Chapter 32: Tsunade's Determination
Early in the day, Naruto and Shizune found themselves in a pickle - Jiraiya and Tsunade were nowhere to be found.
"Where could they have wandered off to?" Naruto questioned, a playful lilt in his voice.
Just as they were about to start their hunt for the missing duo, a kunai made its sudden appearance, landing dangerously close to the window of the room Naruto was occupying... Both Naruto and Shizune stood there, frozen in surprise.
Without wasting any more time, Naruto and Shizune flung the window open and were greeted by the sight of Jiraiya. He was outside, standing on the hotel's terrace, struggling to maintain his balance and drenched in sweat...
Witnessing the distressing scene, both Naruto and Shizune rushed to Jiraiya's side. He appeared to be struggling for breath, unable to articulate much.
After a while, Naruto and Shizune settled Jiraiya down and offered him some water to drink.
"She cunningly slipped something into my sake..." Jiraiya grumbled, his voice strained. "Now I can't summon any chakra, my body feels feeble. I doubt I could even throw a kunai straight..."
Curiosity piqued, Naruto glanced at Shizune and remarked, "So, you're just as clueless as us, right? Unexpected turn of events for you too?"
Shizune was taken aback by Naruto's words; she understood the implication behind his question.
"Well, I was just about to explain..." Shizune began, recounting the events of the morning and her knowledge of Tsunade's whereabouts.
Meanwhile, Tsunade anxiously awaited Orochimaru's arrival at their designated meeting place...
Back in town, Shizune divulged all the information she had and shared her conversation with Tsunade earlier that morning...
Unbeknownst to them, Kabuto was lurking nearby, skillfully keeping himself hidden from their view. He was no stranger to the art of espionage.
"Master Jiraiya, I didn't anticipate encountering him here. I might need to reconsider my plans..." Kabuto pondered. "Naruto? What is he doing here?" Kabuto wondered, his face filled with surprise.
Jiraiya glanced towards the spot where Kabuto had been standing just moments ago, only to find it empty.
Naruto also caught on to this and exchanged a knowing look with Jiraiya, their unspoken understanding palpable.
"Now, Shizune, you've shared everything that transpired today. It's time to shed some light on the matter between Tsunade and Orochimaru, and why he sought her out. Tell us about the deal he offered her," Jiraiya demanded.
Shizune lowered her gaze. "I never imagined she would go through with it... That's why I kept silent about it," she confessed. "But there's no time to waste. You must come with me," Shizune said, rising to her feet. "I'll explain everything along the way."
"Let's go then," Jiraiya agreed.
In the midst of the tense encounter between Tsunade and Orochimaru, Orochimaru had finally arrived at the designated location.
"So, what's your answer?" Orochimaru inquired, his tone filled with anticipation.
...
"I don't think she'll say yes. I don't believe she's the type to agree to such a deal," Naruto commented after Shizune had explained the details of the offer Orochimaru made to Tsunade.
Jiraiya's anger simmered. "So, things are worse than I thought... Could it be that her losses have clouded her judgment? You leave me no choice, Tsunade. If I have to, I'll kill you," Jiraiya thought, his determination hardening.
...
Meanwhile, Tsunade and Orochimaru stood face to face at the designated meeting place.
"I'll heal your arms, but in return, you must keep your hands off the village," Tsunade declared.
Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "Very well," he agreed.
In Tsunade's mind, thoughts of her beloved ones and her younger brother still lingered. They were precious to her, but she had lost them.
"Shall we?" Orochimaru proposed, and both of them began to walk towards each other, tears streaming down Tsunade's face.
...
"As soon as Orochimaru's arms are healed, he plans to destroy the Leaf Village," Shizune revealed.
"Of course, that's exactly what I would expect from him. I trust he'll do much more if we don't find a way to stop him," Jiraiya stated firmly.
...
Meanwhile, Kabuto stood close to the location of Tsunade and Orochimaru's meeting.
As Tsunade and Orochimaru faced each other, Orochimaru extended his arms toward Tsunade for healing, and Tsunade reached out to touch them with her hands. A blue chakra emanated from her palms. However, out of nowhere, a kunai was hurled towards them, causing both of them to leap backward.
It was Kabuto, who had been standing nearby, who had thrown the kunai. Orochimaru and Tsunade turned their attention towards him, their expressions filled with surprise and suspicion.
Kabuto dropped to the ground next to Orochimaru,
"Why are you doing this? I can't believe you're really here to double-cross me... Tsunade," Orochimaru spat out in an irritated tone.
"Is this how you respond, Tsunade? You'd go as far as to attempt to take my life…" Orochimaru uttered. "But never mind, I trust you wholeheartedly, Kabuto."
"My trust lies in your loyalty and your keen eyes that detected Tsunade's aggressive move... " Orochimaru expressed.
"Indeed. After all, we share the same medical background, so I was able to sense her chakra brimming with hostility." Kabuto acknowledged.
"Tsunade, I genuinely intended to bring those two back to life... and I even gave my word not to destroy the leaf village…" Orochimaru confessed, causing Tsunade to look down, filled with melancholy.
"Orochimaru... I knew your vow of 'leaving the village alone' was a farce. In spite of that knowledge... I... A single opportunity would've sufficed... Just one more glimpse of them... Just one more chance to touch them... Just one more time to see their smiles... " Tsunade poured out her heart.
"Yet...When I felt that surge of excitement, the anticipation of seeing Nawaki and Dan again... I realized what a hopeless romantic I've been!" Tsunade expressed, her tears spilling onto the earth.
"The mere thought of their faces left me vulnerable... I loved them dearly... I yearned for one more chance to hold them close... " Tsunade confessed.
"But… I was unable to..." Tsunade admitted, as she was reminded of Naruto and his passionate speeches "Remembering that kid brought back the dreams of Nawaki and Dan … The dreams I was trying to forget…" Tsunade recalled her brother's determination to protect the village, bringing back Nawaki's vow of safeguarding their people.
"They held onto their dreams until their last breath … and making those dreams a reality was my aspiration too... Things that are built eventually crumble… That's what you said. But... These feelings remain unbroken…" Tsunade admitted.
"So, Our discussions have hit a dead end... Well, it's unfortunate... But it seems I'll have to resort to more forceful means... "
Before Orochimaru could react, Tsunade swiftly wiped away her tears and fixed him with a determined gaze. Without warning, she lunged towards him, catching him off guard.
With her immense strength, Tsunade kicked the ground in front of Orochimaru and Kabuto, causing the earth to shatter. Quickly, Orochimaru and Kabuto leaped away to a safe distance.
"It's surprising that we've never clashed before this moment..." Orochimaru remarked.
"That's true," Tsunade replied as she charged towards Orochimaru once more.
"What are you talking about? I should be the one fighting her, right?" Kabuto questioned.
"Now... I'm going to take you two down for good... Right here," Tsunade declared, throwing a powerful punch towards the wall where Orochimaru and Kabuto were standing. With a single blow, the wall crumbled, but Orochimaru and Kabuto managed to escape to a nearby tree.
"As expected, your strength is truly extraordinary... One hit from you could be fatal," Orochimaru acknowledged.
"I can see that... This space is a bit too cramped for long-range combat," Kabuto noted.
"Should we find a new location?" Orochimaru suggested.
"That would probably be better... Besides, when I observed her earlier, she wasn't alone. There's a chance she might have reinforcements," Kabuto informed.
"You're not getting away!" Tsunade shouted as she sprinted towards Orochimaru and Kabuto, aiming a kick that narrowly missed them and struck the spot where they had been standing.
Orochimaru and Kabuto swiftly began to run, with Tsunade hot on their heels.
"Who are these troublesome individuals?" Orochimaru inquired.
"One of the legendary Sannin, just like you and Lady Tsunade," Kabuto replied.
"Jiraiya..." Orochimaru thought, a smirk appearing on his face. "And who is the other one?" Orochimaru asked.
"It's... Naruto," Kabuto answered.
"Naruto? What is he doing here? Well, it doesn't matter. Our main focus should be completing our mission," Orochimaru stated.
"No matter what, I won't let you escape," Tsunade vowed silently as she continued to pursue Orochimaru.
...
Naruto, Jiraiya, and Shizune arrived at the designated meeting place only to find it in ruins.
"Princess Tsunade really did a number on this place," Jiraiya remarked.
"That means Lady Tsunade refused..." Shizune thought to herself.
"I can sense their chakra here. It hasn't been long since they left, and they're still nearby. I can feel Tsunade's chakra... and two others," Naruto stated.
Shizune discovered Tsunade's haori, which had been thrown during the fight. They decided to follow the trail left behind.
...
Meanwhile, the intense battle between Orochimaru, Kabuto, and Tsunade continued in an open field.
Tsunade was visibly exhausted, panting for breath.
"You seem quite out of breath, Tsunade," Orochimaru remarked. "It's just about time," he added.
"I'm not particularly skilled in Taijutsu, but..." Kabuto said as he retrieved a pill from his pouch and consumed it.
"A food pill?" Tsunade thought, surprised by Kabuto's actions.
Suddenly, Kabuto began performing hand signs. Tsunade recognized the signs and couldn't believe her eyes as blue chakra started to glow in Kabuto's hands.
"This kid can also use medical ninjutsu..." Tsunade thought, realizing Kabuto's abilities. In a split second, Kabuto disappeared from his position and reappeared beneath Tsunade.
Tsunade managed to jump and dodge Kabuto's attack, retaliating with an attack of her own, which Kabuto evaded.
The two continued their intense battle, each dodging and countering the other's attacks. Eventually, Kabuto managed to touch both of Tsunade's hands, setting up for a devastating blow.
But as Kabuto moved back after Tsunade's attack, she felt something was wrong with her hands.
"He's affected my muscles..." Tsunade realized.
"I have slightly severed the bicep muscle of your upper arm and the rectus muscle of your thigh. Now you won't be able to unleash your incredible strength," Kabuto explained.
"Chakra scalpel, huh? Why not aim for the arteries?" Tsunade questioned.
"Indeed, with this scalpel, I could cut muscles and vessels without causing external injuries. However, it's not easy to create a long and delicate scalpel in the midst of battle that can reach the arteries and heart muscle. But even so..." Kabuto responded as he charged towards Tsunade.
Kabuto continued his assault, and Tsunade did her best to block his attacks. He mentioned that targeting the opponent's neck would be the most effective strategy.
As Kabuto relentlessly attacked, he finally landed a blow to Tsunade's stomach, causing her to drop to her knees.
"Darn it! He hit my intercostals... my breathing..." Tsunade struggled to catch her breath.
"His jutsu sense and precision surpass even my prime!" Tsunade thought, impressed by Kabuto's skills.
"It would be a shame if you were to die on me just yet..." Kabuto smirked. "So, I won't target your vital spots. But with this, you won't be able to move anymore," he said. However, out of nowhere, Tsunade struck Kabuto, sending him crashing to the ground.
"She's incredible... Normally, one wouldn't be able to move with difficulty breathing. It seems I'll have to rough her up a bit more," Kabuto thought as he stood to his knees, while Tsunade struggled to stay on her feet, eventually falling to her knees.
[A.N: Drop Powerstones and keep on reading ... Thanks]
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