A week passed by swiftly.
In fact, Tsunade felt quite conflicted during this week.
Because if she had killed Orochimaru, she had no reason to allow Akihara Kagura to use the Edo Tensei technique to revive the dead; if she did not kill Orochimaru, he would inevitably endanger Konoha.
In the end...
The responsibility of a Konoha ninja overcame her emotions.
Tsunade knew clearly that she was not just any Konoha ninja, but the granddaughter of the First Hokage, and even had to become the Fifth Hokage to continue protecting Konoha.
Killing the enemy that threatened Konoha was a duty that a Hokage must fulfill!
Outside the town.
Tsunade chose to meet with Orochimaru.
When Orochimaru saw Tsunade, a smug smile seemed to hang on his lips, his eyes still squinted, piercing as if they could see through one's heart.
"Tsunade."
"I thought you wouldn't come."
Orochimaru extended his palm in a friendly manner, smilingly said, "Since you are here, hand over the summoning contract of the Shikkotsu Forest to me, and our deal will be settled."
"Don't you need me to summon the slugs myself?"
Tsunade narrowed her eyes, staring at Orochimaru.
"Now you…"
Orochimaru sized up Tsunade, suddenly laughed sinisterly, as if everything was within his expectations, "Can you really summon the slugs now?"
"What do you mean?"
Tsunade's expression changed slightly.
Because Orochimaru's words clearly touched on her most embarrassing issue, had this guy found out?
"Summoning jutsu requires fresh blood…"
Orochimaru watched Tsunade's face, leisurely continued, "Tsunade, can you really see blood now? Have you forgotten? During the toughest days of your life, I was always by your side…"
That period…
The bonds among the Three Sannin of Konoha were strong.
Whenever a major upheaval occurred in Tsunade's life, Orochimaru was almost always by her side, knowing her condition like the back of his hand.
As the most respected medical ninja in the ninja world, Tsunade suffered from hemophobia; she would freeze up at the sight of blood.
Naturally.
She was unable to perform summoning jutsu.
This was also why Orochimaru dared to face two opponents alone, because he knew he only needed to deal with Jiraiya.
Tsunade's gaze suddenly sharpened, abruptly punching towards Orochimaru, "Even if you know, what can you do about it! Are you my opponent?"
"What a hassle… Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Orochimaru quickly retreated, a long snake suddenly shot out from his sleeve, the snake lunged at Tsunade with its fangs bared!
Tsunade was about to smash the snake's head with her fist!
However, the next second, she realized her problem, if she killed this snake, blood would definitely splash on her, and then she would be unable to move due to her hemophobia…
But…
It wasn't for her to decide!
Before Tsunade could think of how to respond, Orochimaru detonated the snake, spattering blood everywhere, which immediately fell into Tsunade's eyes!
"Blood…"
Tsunade's body instantly stiffened, and she collapsed to the ground!
"What a pity, Tsunade…"
Orochimaru sighed, his words tinged with some unspoken regret, "After seeing death, fear was born in your heart, while I chose to embrace immortality…"
"Blood…"
Tsunade still shivered, sitting collapsed on the ground.
Orochimaru walked toward Tsunade, stretching out his palm to grab her collar, "Tsunade, hand over the summoning contract of Shikkotsu Forest, let me and the Slug Sage sign the blood pact…"
Bang!
A thrown kunai forced Orochimaru back!
A tall, white-haired man suddenly appeared in front of Tsunade, blocking Orochimaru: "Long time no see, Orochimaru..."
"Jiraiya..."
Orochimaru's lips curled into a light smile, having anticipated Jiraiya's arrival.
Orochimaru couldn't help but reminisce about their past, chuckling, "Now at your age, do you still intend to play the hero saving the beauty?"
Life is indeed interesting...
It all seemed like it was just before his eyes.
Back when they were all young, Jiraiya had insisted on making him play the role of a villain robbing Tsunade, setting himself up as the hero to save her. In the end, he, playing the villain, was nearly killed by one of Tsunade's punches...
Jiraiya's expression was serious, seemingly unaffected by Orochimaru's words, continuing on his own, "Orochimaru, for the sake of Konoha, I will kill you here today..."
Yes.
For Konoha.
And for his own student, Kagura.
Jiraiya was determined to kill Orochimaru here!
Just as Tsunade had thought, Jiraiya also saw a possibility that by killing Orochimaru, they wouldn't need to let Akihara Kagura use the Edo Tensei to guard against Orochimaru.
"If you think so, then try it..."
Orochimaru slowly brought his hands together, smiling, "Don't forget, back when we sparred, you never won against me..."
"Ha!"
Jiraiya scoffed with a laugh, responding briskly, "That was just to make you feel better, to spare you the discomfort of losing to me, the eternal last-place..."
"If you believe what you say, then let's just leave it at that..."
Orochimaru chuckled and shook his head, not at all irritated, knowing how seriously young Jiraiya took his pride...
"This guy..."
Jiraiya, seeing Orochimaru's complacent attitude, felt provoked: "This time, I definitely will not lose to you again!"
Next moment!
Jiraiya and Orochimaru simultaneously formed seals!
Both unleashed two different techniques at almost the same time!
"Fire Release: Great Fireball!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The blazing flames were instantly blown away by the fierce wind!
Even before they could reach Orochimaru, they were directed towards Jiraiya!
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Jiraiya hastily formed seals, instantly releasing a wall of earth to block the flames and wind, cursing himself silently.
"Still so clumsy..."
"This guy!"
Jiraiya's arm was instantly slashed by a blade!
However, Jiraiya couldn't care less, immediately grabbing Tsunade and throwing her away from the battlefield to avoid her getting caught in the crossfire!
Fortunately, at that moment, Shizune and Uzumaki Naruto rushed over, quickly taking Tsunade away from the battlefield to ensure her safety.
After Tsunade left, Jiraiya finally let loose, charging directly at Orochimaru, his hands swiftly coming together!
"Wild Lion's Mane Technique!"
Jiraiya's hair suddenly grew long, wrapping around Orochimaru's body, attempting to kill him on the spot!
This move might work against others, but it was useless against Orochimaru, who instantly opened his mouth and a hand emerged from his body, using Orochimaru's Body Replacement Technique to shed and escape the bindings of the Wild Lion's Mane Technique!
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Jiraiya unleashed a blast of flames from his mouth!
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Orochimaru was just as quick, meeting the Fire Dragon Flame Bullet with a huge wall of water, instantly filling the battlefield with mist!
Two of the Sannin of the Konoha Village were thoroughly embroiled in a deadly battle, much like many years ago, and even more dangerous than the ninja fights of the past!
"Is this the battle between the Sannin?"
Shizune watched the flying ninja techniques in the sky, speechless.
"So powerful…"
Uzumaki Naruto kept nodding his head.
"Blood…"
Tsunade was still in shock from the blood splattered on her, sitting powerlessly, not even watching the battle between her old friends.
"Has Tsunade developed hemophobia?"
A voice appeared behind them.
This voice was somewhat unfamiliar to Uzumaki Naruto, but strangely familiar to Shizune and Tsunade, even causing Tsunade to stiffly lift her head in disbelief towards the source of the voice.
"This is…"
Shizune's body trembled slightly as she looked at the newcomer.
"Dan…"
Tsunade's body also trembled slightly, uttering the newcomer's name.
Yes.
The newcomer was Dan Kato.
With long silver hair draped over his body, wearing the Konoha Village's ninja headband, and a radiant warm smile on his face, although the marks of the Edo Tensei were still visible, his eyes were dim and lifeless. He still wore the Konoha ninja's green vest.
"How could you…"
Tsunade's body shook violently, her heart racing.
Tsunade had imagined meeting Jiraiya again but had never thought she would see him at this moment.
"The Edo Tensei…"
Shizune immediately realized.
Shizune had only heard of the Edo Tensei but had never seen its effects. This time, she directly witnessed the profound impact of the Edo Tensei.
The dead revived.
This temptation was too great.
Tsunade's gaze grew vacant as she slowly stood up, reaching out her hand involuntarily toward Dan Kato.
"Is it really you?"
"It's me."
"Orochimaru helped me come back to life."
Dan Kato nodded with a smile, saying, "It's been a long time, Tsunade. I didn't expect you to be so helpless, even suffering from the disgraceful hemophobia for a medical ninja…"
"Uncle Dan, what are you saying…"
Shizune couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"Yes…"
Tsunade's eyes slowly filled with tears, trickling down her cheeks, yet she continued to gaze steadfastly at Dan Kato: "It's been a long time…"
"Wait, wait, wait…"
Uzumaki Naruto held his head, pondering deeply, as if trying to recall his memories: "This person is already dead…"
"Lady Tsunade!"
"..."
Tsunade paid no attention to Shizune, her eyes still sadly fixed on Dan Kato.
Then, in a gentle voice, Dan Kato asked, "So, Lady Tsunade, could you hand over the Summoning Contract of the Shikkotsu Forest to me?"
"Okay… okay… okay…"
Tsunade repeatedly nodded her head as if she had been cured of her hemophobia, and immediately began to bring her hands together to form hand seals for summoning, because signing the summoning contract of Shikkotsu Forest required the consent of the Slug Sage.
"Lady Tsunade, please come to your senses quickly!"
Shizune grasped Tsunade's arm, trying to stop her actions, but lacking Tsunade's strength, she could only hastily call out to Uzumaki Naruto: "Uzumaki Naruto, quickly help stop Lady Tsunade, don't let her hand over the summoning contract of Shikkotsu Forest…"
"Ah, I understand..."
Uzumaki Naruto nodded.
However, he was instantly kicked away by Tsunade, and even Shizune was thrown aside by Tsunade as she resolutely formed the hand seals for the summoning technique…
"Ninjutsu: Summoning Technique!"
Tsunade's hands quickly completed the hand seals, and even undaunted by her hemophobia, she bit her own finger and pressed her hand to the ground, where black incantations suddenly lit up.
A giant slug appeared amidst the smoke!
"This is…"
The slug's voice was somewhat juvenile, and it immediately noticed Dan Kato in front of it, barely believing its own eyes: "Lady Tsunade, is this Mr. Dan?"
"Yes."
Tsunade nodded, her face still full of deep emotion as she gazed at Dan Kato, tears continuously streaming down her cheeks. She gently pointed at Dan Kato, a flash of pain in her eyes, yet she still clenched her teeth tightly.
"Slug, help me kill him…"
Tsunade's face no longer bore deep affection, only profound pain and resentment as she commanded solemnly: "Dan has been controlled, even his soul has been manipulated, we cannot allow Dan to become a tool that endangers Konoha!"
"Ah!"
The slug was startled by Tsunade's decisiveness!
Even Shizune and Uzumaki Naruto were shocked!
"I know he isn't the real Dan…"
Tsunade watched Dan Kato's face, seeing the pain in his eyes, sadness nearly overflowing: "I've always been thinking about when I could see Dan's smiling face, but I won't harm Dan's will for my own selfish desires…"
At this moment.
Tsunade was somewhat satisfied.
For she had at least seen the resurrected form of Dan Kato.
This also strengthened Tsunade's resolve to kill Orochimaru; she couldn't be weak in front of her former lover, all those experiences were just her efforts to overcome her hemophobia!
"At least I should thank you…"
Tsunade took a deep breath, glanced at the blood on her body, but her face was already fearless: "Thank you for helping me overcome my hemophobia… Now tell me, who are you really!"
"What a pity…"
Dan Kato shook his head, the will controlling him inside continued on its own: "I am just a fortunate individual whom Lord Orochimaru taught how to control Edo Tensei…"
"It was originally just an attempt to use Dan Kato to lure Lady Tsunade into handing over the summoning contract of the Shikkotsu Forest, but now that Lady Tsunade has overcome her hemophobia, it seems to have caused new trouble for Lord Orochimaru…"
Fortunately.
Fortunately, Lord Orochimaru's power is strong, he might probably be able to handle his two former classmates on his own.
~~~
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