"Monster Strength - Painful Heavenly Foot!"
Wrapped in cyan chakra, Tsunade descended from the sky, her foot, filled with rage, stomping heavily into the group of Grass ninja. This powerful attack method, developed by Hashirama Senju and named the "Monster Strength Fist" by Tsunade, reappeared in the ninja world.
"RUMBLE!"
A thunderous explosion erupted. Centered on Tsunade's landing point, the ground cracked into a dense spiderweb of fissures. Waves of earth and flying debris shook the very foundations of the land.
"Ah!"
Under Tsunade's full-force strike, the Grass ninja were instantly blown away by the immense residual force. Seeing the power of a single kick, these disorganized ruffians lost all will to resist. Each one wished their parents had given them more legs, fleeing for their lives towards the snake wall nearby.
The giant snake looked fierce, but it didn't seem intent on attacking them. Between two evils, they chose the lesser. These Grass ninja couldn't afford to worry about such things, only wanting to get away from Tsunade, a woman who seemed more ferocious than the giant serpent.
"Monster Strength Impact!"
Tsunade crouched slightly, her right leg pushing off forcefully. Her figure shot out of the crater that had just appeared. Her right fist, held at her waist, swung out with a violent surge of chakra, crashing into the fleeing Grass ninja.
Manda's vertical pupils followed the Grass ninja tumbling through the air, filled with longing.
"Lord Orochimaru, could it be..."
Slithering its tongue, Manda swallowed back the saliva that had almost spilled. It nervously inquired of Orochimaru above.
Orochimaru glanced down at Manda and sneered:
"Tsunade wants these people dead."
"So..."
"How they die doesn't matter, I only care about the result!"
Manda froze for a moment, then understood the meaning behind Orochimaru's words. Its eyes suddenly erupted with immense joy.
"Thank you, Lord Orochimaru!"
With permission granted, Manda let out an excited low growl. Its tongue flickered faster, and its body moved with a rumble, instantly shrinking the encirclement to the size of a basketball court.
"Ah! Help!"
"This giant snake is eating people!"
As Manda, the greedy one, joined the fray, the Grass ninja who had retreated to Manda's side let out terrified screams, scrambling back towards the center.
Tsunade's eyes blazed. Seeing these Grass ninja rushing back, she unhesitatingly accelerated and charged at them.
"All of you, die for me!"
With a series of sickening thuds, Tsunade, like a tiger among sheep, struck down the Grass ninja who scurried about like headless flies. Those hit were dead, and those brushed by her attacks were fatally wounded.
Some had their chests pierced with a clear hole by her fists, while others, broken and mangled by Tsunade's Monster Strength Impact, fell to the ground like mud.
Tsunade reveled in the slaughter, and Manda feasted with delight.
In a short while, Orochimaru's senses could no longer detect any signs of life within the entire Grass village.
Nearly a hundred Grass ninja, regardless of age or gender, had all become corpses under Tsunade's wrath.
Of course, a considerable portion might have already been reduced to nothing by the stomach acid in Manda's belly.
Cruel?
Orochimaru squinted at the bloody scene below, a cruel smirk gracing his lips.
If killing some scum was called cruel, then let kindness and mercy go to the Sage of Six Paths!
He only knew that Tsunade's performance pleased him greatly!
He also knew that the dark chakra within him was growing at an astonishing rate.
"Manda, clean up and then we'll go back!"
"The Great Ninja War is about to begin. If I need you, I'll call you again!"
Manda's excitement intensified. It inwardly praised itself for being forced to sign the soul-binding contract with Orochimaru.
"Lord Orochimaru, I look forward to your next summons!"
After a hearty meal, Manda bowed humbly to Orochimaru and voluntarily dispelled the summoning jutsu, returning to Ryuchi Cave.
Orochimaru and Tsunade's shadow clones landed gracefully. Tsunade tidied her blood-stained clothes and took the girl from the shadow clone's arms.
"Still not awake?"
Suppressing her killing intent, Tsunade gently stroked the face of the girl in her arms.
Orochimaru shook his head and said reassuringly:
"Don't worry, I've only temporarily sealed her senses to the outside world with chakra."
"Her bloodline might have given her very strong sensory abilities, but she lacks the corresponding strength and mindset to match this talent."
"Therefore, she will be more easily stimulated by external factors than an ordinary person."
"Let's go back first."
"Let her have some normal food, and she'll gradually get better."
Tsunade knew the extent of Orochimaru's knowledge about the future and didn't doubt his judgment. She nodded gently and held the girl tighter.
"This child is so light..."
She murmured with tenderness, her eyes filled with determination.
"Let's go!"
"I recall that Jiraiya's intelligence mentioned that there are still many ninja from Grass village taken by Hanzo in the Land of Rain."
"This matter... isn't over yet!"
Orochimaru chuckled and followed Tsunade's footsteps.
"Tsunade, you're quite heartless!"
"Because of this child, you'd annihilate the entire Grass village. If people knew..."
Tsunade snorted dismissively, her expression saying it was only natural.
"Orochimaru, when women make a decision, men have no right to interfere!"
Orochimaru rubbed his nose with a wry smile, suddenly feeling that Tsunade had become much more ruthless.
"Tsunade, some words aren't used like that..."
Tsunade, who was leaping through the trees, almost lost her balance and fell from a branch. She glared at Orochimaru, her face flushed.
"Orochimaru, you bastard..."
...
"Has the leader already left the village?"
Sanshouo no Madara opened his long-closed door and asked the Rain ninja standing outside.
"Lord Jin Darra, the leader left the village some time ago. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare to let you out."
The Rain ninja nodded slightly, their eyes filled with anticipation.
Sanshouo no Jin Darra let out a cold laugh, walked to the window of the tall tower, gazed towards the Land of Fire, and clenched his fist.
"Notify them to prepare and give those Leaf ninja a great gift along with me!"
"I will make the leader realize that only by using my methods can the Hidden Rain Village quickly become the focus of the entire ninja world."
"And those ignorant Leaf ninja will use their lives to push the leader's name to its peak!"
"After this battle, the rule of the Five Great Ninja Villages over the ninja world will be completely shattered!"
"And you and I..."
"Everything we have done for the Hidden Rain Village will be forever remembered by the ninja world!"
The Rain ninja's face turned red with excitement, and they nodded vigorously.
"Yes!"