Konoha Ruins
Fifth Hokage Tsvsunade emerges from cover.
Just as Sakura saw, it was a scene of utter devastation.
"Wh-What's going on?"
"Unforgivable, I can never forgive you, Pain."
Tsunade uttered these words with difficulty.
The diamond-shaped mark on her forehead disappeared.
The Strength of a Hundred Seal allows Chakra to be sealed within the Yin Seal on the forehead.
It strengthens the vitality of cells, accelerates cell division, and prevents aging.
This is why Tsunade, despite being the same generation as Jiraiya and others, appears remarkably young.
Making it difficult to discern her age.
And now.
The mark on Tsunade's forehead has vanished.
Proving that she has exhausted the Chakra stored within her body.
Numerous Slugs continuously appeared in the ruins.
And one by one, villagers and Ninja emerged from the Slugs' bodies.
Konoha was destroyed, but the villagers and Ninja were protected by Tsunade, who had exhausted her Chakra.
At this moment, Tsunade felt a pang of discomfort.
Not only from seeing the ruined landscape.
But also from her body gradually aging, feeling the onset of exhaustion.
Tsunade was very particular about her appearance.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have learned the Strength of a Hundred Seal to keep her body perpetually young.
But for the Konoha villagers, she was willing to sacrifice such things.
Iruka, Konohamaru, Shino, Kiba, and many others all managed to escape Pain's indiscriminate 'Shinra Tensei'.
However, many were also seriously injured or sacrificed.
In a certain part of the ruins.
A Slug left two people.
Guard: "Are you alright, Lady Hinata?"
"Yes, never mind me, how are your injuries?"
Hinata, with her blue-black hair, said, already moving to bandage the Hyuga Clan guard's wound.
Guard: "If something were to happen to Lady Hinata while Lord Hiashi and Lady Hanabi are away, it would be a lifelong disgrace. Please don't worry about me."
Hinata did not heed the guard's words.
At this moment, she wished to handle the urgent matters first.
No one else should get hurt!
"The more you say that, the more guilty I feel. The main family isn't here right now, and if everyone is covered in injuries, we'll definitely be scolded."
Saying this, Hinata, ignoring the guard's protests, carefully bandaged the wound on his arm.
After tending to it, Hinata and the guard looked together towards the center of the battlefield.
The Byakugan, the Hyuga Clan's Bloodline Limit, can see through dust and perceive distant objects.
Hinata also saw Naruto on the battlefield.
And Pain.
Pain's Deva Path saw his mission target and said indifferently: "You've saved me the trouble of looking for you."
Pain's Animal Path flew into the air, "Summoning Jutsu!"
Instantly, all Six Paths of Pain were assembled.
Before Pain could launch an attack on Sage Mode Naruto.
A figure rushed in front of Naruto.
"I am the Fifth Hokage!"
"You have trampled upon the treasures and dreams of our predecessors."
"I will never forgive you."
"Here, as Hokage, I will put an end to you!!!"
Tsunade's voice, tinged with age, was nonetheless full of power.
As the Strength of a Hundred Seal disappeared, Tsunade's voice gradually matched her actual age.
But at this moment, she had already resolved to die.
She was willing to bear this situation alone.
Nawaki and Dan had passed, the Third Old Man had passed, Jiraiya had passed.
Perhaps it was her time too.
But before that.
She must exact a heavy toll from Pain.
Her spirit as Konoha's princess.
Pain: "It seems you've come to understand Pain a little, but I wasn't looking for you."
"The one I'm looking for..."
Before he could finish, the Asura Path's entire body shot out like a missile, flames erupting from its feet.
Its target was Tsunade.
The next second, Sage Mode Naruto's figure suddenly blocked Tsunade's path.
He powerfully struck the charging Asura Path with a single punch.
Destroying the Asura Path with one blow.
Sage Mode Naruto looked up and responded to Pain: "That would be me!"
"To deal with these guys, Konoha's Hokage doesn't need to get involved. Granny, step aside and go drink some tea."
Tsunade handed her last Slug to Sage Mode Naruto.
The Slug carried information about Pain and could continuously restore Chakra.
After a brief exchange.
Sage Mode Naruto learned that Kakashi-sensei had sacrificed himself and told Tsunade and the others not to participate in the battle, lest he be distracted protecting them.
Tsunade agreed to everything.
Then, with the help of the toad, Tsunade, having lost all her strength, was taken outside the battlefield.
At this moment, Tsunade, leaning against the rock wall, aged rapidly.
Sakura, sensing this, quickly came closer, "Lady Tsunade!"
Tsunade said weakly: "Sakura, it's alright now."
Sakura slowly held one of Tsunade's emaciated hands.
"You've worked hard, Lady Tsunade."
...Konoha.
Hokage Building.
The Third's initial heavy heart, which had even subtly placed some responsibility on Tsunade, vanished at this moment.
How many people envied the title of Hokage.
Nawaki, Dan, Naruto, Konohamaru, even Danzo.
But only those who had served as Hokage could truly understand the meaning and responsibility inherent in that position.
Fifth Hokage Tsunade, without the support of her predecessors.
Was able to hold her ground in that position, doing everything she possibly could.
She was already a qualified Hokage.
It was just that.
This enemy was too powerful.
The enemy was in the dark, Konoha in the light.
The Third felt that if he were in her shoes, he might not have done so well.
At this moment, the aged Tsunade.
In screen Sakura's eyes, and in his, the Third's eyes.
Was still the proud image of Konoha's princess!
Ninja Academy.
Kakashi looked at Konoha's princess on the screen.
He, too, felt a deep respect for this Fifth Hokage.
In one's life, it is very possible to face enemies that one is powerless to resist.
If such a situation arises.
If one can summon the courage to face it, strengthen one's beliefs, and strive to do what one must.
Then the outcome of the matter is no longer important.
The Fifth Hokage was also a competent Hokage!
On the mountain road.
Jiraiya stared intently at the figure on the screen.
Having known Tsunade for decades, he never expected to see her aging in this way.
His heart was filled with a myriad of emotions.
He was the Perverted Sage, who cared greatly about his appearance, yet at this moment, he felt no sense of Tsunade's age on the screen.
Hidden Sound Village.
Sensing a slight emotional fluctuation from Lord Orochimaru.
"Lord Orochimaru..."
Kabuto had always respected Orochimaru.
Orochimaru's will was his will.
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes looked coldly at him.
He said nothing, then continued to watch the screen.
He loved scientific research, and at this moment, he also needed to glimpse a corner of his future scientific research through the screen.
To facilitate his future plans.
Seeing this scene of an old acquaintance now.
His realization that 'life is truly fragile' deepened even further.
It was just that.
Screen Tsunade's hopes would likely be in vain.
Pain was not so easy to deal with...