Although she was disheveled, her authority as an older sister could not be lost. Tsunade wiped the blood from her mouth and mocked:
"For a Ninjutsu as powerful as Wood Release, you use it so crudely! Just obediently come home with your sister and let me teach you how to use Wood Release correctly!"
Tsunade wasn't just trash-talking; her ultimate goal was still to bring Nawaki back.
To make Nawaki remember the memories concerning her.
But clearly, Nawaki did not understand Tsunade's good intentions.
Perhaps, even if he did know, he wouldn't care.
In his perception, he was a citizen of the Uzushigakure!
Nawaki's expression gradually grew colder.
This woman is so annoying, constantly telling him to go home. Where home is, how could he not know?
His home is in the Uzushigakure!
He was fed up with this woman's nagging.
"You don't think I can only control one hand of the Flower Tree World at a time, do you?"
"What!"
Hearing Nawaki's words, Tsunade's heart inexplicably sank.
Boom, boom, boom!!
The ground beneath Konoha suddenly collapsed, and gigantic hands reaching for the heavens burst out of the earth!
Tsunade's eyes widened: one, two, three... a total of nine giant hands waved in the sky, completely blocking the light of the setting sun and plunging Konoha into darkness.
Gulp!
The Konoha Ninja looked at this apocalyptic scene, their legs turning to jelly and their eyes glazed over.
This kind of Ninjutsu... how can we deal with it?!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's pupils sharply contracted, no longer able to maintain his outward composure.
"Quick! Attack those giant hands with Fire Release!!"
His eyes widened, as if unable to believe it—Nawaki's current state clearly meant he truly intended to kill Tsunade!
The other Shinobi panicked for a moment, but after receiving Hokage-sama's command, they quickly formed hand signs in order and released Ninjutsu!
"Fire Release: Fireball!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Fire Release..."
All sorts of flames flew towards the nine giant hands, but striking them was like hitting them with tiny sparks—they had no effect!
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned deeply, quickly forming hand signs.
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
A massive fire Dragon shot out from Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth, roaring loudly as it flew toward the giant hand closest to him!
Bang!
The fire Dragon slammed into the giant hand, quickly igniting a blaze that began to burn the giant hand!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes lit up, and he immediately said: "Use Fire Release of Rank B or higher!"
However, this condition was clearly not something ordinary Shinobi could meet.
The Clan Chief of the Uchiha Clan responded first, sending a Great Dragon Fire Technique toward one of the giant hands.
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado each sent one as well.
But soon, no one else was able to release high-Rank Fire Release Ninjutsu.
The remaining Hyūga Clan Head and most of the others belonged to secret technique Families, and were not very proficient in Ninjutsu of other elements.
Moreover, Nawaki did not give them another chance to wear down the Flower Tree World.
The remaining giant hands came from all directions, blocking all of Tsunade's escape routes.
But clearly, Tsunade wasn't planning on running this time either.
She just waited quietly, as if she had accepted her death, her lips softly moving, seemingly saying something.
Nawaki frowned, reading her lips to understand what she was saying.
Nawaki, are you really going to kill your sister...?
Nawaki shook his head and said, "At a time like this, you're still saying such ridiculous things."
The Zanpakuto lightly swung down, and the giant hand, obeying the command, ruthlessly smashed down.
Bang!!!
Nearby buildings were instantly shattered by the terrifying impact, and the surging air current made everyone's clothes flap loudly, their cheeks stung by the biting wind.
Everyone stared blankly in the direction where the giant hand had struck, their expressions dull.
"Lady Tsunade, one of the Konoha Three Great Shinobi, just died like that?"
Almost everyone couldn't, or didn't want to, accept this fact!
Senju Nawaki also froze for a moment, feeling a sudden pang in his heart, but he didn't know why.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes were downcast; no one could discern his expression, as if he was grieving for the sacrifice of his beloved student.
Only Orochimaru remained expressionless, seemingly unfazed by Tsunade's apparent demise.
His eyes flickered slightly, and he murmured, "How could Tsunade, Konoha's Medical Saint, possibly die?"
Everyone else was immersed in sorrow, but only he noticed the fleeting flash of green just before the giant hand struck.
Don't forget, the Konoha Three Great Shinobi are all contractors of the Three Great Holy Lands.
And Tsunade's summoning beast is the Immortal Slug, which provides both healing and defense.
With the Immortal Slug present, it would be difficult for Tsunade to die even if she wanted to.
He just couldn't understand why Tsunade would put on such a show.
Was it for... Nawaki?
But unfortunately, Nawaki doesn't seem to have changed because of your 'death'.
This is the price...
Senju Nawaki rejoined his team, and Rukia's eyes flickered as she delivered a final ultimatum to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"The show is over; now hand over Uzumaki Kushina!"
"I..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to say something more, but it was clear Rukia was no longer interested in wasting words with him.
She drew her sword and pointed it at Sarutobi Hiruzen, coldly stating, "Since Konoha doesn't know what's good for it, we'll take matters into our own hands!"
"Wait..."
"Attack!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "..."
Can't anyone just let me finish talking?!
"Hadō #33: Sōkatsui!"
A cold voice suddenly rang out, and blue explosive flames suddenly attacked him from behind.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was immediately startled, appearing to react too late, and was struck by the Sōkatsui.
But Kuchiki Byakuya suddenly looked in another direction.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood quietly, clad in the Third Hokage's ceremonial robe, his deep eyes meeting Byakuya's.
The figure struck by the Sōkatsui, however, suddenly turned into a puddle of mud.
Earth Clone.
Kuchiki Byakuya said expressionlessly, "Captain of the 6th Division, Kuchiki Byakuya, will be your opponent next."
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced around.
The Shinigami were already entangled in battle with the Konoha Shinobi.
He took a deep breath, his eyes suddenly sharpening, "I wanted to discuss things peacefully with you, but what I received in return was indifference."
With that, he tore off his Hokage ceremonial robe, revealing his battle attire.
He wasn't pretending anymore; Konoha's Ninja Hero was here!
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Countless shuriken shot densely towards Kuchiki Byakuya.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura!"
The longsword in Kuchiki Byakuya's hand suddenly resembled a wilting flower, with countless pink cherry blossom petals fluttering down.
As Kuchiki Byakuya swung the hilt, the cherry blossom petals, as if guided, met the shuriken head-on!
Clang, clang—
A series of crisp metallic collisions rang out.
Almost all the shuriken were precisely intercepted by the cherry blossom petals.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly.
It was indeed as recorded in the intelligence.
The Uzushigakure' Captain of the 6th Division,
wields a blade that can suddenly transform into countless cherry blossom petals, but these petals are suspected to be a means of killing, with their specific effects unknown.
Based on Sarutobi Hiruzen's first probe,
these cherry blossom petals were clearly not real petals, but rather more like tiny blades!
Judging from Hanzou's situation, this conjecture was the most reasonable.
Sarutobi Hiruzen breathed a sigh of relief.
Backup group 8396
As long as one knows the enemy's intelligence, there is no enemy that cannot be defeated.
Moreover, he already knew Kuchiki Byakuya's intelligence, while Kuchiki Byakuya knew nothing about him.
The advantage was his!
He just needed to defend against those cherry blossoms as much as possible during the battle.
As long as those cherry blossoms left his vicinity, Kuchiki Byakuya, without his blade, would become a punching bag that could only passively take hits if Hiruzen got close!
After learning Kuchiki Byakuya's intelligence, Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly formulated a battle strategy.
First, he had to find a way to block the attacks of those cherry blossoms.
A smirk played on Sarutobi Hiruzen's lips; the matter of defense could only be entrusted to Enma.
Enma, with his indestructible body, was an excellent defender!
He lightly bit his thumb and formed hand signs.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
With a bang, the white mist dispersed, and a white-furred ape wearing armor appeared, arms crossed.
"Time to fight side-by-side again, old friend."
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