A human body… contending with a Tailed Beast?
Had Uchiha Akihito already reached the level of that monster, the Third Raikage?
Legend said the Third Raikage could tear apart the Eight-Tails with sheer taijutsu.
And yet—
Akihito hadn't even activated his full ocular powers.
With nothing but a sword in hand, he had split a Tailed Beast Bomb.
From that alone, he seemed even more outrageous than the late Third Raikage.
Of course—
Yagura hadn't fully transformed, and the Bomb's power was somewhat discounted.
But still.
Akihito's body rivaling a Tailed Beast was undeniable.
Raikage-level fighters usually avoided Tailed Beast Bombs with speed.
Akihito had met it head-on.
Across shinobi history, very few had done the same.
Yagura's Final Struggle
The situation was dire.
Yagura clenched his teeth.
He could not lose here.
He had to preserve the dignity of the Mizukage.
Driven by sheer will, the Three-Tails' chakra surged violently.
"BOOM!"
A massive shockwave engulfed the battlefield.
Dust and debris swallowed both figures.
"Akihito!"
"Mizukage-sama!"
Anxious voices rang out.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
Using the recoil, Yagura escaped the smoke first.
Moments later—
Akihito emerged as well.
On the surface, it looked like a draw.
But through his Sharingan, Akihito had clearly seen—
Yagura was injured by the Sky-Splitting Slash.
Still, he said nothing.
Yagura wanted to preserve face.
And Akihito had no interest in humiliating him.
Defeating the Mizukage wasn't exactly groundbreaking for him.
After all—
He had already beaten Yugito Nii and the so-called strongest "A-B Combination."
There was no deep grudge here.
And timeline-wise—
Obito and Pain would soon move against the Hidden Mist anyway.
Yagura's fate was already sealed.
There was no need to alter history.
Given Obito's hatred toward the Mist—
The coming "Bloody Mist" era was inevitable.
And frankly—
Akihito had no intention of provoking Obito and Pain prematurely.
The battle ended.
Both sides approached cautiously.
"I'm fine."
"So am I."
Yagura spoke through suppressed pain.
"I won't pursue your border violation."
"This ends here."
Akihito nodded.
Mission complete.
Intel gathered.
Swordsmanship tempered.
A fruitful journey.
Yagura, inwardly relieved, withdrew with his ANBU.
Had the fight continued—
He would have lost.
And the Mizukage's prestige would have crumbled.
Meanwhile — Land of Wind
Tsunade's squad had been wandering near Sunagakure's borders for days.
Plenty of rumors.
No Akatsuki.
Dry wind. Sand in the mouth.
Tsunade hated this place.
But losing to Akihito in mission results?
Unacceptable.
"Stay sharp!"
"We're finding those Akatsuki bastards!"
Shiranui Genma grumbled internally.
Days of nothing.
Couldn't they just go home?
But he didn't dare say it aloud.
Tsunade's temper was legendary.
Raidō and Iwashi were even quieter.
Recently promoted Chūnin.
They knew better.
Eventually—
Two figures appeared ahead.
Black cloaks.
Red clouds.
Tsunade's eyes sharpened.
Akatsuki.
Finally.
One figure chuckled.
"Fancy meeting you here… Tsunade."
That voice.
"Orochimaru."
She smirked.
"So you joined some shady organization too?"
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"To uncover truth… one must collaborate."
Same cryptic nonsense as always.
Before they could continue—
A rasping voice interrupted.
"That's enough, snake."
"I dislike waiting."
The second figure—Hiruko—loomed forward.
Genma and the others blinked.
What was that thing?
Sasori spoke coldly.
"Art… is not for everyone to understand."
"Would you like to become part of my collection?"
Collection?
What?
Tsunade raised a brow.
"Looking to fight?"
Sasori stared at her.
"I've heard you're the greatest medical ninja."
"Let's see."
Tsunade grinned.
"Perfect."
She waved her team back.
"I'll handle this."
Genma hesitated—
Then wisely obeyed.
Their mission was protection.
One-on-one, Tsunade wouldn't lose.
Orochimaru merely watched.
This was Tsunade versus Sasori.
Old grudges ran deep.
Sasori's parents had died to Sakumo Hatake.
Chiyo had fought Tsunade many times.
Hatred lingered.
Wind stirred sand.
The duel began.
Tsunade vs Sasori
Tsunade lunged first.
A single punch.
"BOOM!"
The desert cratered.
Hiruko barely dodged.
"Incredible strength…"
"Worthy of legend."
Tsunade replied calmly.
"You're not bad either."
Sasori's movements were surprisingly agile despite the bulky puppet.
"I've heard you deciphered Chiyo's poisons repeatedly."
"Let's see how you handle mine."
Tsunade snorted.
Poison?
In front of me?
"Tail Sting!"
She dodged effortlessly.
"Painful Heaven Kick!"
Sasori leapt back.
"Hiruko: Needle Barrage!"
Poison needles rained down.
Still—
No hit.
Sasori assessed.
She was too agile.
He needed area coverage.
"Secret Technique: Thousand Hands Manipulation!"
A cylindrical launcher deployed.
Explosive scatter-shot of poisoned needles in all directions.
Absolute contamination.
Tsunade activated her Chakra Scalpel.
If she couldn't dodge—
She'd cut them down.
Clink. Clatter.
Needles fell uselessly.
Sasori's expression darkened.
Annoying.
But—
He wasn't discouraged.
If Chiyo couldn't defeat her—
He would.
That would prove his art supreme.
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