Seeing Aoyama Ryuyun and Tsunade holding hands like that, the three men froze, momentarily unsure whether to interrupt.
"Ahem!"
When it was just the two of them, Tsunade never cared about such things. But now, with others present, even she felt a little embarrassed. She quickly let go of Ryuyun's hand.
"Shikaku, make sure you and your team hold off the Third Kazekage later!"
Tsunade didn't expect the Ino–Shika–Chō trio to defeat him outright — just stalling him would be enough.
"Please rest assured and leave it to us!"
Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Chōza all nodded firmly. Whether for Konoha or the honor of their clans, this battle could not be lost.
"Let's move out!"
Tsunade waved her hand and led the charge toward the battlefield. Aoyama Ryuyun followed beside her, his hand resting calmly on his sword hilt.
Once they were gone, the Ino–Shika–Chō trio couldn't help but talk.
"Shikaku, do you think Lady Tsunade and Jōnin Ryuyun are… together?"
"They don't really seem to match!"
They didn't mean to insult him — it was just that, despite Ryuyun's fame as the Golden Lion of Konoha, he was still a commoner, while Tsunade was the granddaughter of the First Hokage.
Shikaku remained relaxed as always. "Whether they match or not isn't for us to decide. But if he wins this battle, would you still think they don't?"
"Hmm?"
Inoichi and Chōza exchanged confused looks. Then realization dawned.
"You mean… he's going to defeat Shukaku?"
"If that happens," Shikaku smirked, "no one will dare say anything again."
Defeating the One-Tail's Jinchūriki — the ultimate weapon of Sunagakure — would silence any gossip.
Still, that was the One-Tail. Could he really pull it off?
"I just have a feeling," Shikaku muttered, half to himself, "Aoyama Ryuyun isn't someone ordinary."
Before the other two could reply, Tsunade's voice snapped across the field: "Are you done chatting? Move it!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
They immediately stopped talking and followed after her.
---
By the time Tsunade arrived, Sunagakure had already launched their assault. There were no negotiations or declarations — just a sudden, brutal attack.
Led by the Third Kazekage and Chiyo, Sunagakure's elite forces surged forward. The One-Tail's Jinchūriki, Bunbuku, hadn't even joined yet, and already Konoha's lines were struggling.
"These idiots from Suna — have they lost their minds? Hit them back! Full counterattack!"
"Yes!"
At Tsunade's command, Konoha's forces charged. The battlefield erupted in fire, sand, and blood — the cruel reality of ninja warfare.
Spotting Chiyo controlling her puppets and cutting down Konoha shinobi, Tsunade wasted no time.
"Die, old hag!"
Heavenly Foot of Pain!
She leapt high and brought her heel down like thunder.
Boom!
The sand exploded, scattering debris everywhere. Chiyo's puppets were thrown off balance, their chakra threads quivering before returning to her side.
Puppet users were inherently weak in close combat — and against someone like Tsunade, that weakness was fatal.
"What, are all of Konoha's shinobi dead? They sent a little girl to fight me?" Chiyo sneered.
"Hmph! Don't flatter yourself. One punch from this 'little girl' is more than enough to send you flying, granny."
Tsunade shattered a puppet sneaking up behind her with a casual reverse punch.
"As expected. Puppeteers are all cowards — only good for sneak attacks!"
Chiyo didn't take the bait. "Keep talking big, girl. Words like that tend to get people killed early."
"Then let's test that theory!"
Both moved at the same time — chakra threads flashing, sand scattering, fists colliding with steel.
Super Strength Fist!
---
Elsewhere, the Ino–Shika–Chō trio had already engaged the Third Kazekage.
"Ninja Art — Mind Transfer Jutsu!"
The Kazekage, manipulating his Iron Sand midair, suddenly faltered as his mind wavered.
"Shadow Imitation Jutsu!"
Taking advantage of that brief opening, Shikaku crouched low, his shadow extending rapidly and linking with the Kazekage's.
"Chōza!"
"On it!"
"Partial Expansion Jutsu!"
Chōza's arm swelled like a boulder and crashed into the Kazekage's body.
Boom!
Dust erupted into the sky. The combined power of the Ino–Shika–Chō — when perfectly synchronized — was fearsome.
However, Shikaku didn't relax. He kept his fingers locked in a seal.
"If the strongest Kazekage could be beaten that easily, he wouldn't have earned the title," he said quietly.
Sure enough, laughter echoed from within the smoke.
"Hahaha! As expected of the Nara clan — sharp as ever."
When the dust cleared, the Third Kazekage stood unharmed, cloaked in swirling Iron Sand.
"The Ino–Shika–Chō trio? You're not bad. But it's far too early to think you can defeat me."
Shikaku's expression didn't change. "Defeat you? That's not our mission. We only need to stall you."
The Kazekage's eyes narrowed.
"Hmph! Iron Sand: Drizzle!"
The Iron Sand burst upward and rained down like a storm of black needles.
"Move!"
"Right!"
The trio spread out with seamless coordination. Their teamwork — honed over years — didn't even require words.
The Kazekage clenched his jaw in frustration. No matter how much power he unleashed, they slipped away, regrouped, and stalled him again.
Even he had to admit — it was irritatingly effective.
---
Meanwhile, back at the Suna command post, Bunbuku sighed as he sensed the battle's direction.
With both the Kazekage and Chiyo occupied, the tide was beginning to favor Konoha.
"Bunbuku-senpai, we'll need your strength again," said Ebizo grimly.
Bunbuku nodded. "If it's for Sunagakure… then so be it."
He slowly rose — just as a young man with golden hair and calm arrogance approached.
"Next," Aoyama Ryuyun said, resting his hand on his sword hilt, "I'll be your opponent."
Ebizo stiffened. "The Golden Lion of Konoha… Aoyama Ryuyun?"
He stepped forward. "Bunbuku-senpai, you should return to the battlefield. I'll handle—"
"Get lost."
A pulse of pressure exploded from Ryuyun.
Boom!
Ebizo collapsed instantly, eyes rolling back, knocked unconscious by sheer force of will.
Bunbuku's eyes widened. What was that?
That oppressive aura wasn't chakra — it was pure spirit.
Even an elite jōnin like Ebizo couldn't withstand it.
Deep within Bunbuku, the One-Tail stirred.
"Bunbuku, step aside. He's mine."
"Shukaku?"
"Hmph. It's rare to find such an interesting human. I want to test him myself!"
Bunbuku smiled faintly. "Very well."
"Ninjutsu — False Sleep Jutsu!"
As Bunbuku fell unconscious, the sands erupted around him. A massive whirlwind of yellow dust consumed the field as shinobi on both sides retreated in panic.
"That chakra… it's Ichibi!"
"Run!"
"Get back!"
Moments later, the colossal tanuki form of Shukaku, the One-Tail, emerged — towering over the battlefield, laughing maniacally.
"Hahahaha! I'm finally free again!"
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