At the heart of the battlefield, the former position of the Three-Nation Allied Forces had turned into a living hell.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Standing atop the Complete Body Susanoo, Tobirama pressed his hands together.
Rumble—!
Countless massive tree roots erupted from the ground like rampaging dragons, instantly transforming several kilometers of battlefield into a primeval forest.
Ninja from the Land of Lightning and the Land of Wind who were still fleeing were ensnared by the roots, crushed and strangled alive, their blood soaking into the soil as nourishment for the forest.
"This… this is the power of Senju Hashirama…"
The Third Raikage—once hailed as the strongest spear and shield—was now drenched in blood, gasping for breath.
His pride, the Lightning Release Armor, was already riddled with cracks under the pressure of the Complete Body Susanoo's giant blade.
"I refuse to believe this!"
"Lightning Release: Hell Stab—One-Finger Nukite!"
With a furious roar, the Raikage compressed his Chakra to its absolute limit, transforming into a streak of black lightning as he charged headlong at the crimson giant.
"Admirable courage," Tobirama said coolly, looking down at him.
"But it's meaningless."
"Susanoo: Yata Mirror!"
A colossal red shield manifested in front of him.
Clang—!!
The deafening impact ruptured the eardrums of nearby ninja.
The One-Finger Nukite—boasted to pierce anything—struck the Yata Mirror and failed to leave even a ripple.
Instead, the recoil shattered the Raikage's fingers. His body was blasted backward like a cannonball, smashing into a heap of rubble, his fate unknown.
On the other side of the battlefield—
The Third Kazekage manipulated iron sand that filled the sky, launching an aerial assault.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Method!"
Countless spikes of poisoned iron sand rained down like a storm.
Tobirama didn't even spare it a glance.
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"
A massive Wood Dragon burst forth from the forest, opening its jaws and swallowing the iron sand whole!
In the next instant, the dragon coiled upward and clamped down on the Third Kazekage, who was still hovering arrogantly in midair.
"What?!"
Panic flashed across the Kazekage's face as he struggled—only to realize his Chakra was being rapidly siphoned away.
"Get down here."
Tobirama crooked a finger.
Boom!
The Wood Dragon slammed into the ground, smashing the Third Kazekage into the earth and sending blood spraying from his mouth.
Two Kage.
The strongest Kazekage and the strongest Raikage, acknowledged by the entire shinobi world.
Yet in front of Tobirama, neither of them could even last the time it took for a stick of incense to burn.
With Ōnoki still turning on his own allies and attacking from within—
The Three-Nation Allied Forces collapsed completely.
"M-Monster!"
"The Kage are defeated—run!"
Once morale shatters, it collapses like an avalanche.
The remaining allied ninja abandoned their weapons and armor, wailing as they fled toward the border.
"Do not pursue a desperate enemy," Tobirama said calmly.
He dispersed the Susanoo and landed on the ground.
The surrounding Konoha ninja stared in disbelief—then erupted into earth-shaking cheers.
They won.
They really won.
One man, crushing three nations.
Ignoring the celebration, Tobirama walked straight toward Tsunade.
Having exhausted herself earlier, Tsunade leaned against a tree, panting heavily, her face pale from Chakra depletion.
"Summoning Technique!"
Poof—!
A massive blue-and-white slug appeared.
Unlike Tsunade's usual summon, this one radiated dense Sage Chakra.
"This is… a slug?" Tsunade paused. "Why does it feel even stronger than the one from Shikkotsu Forest?"
"My exclusive summon," Tobirama replied with a smile. "Of course it's strong."
The slug divided itself, attaching to Tsunade and the injured Konoha ninja nearby, rapidly injecting life force and restoring them.
"Tsunade, things here are basically settled," Tobirama said.
"How are the other two fronts?"
Feeling her Chakra recover, Tsunade exhaled and grew serious.
"Not good."
"Shikaku's front has the Hyuga and Uchiha holding the line—it's difficult, but manageable."
"The real problem is Orochimaru and Hatake Sakumo's side."
"They're facing Chiyo of the Land of Wind and her puppet corps."
"She's using an extremely potent poison—our medical ninja can't neutralize it. Sakumo Hatake is trapped, and the casualties are heavy."
"Poison?"
Tobirama sneered.
"Playing with poison in front of me—she really doesn't know how to write the word 'death.'"
He patted Tsunade on the shoulder.
"Leave cleanup here to you. I'll be back shortly."
"Back shortly?" Tsunade froze. "Where are you—"
"Flying Thunder God Technique!"
Whoosh—!
Tobirama vanished.
…
Western border of the Land of Fire, wilderness battlefield.
Green toxic fog blanketed the area.
Cough—cough—
Hatake Sakumo knelt on the ground, clutching a short blade as black blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
His blade was fast—but the omnipresent poison left nowhere to escape.
Nearby, Orochimaru was in no better condition. The Manda he had summoned was already poisoned and forced to retreat to Ryūchi Cave, while Orochimaru himself looked pale, his snake-like eyes wary.
"As expected of Chiyo," Orochimaru rasped.
"This poison is even worse than I imagined."
Opposite them, Chiyo controlled the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets, killing intent filling her aged face.
"Land of Wind forces—attack!"
"Leave no one alive!"
"Today, Konoha is to be completely annihilated!"
Thousands of Suna puppet masters advanced like a tide.
Despair.
Konoha's defensive line had already been torn apart. The wounded lay everywhere, screams filling the air.
Just as Orochimaru and Sakumo prepared to fight to the death—
Hum.
A golden mark lit up on the back of Orochimaru's neck.
He froze.
The next instant, a figure appeared between them.
"Who—?!"
Sakumo's blade flashed out instinctively.
"Easy, White Fang-senpai."
Tobirama caught the blade between two fingers, smiling faintly.
"I'm here to help."
"Tobirama-kun?"
A glint flashed through Orochimaru's eyes.
"Aren't you in Konoha? How—"
"The Flying Thunder God lets me provide support anytime," Tobirama replied.
"The Hidden Rain battlefield is already finished."
He released the blade and surveyed the carnage around them—blackened corpses everywhere, toxic fog choking the air.
"Tsk. What a mess."
"Puppet masters really are disgusting in group battles."
Turning his back to them, Tobirama said calmly:
"Take the remaining forces and retreat five kilometers."
"Leave this to me."
"You alone?" Sakumo frowned. "That's Chiyo—and three thousand puppet masters, all using poison!"
"So what?"
Tobirama turned his head, the scarlet glow of his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan eerily bright in the fog.
"They're just rabble."
"And as for poison—"
"I'm Uchiha, but I'm also a medical ninja."
"I specialize in curing all forms of defiance."
"Retreat."
The command was absolute.
Orochimaru studied him deeply, then smiled faintly.
"Sakumo Hatake, retreat."
"I'd also like to see how close this power is to the legendary Uchiha Madara."
As the Konoha forces withdrew, the battlefield quickly emptied.
Only Tobirama remained, standing alone in the wilderness.
Opposite him, Chiyo frowned.
"A trap?"
"Who is that brat?"
"Is he… an Uchiha?"
The nearby Suna Jonin froze, then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Has Konoha been poisoned into stupidity?"
"Leaving a brat who hasn't even grown up to cover the rear?"
"Hey, kid! Too scared to run?"
Mockery echoed across the field.
Chiyo sneered as her fingers moved, ten white puppets clicking ominously in the air.
"No matter what scheme this is—"
"Before my poison and puppets, it's meaningless."
"Since he wants to be a hero," she said coldly,
"Let's grant his wish."
"Kill him."
At her command, hundreds of puppets surged forward like locusts, blades dripping with poison.
Tobirama stood unmoving.
Facing the sea of puppets and jeers, he slowly raised his head.
A cruel, anticipatory smile spread across his face.
"Laugh," he said softly.
"Laugh while you still can."
"In a moment—"
"I hope you can still remember how to cry."