Sarutobi Hiruzen and Jiraiya awkwardly realized that Night Maple didn't need them to save him at all.
He wasn't afraid of Tsunade in the least, okay?
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself: Has Night Maple already gotten this strong?
Stronger than Tsunade?
Or was it simply a matter of a hard counter in styles?
Orochimaru, watching from the side, looked even more shocked; the power Night Maple was showing now far surpassed what he'd displayed a week ago when Orochimaru tested him.
The Night Maple of now was unbelievably strong.
Orochimaru even felt that not even his teacher could so effortlessly and completely suppress Tsunade.
Look—Tsunade was pinned layer upon layer to the ground, unable to move an inch.
At that moment, Uzumaki Mito suddenly appeared.
"Sarutobi, what's going on?"
Then Mito spotted Tsunade bound to the ground, and her eyes widened.
"Night Maple, let Tsunade go at once. What on earth is happening with you two?"
The moment Mito appeared, Night Maple dispelled the Strength of a Hundred Technique.
In essence, the Strength of a Hundred is a kind of augmentation ninjutsu.
Activate it, and you fully release the Yin Seal, allowing the massive chakra stored within to flow freely—making it possible to unleash large-scale and even forbidden jutsu.
With chakra flooded through the body, taijutsu and raw monster strength both rise.
Once the Strength of a Hundred is closed, the Wood Dragon Technique naturally loses much of its toughness.
Bang!
Tsunade burst the wood dragon apart with brute force, glaring at Night Maple through gritted teeth. "Bastard—I'll kill you!"
She'd actually been "taught a lesson" by a kid not even twenty?
"Ahem. Tsunade—enough."
Hiruzen was exasperated as well. Why did you have to go and provoke Night Maple for no reason?
Mito said evenly, "Let's go back."
Kushina glanced at Night Maple, then ran over to support Tsunade anyway.
Tsunade shot her a glare. "Hmph, Kushina—so quick to take an outsider's side."
Mito gave Tsunade a sharp look. "Enough. Back."
Hiruzen coughed lightly. "Tsunade, you and Jiraiya are coming to the office first."
"Mn."
Tsunade shot Night Maple one last glare and stomped off after Hiruzen.
Halfway there, Jiraiya couldn't help asking, "Tsunade, that Night Maple, is he—"
"Ah!"
Tsunade roared and punched Jiraiya square in the face.
Thud!
Jiraiya went flying backward.
Boom—the building ahead collapsed outright, and several shinobi burst out in alarm.
"Enemy attack!" Sarutobi Hiruzen shot Tsunade a glare, then hurried over, saying, "It's fine, it's fine."
"Ah—Lord Hokage! It's you!"
"Lady Tsunade!"
"Lord Orochimaru!"
Seeing them, the shinobi bowed with utmost respect.
Hiruzen asked with concern, "Are you all alright?"
"We're fine, we're fine."
"Mm, just gave us a fright."
Just then, a groan drifted out from the collapsed rubble.
"Ah!"
Jiraiya crawled out, clutching his face.
The shinobi exchanged odd looks.
Hiruzen, at a loss for words, pulled out a wad of cash. "Please put up at an inn for tonight. I'll have people here first thing in the morning to handle repairs."
"It's fine, Lord Hokage. We're in no rush."
"Go on, then."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Turning back, the Hokage shot Tsunade a cool look. "Repairs here will cost at least fifty thousand ryō. Remember to front it with the Finance Department."
Tsunade snorted. "Don't have the money."
...
Elsewhere, Night Maple and Kushina followed Uzumaki Mito back.
"Couldn't you have cut Sister Tsunade some slack?!"
Kushina glared at Night Maple, fuming.
Night Maple shrugged. He'd wanted to, but the system wouldn't allow it.
"See what it's turned into now! When we get back, hurry and apologize to Sister Tsunade."
Night Maple ignored her.
Apologize for what? Tsunade struck first. Giving her a little lesson was perfectly normal, wasn't it?
Seeing how unyielding Night Maple was, Kushina angrily reached out to pinch him—only to find she couldn't get a grip.
So hard…
Mito sighed, helpless. "Night Maple, how did this fight even start?"
Night Maple explained everything from start to finish.
Hearing this, Kushina immediately blamed herself. "Sigh… I drank too much. If I hadn't gotten drunk, none of this would've happened."
Mito shook her head. "It isn't your fault. Tsunade's just that brash."
Then Mito turned to Night Maple. "Night Maple, when did you learn the Yin Seal and the Strength of a Hundred?"
Kushina's eyes went wide. "What? Night Maple, when did you learn the Yin Seal?"
Kushina had been a bit out of it and hadn't seen clearly, but when Mito arrived she'd already noticed Night Maple using the Strength of a Hundred to release the Yin Seal.
Mito had been just as shocked then—she'd simply not said it aloud.