Kawakaze stunned everyone by seriously injuring Son Gokū with a single strike. No one could have imagined that such a massive beast as the Four-Tails could be subdued with just one sword in his hand.
The Konoha ninja, who had previously only heard of Kawakaze's legendary battle feats, were electrified by the sight.
Even the Third Hokage might not be capable of such overwhelming combat power. With someone like this on our side, how could we possibly lose?
The Iwa ninjas, witnessing this scene, were left in disarray. The Perfect Jinchūriki they relied on seemed unstoppable, indiscriminately attacking both friend and foe. It was no longer a matter of saving themselves or abandoning hope. For a moment, the morale of the Konoha ninja soared even higher, while the Iwa ninjas began to falter, showing clear signs of defeat.
"Don't push it too far," Ōnoki growled, shoving Tsunade back with a forceful strike. His eyes flashed with cold, murderous intent. Though this girl wasn't as powerful as Kawakaze, her tenacity was remarkable. Despite her injuries, she showed no signs of exhaustion, and nothing he'd done had slowed her down.
Ōnoki's chakra surged wildly, causing his robes to billow as though caught in a storm. Without hesitation, he formed hand seals, spitting out an immense mass of earth toward Tsunade.
"Earth Release: Golem Technique!"
The earth quickly coalesced in mid-air, forming a towering rock monster that swung its enormous fist at Tsunade. The massive fist, larger than Tsunade herself, descended with a deafening whoosh. She deftly dodged the attack, but Ōnoki's lips curled into a sly smirk—she was never his real target.
The rock giant's missed punch crashed into the ground, leaving massive craters in its wake. It then pulled itself up and charged directly toward Kawakaze.
Rumble—
With every step, the ground trembled violently. Konoha ninja in its path screamed and scattered in panic. Those who couldn't escape in time were crushed mercilessly beneath the colossus's weight.
"The Tsuchikage has finally made his move!"
The Iwa ninjas, seeing Ōnoki's intervention, regained some composure. His action disrupted the Konoha formation, giving the beleaguered Iwa forces a sliver of breathing room.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow River!"
"Earth Release: Bedrock Collapse!"
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Lance!"
...
The Iwa ninjas took advantage of the Rock Golem's appearance to unleash a devastating assault on the Konoha ninja. The Konoha ninja, scrambling to evade the massive creature, suffered heavy losses under the onslaught of Iwa's Ninjutsu.
"You deserve to die."
Tsunade witnessed the tragedy, and fury surged within her.
Ōnoki, in contrast, appeared calm, his expression betraying no emotion, though murderous intent churned in his heart. He cast a glance at Tsunade as she flew toward him and ascended higher into the sky.
Whoosh!
Tsunade moved with relentless determination, her crimson figure darting like lightning. She was impossibly fast, her form almost invisible. With her wings, she outpaced and outmaneuvered Ōnoki effortlessly.
Ōnoki's face darkened, a cold glint in his eyes. He brought his hands together in front of his chest.
Hum!
Chakra surged between his palms, forming a translucent barrier that quickly coalesced into a glowing cube.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
Ōnoki had prepared this technique earlier, using it as a safeguard against Kawakaze. Now, the cube grew larger, enveloping him entirely.
Tsunade's eyes filled with fear as she closed in.
"Don't rush up—retreat!"
Inside Tsunade's body, Chōmei's urgent warning echoed.
"Shut up," Tsunade snapped, her voice sharp with anger. She stopped abruptly, halting less than a meter from the cube. Turning swiftly, she prepared to retreat, unwilling to test the destructive power of Dust Release.
The thought of being disintegrated into molecules, irreparable, sent a chill through her.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Ōnoki's voice cut through the air. At this close range, he was certain of his aim. The cube shot forward with terrifying speed, reaching Tsunade's eyes in an instant.
Ōnoki's lips curled into a sneer. No one had ever survived Dust Release—it was an unstoppable force. The technique struck the ground moments later, leaving behind an immense cube-shaped crater, a grim testament to its devastating power.
"You're definitely dead now," Ōnoki muttered, letting out a sigh of relief as his gaze shifted toward Son Gokū.
Suddenly, his pupils contracted in shock. Kawakaze was gone, and only Son Gokū remained, writhing in agony. The rock giant, without a target, had reentered the battlefield, wreaking havoc.
Ōnoki quickly scanned his surroundings and spotted two distant figures.
"Are you okay?"
Kawakaze was half-crouched on the ground, holding Tsunade in his arms. He had barely managed to save her with two consecutive Flying Thunder God Techniques, pulling her from the brink of disaster.
"Phew~ I thought I'd never see you again," Tsunade admitted, her fear of Dust Release still lingering. She had genuinely believed her end was near.
Inside her, Chōmei had closed his eyes in defeat, too terrified to even struggle. Now, having survived, he began chattering, but Tsunade ignored him completely.
"Don't worry, I'm here," Kawakaze said gently, stroking Tsunade's hair before setting her back on the ground.
Though he had missed the chance to kill Son Gokū, it was clear Tsunade meant far more to him. He could take down a Tailed Beast any time, but there was only one Tsunade.
"I'll go deal with the Rock Monster first," Tsunade said, her gaze fixed on the rampaging giant. The battlefield had shifted—Konoha ninja were losing ground as the Iwa ninjas mounted a fierce counterattack.
"Go," Kawakaze replied, assured that Tsunade could handle the gravely injured Tailed Beast and Ōnoki.
He turned, his expression growing cold as he glared at Ōnoki hovering in the air.
Tsunade moved swiftly, her crimson figure streaking across the battlefield, accompanied by a powerful gust of wind, as she reached the Rock Monster's back.
"Lady Tsunade is here!" one of the Konoha ninja exclaimed, their faces lighting up with surprise. They felt a surge of relief—they were saved.
Facing a colossus like the Rock Giant, most ninja couldn't even muster the strength to resist.
Bang~
Tsunade's powerful blow struck the back of the Rock Giant's head with incredible force. The massive rock skull shattered instantly, sending large chunks of stone plummeting to the ground. The impact raised a cloud of dust and left a deep crater where the debris fell.
She didn't stop there. Charging straight into the Iwa Ninja camp, she left chaos and destruction in her path.
With three buffs enhancing her strength, Tsunade was like an unstoppable boss to the average ninja. The Iwa ninjas began to scatter in panic, retreating before she even reached them, terrified of the fate that awaited if they lingered too long.
Minato and Nawaki, observing the carnage, couldn't help but notice how devastating Tsunade's blows were. They instinctively touched their heads, as though imagining what would happen if they were hit with that kind of force. Their heads, they thought, might end up like crushed watermelons.
"Follow Lady Tsunade and charge!" one of the Konoha ninja shouted.
The Konoha forces launched a fierce counterattack with Tsunade at the helm, breaking through the enemy lines.
Ōnoki, watching the scene from above, felt his anxiety grow. He wanted to intervene, but Kawakaze was watching his every move, ensuring he couldn't act freely.
Meanwhile, Son Gokū had stopped roaring, his injuries slowly mending. His aura grew increasingly ferocious, and fury consumed him. He wanted only one thing now: to unleash his rage.
Ow~!
Son Gokū let out a thunderous roar, clenching his massive fists in front of his chest as Chakra surged into them.
He raised his fists high and slammed them into the ground with immense force.
"Lava Release: Scorching River Great Eruption!"