"You…!"
Jiraiya looked at Orochimaru's gentle demeanor and instead felt enraged: "This time, I definitely won't lose to you again!"
The next moment!
Both Jiraiya and Orochimaru simultaneously formed hand seals!
The two almost released two different jutsus at the same time!
"Fire Release: Great Flame Bomb!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The flames were instantly blown away by the gust of wind!
They burnt back towards Jiraiya before having the chance to reach Orochimaru!
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Jiraiya hastily formed seals and instantly released an earth wall to block the flames and wind, silently cursing himself.
"Still so clumsy..."
Orochimaru's neck suddenly extended, and his head passed over the earth wall, spitting a sharp blade towards Jiraiya!
"This guy!"
Jiraiya's arm was instantly slashed open by the blade!
Yet Jiraiya didn't have time to care about this; he had to quickly grab Tsunade and throw her away from the battle, preventing her from being affected by their fight!
Luckily, Shizune and Naruto Uzumaki arrived at this moment. They swiftly carried Tsunade away from the battlefield to prevent her from being caught up in the battle.
Once Tsunade was away, Jiraiya finally unleashed his full strength, directly charging towards Orochimaru, his hands quickly forming seals!
"Lion Mane Jutsu!"
Jiraiya's hair suddenly extended, wrapping around Orochimaru's body, intending to seize the chance to kill him on the spot!
This move might work against others, but it's useless against Orochimaru. Orochimaru's mouth suddenly opened, and an arm emerged from his body, molting from the Lion Mane Jutsu using Orochimaru's substitution technique!
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bomb!"
Jiraiya opened his mouth and released a burst of flames!
"Water Release: Water Array Wall!"
Orochimaru was equally quick, countering the Fire Dragon Flame Bomb with a giant water wall, as mist instantly spread across the battlefield!
These two of the Sannin of Konoha were deeply entangled in combat, just like many years ago, even more dangerous than the ninja sparring of many years past!
"Is this the battle among the Sannin?"
Shizune watched the flying ninjutsu in the sky in astonishment.
"So strong..."
Naruto Uzumaki continuously nodded his little head.
"Blood..."
Tsunade was still terrified by the blood splashed on her body, sitting weakly, not watching the battle between her two old friends.
"Has Tsunade developed hemophobia?"
A voice appeared behind these people.
This voice sounded a bit unfamiliar to Naruto Uzumaki, but for Shizune and Tsunade, it was eerily familiar, even causing Tsunade to stiffly raise her head, looking at the source of the voice in disbelief.
"This is..."
Shizune's body trembled slightly looking at the newcomer.
"Dan..."
Tsunade's body quivered slightly, uttering the newcomer's name.
Yes.
The newcomer was indeed Katou Dan.
Long silver hair draped over his shoulders, wearing a Konoha ninja headband, a radiant and warm smile on his face, but with cracks from the Reanimation Jutsu still visible and dull eyes, yet he still wore the green vest of a Konoha Ninja.
"How come..."
Tsunade's body trembled violently, heart racing uncontrollably.
Tsunade had fantasized about seeing Katou Dan, but she never thought she'd directly see him at this moment.
"Reanimation Jutsu..."
Shizune reacted immediately.
Shizune had only heard of the Reanimation Jutsu, never seen the effects. This time she finally saw the tremendous impact it could have.
The resurrection of the dead.
The temptation was too great.
Tsunade's gaze was already slightly vacant, her body slowly standing up, unconsciously reaching out towards Katou Dan.
"Is it really... you?"
"It is me."
"Resurrected by Orochimaru."
Katou Dan nodded with a smile, speaking: "Long time no see, Tsunade, I didn't expect you to be so useless, developing hemophobia, a disgrace for medical ninjas..."
"Uncle Dan, what are you saying..."
Shizune gazed incredulously at Katou Dan before her.
"Indeed..."
Tsunade's eyes slowly filled with tears, trickling down her cheeks, yet she still watched Katou Dan persistently: "Long time no see..."
"Wait, wait, wait..."
Naruto Uzumaki clutched his head in thought, seemingly trying to recall his memories: "This person is someone who's already dead..."
"Lady Tsunade!"
Shizune grabbed Tsunade's arm, urging solemnly: "Lady Tsunade, wake up, he's a puppet controlled by Orochimaru!"
"..."
Tsunade completely ignored Shizune, her gaze sorrowfully focused on Katou Dan.
Katou Dan's voice asked softly: "So, Lady Tsunade, could you give me the Summoning Contract for the Shikkotsu Forest?"
"Alright... alright... alright..."
Tsunade nodded repeatedly, as if cured of her hemophobia, instantly forming hand seals for the summoning jutsu, as she's required the Kasuya Sage's consent to sign the Summoning Contract for the Shikkotsu Forest.
"Lady Tsunade, wake up!"
Shizune tugged on Tsunade's arm, trying to stop her actions, but she didn't have Tsunade's strength, so she urgently called out to Naruto Uzumaki: "Naruto Uzumaki, quickly help stop Lady Tsunade, don't let her hand over the Shikkotsu Forest's Summoning Contract..."
"Ah, I know..."
Naruto Uzumaki nodded.
But his body was instantly kicked away by Tsunade, and even Shizune was thrown aside, and Tsunade persisted in forming the summoning jutsu hand seals...
"Ninpo: Summoning Jutsu!"
Tsunade quickly completed her hand seals, even disregarding her hemophobia, biting her finger, then pressing her hand on the ground, and the black incantation shone instantly.
A giant Katsuyu emerged accompanied by smoke!
"This is..."
Katsuyu's voice was somewhat childlike; it first noticed Katou Dan before them, almost unable to believe its eyes: "Lady Tsunade, is this Dan?"
"Yes."
Tsunade nodded, still gazing lovingly at Katou Dan, tears continuously streaming down her cheeks, her finger pointing softly at Katou Dan, a trace of pain flickering in her eyes, yet she gritted her teeth.
"Katsuyu, help me kill him..."
Tsunade's face no longer bore love, only has deep pain and resentment, giving a solemn command: "Dan has been controlled, even his soul is manipulated, cannot allow Dan to become a tool to harm Konoha!"
"Ah!"
Katsuyu was startled by Tsunade's resolve!
Even Shizune and Naruto Uzumaki were shocked!
"I know he is not the real Dan..."
Tsunade gazed at Katou Dan's face, filled with pain as she looked at him: "I have always wanted to see Dan's smiling face, but I won't let my selfishness harm Dan's will..."
At this moment.
Tsunade felt fulfilled.
Because she at least saw Katou Dan's resurrection.
This strengthened her determination to kill Orochimaru; she couldn't be weak in front of her former lover; experiences were merely her efforts to overcome her hemophobia!
"At least, thank you..."
Tsunade took a deep breath, glancing at the blood on her body, displayed no fear on her face: "Thank you for helping me overcome hemophobia... now tell me, who exactly are you!"
"What a pity..."
Katou Dan shook his head, the person controlling him internally continued speaking on their own: "I'm merely a fortunate one taught by Orochimaru-sama to control Reanimators..."
"Originally intended to exploit Katou Dan to lure Lady Tsunade into handing over the Summoning Contract for Katsuyu, but now it enabled her to overcome hemophobia, seems like I've caused new troubles for Orochimaru-sama..."
Thankfully.
Thankfully, Orochimaru-sama is powerful enough, he can probably handle his two classmates on his own.