kabuto and Shizune nearby.

They were all in a large tent, but each in a separate corner.

He moved over to Tsunade's side.

"What is it?" Tsunade asked, opening her eyes.

"Nothing," Natsume whispered. "I just want to be close to you, sis."

He leaned against her shoulder, cheeks touching.

Tsunade was startled, then glanced at Kabuto and Shizune. "They'll notice."

"They're pretending to sleep. As long as we're quiet, it's fine," Natsume replied, snuggling closer.

Tsunade sighed, helpless but didn't stop him, quietly enjoying the peace.

She stayed alert—watching for both enemies and for Kabuto or Shizune catching on.

Wait! She was supposed to keep her distance from Natsume—how had it come to this?

Tsunade, how could you be so weak?

He was just a kid, not understanding—yet she was going along with his mischief.

Tsunade gazed at Natsume's delicate face in the moonlight, unwilling to push him away.

Fine, this would really be the last time.

Next time, she wouldn't let them get so close.

Otherwise, what would happen in the future?

Natsume would eventually grow up, get married, start his own life.

And she was just his guardian, his big sister.

On a whim, Tsunade reached out and stroked Natsume's cheek.

If it's the last time, could she be a bit reckless?

Just then, lightning flashed in the sky.

Tsunade's face darkened.

Natsume immediately got up and formed hand seals.

Water Style: Water Formation Wall!

Chakra poured into the ground and a water wall rose up.

Lightning struck, illuminating the area and blasting through the wall.

"Careful," Natsume called as he retreated.

The wall didn't last a second, but it was enough for them to react.

Kabuto tossed a smoke bomb, hiding their positions.

The next moment, Tsunade dashed out.

In the moonlight, Natsume saw she looked furious.

He was confused, not sure why.

"There are eight enemies. Two have unusually strong chakra—probably jonin," Kabuto reported after scanning.

"Looks like Cloud still doesn't know Lady Tsunade's real identity," Shizune said, preparing a hidden weapon. "Otherwise, they'd send more."

She'd barely finished when a huge explosion sounded outside.

Those who knew Tsunade recognized it—her super strength.

"Our teacher's engaged them," Kabuto said, chakra scalpels glowing on his hands. "She seems extra irritable tonight."

Natsume just raised an eyebrow and rushed outside.

Not far away, Tsunade was fighting two jonin at once—and winning.

The other six formed a perimeter.

The smoke bomb blocked their view, but not their actions.

As soon as Natsume appeared, they launched their jutsu.

Lightning crackled, spreading fast.

Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!

Natsume summoned a water dragon, which clashed with the lightning and scattered.

Shizune raised her arm, firing poisoned needles in the dark.

With Natsume in front, no one noticed her move.

A scream rang out seconds later.

The poison hit its mark.

One Cloud ninja collapsed instantly—the toxin was that fast.

As the saying goes, antidote masters are often poison masters.

Tsunade was no exception.

Her poisons were rarely countered.

"Careful, these aren't ordinary genin!" the remaining Cloud ninja warned.

All ninja carried antidote pills, but the fallen one hadn't even had time to use his.

The smoke slowly cleared.

Kabuto tossed another black ball—just like the earlier smoke bomb.

But this time, it was an explosive tag.

Boom!

Flames lit up the night.

"Despicable bastard!" a Cloud ninja screamed, drowned out by the blast.

Kabuto didn't care—he vanished into the chaos.

With the formation broken, he appeared behind another ninja.

His chakra scalpel—a medical tool for healing—became a deadly weapon in his hands.

It was more precise than most ninja techniques.

A life was snuffed out in an instant.

Natsume wasn't idle.

Water Style: Water Barrage!

He fired streams of water like bullets, suppressing the Cloud ninja.

Shizune used the openings to throw more poisoned needles.

If they dodged everything, Kabuto would finish the job.

This was the teamwork they'd developed—their signature style.

In just a few minutes, all six Cloud ninja were dead.

Mainly because they were weak—none were jonin.

Meanwhile, the two Cloud jonin were struggling.

Each of the five great villages had its own special techniques.

Cloud specialized in taijutsu.

Especially the Raikage's Lightning Release Armor, famed across the ninja world.

The Fourth Raikage was almost as fast as Minato Namikaze, able to dodge Sasuke's Amaterasu—second fastest in the world.

These two jonin weren't as strong as the Fourth Raikage, but they weren't weak.

Their speed and strength, boosted by taijutsu, would overwhelm most jonin.

But they were up against Tsunade.

She was just as fast, but far stronger.

Her blows kept coming—they could only dodge, never counterattack.

Tsunade was in a foul mood—their ambush had ruined her moment.

She clenched her fist, gathering massive chakra.

She weaved between their attacks, then struck one in the stomach.

He was torn open by the force.

Blood spurted everywhere.

"What?!" the surviving Cloud ninja was shocked.

She could be even faster and stronger?

But Tsunade didn't hesitate—her second punch ended him.

No matter how tough, no one could withstand her when she was angry.

Natsume arrived to see the aftermath—he was stunned.

As expected of Tsunade.

Not just a medical ninja—her taijutsu was terrifying.

Tsunade, calming down, looked around and realized she'd gone a bit overboard.

Then she saw Natsume and panicked—would he think she was a brute?

She instinctively wiped her hands, but there was too much blood on her clothes for it to matter.

"Sis, the battle's over," Natsume said, coming over. "Now's a good time to wash up and change."

His tone was calm.

Tsunade relaxed and nodded. "Let's get moving."