Hiroki slowly regained consciousness.
The moment he opened his eyes, he felt his perspective was off.
Why does it feel like I'm looking up at Kaguya...
He felt dazed.
Kaguya had lifted him up and was supporting him gently against her arm.
You're okay now?
That's what she meant to say, but the words came out completely different.
"Got it?"
Hiroki hesitated slightly before replying, "I get it. How could I steal the bread right out of your mouth?"
"Hmm." Kaguya softly hummed as she bit her lip slightly, then asked, "Do you resent me?"
"I know without you, I should already be dead," Hiroki responded.
He wasn't someone with a fragile heart or one to lose his cool easily.
But Kaguya's earlier words still echoed in his ears, reminding him that things would never go back to how they were before—those easygoing days of joking around and pretending to be cute.
Everything felt like it was beginning all over again.
After waiting a while without Kaguya saying anything else, he took the initiative.
"Kaguya, I'll still save you, and I won't betray you either."
They stayed quiet for quite some time. Hiroki didn't know what else to talk about or how long he'd been unconscious. He got up, ready to leave her embrace and return to himself.
"The people outside are probably waiting for me..."
Before he could finish, Kaguya pulled him back into her arms.
"Just watch."
Confused, Hiroki followed Kaguya's gaze.
Suddenly, ahead of them appeared something like a projected movie screen showing moving images.
The footage looked occasionally shaky.
From those images, Hiroki saw Jiraiya, Naruto Uzumaki, and Hidenaga White Zetsu.
Hidenaga White Zetsu only appeared briefly, while Jiraiya and Naruto Uzumaki remained on display longer.
Hiroki blinked in confusion before asking, "Whose point of view is this?"
"Tsunade," Kaguya replied succinctly.
"..." Hiroki fell silent.
Never in a million years! How could she possibly think of sharing someone else's vision with me?
This has never happened before!
Still... am I really supposed to keep sitting like this on Kaguya?
His eyes flicked toward the arm still wrapped around him, instantly making him feel awkward.
Kaguya is acting really weird today...
In the Palace of the Country of Hot Springs.
"Everyone, step back."
At Tsunade's command, the guards surrounding Jiraiya and Naruto immediately scattered, regrouping around the Daimyo and forming a protective barrier in front of him.
Jiraiya fixed a cold stare on Hidenaga White Zetsu.
I need to capture him alive!
He rushed forward in that direction.
"Jiraiya, stop being reckless—you've gone too far!"
The moment he moved, Tsunade intervened using the Body Replacement Technique, quickly forming hand seals and pressing them onto the ground.
Tiger—Dog—Earth Snake.
[Wood Release: Tree Boundary Wall].
Behind Tsunade, countless vines rapidly emerged from the ground, rising up to form a massive shield wall blocking off Hidenaga White Zetsu and others.
"What? Wood Release?"
Jiraiya was visibly stunned.
How could Tsunade use Wood Release? Judging from her proficiency, this wasn't something she'd just picked up recently.
Something she clearly hadn't mastered for most of her life suddenly awakened within her now—why?
It seems like whenever Kaguya gets involved, even impossible things become possible...
Inside the wooden wall, a guard pleaded, "Lord Daimyo, we should leave first. This place is too dangerous."
Hidenaga White Zetsu wore a gloomy expression as he followed everyone else to a more distant courtyard.
"Fire Country, Jiraiya—you've got some guts!"
After glancing back at the incredibly solid wooden wall, Tsunade fixed her gaze on Jiraiya and Naruto.
"Now it's just me against you... and that little kid..."
Before Jiraiya fully recovered from his shock, Tsunade instantly completed her hand seals.
Horse-Dog-Snake.
[Wood Release: Wood Clone.]
Thick wooden protrusions burst from Tsunade's body, continuously reshaping themselves into human form.
The wood dropped to the ground, transforming not only into Tsunade's likeness but even mimicking her skin tone exactly.
[Wood Release...] Jiraiya grimaced bitterly again.
Without Sage Mode, he probably wouldn't be able to defeat her.
But Tsunade had already seen him use Sage Mode before—would she really give him enough time to prepare?
"Summoning Jutsu!"
An orange frog wearing iron-plated armor appeared, crouching on the ground nearly one person tall.
Compared to large frogs like Gamabunta (the Boss Toad), this was considered a small summon, specializing in defense.
"Protect Naruto," Jiraiya instructed.
Iron-Armored Frog leaped to Naruto's side, standing in front of him and preparing to defend against incoming attacks.
Naruto anxiously watched Jiraiya's position.
"How should I help..."
Then Jiraiya also created a Shadow Clone to assist from the side.
Of course, he could summon larger frogs for help, but there were still many ordinary people within the palace grounds. Jiraiya hesitated.
Besides the earlier [Wood Release: Wood Enclosure Wall] and [Wood Release: Wood Clone], Tsunade didn't employ any other Wood Release techniques. Both she and her wooden clone relied solely on their expertise in taijutsu combat, prompting Jiraiya to taunt, "[Wood Release] doesn't seem that impressive."
"Is that so?" Tsunade chuckled, then suddenly changed expression.
[Wood Release: Spearwood Barrage.]
Multiple wooden vine-like branches sprouted from Tsunade's body, surging directly toward Naruto.
Jiraiya's heart pounded wildly. He wanted to quickly dash to Naruto's side, but couldn't make it in time!
Could her real target have been Naruto all along? But why?
In an instant, countless sharp vines shot straight into Naruto's field of vision—his heart pounded like war drums. He was terrified beyond measure.
Right now he was only seven years old, knowing only Summoning Jutsu and Clone Jutsu. What combat or reaction ability did he have? He was completely at a loss.
Iron-Armored Frog stepped forward slightly, raising its arm.
Puchi... Puchi...
Its body was pierced through.
At the sight of blood, Naruto became even more frightened. His legs shook so hard they almost knocked together. His whole body just... froze.
The Iron-Armored Frog dangled impaled on the wooden vine, still moving forward.
Tsunade's demeanor showed no flicker of emotion.
Just as it was about to make contact with Naruto Uzumaki's body,
a streak of light burst from the necklace around his neck.
Time seemed to still completely.
As if striking an invisible wall, the wooden vines Tsunade had unleashed came to a sudden halt.
Then they shriveled up and dropped limply to the ground.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, her eyes filled with confusion.
Shouldn't the Nine-Tails' chakra have appeared to protect him? What exactly is going on here?
In the Kaguya Palace, Hiroki stared in shock. "Tsunade is so fierce... Naruto Uzumaki almost died..."
Indra couldn't send Ashura back into reincarnation, but Tsunade almost succeeded.
Kaguya, slightly exasperated, rubbed her forehead.
I said capture him, not kill him! Didn't I make myself clear?
Crack... crack...
The sound of shattering echoed repeatedly in his ears as crystal shards rained down, glittering brilliantly in the sunlight.
Naruto Uzumaki paled in panic, his face turning deathly white.
It actually broke... The protective amulet given by the Great Toad Sage has shattered...
Was I seriously about to die just now...?
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