Tsunade and Dan, once lovers, now stood on opposite sides of the battlefield.
"Ha!"
Tsunade punched upward, her immense strength launching a massive rock into the air. She leaped after it, catching Dan's attention.
"Tsunade, your strength is as formidable as ever," Dan praised, mid-dodge.
Tsunade smirked with pride. "If I wasn't this strong, I wouldn't be able to sit in the Hokage's seat."
Dan nodded, admiration in his eyes. "True enough. Then let me test you at full power. Be careful, Tsunade!"
"Understood," she responded, her tone steady.
Their clash began in earnest. Dan's battle prowess was every bit as refined as Tsunade remembered. Despite her brute strength, Dan's technique forced her into a defensive stance.
Realizing she needed more, Tsunade formed a seal. "Ninjutsu: Strength of a Hundred Technique (Byakugō no Jutsu)!"
Instantly, a violet diamond-shaped seal lit up on her forehead and spread as black markings across her body.
As a rule, medical-nin should not be on the front lines. They were essential support, and their loss meant disaster for their teams. But Tsunade was the exception. With the Strength of a Hundred, she could recover from any wound instantly, making her nearly invincible in close combat.
Though not as powerful as her grandfather Senju Hashirama, Tsunade could hold her own against top-tier enemies with this technique.
Dan looked impressed. "So you've mastered it."
Back when they were together, Tsunade had only started developing this forbidden medical technique. After Dan's death, she committed herself to it completely, vowing to never again let comrades die before her eyes.
"Yes," she answered firmly. "Medical ninjutsu alone isn't enough on the battlefield. Sometimes, we must be able to protect others with our own hands."
Dan's gaze softened. He realized his death had left a scar deeper than any wound. For a long time after, Tsunade had developed hemophobia—a crippling fear of blood. Only when Naruto and Jiraiya had sought her out did she begin to heal.
"Here I come!"
Tsunade lunged again, her punches brutal. She nearly shattered Dan multiple times, but each time, his Impure World Reincarnated body dodged instinctively.
Dan grunted, face twisted in pain. "Damn it, my body's no longer mine... I'm losing control... Wait… what's this? Not good—Tsunade, get back!"
He flipped away, landed in a crouch, and formed a seal.
"Spiritualization Technique (Shintenshin no Jutsu - Advanced Variant)!"
In the shadows, Yakushi Kabuto grinned darkly. Using the forbidden modifications he had made to the Impure World Reincarnation, he now enhanced Dan's signature technique, seizing control over his soul.
The Spiritualization Technique was an S-rank ability that allowed the user's soul to leave their body, phasing through space to possess others, enter their minds, or assassinate from afar. It was what had made Kato Dan a feared name across multiple hidden villages.
Dan's soul lifted from his body, glowing with bluish chakra, and flew toward Tsunade.
"Be careful, Tsunade! Kabuto is manipulating me. Keep your mind strong—don't let me in!"
Tsunade gritted her teeth. "Damn you, Kabuto!"
She backpedaled quickly, trying to avoid the soul assault.
From behind, Akimichi Chōza shouted, "Tsunade-sama, look out!"
He sprinted to help, but Asuma Sarutobi blocked his path.
Asuma took a deep drag from his cigarette. "Fire Style: Ash Pile Burning (Katon: Haisekishō)!"
A cloud of superheated ash exploded from his mouth, obscuring Chōza's vision and forcing him to back off from the flaming air.
Chōza growled, "Damn it!"
Asuma too was panicking inside. He knew the Spiritualization Technique well. It was Dan's signature ability, infamous on the bingo books. To be forced to use it on Tsunade—his Hokage—was unthinkable.
Tsunade continued retreating, knowing the soul technique ignored physical barriers. Only spiritual attacks like Amaterasu, weapons with sealing properties like the Totsuka Blade, or sealing jutsu like the Reaper Death Seal (Shiki Fūjin) could counter it.
But she had none of those. The only sealing item she owned—the First Hokage's Necklace—she had already given to Naruto.
Would she have to resort to the Reaper Death Seal?
Tsunade clenched her fists. She hated the thought of using such a jutsu.
Wait—if the user's body is destroyed, the spiritual form vanishes.
She changed direction instantly, charging toward Dan's idle body.
Dan's soul paused, then nodded. "Yes, Tsunade. Destroying or sealing my body will break the technique!"
But before she could reach it, Dan's soul surged with sudden speed, cutting her off and plunging directly into her!
Tsunade gasped, eyes wide, then went rigid.
"Tsunade-sama!" Chōza roared.
Nearby, Hiashi Hyūga sensed something wrong. He turned to leave, but his reanimated brother, Hizashi, suddenly struck with Eight Trigrams: Thirty-Two Palms, intercepting him.
"Damn it, brother… I can't stop myself!"
Hiashi gritted his teeth and looked toward the platform. Please… let her be safe.
Allied Shinobi Forces Headquarters
Yamanaka Inoichi was sweating. "Shikaku! Something's wrong. Tsunade-sama's spiritual frequency has changed—Dan's soul has entered her body!"
"What!?"
Nara Shikaku bolted upright, drenched in sweat. "Spiritualization Technique… No… How is she now?"
Inoichi quickly checked again. "Her chakra is stable. No breakdowns for now."
Shikaku's brow furrowed deeply. If Tsunade fell here, it would devastate the entire Allied Forces.
Suddenly, Raikage A stood up. "I'll go."
Shikaku stopped him. "No, Raikage-sama. Please stay where you are."
A narrowed his eyes. "Is this just hesitation, or are you being selfish, Shikaku?"
Shikaku exhaled. "I am the Chief Strategist of the Allied Shinobi Forces. My decisions must reflect the needs of the entire world, not just my village. If the Commander leaves his post, it will create instability."
A blinked, then nodded slowly, deeply moved by Shikaku's resolve.
"Fine. But you must take action!"
"Understood."
Shikaku turned to Inoichi. "Notify Kitsuchi's Second Division and Shikamaru's team to accelerate their advance. The Yamanaka Clan should prepare to enter the mental plane immediately if they arrive in time."
Shikaku narrowed his eyes and muttered inwardly, Dan... are you really capable of harming Tsunade-sama?
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