Tsunade was dumbfounded as she watched the sudden change in her Sage Mark.
It was as if someone who had been a lecherous pervert mere moments ago had suddenly turned into an enlightened monk, spouting profound truths about how form is emptiness and emptiness is form, having seen through the illusions of the world.
Anyone would be suspicious!
But the Sage Mark didn't bother explaining.
With a thought, the branch beneath her extended, lifting Tsunade's body upward.
---
"Tsunade has appeared—is she about to surrender?" The Raikage stood atop a floating rock, instantly locking onto her position the moment she emerged. If this were flat ground, he would have already charged in, unloading a barrage of Lightning Release taijutsu techniques on her.
Meanwhile, Ōnoki was red-faced, his breathing noticeably heavier. It was clear how exhausted he was after using the Dust Release.
"She's finally out. Raikage, I'll create an opening for you—let's take her down!" Ōnoki struggled but managed to steady himself as he spoke.
The Raikage glanced at Ōnoki's current state and couldn't help but worry: 'This old man won't just drop dead now, will he? That'd be such a joyously tragic thing... I better not start laughing—control yourself, A! No smiling, got it?!'
Struggling to maintain a solemn expression, the Raikage said gravely, "Tsunade has Wood Release protecting her. Close combat is at a massive disadvantage against her!"
"Don't worry. If you run into trouble, I'll use Dust Release to support you and ensure you reach her safely!"
"Alright, I'm going in!"
Without another thought, the Raikage A watched as Tsunade, escorted by a colossal tree, moved closer toward him. Seizing the opportunity, he charged straight at her.
"Lightning Release: Chakra Mode!"
"Lightning Release: Thunderous Explosive Bullet!"
After activating two techniques in succession, the Raikage turned into a streak of blue lightning dashing straight at Tsunade.
Faced with such a ferocious assault, Tsunade sneered and suddenly clapped her hands together.
"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"
Watching Tsunade's action, the Raikage mentally scoffed: 'Using Wood Release now? Too late! Close combat is Kumo's dom—whoa!'
A massive wooden hand erupted from the tree beneath him, firmly grasping the Raikage.
He attempted to burst free with his chakra, but the hand absorbed it all like a bottomless pit. At that moment, the Raikage suddenly noticed—brown markings had appeared around Tsunade's eyes.
'Could this be... the legendary Sage Mode?!'
But Tsunade paid him no heed. A colossal wooden figure emerged from the tree trunk, followed by a massive wooden dragon—far larger than before—lunging toward Ōnoki.
Just as the Raikage thought Onoki was done for, the old man staggered to his feet. The rock beneath him split in two, carrying Onoki and his clone in opposite directions to escape.
'Damn this old geezer! Tricking a youngster like me!'
The Raikage was furious!
The Raikage was enraged!
The Raikage's anger was sapped by the Wood Release!
The Raikage slumped in defeat.
Watching Ōnoki flee, Tsunade clapped her hands again.
"Sage Art Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands"
The once-plump wooden figure began to slim down and grow taller. From its back, countless arms sprouted, forming a gigantic halo-like array.
"Ōnoki, let's see if you can make a thousand clones to match this!"
With that arrogant declaration, Tsunade waved her hand. More than a dozen massive arms emerged from the wooden deity's back, reaching for Ōnoki.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World!"
This time, Ōnoki's complexion paled drastically as he activated Dust Release.
Sure, he had duped the Raikage into charging forward, but at least half of what he had said was true.
After using Dust Release multiple times, his chakra recovery couldn't keep up with the consumption. Combined with his old age, his stamina had nearly run out.
Now, staring at the wooden deity—towering even higher than before, backed by a thousand arms—Ōnoki finally understood why the infamous Uchiha Madara had lost to Hashirama.
Against such a being, tailed beasts were mere playthings. Even the legendary Madara, who had terrorized the shinobi world, was still defeated.
This was the true God of Shinobi.
It was because Hashirama lived that the world knew peace.
And it was because of his death that conflicts erupted, leading to the First Great Ninja War.
Though Dust Release was undeniably devastating, Wood Release empowered by Sage Mode was no joke, either.
The defense of Wood Release might not directly withstand Dust Release, but its near-instantaneous regeneration allowed those massive hands to endure the assault.
Standing atop the wooden deity's head, arms crossed, Tsunade calmly observed Ōnoki's futile onslaught.
In the end, Ōnoki couldn't hold on. Once his Dust Release faded, a massive wooden hand reached out and captured him effortlessly.
Hands clasped in resignation, the Raikage exchanged glances with the exhausted Ōnoki before shaking his head—there was no more fight left in him.
"I concede. This time, we've lost."
If there had been even a ten percent chance of victory, the Raikage wouldn't have minded fighting on. But Tsunade's Wood Release had flat-out tanked Ōnoki's Dust Release—that was terrifying!
Tsunade maintained her cold composure, peering down at the two Kage in the wooden deity's palm.
"This battle... I only wish to end things peacefully. Otherwise, do you really think any of your shinobi could withstand this?"
Though her words were arrogant, neither the Raikage nor Ōnoki could refute them.
What could they say?
Being the defeated party, anything they said would be wrong.
In the shinobi world, the strong prey on the weak. Powerful shinobi and villages could demand what they wanted from the weak. It was the natural order.
"With that settled, the two of you will accompany me back to the Konoha camp to rest for a day. Tomorrow, we'll negotiate reparations and other matters. I also have additional issues to discuss with you. Now, let's go."
Without waiting for their response, Tsunade's towering deity gradually shrank until it dissolved into ordinary trees.
"Follow me."
Ōnoki glanced at the Raikage, who looked back at him. Both shared a bitter smile before struggling to their feet and following Tsunade.
The shinobi from Kumogakure and Iwagakure soon arrived, but neither side had any fight left in them.
The battle had ended with both villages suffering a humiliating defeat.
Just looking at Tsunade's hundred-meter-tall deity and the countless hands behind it... even if she needed only two hands per shinobi to kill them, there still wouldn't be enough shinobi here to use all the hands!
"Raikage-sama!"
"Tsuchikage-sama!"
Seeing the concerned looks of their subordinates, Ōnoki and the Raikage met each other's gaze.
Today was probably the most in-sync they had ever been.
"Return to camp. We'll be guests of Konoha for a while. Don't worry—we'll be fine."
"Yes, yes! The Land of Fire is scenic and lush. We'll take a little tour there!"
Speaking in practiced harmony, they walked side by side toward Konoha's camp.
This time, it felt as though a mountain weighed upon their backs, making every step unbearably heavy.
But they were Kage.
And in such times, they had no choice but to bear the burden.
-----
Read 40+ advanced chapters on my P@treon.
[email protected]/KakuzuTL