"Teacher Sarutobi."
It had only been a brief flight, but Tsunade quickly spotted the injured and lying Hiruzen Sarutobi on the ground.
He was mostly buried beneath layers of dirt, and the blood surrounding him had already dried.
Heart racing with worry, Tsunade hurriedly and carefully brushed off layer after layer of dirt while softly calling his name.
Yet, Sarutobi remained motionless with his eyes tightly shut.
Only an extremely faint breath—almost imperceptible—suggested he still clung to a thread of life.
[Summoning Technique]
Without hesitation, Tsunade immediately activated the Summoning Technique, summoning a Katsuyu clone that attached itself onto Sarutobi's body.
Then, her right hand emitted a gentle green glow as she slid her hand gently into his chest cavity.
Her chakra stimulating from outside, the heart—which had nearly stopped beating—slowly started pulsating again.
Thump… thud-thud…
As a few strong, steady heartbeats echoed, Sarutobi's aged face contorted in pain.
"Teacher Sarutobi! Teacher Sarutobi!"
Seeing this, Tsunade urgently called out twice.
Finally, Sarutobi slowly opened his eyes.
"Am I not dead yet?"
His previously clouded vision now lacked any focus. He could barely make out a figure moving before him.
"Don't worry, Teacher. I will save you."
Tsunade gently withdrew her hands and began fully concentrating on examining Sarutobi's injuries.
Thankfully, the fierce and terrifying wound across Sarutobi's chest wasn't fatal.
However, due to the overwhelming power of the Ultra Shinra Tensei, his internal organs had sustained serious damage.
Furthermore, countless bones across his body were fractured or broken.
Had it not been Tsunade arriving just in time, there would have been no hope for his survival.
After an exhausting and intense treatment, Sarutobi's breathing gradually stabilized, no longer as weak and irregular as before.
"Thank you, Tsunade."
"My apologies are owed to Konoha—and all of you."
Sarutobi spoke weakly, managing a slight smile across his face.
In this moment, he deeply felt that he hadn't been forsaken.
"Please, don't speak, Teacher. That's all in the past now."
"We'll get you to Shikkotsu Forest first. This place is too dangerous."
Tsunade had always carried deep feelings of affection and respect for her beloved mentor, Sarutobi.
Her eyes glistened, and her voice wavered slightly.
"I see… I've become old and weak."
"You must defeat Madara."
With those words, Sarutobi slowly closed his eyes once more.
As soon as he finished speaking, his entire body was completely enveloped in the protective form of the Katsuyu clone.
When the smoke cleared moments later, both the Katsuyu clone and Sarutobi had vanished without a trace.
Only then did Tsunade have a moment to assess the battlefield closely.
The fierce battle among the three towering figures continued fiercely.
Though [Armored Outer Path Susano'o] was at a disadvantage, struggling against the enemy's relentless pressure, for now Madara managed to hold his ground using his immense strength.
Next, Tsunade turned her gaze toward Elder Chiyo.
The four reincarnated First Kages were being driven back relentlessly, completely unable to retaliate.
Every time Fugaku launched an attack with his black Susano'o, it placed immense pressure on the four opponents.
Orochimaru's wooden construct steadily advanced, continuously shrinking the battlefield and restricting their movement until their available space became increasingly narrow.
Jiraiya and Tobirama expertly maneuvered around them, striking at every fleeting opening.
Each blow landed accurately, achieving noticeable results.
Mito seized her chance and once again unleashed the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
The incredibly durable chains shot forth like serpents from their lairs, instantly binding the four First Kages tightly, rendering them completely immobile.
By the time Tsunade arrived, the four reincarnated First Kages had already been sealed successfully.
"Was it a heavy drain?"
Tsunade's concerned question wasn't meant for Mito or Tobirama.
Her eyes landed on Jiraiya and the other two as she quickly pulled out several specially made Military Rations Pills from her ninja tool bag.
"We can still hold on."
Though he spoke those words, Orochimaru's hand honestly reached toward Tsunade.
"Two more."
After swallowing one pill, Jiraiya still didn't feel it was enough.
Among everyone present, his chakra reserves were likely the most limited.
"Don't push yourself. Take a break if you're worn out."
Tsunade handed another three Military Rations Pills to Jiraiya, her voice full of concern.
She truly couldn't stand seeing Jiraiya risk danger in this brutal fight while he was in such rough shape.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Jiraiya swallowed the pills in one go, and within moments, his chakra began rapidly recovering.
"The battle over there… we probably won't make much difference."
After consuming a pill, Fugaku cast his gaze toward the three colossal figures engaged in intense combat, briefly revealing anxiety in his eyes.
He could distinctly sense the terrifying power radiating from those three.
Deep down, he knew that none of them were opponents he could easily defeat.
"That doesn't matter—we've still got to go."
Tobirama glanced at Fugaku. Strangely enough, he saw traces of Hashirama in him.
He never would have imagined that the Uchiha clan, which he once considered evil, would actually integrate into the village one day.
Perhaps that's why, when Tobirama saw Madara's arrogant and overbearing attitude, his fury flared even hotter.
Why was that guy still so utterly detestable?
This chapter isn't done yet!
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[Even a swarm of ants can bring down an elephant.]
[We'll attack from both sides.]
[Go!!!]
As soon as Mito finished speaking, she charged forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.
The others charged after her without hesitation, with Tsunade immediately entering her Complete Tailed Beast Transformation.
Before her, a massive Tailed Beast Ball instantly formed.
Aiming at the side of the Armored Outer Path Susano'o, she unleashed it with full force.
"Madara, haven't you seen the truth yet?"
Hashirama watched as Tsunade and the others charged forward, inwardly sensing that the balance of victory was beginning to tip slowly in their favor.
"You're celebrating too soon, Hashirama," Madara said with a smirk.
The Armored Outer Path Susano'o continued its retreat. As the soaring Tailed Beast Ball approached, Madara's face broke into a mysterious smile.
"Not good!"
Kawaki suddenly realized something and shouted in panic, trying to make Tsunade and the others stop in their tracks immediately.
But it was already far too late!!!
*Boom!*
The Tailed Beast Ball violently exploded against the Armored Outer Path Susano'o.
Deep cracks instantly spread across its gleaming blue armor.
Yet Madara didn't seem concerned at all, as if everything had unfolded precisely as he'd planned.
[Limbo: Border Jail]
Just as Madara coldly uttered these four words, his Rinnegan eyes glowed ominously with chilling waves of energy.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
A series of eight heavy blows suddenly landed simultaneously.
Kawaki had sensed danger beforehand and noticed the shadows. Only through sheer luck did he barely escape the attack by a hair's breadth.
But Hashirama wasn't so fortunate. He was directly struck by the shadow and sent flying from atop Daibutsu's head.
His entire body soared backward like a kite with its string cut.
As for Tsunade and the rest, they were also knocked flat by this sudden attack and struggled to rise back up again.
...
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