Gekko Chizan was completely dumbfounded.
Why the hell was she charging forward instead of retreating???
And wait—those Katsuyu slugs were fusing together again?
Hmm, though the merged one was a lot smaller than before. Well, most of it had been blown apart earlier.
"Katsuyu, there are explosive tags inside your body. We can't back down just because of a Tailed Beast!"
"Charge!"
Tsunade knew very well how important tonight's plan was. Even though she was fully aware of how terrifying a Tailed Beast was, she didn't retreat.
On the contrary—she charged forward.
Of course, she wasn't charging blindly. Information about the Five-Tails was no secret in the shinobi world.
Its tremendous strength and the boost provided by its Boil Release made it one of the strongest Tailed Beasts in the world.
But precisely because of its overwhelming power, it lacked other abilities. And that, for Tsunade, was an opportunity.
Aside from close combat, the Five-Tails had no special tricks, giving her and Katsuyu a chance to execute their plan.
"Damn it!"
"This woman's out of her mind!"
Gekko Chizan understood exactly what Tsunade was thinking.
But Kokuō—the Five-Tails—wasn't some weakling that could be taken down easily.
If it were, how could it have built such a fearsome reputation across the shinobi world?
"Chizan, what are you doing?"
"Just let that lunatic charge in on her own. It's a Tailed Beast for crying out loud."
Tagitsuhime stared disdainfully at Tsunade, who was already rushing ahead.
To her, a Senju inheritor from the Shikkotsu Forest and someone from Ryūchi Cave were natural enemies.
Seeing Tsunade not retreat but instead run toward a Tailed Beast—she must've lost her mind.
"Enough, Tagitsuhime. Chizan has his own plan. We just need to support him."
Ichikishimahime clicked her tongue at her, then turned to wait for Gekko Chizan's move.
"We can't just ignore her. She's the commander on this battlefield right now."
"If something happens to her, the entire line will collapse."
"Damn it! Once the battle's stabilized, I swear I'll make her experience Ryūchi Cave's Sage Illusion again!"
"Summoning Technique!"
Gekko Chizan pressed both hands to the ground, his face full of irritation.
But they were in the middle of a battlefield—he didn't have time to complain.
The Five-Tails had already burst out of the forest, while Tsunade and Katsuyu advanced quickly toward it.
The two sides were about to collide.
"Hey, big hippo!"
"Your opponent's over here!"
"Water Style! Water Dragon Barrage Technique!"
Gekko Chizan's roar echoed through the battlefield.
Three water dragons shot up into the sky, passing over Tsunade and Katsuyu, and bit down on Kokuō.
Immediately after, a golden python slammed into the beast, and at the same time, a turquoise serpent coiled around Katsuyu, lashing its tail against the ground to launch itself into the air.
These two serpents were Jinlin and Urokohane.
Before Tsunade or Katsuyu could react, they were already high above the ground.
"Hmph. If it weren't for Chizan's orders, I wouldn't care about a damn slug like you."
Urokohane's voice dripped with irritation.
Tsunade said nothing, and though Katsuyu was angry, it knew this wasn't the time to argue.
Sage chakra surged as Gekko Chizan opened his mouth and released a wave of turquoise mist.
Beside him, the three Snake Princesses each released a different-colored mist—red, green, and blue.
Together with Chizan's turquoise mist, the four clouds of smoke merged and rushed toward Kokuō.
The Five-Tails, drenched from the water dragons, looked up to see a strange, colorful smoke barreling toward it.
The massive beast twisted its body to dodge, but the mist seemed alive, shifting direction to relentlessly pursue it.
Just as the mist was about to engulf Kokuō, the beast opened its massive mouth and spewed a stream of white steam. Fire and steam clashed violently, flashing bright light across the battlefield.
Gekko Chizan's eyes narrowed sharply. He changed his hand seals and shouted,
"Sage Art!"
The mist dispersed, and four giant snake shadows shot out from within, lunging toward Kokuō.
Their bodies expanded in the air, thick as iron cables, wrapping around Kokuō.
The Five-Tails thrashed wildly, its limbs striking with tremendous strength—but the snake shadows tightened their grip, refusing to let go.
The collision of brute strength and sage techniques made Gekko Chizan's face darken.
He could feel his chakra draining rapidly.
At that moment, Tsunade seized the opportunity. She leapt off Urokohane with Katsuyu in tow, roaring with all her strength:
"Katsuyu!"
"Ready, Tsunade-sama!"
With a mighty throw midair, Tsunade hurled Katsuyu straight toward the Iwagakure reinforcements.
"Katsuyu! Blow them up!"
"Yes, Tsu—"
"Ah!!!"
Before Katsuyu could finish shouting, a giant red hand grabbed it.
"Hmph, little worm. Don't think you can keep causing trouble."
A massive red ape spoke, its face twisted in disdain as it stared at the trapped Katsuyu.
"All explosive tags?"
"How ruthless. Using yourself as a bomb… hmph."
Transformed into the Four-Tails, Rōshi held Katsuyu tightly with both hands.
Poor Katsuyu, already shrunken down, was completely restrained.
Seeing the Four-Tails appear, Tsunade froze.
She was still in midair, and the Four-Tails clearly had no intention of letting her escape.
"Princess Tsunade of Konoha's Legendary Sannin, huh?"
"Hmph, once you die here, there'll be nothing left to stop us."
"Die!"
Four crimson tails lashed toward Tsunade.
In midair, she had no way to dodge.
The tails were about to strike her when a figure appeared at her side.
"You're asking for it!"
"Ten Thousand Snakes Formation!"
His roar came with an explosion of serpents.
Countless snakes lunged toward the Four-Tails' tails.
Long versus long—who would back down?
But the reality was harsh: the Four-Tails' tails smashed through the snakes with brute force.
Still, the brief delay was enough for Gekko Chizan to use Flying Thunder God again.
"Katsuyu! Jinlin! Urokohane!"
"Poof!"
In the next instant, Katsuyu, Jinlin, and Urokohane vanished in puffs of white smoke.
On the battlefield, only the massive forms of the Four-Tails and Five-Tails remained.
"Damn Konoha shinobi!"
"ROAR!!!"
The Five-Tails bellowed in fury, its cry shaking the sky.
Hit and run without hesitation—that was classic Gekko Chizan tactics.
Flying Thunder God whisked them straight back to the Konoha camp front.
"Tsunade! Tsunade-sama!"
"How old are you?!"
"Impulsiveness gets people killed! Do you understand that?!"
"You saw a Tailed Beast and didn't run! Who the hell do you think you are?!"
"Hey!!! Don't hit me! I'll stop talking, alright?!"
"STOP!!!"
The moment they landed, Gekko Chizan switched to full-on nagging mode.
He was angry, he was frustrated.
Of course Tsunade wouldn't just take it.
Chasing and bickering broke out immediately.