Afterimages!
Only afterimages invisible to the naked eye of ordinary people!
Tsunade's speed was too fast!
Because Haruto Saito had voluntarily restricted his abilities, he couldn't dodge easily and didn't intend to. Crossing his arms, he blocked!
Boom!
Haruto Saito seemed to be rooted to the ground, his body leaning forward as he crossed his arms to withstand Tsunade's ferocious punch! The shockwave rippled outward, creating a brief moment of stagnation. A breath later—
Boom! BOOM!!!
The ground beneath Haruto Saito exploded, and the area surrounding both fighters crumbled. Dirt flew, rocks shattered, and dust filled the air!
Haruto Saito had blocked it!
"Not bad, brat!" Tsunade tilted her head and smiled slightly. "But I only used twenty percent of my strength. I was afraid I'd accidentally kill you…"
Haruto Saito rolled his eyes at her!
Suddenly, Tsunade crouched low and struck again. The distance was extremely close, and she unleashed a savage elbow strike toward Haruto Saito! He took the hit head-on, flying like a cannonball!
Tsunade didn't stop!
She became a blur, instantly appearing behind Haruto Saito, her hand chopping toward the back of his head!
But in a sudden flicker, Haruto Saito vanished from in front of her. A moment later, a flash of blade light appeared at her side…
Tsunade's reaction was incredibly fast. A kunai slid from her sleeve as she turned to block!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The two fought faster and faster, their movements blurring. Tsunade wielded her kunai with both hands, while Haruto Saito used a single blade. Their speeds increased, and Tsunade gradually unleashed her full strength!
Haruto Saito finally dared to attack!
Truthfully, he believed he could quickly defeat Tsunade. Compared to a year ago, her reputation had grown by several thousand points, reaching twenty-five thousand. She had officially become Kage-level—though just at the initial stage.
However, the ultimate techniques Haruto Saito possessed were not something a low-tier Kage could withstand!
Now that Tsunade was fully engaged in battle and at full power, it was much safer!
She would be injured, but she wouldn't die!
In the surrounding trees, several people watched the duel.
"Haruto Saito's speed is incredible…" Jiraiya crossed his arms and said gravely. "To be able to repeatedly dodge Tsunade's attacks in close combat without using ninjutsu… That kind of speed is probably on par with hers!"
"His combat style has a strong samurai influence," Orochimaru commented coldly. "Especially the way he uses his blade."
"Haruto Saito once obtained the Black Warrior Armor. Could that have awakened some talent in him? Or did he specifically study samurai techniques?" Jiraiya speculated. "Or maybe…"
Jiraiya's voice suddenly stopped!
Because the battle had changed!
Haruto Saito began using the Body Flicker technique frequently, constantly appearing behind Tsunade to launch relentless attacks. Tsunade had to keep turning to defend, struggling to keep up, making it look dangerous!
"Isn't this cheating…?" Jiraiya hesitated. They had agreed not to use ninjutsu, and technically, many speed-based Body Flicker moves were classified as ninjutsu. But he also felt that Haruto Saito wouldn't cheat—otherwise, the duel would be meaningless.
Orochimaru remained silent, observing carefully.
After a while—
"It's a samurai technique," Orochimaru finally spoke. "A speed-based Body Flicker samurai technique… It's not cheating!"
Generally speaking, ninjas categorized samurai techniques alongside taijutsu due to their many similarities. Although there were distinctions, their fundamental nature wasn't much different!
The biggest difference was that taijutsu often didn't rely on weapons, whereas samurai techniques did!
But then again, what ninja wouldn't use weapons?
Using samurai techniques didn't violate the rules—it was still within the scope of taijutsu.
In the clearing—
Haruto Saito repeatedly used his samurai-based Body Flicker technique, trying to leverage his superior speed to defeat Tsunade quickly. But he couldn't. While Tsunade's speed wasn't on par with his, her reflexes and awareness were sharp. Her defense was impenetrable!
Haruto Saito was troubled!
He didn't want to seriously injure Tsunade! Even though it wouldn't be life-threatening, he liked her and didn't want to do that!
But if he didn't, winning would be difficult!
Tsunade had far more chakra than he did!
"Watch out!" Haruto Saito suddenly shouted.
He flickered and reappeared behind Tsunade, deliberately maintaining some distance and slightly slowing his movements—to give her enough time to react!
"Hundred and Twenty-Eight Heavy Cannon Slash!"
A finishing move!
A samurai technique on par with an S-rank forbidden jutsu!
Boom!
A terrifying blade energy burst forth. It looked like a massive hammer, incredibly dense, striking directly at Tsunade!
Tsunade turned around, crossing her arms and kunai to block!
Boom!
In an instant, Tsunade was blasted away!
Before she even flew out, the kunai in her hands had already shattered into dust under the impact. Haruto Saito hadn't actually slashed her—he had only used the blade energy to strike her, not unleashing the full power of the Heavy Cannon Slash!
But even so—
Tsunade still couldn't withstand it!
She was sent flying over a hundred meters, crashing into the forest and landing in the undergrowth, creating a deep crater in the ground. Dust rose into the air!
The battle was over!
Haruto Saito sheathed his blade and flickered to the forest's edge, looking inside.
Tsunade flipped herself up from the crater. Her sleeves had completely torn apart, and her skin was covered in small cracks. She had used her monstrous strength to reinforce her arms for maximum defense, but it still wasn't enough!
This technique wasn't meant to be blocked head-on!
Tsunade got up, still unwilling to admit defeat. She took a step forward—then dropped to her knees, coughing up a mouthful of blood!
Haruto Saito sighed in relief!
Tsunade was severely injured, but if she had kept fighting recklessly, it would have been troublesome! Haruto Saito wouldn't have known how to handle it! Now that she couldn't get up, it was just right!
"You lost, old hag!" Haruto Saito smirked mischievously.
"Brat… hurry up and heal me…" Tsunade gritted her teeth from the crater.
"Oh, oh, coming…" Haruto Saito rushed down.
Tsunade immediately grabbed and pinched him hard—to vent her frustration… She knew she had lost and had to admit it. Though she could heal herself, in a real battle, would an enemy give her the chance?
---
In the afternoon, the group secretly returned to Furuta Village.
Tsunade no longer had a reason to drag Haruto Saito back to Konoha. She simply couldn't beat him anymore. Though she had suggested teaming up with Jiraiya and Orochimaru to challenge him, Haruto Saito refused!
He wasn't that foolish!
Since she couldn't take him back, she decided… to stay for a while. She claimed it was to assist Haruto Saito.
But he doubted her motives! Especially since she mentioned investing in Furuta Village…
---
Night fell.
In the commander's residence, North Courtyard.
The main hall doors were shut tight.
Inside, under bright lights, Haruto Saito, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru were having dinner.
"Brat, don't get cocky just because you beat me. Your real enemies are Hanzo and the Mizukage…" Tsunade lectured while eating.
RUMBLE!!!
A sudden explosion!
Very close!
Right inside the commander's residence!
The four immediately stood up!