The desert wind stirred up fine sand, whistling across the battlefield.
Tsunade stood at the forefront, her golden hair fluttering in the wind, her bright brown eyes coldly fixed on the densely packed Sunagakure forces ahead.
Three to four hundred Ninja surrounded them in a fan shape, led by a middle-aged Ninja.
He was Ebizo, the commander of this surprise attack on the Medical Ninja operation by the Hidden Sand Village.
The role of Medical Ninja, for all the Villages, was self-evident.
Prioritizing the surprise attack on Medical Ninja was even a strategic requirement for many Villages.
Ebizo's hands were clasped in his sleeves, his expression calm, as if victory was already in his grasp.
"Princess Tsunade, surrender," Ebizo slowly began, his voice hoarse but carrying an undeniable sense of oppression.
"You are already surrounded; further resistance will only increase casualties."
Tsunade did not reply, only slightly turned her head and whispered to the Medical Ninja and combat forces behind her.
"Everyone, gather around me."
Her voice was not loud, but it carried an irresistible authority.
The initially somewhat flustered Konoha Ninja quickly adjusted their formation; the Medical Ninja were protected in the center, while the combat forces formed a defensive circle on the outside.
Ebizo narrowed his eyes, seemingly surprised by Tsunade's composure.
A Jonin wearing a Sunagakure forehead protector beside him couldn't help but whisper, "Lord Ebizo, if we delay any longer, Konoha's reinforcements might arrive…"
Ebizo raised his hand, signaling him to be silent, his gaze still fixed on Tsunade.
"This is your last chance, Princess Tsunade," he said slowly.
He still didn't want to give up on these Medical Ninja in front of him.
Tsunade looked at him, a cold sneer playing on her lips.
"Such nonsense."
As her words fell, she stomped heavily on the ground.
Boom!!!
The ground instantly cracked, and a terrifying monstrous force stirred up a fierce sandstorm, catching the front-row Sunagakure Ninja off guard and directly pushing them back several steps.
Seeing Tsunade's resolute expression, Ebizo said no more, his eyes becoming sharp.
"Attack!" Ebizo ordered sharply.
"Kill!!!"
Three to four hundred Sand Ninja burst forth simultaneously.
"Wind Release: Wind Sand Array!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Wind Release: Violent Wind Palm!"
"…"
Amidst the Wind Release, the clattering sounds of puppets also came sweeping down like an overwhelming tide.
"Earth Release Ninja, forward! Defensive formation!"
Tsunade had been continuously expending Chakra, healing and fighting, and her Chakra was almost drained, her body pushed to its limit.
But now…
Tsunade still stood at the very front, providing effective command.
Three to five Ninja stepped forward and quickly formed hand signs.
Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall rose from the ground, barely blocking the first wave of attacks.
However, the number of Sunagakure Ninja was simply too great, and their attacks too dense; the second wave of attacks followed closely.
"Medical Ninja, prioritize protecting the severely wounded Ninja!"
Tsunade commanded while fiercely charging into the enemy ranks, smashing a puppet with a single punch.
With a backhand, she grabbed a Sand Ninja by the neck and slammed him heavily to the ground.
"Don't let them get close to the injured!"
The Konoha Ninja gritted their teeth and held their ground, but the disparity was too great, and as their numbers dwindled, their defensive line gradually compressed.
Ebizo stood on a high vantage point, coldly observing the battlefield.
"It's over."
However, just as Sunagakure was about to break through the last defensive line.
Boom.
A scorching Fire Release descended from the sky, instantly tearing open a gap in Sunagakure's offensive.
"That is…?!" Ebizo frowned slightly.
Amidst the dust, a figure like lightning charged into the battlefield, his crimson Sharingan exceptionally striking in the sandstorm.
"Sorry, I'm late."
Uchiha Chiye, finally arrived.
The sandstorm howled, and the killing intent on the battlefield was as sharp as a blade.
Tsunade looked at the figure that suddenly appeared, her pupils contracting sharply.
Her golden hair was disheveled by the strong wind, and her breathing was ragged.
Uchiha Chiye, the one who went missing on the Land of Rain battlefield…
Her man.
He stood before her now, his crimson Sharingan particularly dazzling amidst the swirling yellow sand.
Her heart suddenly trembled, and her fingers unconsciously clenched.
He…
He was indeed alive!!
In this instant, all her exhaustion, anger, and despair were swept away by a suffocating euphoria.
She opened her mouth, as if to shout something, but then bit down hard on her lower lip, forcing herself to calm down.
No, now is not the time…
She suppressed the surging emotions, her gaze becoming firm again.
But the slight trembling of her fingertips betrayed the intense turmoil within her.
Uchiha Chiye used Fire Release to clear a path, breaking through the Sand Ninja Village's blockade and arriving before Tsunade.
Tsunade's face was now covered in dust, and the fatigue in her eyes clearly showed that she had reached her limit.
"Leave the rest to me!" Uchiha Chiye rubbed her head with a pained expression.
She had come to the battlefield for him, and now she was exhausted from the surprise attack.
Now that he had arrived, how could he let Tsunade stand in front of him again?
Tsunade had lost her previous arrogance at this moment.
Looking at Chiye, a moving smile appeared on her face.
"Mm."
Ebizo watched this scene coldly, a hint of mockery appearing on his aged face.
"Heh, a member of the Uchiha Clan?" he sneered, his gaze sweeping between Tsunade and Chiye, his tone disdainful.
"Since when did the princess of the Senju Clan become so intimate with an Uchiha?"
The Sunagakure Jonin beside him also showed disdain, whispering in agreement.
"Senju and Uchiha are supposed to be mortal enemies."
"It looks like they've disregarded their family's generational feud and are shamelessly together! How disgraceful!"
"The princess of the Senju Clan, whom we considered a formidable opponent, turns out to be nothing but a love-struck fool!"
"…"
Listening to the chattering words of the surrounding Sand Ninja.
Ebizo slightly raised his hand, signaling the Sand Ninja forces behind him to prepare for attack.
"Since you've debased yourselves, then die here together."
"Attack!"
The Sunagakure Ninja instantly erupted; three Jonin charged directly at Tsunade, while another ten elites sealed all of Chiye's escape routes.
Tsunade gritted her teeth; her stamina and Chakra were already exhausted from continuous healing and fighting, and her movements were half a beat slower than before.
A Sunagakure Jonin seized the opening and quickly formed hand signs.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"
She barely managed to dodge, but was entangled by another's puppet strings around her wrist, and fiercely pulled to the ground!
"Tsunade!"
Chiye's pupils contracted; he wanted to rush over, but was held back by the Sunagakure Ninja.
No…
She can't hold on anymore!
Chiye's eyes suddenly turned cold, the Three-Tomoe Sharingan in his Sharingan spun wildly, finally twisting and merging.
The originally jet-black Three-Tomoe now transformed into a six-petaled, blood-red Lycoris radiata pattern.
"Yomotsu Hirasaka!"
In an instant, as blood dripped from his bloodshot eyes, the world seemed to fall into stillness.
Centered on Chiye, an invisible domain suddenly unfolded, and the movements of all the surrounding Sunagakure Ninja froze.
Their skin withered and cracked at a visible rate, their life force drained away like a tide, and before they could even scream, they turned into desiccated corpses, collapsing with a thud.
Ebizo's face finally changed.
"What is this… Dojutsu?!"
Tsunade was also stunned; she looked at the dried corpses on the ground and the demonic Mangekyo Sharingan in Chiye's somewhat cold eyes, her heart filled with shock.
But very quickly, she regained her composure, taking advantage of the momentary chaos in the Sunagakure forces.
She smashed the puppet strings binding her with a punch and flipped herself up.
Before she could excitedly reach Chiye's side, she saw his bloodshot eyes and the blood rolling down from them.
"Chiye!" she shouted loudly.
"Are you okay? Don't push yourself!"
Chiye didn't answer, only slightly turned his head, a familiar smile playing on his lips.
"Don't worry, I won't fall that easily."
The Sunagakure forces began to waver, but Ebizo quickly steadied their formation, shouting sharply, "Don't panic! His Dojutsu must have limitations!
Everyone, disperse your formation, and wear him down from a distance!"
Chiye sneered upon hearing this, the patterns in his Mangekyo Sharingan slowly rotating.
"Wear me down from a distance? Well, I'll be waiting to see that!"
His gaze locked onto Ebizo, and an invisible fluctuation emanated once more.