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Although Kazekaze's Rasengan didn't have much impact on himself, if it were another ninja, they might have been instantly killed by it. In fact, even Senju Hashirama lay on the ground for five or six breaths before he could restore his chakra flow. He moved his hand, pressed it on the ground, and supported himself to stand up. The damage caused by the Rasengan on his body began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye. It was... Passive Regeneration. When Hashirama fully stood up, he looked as if he hadn't been injured at all.
Plop! Kazekaze landed on his feet, steadying himself, and couldn't help but marvel at Hashirama's recovery ability.
"Honestly, Hashirama didn't notice Uchiha Madara biting a piece of his flesh because of the no-seal healing, right?" Kazekaze thought to himself.
"Kazekaze, your strength has indeed exceeded my understanding. Among the ninjas I've encountered, no one can compare to you. However, my strength is far from just this." Hashirama's voice was low, and his expression became more serious than before.
Plop! Senju Hashirama clapped his hands and began to absorb the natural energy around him frantically. Combining it with his chakra, it transformed into Sage Chakra. On Hashirama's forehead, at the position of his eyes, black markings appeared. Without a doubt, it was... Sage Art: Sage Mode!
Kazekaze: "???"
Goodness. Kazekaze exclaimed in surprise. After being hit by a Rasengan, Hashirama was going to enter Sage Mode?! Don't tell me, you plan to show me True Several Thousand Hands? I'm not Uchiha Madara. Kazekaze couldn't help but complain internally.
Then, he heard Hashirama speak.
"Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several..."
Kazekaze's eyes widened instantly, his brain seemingly in overdrive, thinking of at least a hundred ways to respond. Kazekaze took a deep breath, focusing intently, staring at Hashirama. He seemed to be able to foresee what was about to happen next. And... Kazekaze had a very bad feeling!
However, Hashirama ultimately didn't say the final "Thousand Hands" words. Because his sage markings quickly faded and disappeared. Immediately after... Cough! Hashirama suddenly spat out, but it wasn't any ninjutsu, it was a mouthful of old blood. This sudden scene startled Tobirama.
The next second. Tobirama used the Flying Thunder God Technique to stand in front of Kazekaze, handing Tsunade to him, then flashed to Hashirama's side. Before Hashirama could fall, Tobirama supported his arm.
Kazekaze: "???"
Hiruzen and others: "???"
White Zetsu, observing everything secretly: "???"
No one expected Hashirama to suddenly spit blood. Kazekaze held Tsunade in his arms. The now less than one-year-old Tsunade was very cooperative with Kazekaze, sucking her thumb quietly without crying or fussing. Kazekaze was utterly confused.
"My Rasengan isn't that exaggerated, right? I just used the most basic Rasengan, and it made Hashirama spit blood?" Kazekaze couldn't understand the current situation. He didn't think that the Rasengan he just used would have such power. To severely injure Hashirama to this extent. Moreover, didn't he have the no-seal healing ability? When he stood up from the ground just now, he clearly repaired the damage caused by the Rasengan.
Hiruzen, Danzo, Koharu, Homura, Kagami. At this moment, they couldn't hold back any longer and rushed out from the forest, worried about Hashirama's condition. In fact, their hiding had long been discovered by Kazekaze, Tobirama, and Hashirama. They just hadn't pointed it out. Now seeing them suddenly appear. They weren't surprised at all.
Kazekaze hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward to Hashirama's side, asking what was going on.
"It's unrelated to you." Tobirama said without thinking, then realized his words might be misunderstood, so he quickly explained. "It has nothing to do with your Rasengan. The damage caused by your ninjutsu has already been repaired by your grandfather using no-seal healing. It's just..." Tobirama looked at Hashirama with a black line on his face, "Big brother, you should know your body's condition, right? Using Wood Golem, Wood Dragon, those jutsus that consume a lot of chakra is one thing. But you even used Sage Art." Tobirama said with displeasure.
During this process, he examined Hashirama's body. Currently, Hashirama was suffering from a terminal illness. Although relying on the medicine invented by Tobirama, he didn't appear haggard and looked very spirited. But in reality, this was just a facade. Hashirama's body was far worse than he showed. Every time Hashirama extracted chakra, it further damaged his body. No-seal healing was even worse. It might even shorten his lifespan.
From the beginning, Tobirama didn't support Hashirama's duel with Kazekaze. But considering Hashirama's character and persistence, he didn't say much. However, now, Hashirama ignored his body's condition and forcibly used Sage Art. The hidden dangers planted before were all exposed at this moment. The battle between him and Kazekaze couldn't continue.
"I need to take the First Hokage to Konoha Hospital for further treatment now." Tobirama said to Kazekaze, "Tsunade will be temporarily entrusted to you." Tobirama paused, then asked Hashirama, "How about it, big brother, can you hold on?"
"Hahaha." However, what Tobirama didn't expect was that Hashirama could still laugh in this situation. And it was a particularly hearty laugh! Does he even know how serious his body's condition is? All along, Tobirama's biggest worry was that Hashirama's illness would worsen!
"Don't worry, Tobirama, I know my body well. It's just that I haven't absorbed natural energy for a long time, so I'm a bit rusty. It's fine." Hashirama waved his hand, indicating Tobirama shouldn't be so tense. He wasn't going to die now.
"You should know, Tobirama, how tenacious my vitality is. Back in the Warring States period, no matter how severe the injury, didn't I heal on my own? What's this compared to that?" Hashirama said while gently patting Kazekaze's head.
"It's just a pity that this duel didn't have a clear winner, Kazekaze. We are evenly matched. Next time, Kazekaze." After saying this, Hashirama allowed Tobirama to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to take him away from here.
Whoosh... Tobirama and Hashirama then disappeared.