The battlefield of ruins spanned approximately three kilometers in radius. However, Terado was not positioned at the center of the battlefield but slightly to the south, closer to the edge. Haruto Saito, on the other hand, was hidden in the forest just outside the southern battlefield, only four hundred meters away from Terado.
Black Shadow Flash—four consecutive times!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Haruto left behind four black mist-like afterimages at every hundred-meter interval, and within a single breath, he appeared behind Terado—just in time to strike before Tsunade could! The Blade of Mortal Wounds came slashing down with fury!
Terado, hunched over and coughing up blood, sensed the imminent danger in an instant. Despite his heavily injured state, he reacted with remarkable speed, spinning around to counter with a blinding blade strike! His reflexes were still incredible, but compared to before, he was undoubtedly slower.
Under normal circumstances, Terado's blade would have been faster than Haruto's.
But now—they were evenly matched!
Clang! Boom!
The two blades clashed violently. Haruto was sent flying backward from the impact, his entire body trembling from the force. Terado, however, was blasted over a hundred meters away, crashing into the ground!
He's really at his limit!
Haruto flipped midair and landed steadily on his feet. At the same time, Tsunade had just arrived from behind him. The moment she saw Haruto appear, shock flashed through her eyes.
This brat didn't run?
After all, he had been absent for hours. She had assumed he fled.
But that thought lasted only a split second—because in the next moment, Tsunade's mind was consumed by Jiraiya's fate.
Jiraiya had been blasted away by Terado's Wind Release jutsu, sent flying into the distant ruins of the forest. His fate was unknown.
Tsunade's heart clenched. If Jiraiya was dead, then…
Terado, who had been sent flying, crashed into the ruined forest and tumbled for over ten meters before coming to a stop. His body was drenched in blood, yet with an astonishing resilience, he flipped up to his feet instantly. His blade had been flung from his grip, but he didn't hesitate—he turned and bolted!
At that moment, an overwhelming surge of life energy erupted from his body. The sealing markings across his skin glowed intensely.
Previously, Terado's controlled conversion of life energy had been undetectable—even Tsunade hadn't noticed. Haruto had only confirmed it through his sensory jutsu.
But now? His life force was radiating like an explosion!
He was burning through his remaining life without restraint!
He's running?! Again?!
Tsunade didn't utter a single word. Her speed soared to its peak, her bloodshot eyes locked onto Terado.
She had watched Jiraiya get torn away by Terado's Wind Release jutsu.
She was going to kill him! Terado had to die!
Whoosh!
Haruto activated Black Shadow Flash again, closing the distance by another hundred meters—but it wasn't enough to catch up. Terado was still further ahead. With five uses of Black Shadow Flash expended, Haruto's mobility was exhausted. Tsunade, however, was faster—she surged past him, chasing Terado relentlessly!
She's going to steal my kill again!
"Oi! Wait for me!" Haruto shouted in frustration.
But no one was listening.
This was likely Terado's final burst of power, his last desperate attempt to flee. But Tsunade, blinded by fury over Jiraiya, was pushing herself beyond her limits.
Their speeds were nearly breaking past what should be physically possible—leaving Haruto falling behind.
Yet, he didn't give up—he kept chasing!
Moments later.
At the northern edge of the battlefield, mountains loomed ahead. Terado, sprinting at full speed, darted past the battlefield's boundary—rushing into a familiar location.
The underground cavern.
It was the very same cavern where Haruto, Tsunade, and Terado had fought earlier.
He ran into a dead-end?!
There was only one entrance to that cavern. If Tsunade followed him inside, she would have him cornered.
"Wait! Don't go in there!" Haruto yelled from a distance. Something felt off.
But Tsunade didn't stop. Without hesitation, she plunged into the cavern.
One second… Two seconds… Three seconds…
Haruto was closing in on the cave.
Suddenly!
A violent surge of chakra erupted from within.
Then—
BOOOOOM!
The cavern collapsed!
A shadowy figure shot out like a ghost, dashing away from the rapidly crumbling cave. The moment he escaped—
The entire cavern was buried under tons of rock!
Dust and debris exploded into the sky. The cave entrance was gone. There were no gaps. No way out.
The one who escaped—was Terado!
Tsunade—was buried alive!
Haruto came to a dead stop, his body freezing in place. A chill ran down his spine. His mind went blank.
Terado.
This was Terado.
He had shattered Haruto's understanding of how ninja fought. His strength wasn't just in raw power or speed—it was in his tactics.
No matter the situation, no matter his condition, he could always formulate the most advantageous strategy—and execute it flawlessly.
Another trap. Another isolated kill.
Tsunade had already fallen for his tricks once, suffering injuries. And now—she had been buried alive.