Bang!
The water sphere shattered instantly under Tsunade's punch. Such a technique simply couldn't withstand her super strength.
However, the elite Jōnin who had cast the technique wasn't relying solely on its strength. He had another purpose in mind.
Water Release: Water Prison Jutsu!
The fragments of the water sphere quickly reformed, creating a water prison that trapped Tsunade within its liquid confines.
"What a naive girl," the elite Jōnin sneered, one hand submerged in the water to maintain the technique.
He relished dealing with talented yet inexperienced young ninjas.
For him, "genius" often equated to youth, and youth often meant a lack of experience. Many of Kirigakure's budding prodigies had fallen victim to his tutelage in pain.
Tsunade, however, remained unfazed within the water prison.
The Water Prison Jutsu was indeed powerful—it had managed to trap Kakashi, an elite Jōnin, in the original timeline.
But Kakashi's capture had more to do with being caught off guard than the technique's actual efficacy.
Even Kisame, a far stronger user of the jutsu, couldn't trap Neji with it.
hence …
Suddenly, Tsunade gathered her strength and broke free from the water's grip. Chakra surged to her feet as she stomped the ground with immense force.
Boom!
The ground beneath her exploded, and the resulting shockwave forced the elite Jōnin to abandon his technique and retreat.
The water prison collapsed instantly, freeing Tsunade.
Taking advantage of the brief moment where the mist was scattered by the blast, Tsunade charged at the elite Jōnin with blinding speed.
She threw a punch, striking the Jōnin as he tried to block. The force of the blow sent him flying.
The elite Jōnin landed heavily, his arm throbbing from the impact.
The fact that a mere Jōnin-level ninja could force him into such a position filled him with a mix of frustration and shame.
"That's it," he growled inwardly. "Time to end this quickly."
He decided to abandon his initial goal of capturing Tsunade alive. Injuring her was now acceptable, as long as she survived.
Brandishing a kunai, the elite Jōnin charged at Tsunade. No longer held back by the need to capture her unharmed, he fought with full intensity.
Tsunade immediately felt the change in pressure.
The elite Jōnin's attacks were overwhelming, and she found herself fully on the defensive.
"I heard you're not only the granddaughter of the First Hokage but also Mochizuki Hui's girlfriend. If we capture you, do you think Hui will come to rescue you alone?"
The elite Jōnin taunted, his words aimed at disrupting her focus.
"Hmph! Catch me first, then we'll see!"
Tsunade retorted, throwing another punch. The elite Jōnin deftly dodged, his mocking smile unfaltering.
"Such a fiery temper. No matter. Once you're in our hands, you'll be much more compliant."
The Jōnin continued his verbal assault.
Psychological warfare was part of his strategy, designed to make opponents lose focus.
But Tsunade was unfazed.
"Keep dreaming!" she shot back, her punches accompanying her words.
Though she wasn't on par with her opponent, she fought without panic or hesitation.
The elite Jōnin smirked. "Your two teammates seem to be struggling. It looks like your fate is sealed. Soon, you'll be our prisoner."
His words were a blatant fabrication, meant to shake Tsunade's confidence.
But Tsunade scoffed. "Jiraiya might struggle, but Orochimaru? Not a chance."
Having fought alongside her teammates for over a decade, Tsunade knew their strengths and weaknesses.
Orochimaru was the strongest among them and the most resourceful. Even against two elite Jōnin, he wouldn't be defeated easily.
Besides, if things truly went south, they had a plan for that.
"Believe me or not, it doesn't matter. Soon, you'll see their severed heads. Unlike you, they're not worth keeping alive," the elite Jōnin continued, his voice dripping with malice.
"Really? Then bring me their heads yourself," Tsunade replied coldly, her tone laced with disdain.
She stopped attacking momentarily, scanning the dissipating mist around her.
Her response irritated the elite Jōnin. It was clear she didn't believe a word he said and had absolute faith in her teammates.
"Fine. I'll make you believe me when you see the truth," he snapped, though his confidence was feigned.
Just then, Tsunade noticed a small snake slithering at her feet. Orochimaru's signal had arrived.
Understanding its meaning, Tsunade immediately dashed toward Orochimaru's location without hesitation.
The elite Jōnin hesitated for a moment before understanding what she was doing.
His expression darkened. "They've figured out the Hidden Mist Technique," he thought bitterly.
No matter. He was determined that the trio would end up as their captives.
He pursued Tsunade swiftly.
Elsewhere, Jiraiya received the same signal from Orochimaru and also began heading toward their teammate. Before long, the three regrouped.
"Looks like everyone's okay," Jiraiya said with a sigh of relief.
Despite his confidence in his team, he couldn't help but worry, especially for Tsunade, who had been facing an elite Jōnin.
"How surprising. You managed to break through the Hidden Mist Technique," the elite Jōnin's voice echoed from within the lingering fog, making it hard to pinpoint his location.
At the same time, the remaining Kirigakure ninjas silently surrounded the trio, ready to strike at the elite Jōnin's command.
Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru exchanged a glance. Then, as if on cue, they nodded in unison.
The reason they hadn't panicked earlier was simple: they had a reliable ace up their sleeves.
They all had their summons.
Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu!
Jiraiya performed the hand seals, and a colossal toad materialized beneath them.
It was Gamabunta, Jiraiya's old ally.
"What's the situation, Jiraiya? Why summon me now?" Gamabunta asked, his deep voice rumbling.
"We need you to get us out of here," Jiraiya replied simply. The three had decided to retreat.
"If we can't win, we can always run. Let's see them try trapping Gamabunta in their mist!"
"Easy!" Gamabunta leapt skyward, propelling the trio out of the fog and rapidly putting distance between them and the battlefield.
Left behind, the elite Jōnin and two of his comrades were stunned, their jaws slack with disbelief.
As for the other three Kirigakure ninjas?
Well, they hadn't even seen Gamabunta coming. Hidden in the mist, they had been crushed under the giant toad's weight.
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