Chapter 25: 100 Lives
The sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the open plain as Sora and his companions made their way back to Konoha. The recent events still fresh in their minds, they walked in a comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
Naruto, his blue eyes shining with pride, couldn't help but grin as he remembered his victory over Tsunade. He had actually managed to land a hit on one of the legendary Sannin! Even if it was just barely, it was still a win in his book. He glanced at his hand, now fully healed thanks to Tsunade's medical ninjutsu, and flexed his fingers. The memory of forming the Rasengan, unstable as it was, filled him with determination to master the technique completely.
Beside him, Sasuke walked with his usual stoic expression, but his mind was racing. He had watched the fight between Naruto and Tsunade with his Sharingan active, and the level of skill displayed had both impressed and frustrated him. He needed to get stronger, faster. The weight of his goal - to defeat his brother Itachi - pressed heavily on his shoulders.
Sora, the young red-headed boy, bounced along happily between Naruto and Jiraiya. His green eyes sparkled with excitement as he replayed the fight in his mind, analyzing every move and technique. At just six years old, he was already showing promise that far exceeded his peers. His recent conversation with Tsunade about medical ninjutsu had opened up new avenues of thought, and he couldn't wait to explore them further.
Jiraiya, the self-proclaimed super pervert and Toad Sage, kept a watchful eye on their surroundings as they traveled. While he was proud of Naruto's growth and impressed by Sora's potential, he couldn't shake the feeling that their troubles were far from over. His years of experience as a shinobi had honed his instincts, and right now, they were telling him to stay alert.
Tsunade walked at the rear of the group, her face a mask of contemplation. The bet she had made with Naruto weighed heavily on her mind. Should she really return to the village? Take up the mantle of Hokage? The very thought made her heart clench with anxiety, memories of past losses threatening to overwhelm her. But as she watched the young ninja in front of her - especially Naruto and Sora - she felt a flicker of hope that she hadn't experienced in years.
Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet began to shift and sink. Jiraiya's eyes widened as he realized what was happening. "Everyone jump!" he yelled, his voice cutting through the air like a kunai.
Reacting on instinct, the group channeled chakra to their feet and leaped into the air just as the ground gave way beneath them. As they sailed upwards, a massive snake burst from the earth, its maw wide open and ready to swallow them whole.
Sora, his mind working at lightning speed, had already begun weaving hand seals the moment he jumped. With a quick change midway through the sequence - a feat that spoke volumes of his skill and control - he called out, "Heavenly Weeping!"
Generally doing this is only possible for jutsus of same elemental types, as first few seals are same for almost every elemental release of a particular type.
From Sora's mouth, a barrage of water senbon shot forth with deadly precision, aimed directly at the snake's eyes. The attack caught the serpent off guard, causing it to instinctively change direction to avoid being blinded.
However, this evasive maneuver proved to be a critical mistake. The snake's new trajectory brought it directly into the path of Tsunade, who had been waiting for just such an opportunity.
With a fierce battle cry, Tsunade's fist connected with the snake's head. The impact was devastating, sending shockwaves through the air and causing the ground to tremble. The snake's eyes rolled back in its head as it suffered an immediate concussion, its massive body going limp and crashing to the earth with a thunderous boom, it's life and death unknown.
As the dust settled, the group landed safely on the ground, their hearts racing from the sudden attack. Naruto let out a low whistle, impressed by both Sora's quick thinking and Tsunade's raw power. "That was amazing, Granny Tsunade!" he exclaimed, earning a glare from the Sannin for the 'Granny' comment.
Sasuke, his Sharingan active, scanned the area for any further threats. "Stay alert," he warned, his voice tense. "I doubt that snake was acting alone."
Jiraiya nodded in agreement, his eyes narrowed as he surveyed their surroundings. "Good instincts, Sasuke. This reeks of-"
But before he could finish his sentence, a chilling laugh echoed across the battlefield, sending shivers down everyone's spines. From the shadows of a nearby bunch of trees, two figures emerged.
"My, my," came a silky, sinister voice. "I'm disappointed in you, Tsunade. I thought you would have made the right decision."
Orochimaru, the rogue Sannin, slithered into view, his pale face twisted into a cruel smirk. Beside him stood Kabuto, his loyal right-hand man, glasses glinting in the fading sunlight.
Tsunade's eyes widened in shock and fear, her body freezing up as she took in the sight before her. But it wasn't Orochimaru's appearance that caused her reaction - it was the blood.
The ground around them was suddenly covered in a thick layer of crimson, the metallic scent filling the air. Tsunade's breath caught in her throat, her pupils dilating as memories she had long tried to suppress came flooding back. Images of Dan and Nawaki, their bodies broken and bloodied, flashed before her eyes.
"No... no..." she mumbled, her legs giving out as she collapsed to her knees, body trembling uncontrollably.
Naruto, confused by Tsunade's sudden change in demeanor, moved to help her. "Granny Tsunade? What's wrong?"
Jiraiya's face hardened as he realized what was happening. "Naruto, stay back! Tsunade has hemophobia - a fear of blood. Orochimaru's using it against her!"
Orochimaru's laugh grew louder as he observed Tsunade's breakdown. "How the mighty have fallen," he taunted. "To think, one of the legendary Sannin reduced to a quivering mess by the mere sight of blood."
With a flick of his wrist, Orochimaru summoned a massive purple snake - Manda, the boss of the snake summons. The giant serpent's appearance dwarfed the previous snake, its shadow casting darkness over the entire area.
Jiraiya, realizing the gravity of the situation, bit his thumb and slammed his hand on the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!" In a huge puff of smoke, Gamabunta, the boss toad, appeared beneath Jiraiya's feet.
"Jiraiya!" Gamabunta bellowed, his deep voice resonating through the air. "Why have you summoned me? And why is that snake bastard here?"
"No time for explanations, 'Bunta," Jiraiya replied grimly. "We've got a fight on our hands."
As the two massive summons faced off, Jiraiya called out to the others. "Naruto, Sasuke! You two assist Shizune against Kabuto..." His voice interrupted as he saw Sasuke's curse seal flaring up, however, due to the seal already present on it, it stopped soon.
Jiraiya continued "Sasuke, whatever you do, don't let your chakra run low - we can't risk that curse mark activating."
The two young ninja nodded, determination etched on their faces as they moved to flank Shizune.
"Sora," Jiraiya continued, his voice deadly serious. "I need you to protect Tsunade. She's vulnerable right now, and we can't let Orochimaru get to her. Can you handle that?"
Sora, his young face set with resolve, gave a sharp nod. "You can count on me, Pervy Sage!"
With roles assigned, the battle began in earnest. Gamabunta leaped towards Manda, the ground shaking with each impact of their massive bodies. Jiraiya and Orochimaru engaged in a high-speed taijutsu exchange atop their respective summons, their movements blurs to the untrained eye.
Meanwhile, Kabuto rushed towards Shizune, a sadistic grin on his face. Shizune, caught off guard by his speed, found herself immediately on the defensive. Kabuto's hands glowed with chakra scalpels, each swipe threatening to sever muscles and tendons if they connected.
Naruto and Sasuke quickly jumped into the fray, providing much-needed support for Shizune. Sasuke launched a barrage of shuriken, each tagged with an explosive note, forcing Kabuto to dodge and creating an opening for Naruto to engage with his shadow clones.
As the battles raged on, Sora stood protectively in front of Tsunade, his small frame tense and ready for action. He watched the fights unfold with a mix of awe and determination, knowing that he might be called upon to join at any moment.
Kabuto, realizing he was outnumbered, decided to try and throw his opponents off balance. "Naruto-kun," he called out in a mockingly friendly tone, "why do you fight so hard for a village that sees you as nothing but a monster?"
Naruto's eyes flashed with anger, but he held his ground. "You don't know anything about me or my village!"
Turning his attention to Sasuke, Kabuto's voice took on a more seductive tone. "And you, Sasuke-kun. How do you expect to gain the power to defeat your brother by staying in that weak village? Lord Orochimaru could give you the strength you seek."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, the tomoe in his Sharingan spinning rapidly. "I don't need help from a snake," he spat, though a flicker of doubt passed across his face.
***
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