This battle, born of a single determined thought, has carried enormous risks. Ye Zi, now wielding the power of Sage Mode, launched an unrelenting assault on Konoha, all for the sake of one person.
Ye Zi's wood clone reached the hospital, immediately sensing an overwhelming presence on the rooftop, vastly different from anyone else inside the building.
He intended to proceed inside to search for Kotoe's body but suddenly leapt backward. A figure descended from above, landing with a tremendous crash, leaving a large crater in the road. It was Tsunade, who had sensed the wood clone's presence.
Tsunade rose slowly, her sharp eyes fixed on Ye Zi's clone. With information relayed by Katsuyu, she was well aware that this was only a clone, as Ye Zi's true body was still engaged with Kushina in the East District.
Taking a deep breath, Tsunade's face grew cold as her icy gaze locked onto the clone. "Even if you're just a clone, you won't escape judgment!"
The wood clone suddenly smiled, its snake-like pupils giving it a chillingly sinister look.
"You're going to enjoy this next part."
Without further explanation, the wood clone began walking toward the hospital entrance.
Tsunade, enraged by his dismissive words, prepared to strike but froze when another figure suddenly appeared before her.
"Dan...!" Seeing that familiar face, Tsunade stood in stunned disbelief.
With so many Edo Tensei resurrected in the village, perhaps she shouldn't have been so surprised. Yet seeing Dan appear in front of her, she found herself unable to control her emotions.
Dan's task had always been to find Tsunade, using her attachment to him to restrict her and disrupt her slug-based healing techniques. As a result, he hadn't participated in the battles until this moment when he finally found her.
"Tsunade." Dan couldn't help but smile. Though he knew what was to come would be painful, seeing her again brought a certain bittersweet joy.
"I'm going to have to attack you relentlessly to make you undo Katsuyu's techniques. You know how dangerous my Spirit Transformation Technique can be, so be careful."
"Dan." Tsunade bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes.
"I'm sorry." Dan smiled bitterly, his voice tender. "Please protect Konoha."
Unable to hold back her tears, they streamed down her face.
Wiping them away with a determined hand, Tsunade's vulnerable expression hardened into one of unyielding resolve.
"I will."
As her words fell, Dan formed hand seals, and a glowing light appeared on his shoulders, his Spirit Transformation Technique was activated.
Tsunade, her focus now entirely on Dan, had no choice but to engage him. She could no longer prevent Ye Zi's wood clone from entering the hospital.
Inside the hospital, Ye Zi's wood clone strode down the hallway, narrowing his sensing abilities to scan the entire building meticulously.
His target wouldn't be in a busy area. Recalling his previous visits here, he remembered that Tsunade had a dedicated room in this building. The body was likely nearby.
As he moved toward that area, twelve masked ANBU operatives appeared in the hallway, blocking his path. Each wielded standard-issue longswords, and though their faces were obscured by masks, their tension was palpable.
"Attack!"
At the command, the twelve ANBU moved as one, running along the walls and ceiling, converging on the wood clone.
With a flash, Ye Zi's clone darted through them. Twelve muffled thuds echoed in rapid succession as invisible natural energy struck each ANBU operative, hurling them through the walls and out of the building, leaving their fate uncertain.
The wood clone didn't so much as glance at them, striding purposefully toward its destination.
Outside, the noise of the ANBU crashing through walls failed to draw Tsunade's attention. She had no time to spare, her battle with Dan demanded her full focus.
.....
On Central Street, the enormous body of Manda bore numerous injuries, yet the serpent showed no intention of retreating to Ryūchi Cave. Loyal to Ye Zi's orders, Manda would not abandon the attack until the very last moment.
However, Konoha's counterattack had fully formed, and continuing the assault was growing increasingly futile.
Most of the Edo Tensei soldiers had been sealed, reducing the strain on Orochimaru's control. This allowed him to focus his efforts on more specific targets, such as Sakumo Hatake and Dan Kato.
CLANG!
The sound of battle rang out as Hiruzen Sarutobi, clad in his black combat attire, wielded the Adamantine Staff, clashing against Sakumo Hatake's White Fang.
"His speed has increased...!"
That single exchange immediately revealed to Hiruzen that something had changed.
With less pressure on his chakra reserves, Orochimaru was no longer suppressing Sakumo's consciousness, allowing him to fight more freely.
"Lord Third." Sakumo's eyes shifted subtly, glancing at the aged Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Sarutobi frowned, understanding why the last clash had felt so different. Looking at Sakumo, he sighed. "To face you like this was never my wish."
Sakumo nodded faintly, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding area, noting Kakashi's absence. A hint of regret flickered across his face. "If it's you, Lord Third, I can be stopped."
Hiruzen replied gravely, "I hope so."
This level of battle wasn't one in which other Konoha shinobi could intervene. Doing so would only result in needless casualties. It fell to Hiruzen's aging body to suppress Sakumo's deadly potential.
With wind and lightning chakra coursing through his blade, the pressure from Sakumo's White Fang intensified.
The White Fang, which had already severed countless kunai and swords during the battle, now clashed with the unyielding Adamantine Staff.
Despite the elemental enhancements, Sakumo's blade could not break through the indomitable strength of Hiruzen's legendary staff.
As the shining White Fang moved to strike once more, the Adamantine Staff rose to meet it, and their battle resumed with unrelenting ferocity.
....
Northeast Training Ground
Kakashi crawled out of the forest, struggling due to his broken legs, unable to stand and forced to drag himself forward.
Emerging from the trees, he froze at the sight before him.
Rin lay limp, her head tilted to one side, a stone pillar piercing through her abdomen. Her condition unknown, whether alive or dead.
Guy was lying in a crater, his head turned to the side, his fate similarly uncertain.
Kurenai appeared to be in better shape, there were no visible injuries on her body but she too laid motionless.
Obito, however, was nowhere to be found.
"Rin, Guy, Kurenai…!"
A wave of cold dread swept over Kakashi, and he crawled desperately toward Rin. Along the way, he paused briefly to check on Kurenai and found that she had only fainted. Just then, a heavy coughing sound came from the crater where Guy was.
"Guy." Kakashi didn't look toward Guy; his attention remained fixed on Rin.
"I'm… okay, Kakashi," Guy managed weakly, barely lifting his eyelids. "Take Rin for treatment."
"Wait here for me."
Suppressing his inner turmoil and fury, Kakashi resolved to crawl if he must, but he would get Rin to safety and medical attention.
At that moment, several small slugs appeared, crawling toward them. They climbed onto Rin's wounds.
In addition to the one tending to Rin, four more slugs arrived, one heading for the ruins where Obito was, another for Guy, one for Kakashi, and one for Kurenai.
"This is… the Slug Technique. Thank goodness," Kakashi sighed with relief. He quickly addressed the slug that had crawled onto him. "How is Rin?"
The small slug's split body replied, "She's not in immediate danger, but the stone pillar piercing her abdomen must be removed as soon as possible."
"Understood." Kakashi let out a small breath of relief.
At that moment, a figure carrying another slug on his shoulder appeared beside Rin, it was Obito.
But now, the Sharingan in Obito's eyes was no longer just the three-tomoe form.
Tears of overwhelming relief and emotion streamed from the uniquely shaped Sharingan in Obito's eyes.
"Thank goodness, Rin… thank goodness!" Obito exclaimed, his voice trembling with fear and gratitude. He reached out, his hand gently pressing against Rin's cheek.
Then, in the next moment, both Rin and the slug accompanying her vanished as Obito teleported them away from the stone pillar.
Obito's control had become stronger.
Kakashi was stunned, not only by Obito's sudden appearance but also by his improved mastery of the Flying Raijin technique.
Previously, Obito's abilities wouldn't have allowed him to teleport Rin while she was impaled on the stone pillar. Yet now, he had succeeded.
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