Bai Ming's heart was in turmoil.
In his memories, he had witnessed his own journey from birth to becoming the Seventh Hokage. Tsunade, with her kind yet firm demeanor, had always treated him well.
For that reason, Bai Ming could not bear to see himself, as Heiming, be ruthless toward Tsunade in this alternate world.
As he stood deep in thought, Jiraiya's firm hand patted his shoulder.
"Relax, Naruto…"
"Don't worry," Jiraiya said, his tone filled with cautious optimism. "Heiming's actions might be shocking, but I don't think he'll truly harm Tsunade."
"Are you sure?" Bai Ming asked, his voice tinged with unease.
"Absolutely," Jiraiya replied, giving him a reassuring thumbs-up. "Tsunade is the granddaughter of Mito Uzumaki. She has the blood of the Uzumaki clan running through her veins. No matter how ruthless Heiming might seem, I've seen that he has a soft spot for family."
Family.
The mention of the Uzumaki clan struck a chord in Bai Ming.
Memories of his conversation with his mother, Uzumaki Kushina, in the spiritual space during his first use of Nine-Tails' chakra resurfaced. He recalled her sadness when she spoke of their scattered clan. Her words and the Fourth Hokage's reminder echoed in his heart:
"Abandoning your family is like abandoning your homeland. Only someone who has lost both can truly understand the pain."
Bai Ming suddenly understood Heiming's obsession.
For Heiming, avenging the destruction of the Uzumaki clan was a mission etched into his very being—an obsession even more intense than Sasuke's quest for revenge. The realization left Bai Ming fearful of the destruction Heiming could unleash if he discovered the culprits behind the clan's fall.
---
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps filled the air.
[Shh… shh… shh...]
The figures of Konoha's Anbu and some elite ninjas appeared, surrounding the crater created by the blast from the massive Rasengan Heiming had unleashed.
"Identify yourself!" the lead Anbu demanded, voice sharp.
The figure standing amidst the wreckage turned to face them.
"You destroyed the forest behind Konoha," the Anbu continued, his tone accusing.
Ignoring the remark, Heiming's voice was cold and direct. "Bring out the Fifth Hokage."
Kakashi Hatake stepped forward, analyzing the stranger with a calm demeanor. "If you truly wanted to destroy Konoha, you'd have already done so. What is it you really want?"
A faint smile tugged at Heiming's lips. "That depends on your Hokage's performance."
Moments later, the crowd parted as a commanding voice announced her arrival.
"Fifth Hokage is here!"
"Tsunade-sama!"
Tsunade's figure appeared, her expression a mixture of authority and caution. Her sharp eyes scanned Heiming, her instincts quickly assessing the situation.
"You're the one responsible for the destruction in the forest?" she asked bluntly.
Heiming chuckled lightly. "I came here to test the strength of Senju Hashirama's descendant."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "So, your target is me?"
Heiming raised his hand, summoning five figures with a burst of chakra.
"Luna, Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Suzaku, Xuanwu," he declared. "If you can defeat them, I'll leave Konoha."
The summoned beasts—each immense and exuding an aura of power—prepared for combat.
Tsunade clenched her fists, her legendary strength ready to unleash. "You think I'm afraid of some summoning beasts? Bring it on!"
---
The battle erupted.
Tsunade's immense physical power was on full display. She delivered a devastating punch to Azure Dragon, sending it flying. The ground cracked beneath her feet as she stomped Xuanwu into the earth. The gathered Konoha ninjas cheered, inspired by their Hokage's dominance.
"That's our Tsunade-sama!"
"Victory is ours!"
But Heiming remained unfazed. Watching from a distance, his lips curled into an amused smile.
In the sky, Suzaku rained down flames, its aerial advantage leaving the Konoha forces helpless. On the ground, Luna darted toward Tsunade, her twin silk ribbons imbued with chakra leaving deep scars in the terrain.
Despite the odds, Tsunade fought fiercely. Her confidence grew as she overcame each attack.
Then, a sharp, metallic scent filled the air.
Blood.
The pungent smell triggered Tsunade's old trauma. Her movements faltered, and panic flickered in her eyes.
The surrounding ninjas noticed.
"Blood… Is that blood? Tsunade-sama has hemophobia!"
"How did he know?"
Heiming's voice broke through the tension. "A Hokage afraid of blood? How pathetic."
Tsunade gritted her teeth, struggling to suppress her fear. "You think this will stop me?"
Summoning her willpower, she grabbed Luna's silk ribbon mid-attack and yanked her forward. Luna stumbled, barely avoiding Tsunade's crushing punch.
The Konoha ninjas cheered again, but their celebration was short-lived.
---
A glowing purple barrier suddenly surrounded Tsunade.
She froze, recognizing the high-level jutsu. Before she could react, a beam of light pierced through the barrier, striking her chest.
"Chakra… My chakra is being drained," she muttered, her body weakening.
From the ground, a golden snake emerged, coiling around her and tightening its grip. The snake's fangs bit into her skin, further draining her chakra.
"Tsunade-sama!" the Konoha ninjas shouted in despair.
Heiming approached, his expression cold. "This is the strength of Hashirama's descendant? How disappointing."
Tsunade struggled to lift her head, glaring at him. "Who… are you?"
Heiming tightened his grip around her neck. "The one who will change this broken world. That's all you need to know."
---
Watching from afar, the other villages' leaders reacted:
Fourth Raikage: "Despicable tactics. Heiming's actions dishonor the name of the Hokage."
Jiraiya: "Heiming isn't playing fair, but his strategy is ruthless. He's making a statement."
Madara Uchiha: "What a waste. If he's so powerful, he should've destroyed Konoha outright."
Senju Tobirama: "Madara, you've always been too reckless. This is psychological warfare."
---
Back in the battlefield, Tsunade's vision blurred as the golden snake constricted tighter. The Konoha ninjas stood frozen, their morale crushed.
"Release her!" Kakashi shouted, preparing to intervene.
But Heiming's Rasengan hovered ominously in the air. "Take one step, and your Hokage dies."
The tension was suffocating.
As Tsunade's strength waned, Heiming smirked.
"The age of Senju Hashirama's legacy ends here," he declared.
--------------------------
Visit our Patreon for more:
patreon.com/Samurai492