Deep Within the Kusagakure.
On a large bridge, Jiraiya and Orochimaru hid in the trees on either side, keeping a vigilant watch for any unexpected developments.
Standing on the bridge, Tsunade crossed her arms, exuding a commanding and heroic aura. Her expression calm, she spoke:
"So, you must be the leader of Kusagakure. We've received intelligence that Iwagakure has disguised a squad of elite ninjas as Konoha shinobi, planning to attack Kusagakure and frame us…"
Facing a masked ninja across the bridge, Tsunade continued evenly, holding a brown-green scroll of information in her hand.
The Kusagakure leader, masked and silent, finally replied in a hoarse voice.
"You major nations are always full of talk about justice and morality, yet behind the scenes, it's nothing but arson, plunder, and slaughter. You Konoha and Iwagakure have brought your wars into the Land of Grass, and now you claim to act in our best interests?"
Orochimaru's cold gaze betrayed no emotion at the accusation, but Jiraiya fell silent.
Tsunade, however, snorted derisively.
"Is this your first day living in the ninja world? The entire ninja world is like this. Sure, the great nations bully the Land of Grass, but doesn't the Land of Grass also bully smaller, weaker nations?"
"We're all just ninjas. Even for a great nation, ensuring our peace is already a monumental task!"
Having grown up in the legacy of the Hokage family, Tsunade saw the broader picture. The history of the Senju clan alone was a thick chronicle of war and strife.
She wasn't a saint. She could only do what was within her power to secure the peace and stability of her nation.
The ninja across from her chuckled self-deprecatingly, his voice hoarse.
"As Princess Tsunade says, the world always belongs to the strong. So, I wonder, can this intelligence gain the favor of Lady Tsunade?"
Both parties simultaneously tossed their scrolls to exchange information.
However, as Tsunade opened her scroll, her pupils contracted sharply. The next moment, the scroll ignited spontaneously, turning to ash in the wind.
The Kusagakure leader sighed inwardly. His village didn't want to be caught between two powers, but they had no choice.
Iwagakure sought to use them, but incurring Konoha's wrath was a risk he couldn't bear. Thus, he had to play both sides, hoping only to buy Kusagakure some breathing room.
"I understand."
Feigning nonchalance, Tsunade gave a hearty laugh while discreetly signaling Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
[Danger! It's a trap!]
As the three prepared to leave, a group of Iwagakure ninjas, identifiable by their signature red armbands, suddenly emerged in the distance.
"Haha! Thank you, Kusagakure leader. We Iwagakure have surrounded the area. Let's kill these Konoha ninjas together!"
At the sight of the ambush, Tsunade's eyes widened momentarily, while the Kusagakure leader looked terrified.
"This wasn't supposed to happen for another three days!"
In that instant, he realized he had been completely manipulated by Iwagakure. From the start, they had never trusted him and were only using him.
"Retreat!"
Reacting swiftly, Tsunade slammed her fist into the bridge with immense force.
Monster Strength Punch!
Boom!
The bridge began to collapse under her terrifying strength. Tsunade shouted.
"Iwagakure has us surrounded! Breakthrough immediately!"
At that moment, a distinct hawk cry echoed through the skies—Konoha's messenger hawk had arrived with intelligence.
As the scroll landed in Tsunade's hands, she cursed under her breath.
"Damn it! Now the intel comes!"
Burning the scroll immediately, she bolted into the forest without looking back. Jiraiya and Orochimaru quickly assumed a three-man combat formation and began their retreat.
"There are traps in the forest, but they'll only delay the enemy briefly. We must break through now!"
Orochimaru's calm voice cut through the chaos. Iwagakure's encirclement was complete, and their only chance was to escape as fast as possible.
Fighting head-on?
The Iwagakure forces numbered over a thousand—an impossible battle.
"Hah! The Toad Sage hasn't made his mark on the ninja world yet! There's no way I'm dying here!"
Jiraiya laughed boldly, his eyes resolute as he yelled.
"Let the Toad Sage lead you to break through and become heroes of the new era!"
Despite Jiraiya's antics, there was no time for Orochimaru to retort. The three synchronized seamlessly. Orochimaru swiftly completed hand signs, while Jiraiya leaped high, forming the perfect angle for their combined attack.
Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bullet!
Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!
The two unleashed their jutsu simultaneously, creating a massive inferno resembling a raging dragon. Fueled by the wind, its power grew exponentially, engulfing the forest ahead in a sea of flames.
Screams of agony and the clash of jutsu filled the air.
Amid the inferno, Tsunade pinpointed enemies by sound, swiftly hurling kunai fitted with explosive tags.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Kunai rained down like a storm, tearing through the air with lethal precision. Explosions rippled across the battlefield, tearing apart Iwagakure's earth-style defenses. The roaring flames surged through the breaches, consuming the enemy ninjas in an instant.
The trio's formidable strength and flawless coordination devastated their opponents, forcing the Iwagakure forces to retreat momentarily.
"This is a trap!"
Even Jiraiya, usually carefree, was now deadly serious, unleashing jutsu after jutsu.
"Don't hold back on chakra!"
Orochimaru barked.
"We need to break through now!"
Holding back would be fatal. If they were encircled, even twice their chakra reserves wouldn't save them.
Summoning Jutsu!
Tsunade summoned three Katsuyu slugs, two of which immediately melded into Jiraiya's and Orochimaru's armor.
As they pressed forward with relentless force, Tsunade's strategic support made their escape possible.