The collision between the Tailed Beast Bomb and Yusuke's Rending Sky Slash shook the battlefield.
The crimson sphere—dense, violent, destructive—
Was cleaved cleanly into two.
But it did not vanish.
Not immediately.
The split halves erupted outward, detonating in opposite directions.
A blinding explosion swallowed the entire area.
The earth trembled violently.
Shockwaves rippled outward like a collapsing mountain.
Mist ANBU and Konoha's jōnin were forced to retreat rapidly to avoid the blast radius.
Dust, debris, and steam filled the sky.
For several seconds—
Nothing was visible.
Nothing could be sensed clearly.
Then—
A powerful gust tore through the smoke.
Yagura was the first to emerge.
His body was still wrapped in the Three-Tails' chakra cloak—
But it flickered unevenly.
His breathing was heavier.
A thin line of blood traced down from the corner of his mouth.
He had underestimated that slash.
It had pierced through the Tailed Beast Bomb and still struck him.
Even with the chakra cloak's defense—
He had been injured.
A moment later—
Yusuke stepped out of the dispersing smoke.
His posture was straight.
His expression calm.
His sword still steady in his hand.
Not a single visible wound.
The difference was subtle—
But clear.
Through the Sharingan, Yusuke had seen everything.
Yagura was injured.
But he would not expose it.
There was no deep hatred between them.
And pushing the Mizukage into humiliation would only complicate future matters.
Yagura wiped the blood from his lips discreetly.
His gaze toward Yusuke had changed.
That slash…
It had not just cut through the Tailed Beast Bomb.
It had nearly cut through him.
Had he delayed half a second—
The result would have been different.
The Mist ANBU were stunned.
Their Mizukage had used a Tailed Beast Bomb.
And yet—
Uchiha Yusuke still stood.
Even Kakashi felt a chill in his spine.
Blocking a Tailed Beast Bomb head-on—
And walking out unscathed.
This was no longer simply "Kage-level."
This was absurd.
Yagura inhaled slowly.
He had not yet fully transformed into complete Three-Tails form.
But if he continued escalating—
He was not certain of victory.
And if he lost in front of his ANBU—
The Fourth Mizukage's prestige would collapse.
Worse—
Yusuke had not yet revealed his Sharingan in full battle.
If that eye entered the fight seriously—
The outcome would be grim.
After a moment of silence—
Yagura lowered his coral staff.
"I will not pursue the matter of unauthorized entry."
"Let's end this here."
The atmosphere relaxed slightly.
Yusuke sheathed his sword calmly.
"Very well."
Neither side mentioned the injuries.
Neither side mentioned the near-defeat.
It ended quietly.
Mist ANBU gathered behind Yagura.
Kakashi and the others regrouped around Yusuke.
As Yagura turned to leave—
He cast one last glance at Yusuke.
This young Uchiha…
Was dangerous.
Extremely dangerous.
Once the Mist delegation disappeared—
Kurenai exhaled slowly.
"That was intense…"
Guy, recovering from the Sixth Gate strain, grinned.
"You two fought magnificently!"
Kakashi's gaze lingered on Yusuke.
That sword…
Had changed.
The Rending Sky Slash earlier—
Had clearly reached another level.
Yusuke understood it as well.
He had broken through.
The Swordmaster realm—
Had advanced one step further.
Not fully Great Swordmaster—
But he had touched that threshold.
Using a Tailed Beast Bomb as a whetstone—
The improvement had been worth it.
He looked toward the distant sea horizon.
Obito and Akatsuki would soon move against the Mist.
Yagura's fate was already sealed.
There was no need to interfere.
"Let's move."
"Our next rendezvous is with Tsunade's team."
Meanwhile — Land of Wind Border
The desert wind carried scorching heat.
Tsunade walked ahead, visibly irritated.
They had searched for days.
No trace of Akatsuki.
Sand filled their mouths.
Sun burned their skin.
Genma chewed his senbon lazily.
Inwardly complaining.
Raido and Iwashi followed quietly.
None of them dared speak too much.
Tsunade's temper was well-known.
"Stay alert."
"We will find those Akatsuki bastards."
Genma forced a smile.
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
Just as they crossed deeper into the Land of Wind—
Two figures appeared ahead.
Straw hats.
Black cloaks with red clouds.
Tsunade's eyes sharpened instantly.
There.
At last.
One of them lifted his head slightly.
A pale face.
Golden eyes.
A familiar, serpentine smile.
"Orochimaru…"
Tsunade's voice lowered.
"It's been a long time."
Orochimaru chuckled softly.
"Indeed, Tsunade."
"I did not expect to meet you here."
The second figure remained silent.
Encased within a puppet shell.
A mechanical, hollow voice emerged.
"I dislike waiting."
"And I dislike being interrupted."
Tsunade glanced at him.
Red Sand insignia.
Puppet mechanisms.
"Sasori of the Red Sand…"
Sasori's voice was cold.
"I heard you are the greatest medical-nin in the shinobi world."
"I wonder…"
"How you compare to me."
Tsunade cracked her knuckles.
"You want to test poison in front of me?"
"That's like casting genjutsu in front of an Uchiha."
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
He stepped aside.
He had no intention of interfering.
This was between them.
The desert wind intensified.
Sand swirled between Tsunade and Sasori.
Tsunade moved first.
Her fist descended like a meteor.
The sand beneath exploded into a crater.
Sasori evaded smoothly.
Even inside Hiruko—
His mobility was refined.
"Impressive strength…"
"No wonder you are legendary."
Tsunade didn't respond.
She attacked again.
Sasori's tail stinger shot forward.
Poison glistened at the tip.
Tsunade twisted aside effortlessly.
Her movement was precise.
Medical-nin training made her body control exceptional.
"Heaven Kick of Pain!"
The ground shattered under her strike.
Sasori leapt backward.
"Hiruko: Needle Eight Waves!"
A barrage of poisoned senbon fired forward.
Tsunade activated Chakra Scalpel.
Clink.
Clink.
Clink.
Each needle deflected cleanly.
Sasori's eyes narrowed within the puppet.
As expected.
Then—
"Secret Technique: Thousand Arms Needle Launch!"
Hiruko's mechanism opened.
Canisters scattered outward.
Each burst mid-air—
Spraying poisoned needles in all directions.
Area coverage.
Maximum saturation.
Specifically designed to counter agile opponents.
Tsunade did not retreat.
She stepped forward.
Chakra gathered at her hands.
She struck the ground violently.
Shockwaves erupted.
Needles were blown aside by sheer force.
Sasori stared silently.
This woman—
Was troublesome.
But that only sharpened his intent.
If he defeated Tsunade—
He would surpass Chiyo.
He would prove puppetry supreme.
The desert wind howled.
Poison and chakra hung in the air.
The battle between Tsunade and Sasori escalated—
Neither willing to yield.
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