Sarutobi Hiruzen realized at once what Tsunade intended to do.
He had no plans to stop her; as Hokage, it would be improper for him to act—but Tsunade could.
Besides, Tsunade was Uzumaki Mito's granddaughter.
Even if Night Maple were truly injured, Mito would have no grounds to blame him.
Mainly, this young man Night Maple had gotten a bit full of himself lately.
He seemed to think awakening the Senju clan's kekkei genkai made him all that.
He even killed the Root Ten, forcing Hiruzen to put duty over personal ties and send Danzō away.
It was time Night Maple learned there's always a higher sky and a stronger man.
However, as Tsunade began to erupt with chakra, Night Maple's eyes lit up—he felt a vast surge of chakra traveling through the Wood Dragon into the earth, then rebounding back into his own body!
Finally, the chakra shot up from his soles straight to the Yin Seal at his crown!
"Is she charging me up?"
On Night Maple's forehead, the mark of the Yin Seal blazed with light.
But it was hidden beneath his Leaf forehead protector, so no one noticed.
Tsunade had been full of confidence, but gradually her face changed!
She'd stored more than two years' worth of chakra in her Yin Seal, half of it already gone, and this guy still looked unfazed?
Was something going wrong?
Hiruzen's expression shifted; he quickly called out, "Night Maple, don't force it—you'll hurt yourself."
Night Maple chuckled. "No need to worry, Lord Third. I'm not forcing anything. Today I want to see what gives you the nerve to strike without knowing the situation. Even if Granny Mito showed up, I'd still give you a proper lesson!"
Kushina's long lashes fluttered at the sound of Night Maple's voice; she cracked her eyes open, saw several figures, rubbed them, then looked closely—and gasped.
"Ah—L-Lord Third! Is that Sister Tsunade?!"
Kushina drew in the cool night air; the drink cleared from her head. Seeing Night Maple and Tsunade fighting, she grew so anxious her eyes brimmed with tears.
"Night Maple, what on earth is going on?"
Tsunade snorted. "Good—you're awake. This guy tried to cop a feel while you were drunk!"
Kushina shook her head at once. "Sister Tsunade, you must be mistaken. Night Maple would never do that."
Tsunade felt like coughing blood.
Girl, don't go siding with an outsider, okay?
Night Maple smiled. "Hear that, Tsunade? 'Seeing is believing'? I'd say you're blind."
Kushina immediately shot Night Maple a dissatisfied glare. "Night Maple, is that any way to talk to Sister Tsunade?"
"She didn't ask a single question and went straight for me—then claimed I was going to do this and that to you. Tarnishing my name is one thing, but what about yours? This one didn't grow any brains—she just grew a chest."
Tsunade was livid and flared her chakra to the maximum.
Yet that chakra was like a mud bull sinking into the sea—once it entered Night Maple, it vanished without a trace, his body like a bottomless pit.
Now Tsunade was sweating bullets, stuck in a bind.
She truly hadn't expected Night Maple to be this hard to handle. Sarutobi Hiruzen, seeing Tsunade on the back foot, immediately said, "Night Maple, enough—let's all take a step back."
However, Night Maple ignored Hiruzen; the Wood Dragon heaved and hoisted Tsunade up.
Another thick vine burst from the ground and delivered a swat square to Tsunade's backside.
Smack!
A crisp, ringing sound.
The whole place fell silent.
Everyone stared, dumbstruck, at Night Maple.
Night Maple said evenly, "If I don't teach her properly now, won't she go out and cause trouble later—tarnishing Konoha's name, the Senju name, and the Third's name?"
[Ding—congratulations to the host for completing Option Three: clap back hard at Tsunade and give her a proper lesson. Reward acquired: S-rank Ninjutsu—Strength of a Hundred Technique!]
Night Maple was very satisfied.
Tsunade's face flushed scarlet; the Strength of a Hundred erupted!
With a heave of her arms, she burst the Wood Dragon apart.
"Die!"
Golden chakra gathered at her foot; she turned into a streak of light and kicked at Night Maple.
Taijutsu—Pain Heaven Kick.
One heavy stomp could make earth crumble and mountains split.
What would happen if it landed on a human?
Tsunade no longer cared.
Only seeing Night Maple explode on the spot would soothe her rage.
"No!"
Kushina hurriedly leapt to shield Night Maple.
Tsunade's face changed—she couldn't pull the kick back!
"Kushina, move!"
The Third Hokage and Jiraiya both blanched and rushed in.
But Night Maple's hands were faster; he flashed through hand seals.
And not one seal—but three layered seals.
In that instant, Tsunade saw two black streaks suddenly bloom across Night Maple's face, running through his eyes and meeting at his forehead and chin.
"The Strength of a Hundred Technique?!"
Three thick Wood Dragons burst up around Tsunade, one after another, encircling her in layers.
Thump!
In a single instant, Tsunade lost sight and slammed hard into the ground.
As she hit, she was still thinking—had she been seeing things…