In all her years of wandering the ninja world, Tsunade had never encountered such a terrifying opponent.
So young, and yet he exuded such oppressive strength.
Compared to facing the so-called "Demi-God" Hanzo of the Salamander back then—this was even more overwhelming.
'Am I really going to unlock the Yin Seal... just for a petty gamble?'
Tsunade hesitated. Part of her wanted to win the bet—but the other part felt it wasn't worth it.
Besides… she didn't even dislike Naruto. In fact, something about the chakra emanating from him stirred a long-lost sense of familiarity, of comfort.
But in her current state, if she didn't release the Yin Seal, she had almost zero chance of winning.
'Damn it, how the hell is this brat so strong!?'
On the sidelines, Shizune's eyes widened slightly in shock.
"No way... Tsunade-sama got launched by just one kick?"
Hidan cracked a wide grin. "Told you. Anyone who pisses him off is bound to suffer."
Then he paused and remembered his own misfortune—and his smile instantly vanished.
While Tsunade hesitated, she suddenly witnessed something that made her blood run cold.
A wooden dragon burst from the ground, slowly rising. Its massive head lifted Naruto high into the air, allowing him to look down at her from above.
From this angle, even Tsunade's silhouette presented a... different view.
"This can't be... Who are you?! How do you—?!"
When she confirmed that this wooden dragon was identical to the Wood Release jutsu of her grandfather, Hashirama Senju, Tsunade completely froze. Her mind went blank.
Standing atop the wooden dragon, Naruto finally understood why Uchiha Madara had always looked so smug.
There were countless ways he could defeat Tsunade.
But doing it with Wood Release? That was hands down the most satisfying.
No wonder Madara insisted on using Heavenly Obstruction Earth-Star—when you're this strong, why not flex a little?
The wooden dragon advanced toward Tsunade.
Its immense body shook the ground as it slithered closer.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Seeing the dragon nearing, Tsunade bit her thumb and slammed her hand down on the ground.
Boom!
A massive cloud of smoke exploded outward.
A colossal blue-and-white striped slug appeared.
"Tsunade-sama, it's been so long since you summoned me!"
The giant slug's voice was oddly soft and girlish.
Tsunade quickly used a healing jutsu to stop her bleeding fingertip—if her hemophobia acted up now, the fight would be over before it began.
The slug tilted its antennae in curiosity.
"Eh? Isn't that Lord Hashirama's Wood Release? How is that young man using Wood Release? Is he Lord Hashirama's descendant?"
Tsunade stared at the majestic wooden dragon, her confidence shaken.
"I'd like to know that myself..."
As Hashirama's granddaughter, even she hadn't inherited the Wood Release.
Yet this young man not only used it—but judging by the quality of the jutsu, it was practically perfect.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence."
Naruto clapped his hands together with a smirk. Just like that—trees erupted from the ground.
Tsunade and Katsuyu were surrounded in an instant.
Massive wooden branches wrapped around them like thick vines.
Tsunade unleashed her full strength and punched the trees using her Strength of a Hundred Technique—but the impact barely pushed them back.
They immediately lunged again.
As Naruto poured in more chakra, the branches grew even more numerous and more massive.
Within moments, Tsunade was bound—wrists, ankles, and waist—all locked down.
"Tsunade-sama!"
Shizune cried out, wanting to intervene.
Naruto vanished, reappearing in front of Tsunade in a flash.
"So? Are you ready to admit defeat?"
Tsunade glared back, still stubborn.
"I'm already like this—do I really need to say it?"
Naruto chuckled and dispelled the Wood Release bindings.
At this point, his arsenal was vast—he could practically attack from 360 degrees with no blind spots.
After landing back on the ground, Tsunade looked at him with deadly seriousness.
"...Are you a Senju? Are you my grandfather Hashirama's... illegitimate child!?"
But then, thinking about Naruto's age, she corrected herself.
"No, wait—maybe great-grandson?!"
In her mind, she pictured Hashirama's honest, dopey smile—and suddenly felt very betrayed.
'I can't believe you were like this, Grandpa!'
Naruto shrugged.
"Don't misunderstand. I'm not from the Senju Clan."
Tsunade clearly didn't believe it.
"You definitely are! You probably just don't know. Otherwise, how do you explain your massive chakra reserves, your insane strength—and that Wood Release?"
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki. Son of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki," Naruto stated plainly.
No point hiding it. She was bound to figure it out eventually.
"What?! You're that Naruto Uzumaki—the Nine-Tails'..."
Tsunade was stunned once again.
"Then how the hell are you using Wood Release!?"
"Why? You want to learn it?" Naruto teased.
"I can teach you, actually. I know a way."
"You... can help me get Wood Release?" Tsunade looked at him in disbelief.
Naruto nodded confidently.
"Sure, you're from the Senju Clan after all."
"How?" she pressed, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Naruto beckoned her closer.
Tsunade hesitated but leaned in toward his mouth anyway.
After Naruto whispered the method, he added:
"Tsunade-sama, you wouldn't want to be the generation where the Senju bloodline ends, would you?"
Tsunade's fists clenched, creaking with fury.
If she weren't clearly outmatched, she'd have already thrown him to the ground and given him the beating of a lifetime!
"Hmph! You're filthy! How can you be this lewd at your age? And to think you're Minato's son!"
Only then did it hit her.
This golden-haired young man... really did look a lot like Minato.
But how the hell did the child of Minato and Kushina end up with Wood Release?
No—Kushina's child?
Could the secret be on Mito-sama's side?
She shook her head violently, trying to get rid of her ridiculous theories.
"So you're that Naruto Uzumaki who's been flipping Konoha upside-down lately, huh? Your name's been echoing all across the Shinobi World."
Tsunade's tone turned complex.
She wasn't particularly angry about what he'd done.
After all, she knew the exact kind of filth those village elders and Konoha villagers were.
That's why she had chosen to wander rather than stay in the village herself.
"You know I didn't really have a choice. I just happened to be the lucky one. The ones who suffered… were them." Naruto's voice was calm.
"So then… you came here on purpose to find me?" Tsunade asked, now wary.
Naruto shrugged.
"Don't flatter yourself. It was a coincidence. I just happened to be here—and thought I'd pick up some medical training."