Sasori's venomous insults didn't change Orochimaru's expression in the slightest.
"If you won't let me help," Orochimaru said lightly, "you'll probably die."
"I don't particularly care… but explaining that to the Leader wouldn't be pleasant."
Sasori's face darkened instantly.
That cheating snake—still as disgusting as ever.
He spat one cold word.
"Get lost."
Orochimaru merely shrugged and stepped aside.
But instead of truly withdrawing, he turned—and walked toward Tsunade.
His tone became unnervingly sincere.
"I never intended to kill you."
"But to uncover the truth of this world… sacrifices are inevitable."
Under everyone's stunned gaze, Orochimaru drew a kunai and stabbed it straight into his own palm.
For ordinary shinobi, that gesture meant little.
For Tsunade—
It was devastating.
The sight of blood triggered her trauma instantly.
Her body trembled violently. Her pupils shrank.
Memories flooded back—her lover, her brother, both dying in pools of blood.
Her breathing became ragged.
Slowly—
She sank to her knees.
"Lady Tsunade—what's wrong?!" Genma shouted.
Sasori was momentarily confused.
Just moments ago, she had been crushing him without mercy.
Why did she suddenly look like a terrified civilian?
Then his gaze fell on the blood dripping from Orochimaru's hand.
Realization struck.
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"Tsunade has severe hemophobia."
"It's one of Konoha's best-kept secrets."
"Only I—and a few core figures—know."
Sasori clicked his tongue.
So that's it.
Not strength—just a weakness.
Genma's team finally understood why they had been assigned to escort her.
A Kage-level shinobi was nearly impossible to kill—
Unless you knew their flaw.
Hemophobia.
For a medical-nin, it was practically fatal.
Genma made a snap decision.
"We'll extract Lady Tsunade!"
He signaled to Raidō and Iwashi to prepare the Flying Thunder God formation.
But Sasori wasn't going to allow it.
His humiliation today had already been severe.
He would not let prey slip away.
Puppets intercepted Genma's team instantly.
"No one passes."
Genma's heart sank.
Trying to evacuate someone under a Kage-level enemy's nose?
Nearly impossible.
Sasori turned toward Tsunade again.
"I never expected Konoha's famed medical-nin… to crumble like this."
"You destroyed my Third Kazekage puppet."
"You'll repay that with your body."
He raised a puppet blade toward her throat.
"Die."
At the last second—
A chakra-metal sword blocked the strike.
"That's enough."
Sasori's gaze snapped upward.
"Who are you?"
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
"…Yusuke."
"We meet again."
Genma and the others felt relief flood their bodies.
Uchiha Yusuke had arrived.
The man who had stood against the Fourth Raikage and Killer B without falling.
If anyone could stabilize this situation—
It was him.
"Lord Yusuke!" Genma reported urgently. "Lady Tsunade's condition has triggered!"
Yusuke nodded once.
So Tsunade's hemophobia finally backfired.
Sasori instinctively moved—
But Orochimaru stepped in front of him.
"Don't act rashly."
"This is Konoha's so-called 'Flame Oni'—Uchiha Yusuke."
Sasori's expression shifted.
That name carried weight.
A reputation rivaling the Yellow Flash in his prime.
And recently appointed as Hokage advisor.
Not someone to underestimate.
Orochimaru's thoughts were darker.
Ever since witnessing Itachi's Sharingan, his obsession had deepened.
Now—
With Sasori beside him—
Two-on-one.
Perhaps this was his chance.
He licked his lips.
"Yusuke-kun."
"Interrupting someone else's battle… isn't very polite."
Yusuke smiled faintly.
"If we're discussing interruptions…"
"Didn't you step in first?"
Orochimaru's smile tightened.
Sasori snorted.
"So?"
"Uchiha Yusuke is my prey."
"Stay out of it, cheating snake."
His mouth rejected cooperation—
But his stance didn't.
Orochimaru didn't care about pride.
Only opportunity.
He quickly calculated.
Two-on-one.
And Yusuke had to protect Tsunade.
A clear advantage.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Orochimaru struck first.
"Poison Sweep!"
Sasori's puppets followed in perfect timing.
Yusuke frowned slightly.
Protect Tsunade—
And fight two Kage-level enemies simultaneously.
Not ideal.
Without hesitation, he lifted Tsunade and disengaged from the attack range in one fluid motion.
Orochimaru and Sasori gave chase.
"Don't think you're escaping!"
"Today is your death day, Uchiha Yusuke!"
Hidden weapons rained down.
Normally, Yusuke could ignore them using Fire Release Chakra Mode.
But with Tsunade in his arms—
He had to draw his sword and intercept.
His blade moved like flowing wind, knocking every projectile aside.
Tsunade, half-dazed, flushed deeply.
Since adulthood, she had never been held like this.
Even her lover and brother had only held her hand or kissed her forehead.
She tried weakly to push away—
But her body wouldn't obey.
Yusuke's voice was calm.
"I can put you down."
"But I can't guarantee your safety against two Kage-level enemies."
She froze.
At this moment—
Staying alive was already fortunate.
She unconsciously tightened her grip.
Her thoughts spiraled.
Don't slow him down.
You Uchiha brat… fight properly.
Don't lose.
…
With Tsunade no longer struggling, Yusuke adjusted smoothly.
Even with restrictions—
Handling the two shouldn't be overly difficult.
After his swordsmanship breakthrough, Yusuke had stepped beyond standard Kage-level.
And with his Mangekyō nearing completion—
He had truly entered a new realm.
Orochimaru regurgitated the Kusanagi Sword.
If Yusuke wanted to duel blades—
He would answer.
They clashed.
Steel rang sharply.
Within moments—
Orochimaru began losing ground.
Yusuke's swordsmanship had entered the realm of a Great Swordmaster.
Even a Kage would struggle to match it.
"Red Secret Technique: Double Puppet Strike!"
Sasori intervened at a critical moment, stabilizing Orochimaru's position.
Even two-on-one—
They could not gain the advantage.
Orochimaru's eyes widened slightly.
He hadn't expected Yusuke to grow this quickly.
If weapons failed—
Then change strategy.
He lowered his body.
"Secret Technique: Many Snakes Formation!"
A tidal wave of serpents surged forward, blades clamped between fangs.
Yusuke narrowed his eyes.
"One-Sword Style: Horizon Sever."
A devastating slash tore through the snake tide.
An explosion rippled outward.
Orochimaru's body was shredded—
But his lips curled.
He shed the damaged body like a discarded skin.
A fresh form emerged and retreated.
Yusuke exhaled softly.
Kage-level opponents were never simple.
Now—
With Orochimaru and Sasori coordinating—
This wouldn't end easily.
But it was far from unwinnable.
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