There was no way to argue back.
Tsunade's voice turned icy as she laughed. "Fine!"
"So this is how it ends? Just because I drank with that man, Konoha,and our great Hokage,decide to hunt me down and wipe me out completely?!"
Jiraiya replied heavily, his expression pained. "Precisely because it's you, Tsunade, you absolutely cannot betray Konoha. And even more so, you cannot join another ninja village."
"You should know how important you are."
Tsunade burst into harsh laughter. "My importance?!"
"So this is how Konoha treats someone so 'important'?!"
Before Jiraiya could respond, the lead ANBU operative interrupted coldly. "Lord Jiraiya, there's no point in continuing this discussion."
"If we don't act now, we won't be able to answer to the Hokage."
Jiraiya fell silent.
Seeing his hesitation, the lead ANBU's tone hardened further. "If Lord Jiraiya refuses to strike first, then we will take responsibility ourselves!"
In an instant, the ANBU operatives surrounded Tsunade completely, powerful chakra surging outward as killing intent filled the air. At that very moment, Tsunade's last shred of hope toward Konoha,and toward Hiruzen Sarutobi,was utterly extinguished. She finally understood that no matter what she did, she would never regain Hiruzen's trust. And once he doubted someone, he would show no mercy whatsoever.
There was only one ending.
Death. Without exception.
Tsunade took a deep breath, her eyes steady and resolute.
"Then come at me!!!"
In that instant, murderous intent flooded all of Tanzaku Street, and a bloody battle was on the verge of erupting.
In the blink of an eye, Tsunade and Konoha stood in direct opposition. From this moment onward, it marked a complete and irreversible rupture between the two sides. Tsunade inhaled deeply once more, her voice ringing with unwavering resolve.
"Then come!"
At once, the ANBU operatives erupted with all their strength, chakra surging violently.
"Fūton: Kaze Kiri no Jutsu ('Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique')!!!"
"Doton: Doryūdan ('Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet')!!!"
"Raiton: Shichū Shibari no Jutsu ('Lightning Release: Four Pillars Binding Technique')!!!"
Although these ANBU were nowhere near monsters on the level of Tsunade or Jiraiya, their strength lay in decisive action and flawless coordination. In an instant, wind, earth, lightning, water, and fire,powerful ninjutsu of every attribute,roared toward Tsunade simultaneously.
Tsunade sneered. Though she had not fought seriously in many years and her ninjutsu, taijutsu, and overall strength had declined, she was still far beyond what these ordinary ANBU could contend with.
She stomped the ground violently.
Boom!!!
A massive crater instantly formed beneath her feet. Her body shot forward, evading every incoming technique, and she immediately counterattacked. From above, her leg descended like a falling mountain, slamming down with terrifying force.
The ANBU operatives stared in horror. Everyone knew how terrifying Tsunade's monstrous strength was. If struck directly,or even brushed by the shockwave,it would mean severe injury, if not worse.
Without hesitation, the ANBU scattered in all directions, retreating in disarray.
Rumble!
Rumble!
Boom!!!!!
"Tsūten Kyaku ('Pain of Heaven Kick')!!!"
Tsunade's devastating strike shattered the street of Tanzaku in an instant. The ground split apart, the earth trembled violently, and dust and debris filled the air. Buildings on both sides were shaken by the shockwave, exploding into clouds of rubble.
The sheer destructive power left every ANBU operative stunned. They all knew that relying on their own strength alone, they stood no chance against Tsunade.
"Lord Jiraiya, are you still not going to act?!" the lead ANBU shouted urgently.
Jiraiya let out a long sigh. He knew that if he didn't move now, he would be branded a traitor to Konoha himself. With a bitter smile, he spoke, "Tsunade… forgive me. I truly have no other choice."
"Don't worry. Even if we bring you back to Konoha, I'll plead your case with Hiruzen-sensei. I won't let you truly come to harm."
Tsunade laughed coldly. "And when that time comes, will it really be up to you?"
"If you truly could persuade him, you wouldn't need to stand against me like this in the first place."
Her words cut straight to the truth, leaving Jiraiya speechless. Even so, bound by duty, he steeled himself.
"I'm sorry, Tsunade!!!"
He clasped his hands together sharply.
Snap!!!
"Ran Shishi Rendan no Jutsu ('Wild Lion's Mane Technique')!!!"
Right from the start, he used his signature secret technique. His long white hair hardened instantly, spreading like a vast net as it surged toward Tsunade, seeking to bind her completely.
Tsunade knew Jiraiya's techniques inside and out. With a cold snort, she slammed her fist into the ground.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!!!!!
The earth overturned violently, surging upward into a massive wall of stone and soil that completely blocked the Wild Lion's Mane Technique. The shockwave even rebounded toward Jiraiya himself.
Jiraiya frowned slightly. "As expected… even after wasting so many years, your strength may have declined, but it's still terrifying."
At that moment, the ANBU operatives attacked from all directions, coordinating seamlessly with Jiraiya. Ninjutsu, taijutsu, and ninja tools rained down relentlessly upon Tsunade.
Yet Tsunade answered all change with brute force alone. One punch, one kick,her monstrous strength shattered techniques and weapons alike. It was truly a case of overwhelming power breaking all methods.
Then, suddenly, hand seals were formed with blinding speed.
"Doton: Yomi Numa ('Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld')!!!"
The ground beneath Tsunade instantly transformed into a vast mire, spreading rapidly and engulfing half the street. Everything,debris, structures, loose objects,began sinking as though swallowed by quicksand.
Tsunade leapt back explosively, barely managing to escape. Years without real combat had left her slightly rusty. While her experience remained, she could no longer match the sharpness of Jiraiya and the ANBU, who lived daily on the edge of life and death.
Under the combined pressure of Jiraiya and the ANBU, Tsunade gradually began to fall into a disadvantage.
At that moment, the ANBU revealed their final trump card.
Bang!!!!
The lead ANBU operative drew a sharp kunai and, without hesitation, drove it straight into his own palm. Blood burst forth violently, spraying toward Tsunade just as she was about to counterattack.
Tsunade's eyes widened in shock. Though she barely managed to dodge aside, the sight of the splattering crimson blood shattered her composure completely.
Thud!!!
The Tsunade who moments ago seemed capable of splitting mountains collapsed heavily to the ground. Her pupils dilated as she gasped for breath, her body trembling uncontrollably.
This was the ANBU's ultimate weapon.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had personally informed them that Tsunade suffered from hemophobia. In extreme circumstances, using blood against her was an almost guaranteed victory.
Seeing the battle reach a stalemate, the lead ANBU had chosen this method without hesitation,and the result was immediate.
One of the Legendary Sannin.
The greatest medical ninja in the world.
Perhaps the strongest kunoichi the shinobi world had ever known.
Reduced, in an instant, to a fragile woman paralyzed by fear.
Watching this scene, Jiraiya couldn't help the pain tightening in his chest.
"Tsunade… I'm sorry for using such methods against you. But this… was the only way."
The ANBU captain spoke with restraint, though the intent behind his words was unmistakable.
"Jiraiya-sama, even if this method is effective, she is still one of the Legendary Three Sannin. To ensure her safe return to Konoha,and to eliminate unnecessary risk,I will first impair her ability to move."
He moved immediately. His body surged forward, the kunai in his hand aimed directly at Tsunade's legs. The objective was clear: prevent her from regaining clarity, escaping, or launching another counterattack once her condition stabilized.
At that moment, Shizune arrived. What she witnessed was the final instant before the strike landed.
"Tsunade-sama!"
She rushed forward instinctively, already realizing it was too late to intervene.
A sharp sound cut through the air.
Before the blade could reach its target, the ANBU captain, his weapon, and the surrounding space were seized by an intense cold. His body froze mid-motion, suspended unnaturally, encased in solid ice.
An instant later, the frozen figure shattered upon impact with the ground. Ice fragments scattered, followed by blood. The damage was fatal.
Silence settled over Tanzaku Street.
Jiraiya and the remaining ANBU turned toward the source of the attack. Standing calmly nearby was the Mizukage of Kirigakure,Chiba.
Shizune exhaled in relief and hurried to Tsunade's side, kneeling beside her.
"Tsunade-sama…"
Tsunade's gaze remained fixed on the blood staining the ground. Her breathing was uneven, her body trembling, her awareness dulled by the resurgence of her condition.
Jiraiya's expression hardened.
"Mizukage-dono," he said, his voice controlled, "what is the meaning of this?"
"This is an internal matter of Konoha. You killed an ANBU captain in public. Are you attempting to provoke a war between our villages?"
Chiba answered calmly.
"An internal matter?"
"I don't believe that is accurate."
He glanced briefly at Tsunade.
"If Tsunade is now a shinobi of Kirigakure, then your actions were directed against my village."
The statement drew immediate reactions from the ANBU.
"You attacked one of our shinobi," Chiba continued evenly. "As Mizukage, intervening was my responsibility. If anyone is escalating this situation, it is not Kirigakure."
Jiraiya took a slow breath.
"Tsunade has always been a shinobi of Konoha," he replied. "If you claim otherwise, then that implies defection. The ANBU exist to deal with such matters."
"Perhaps," Chiba said. "And the Mizukage exists to protect his people."
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes.
"So this will come to conflict."
"If it must," Chiba answered. "Tsunade will leave with me."
Tension spread among the ANBU. No one present underestimated the Mizukage's strength, yet the situation left them little room to withdraw without consequence.
"Enough."
Tsunade's voice broke through the standoff.
She rose slowly to her feet. Her movements were unsteady, but her eyes were clear. Shizune's treatment had steadied her, if only partially.
She looked directly at Jiraiya.
"Let it end here. From this moment on, I have no ties to Konoha."
Her words were measured, without anger.
"If Konoha chose to eliminate me, then there is no loyalty left for me to uphold. Tell Hiruzen that I never intended to betray him. It was his distrust that forced this outcome."
Jiraiya closed his eyes briefly. He did not refute her words.
One of the ANBU attempted to protest, but Jiraiya raised a hand.
"I will take responsibility."
After a moment, the ANBU withdrew. There was no path forward that did not lead to unnecessary loss.
When they left, Tanzaku Street fell quiet.
Tsunade remained where she stood for a long time before finally turning to Chiba.
"…Thank you for intervening."
"It required little effort," he replied, extending his hand. "Then allow me to welcome you to Kirigakure."
After a brief pause, Tsunade took his hand.
"Yes, Mizukage-sama."
The matter was settled.
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