Clang!
The crisp sound of a sword being drawn snapped Tsunade out of her daze.
A cold crescent of sword light swept toward her like a deathly moon. The blade's fierce aura alone, even before touching flesh, sent prickling pain across her skin.
"So fast!"
Tsunade's pupils narrowed. But she was one of the Legendary Sannin. With a sudden stomp, she drove her foot heavily into the ground. "Pain-Heaven Kick!"
Her chakra-infused heel came down like a giant axe, shattering the flat ground beneath her.
The resulting shockwave burst forth like a storm, slamming Sasuke backward through the air.
Barely gaining a moment to breathe, Tsunade suddenly felt an intense heat rush at her.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball, several meters in diameter, surged toward her, its scorching heatwave tearing through the battlefield.
"How is that possible?" Tsunade's eyes widened. She had seen it clearly—Sasuke hadn't formed any hand seals. How could she release a jutsu like that?
But there was no time to think. Clenching her fist, she slammed it into the earth.
Boom!
A huge boulder burst from the ground and rose before her, intercepting the fireball mid-air.
The explosion that followed set the entire training field ablaze. Blistering heat radiated outward, filling the air with the acrid stench of smoke and scorched earth.
"Earth Release: Earth Swamp!"
Suddenly, the ground beneath Tsunade turned into a swamp, swallowing her ankles. Her whole body began to slowly sink downward.
Sasuke seized the opportunity. Her sword, crackling with lightning, sliced through the rocks with a single strike.
"Fire Release: Majestic Dragon Flame Technique!"
"No hand seals again." This time, Tsunade was certain she hadn't misseen it.
Sasuke hadn't made any hand signs, yet the jutsu was released.
A massive fiery dragon roared and soared, charging like the end of the world itself!
At the critical moment, Tsunade covered her entire body with medical ninjutsu, bracing herself to withstand the wild blast of dragon flames.
Boom!!!
The boiling flames triggered a violent explosion, flattening the nearby ground.
The sharp, choking smell mixed with the intense heat, causing the air to warp like an illusion.
"Tsunade-sama?!"
The golden light in Sasuke's eyes faded. She hastily dropped her sword and rushed toward the smoke.
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
Tsunade waved her hand. Her clothes were tattered and burnt, and a faint glimpse of skin was visible beneath.
Just as Jiraiya, perched in the tree, was about to take a closer look, in the blink of an eye, Tsunade had already put her clothes back on.
"Tch, meddlesome little girl," Jiraiya said with a hint of regret.
"This is..."
Tsunade looked at the suddenly reappeared clothes, then recalled Sasuke's earlier scene—no visible hand signs, yet a jutsu was cast. Her brow furrowed tightly.
"How exactly did you do that just now?"
"The principle is actually simple, Tsunade-sama," Sasuke smiled faintly.
She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and slowly explained, "After I use 'Time Zero,' a special barrier space forms around me. Inside this space, time slows down by many folds. I did perform hand seals, but so fast you couldn't see them."
Experienced Tsunade quickly understood the principle behind it.
"No wonder. But… is this incredible speed because of your awakened bloodline?"
"Now you see how powerful this kid really is," Jiraiya, who had just jumped down from the tree, said with a teasing smile.
"By the way, this kid's 'Time Zero' ability can slow down time by more than thirty times. That means what we see as one second is over thirty seconds in her eyes."
"Huh."
Even Tsunade, who had endured brutal wars, couldn't help but be shocked by Sasuke's ability.
"So, how is it? Did she pass the test?" Jiraiya asked proudly with a smile.
"Sasuke is probably the greatest achievement of my life. Even Minato Namikaze, at his peak, probably wasn't as gifted as her."
"She passed," Tsunade said with a carefree smile.
"Perfect timing. I have a mission I need to assign to you, Sasuke."
"A mission?"
Sasuke blinked in surprise, then grew curious.
"What kind of mission, Lady Tsunade?"
"The Kazekage of the Sand Village, Gaara, was suddenly attacked by the Aurora Order and was captured after being defeated," Tsunade said seriously.
"Kakashi has already led the first support team and departed for the Sand Village. I want you to follow the second team to reinforce the Sand Village."
"Got it!"
Sasuke didn't hesitate at all and agreed immediately.
"Do you need some rest first?"
Tsunade asked.
After a brief pause, Sasuke shook her head and smiled.
"No need, Lady Tsunade. I'm not too exhausted."
Though Sasuke decided not to rest, the second team led by Might Guy was delayed by half a day.
Finally, the next morning, Sasuke, along with Might Guy, Rock Lee, and Tenten, departed as reinforcements to the Sand Village.
"Youth, roar!!!"
Guy charged forward with all his might, completely full of fiery passion.
But it was tough for those behind him. Tenten was nearly exhausted every day.
Rock Lee was doing okay, but still almost worn out from the constant strain.
Sasuke's performance, however, exceeded Guy's expectations. Not only could she keep up perfectly with Guy's speed, she even suggested acting as a scout and heading to the Sand Village ahead of them.
They were originally on a mission, and having just returned to the village without rest, they were sent out again. The team's stamina and energy were being drained heavily.
In the end, Guy glanced at Tenten, who looked about to collapse, and the heavily panting Rock Lee, and reluctantly agreed to Sasuke's decision.
Sasuke sped off alone toward the Sand Village, while the rest stayed behind to rest for half a day.
The girl rushed swiftly through the forest, her mind drifting to the time during the Chunin exams when she, together with Naruto, stopped Gaara's rampage.
"Naruto, I've grown stronger now. What about you?"
Just as Sasuke's thoughts were filled with Naruto, a figure suddenly appeared ahead, cloaked entirely in a mysterious gray robe.
"An enemy?!"
Sasuke stopped in her tracks, her right hand resting on the sword hilt at her waist. A wary look appeared in her eyes. "Who are you? Are you from the Aurora Order?"
However, the gray-robed figure said nothing and suddenly vanished from where he stood, reappearing in front of Sasuke as if flickering through the air.
Five slender fingers reached out from the robe, as if trying to grab her.
Word Soul · Time Zero!
Golden light surged in Sasuke's pupils, and time suddenly slowed down by dozens of times.
The sword was drawn, its blade gleaming coldly, and with a horizontal slash aimed at the mysterious figure's neck.
But just as the freshly drawn sword blade appeared, it was suddenly wrapped tightly by a coiling python, binding Sasuke completely and holding her in place.
"Chidori."
Sasuke was about to use Chidori to break free from the restraint when she saw the other person pull off their hood, revealing a familiar face she had longed to see day and night.
"Long time no see, Sasuke."
Two years had passed. The boy's blond hair hung down, and six whisker marks on his face gave him a slightly mischievous look.
"It's you... Naruto."
At that moment, Sasuke seemed frozen, staring at the familiar face as memories and longing flooded her mind.
"It's been two years. You've finally grown stronger."
Looking at Sasuke, now grown into a young woman, Naruto's expression was indifferent as he softly said, "I came because someone asked me to deliver a message. The power of the Aurora Order is far beyond what you can fight against. You should focus more on Iwagakure. There are big changes happening there."
After speaking, Naruto quietly turned away. With a wave of his hand, a glowing portal appeared.
"You must be Sequence 6, right?"
He slightly tilted his head, glancing sideways at Sasuke, and said calmly, "It's a pity you took the wrong path. With your talent, you should have been much stronger after two years. Instead, you spent your energy just training your chakra. At this rate, you'll never catch up to me."
"You... you too?"
Sasuke was stunned, staring at Naruto's back and the glowing portal.
"I'm different from you."
Naruto stepped through the portal and said coldly, "Right now, I'm Sequence 5: Traveler. Soon, I'll advance to Sequence 4 demigod!"
*******
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