Chapter 29: Choza Akimichi
A perfect over-the-shoulder throw.
As Tsunade was flung into the air, head over heels, her expression was one of pure shock. She had never imagined that a child with no chakra could possess such explosive power and agility.
His attack a success, Dana didn't even look back. He sprinted towards Arashi and the others. He knew a throw like that wouldn't be enough to take Tsunade out of the fight.
A kunai shot towards him. It was from Orochimaru, who had found a moment to spare. The kunai embedded itself in the ground in front of Dana and, just like before, disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Dammit, not again!" Dana immediately shut his eyes, covered his head with his arms, and kept running blindly forward. Although he had excellent coordination, he had never run with his eyes closed before. His steps were clumsy and uneven, and he couldn't get up to speed.
After a moment of disorientation, Tsunade quickly righted herself and, with a look of pure fury, charged after him. The savage expression on her face and her clenched fists made it clear that she was putting all her strength into this attack.
It was a race against time.
The world seemed to slow down. In front, Dana was stumbling forward, his eyes squeezed shut. Behind, Tsunade was closing in, a whirlwind of raw power.
Don't look back! Don't open your eyes! If I do, the genjutsu will get me!
What do I do? What do I do?!
The sound of her footsteps grew closer and closer.
"Your body isn't sick. It's starving." Yoshitoki's words echoed in his mind.
Starving? My body is starving?!
If he was starving, then he had to dig deep, find that last ounce of strength. If he was starving, he had to fight, to claw, to struggle for a chance at survival!
A flicker of lightning seemed to spark in Dana's eyes.
If this body truly possesses some kind of miraculous power...
Tsunade lunged, her fist a blur of destructive energy aimed at Dana's back.
The slow-motion ended.
Dana vanished from before her eyes.
So fast! I didn't even see him move!
A loud crackle of lightning erupted behind her, so intense it felt like it would burn her ears.
Tsunade spun around. Dana was standing there, his eyes still closed, his body wreathed in a corona of electricity, like a blazing torch.
"No chakra signature!" Tsunade gasped, a look of horrified disbelief on her face.
How is that possible?!
Dana's fist shot out like an arrow from a drawn bow, all the strength of his body concentrated into a single punch.
This punch was different.
Blue arcs of lightning coiled around his arm like controlled serpents, spiraling all the way up to his shoulder.
Tsunade hastily raised her arms to block. She felt a powerful impact, strong but not overwhelming for someone of her skill. But then, a massive jolt of electricity surged through her, a torrent of lightning that bypassed her guard and shot straight through her chest.
A large electrical burn appeared on her torso, her clothes turning to ash. Thankfully, her armor saved her from complete exposure.
CRACKLE! CRACKLE!
It was as if someone had ignited a blue flame in the darkness.
In his mind's eye, Dana could see the world around him. Pulsating blue waves emanated from his body, outlining everything in his vicinity in a pale blue light, revealing every detail. The world in his mind was colorless, but it was clearer and more precise than what his eyes could see.
The lightning had seared through her chest, but Tsunade gritted her teeth and threw another punch.
But it was no use. If she couldn't hit him before, she certainly couldn't hit him now. Dana dodged with impossible speed, instantly appearing behind her and throwing another punch.
Tsunade blocked again, but the dazzling current of electricity shot through her once more.
Her body temperature spiked. A thin wisp of smoke rose from her hair. She wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth. The repeated blows had finally forced her to calm down and assess the situation. The electrical shocks had damaged her internal organs. While not life-threatening for her, the fact that she couldn't even touch this kid was infuriating.
I've been played! His speed and reflexes are far superior to mine! I can't be reckless!
"I underestimated you," she said, her voice strained. "How are you able to completely conceal your chakra signature?"
It was easier for her to believe that Dana was somehow hiding his chakra than that he didn't have any at all.
Dana didn't answer. His eyes remained closed.
Just then, Arashi and Kyohei finally caught up.
"Dana! Are you alright? What's happening to you?"
Arashi had seen his brother's exchange with the woman. He was fighting on a level far beyond his usual abilities. And what was with the crackling lightning and the closed eyes?
Dana shook his head. "I don't know," he said, "but I can't keep this up for long. We have to attack together! Take her down!"
Arashi and Kyohei nodded. This wasn't the time for questions.
The three of them—large, medium, and small—swarmed Tsunade in a merciless assault.
Tsunade's fighting style could be described in two words: tough and reckless. She could heal from most injuries in an instant, but her punches could cause devastating damage. But now, she was evenly matched with Kyohei, with Arashi and Dana providing support. Dana's punches, in particular, were a huge problem. They bypassed her defenses and sent a debilitating jolt of electricity through her every time.
Before long, Tsunade was on the defensive.
Dana was attacking with everything he had. He could feel his own body starting to fail. Jiraiya hadn't shown up yet. They had to take Tsunade down before he lost consciousness.
So far, Tsunade and Orochimaru's identities had not been revealed. Only Dana knew who they were. As the Hokage's disciples, their deaths would have major repercussions. But Dana had no intention of showing mercy. They had attacked him first, when he had offered them help. He had no reason to hold back now.
The plot, Konoha's reaction—none of it mattered. When had the Hidden Cloud ever been afraid of such things?
Just do it!
With Dana and Arashi's support, Kyohei, the strongest of the three, was now overwhelming Tsunade. She was barely able to parry his attacks. The moment she showed an opening, he would take her head. There was no room for chivalry in combat, only allies and enemies.
Suddenly, after blocking a chop from Arashi, Tsunade lost her balance, creating an opening.
"Now!" Kyohei appeared in front of her in a flash.
"No matter how strong your healing is, you'll die if I cut off your head!" he snarled, his kunai slashing towards her neck.
A cold glint appeared in Tsunade's eyes. There was no way to block it.
Just then, a massive scroll was thrown by Orochimaru, tumbling through the air and landing between Tsunade and Kyohei.
A cloud of white smoke erupted, and a tall, white-haired young man appeared, blocking Kyohei's fatal blow.
"Yo! The White Demon of Mount Myoboku has arrived!" Jiraiya flashed a grin at Tsunade, his white teeth sparkling.
Heroically saving the damsel in distress: check.
"A ninja who introduces himself?! Are you an idiot?!" Instead of the heartfelt thanks he had expected, Jiraiya was met with a torrent of abuse from Tsunade.
Orochimaru, having shaken off Mamoru, rejoined them.
"You idiot! What took you so long?!"
"Well... it's a complicated story!"
The three young Sannin stood back-to-back in a defensive formation. With Jiraiya's arrival, Orochimaru and Tsunade visibly relaxed. Together, the three of them were ready to face any challenge. This was the confidence of the future Legendary Sannin.
Dana looked at the assembled trio, his face grim. His own condition was rapidly deteriorating; he wouldn't be able to fight for much longer. And Mamoru, who had used his secret art, was in a similar state.
As Dana was trying to figure out what to do, a massive, impossibly stout man walked onto the battlefield with heavy steps. He wore a slightly comical horned helmet and an old-fashioned set of Warring States-style armor, a perfect fusion of fat and muscle.
Dana didn't recognize him, but Kyohei and Mamoru's faces turned pale. As a long-standing and famous ninja of Konoha, Choza Akimichi's portrait was well-known in all the hidden villages.
"Choza Akimichi," Kyohei growled. "So you are Konoha ninja. Are you trying to start a war?!"