During the Second Shinobi World War, Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki, accidentally stepped into an explosive tag trap and was blown to pieces on the spot, dying a gruesome death.
Now, history was repeating itself.
Tsunade was caught under concentrated enemy fire, and as her hemophobia flared up, her body froze completely. Death was closing in, just like it had on Nawaki back then.
After cutting down one enemy, Might Guy instinctively glanced back - and his soul almost left his body.
No, wait. Tsunade-sama was being focused by multiple enemies, yet she wasn't moving at all? That was completely inconsistent with the level of a Sannin.
At the critical moment, Uchiha Maí activated [Offense and Defense Path] and launched himself toward Tsunade.
Cost: 50,000 ryō.
Duration set: two seconds.
In an instant, Maí's speed visibly increased. He wrapped his arms around Tsunade's waist and threw himself to the ground with her, rolling away in one smooth motion.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Various low-level ninjutsu bombarded the spot where Tsunade had been standing moments earlier, stirring up a small vortex of chakra.
Maí let out a deep breath. Thankfully, when he saw Minato rush toward the enemy, he had already anticipated this situation and moved toward Tsunade immediately.
Otherwise, she really might have been killed there - taken down by a bunch of nobodies along with an "internal liability."
Most shinobi had strong offense but weak defense. Even taijutsu specialists weren't especially tough without reinforcing their bodies with chakra.
Of course, exceptions existed - like Might Guy at full power or the Raikage lineage. Those were in a class of their own.
"Good job, Maí," Minato Namikaze praised. He didn't understand why Tsunade hadn't dodged, but the important thing was that she'd been saved.
"The assassination failed. Retreat!"
A middle-aged enemy ninja saw that the initial barrage had failed and immediately ordered a withdrawal.
Might Guy was about to give chase, but remembering that his earlier carelessness had nearly put Tsunade in danger, he hesitated for a moment and gave up.
He rushed to Tsunade's side with Kakashi Hatake and Uchiha Maí, supporting her and moving her to a nearby tree.
"Tsunade-sama, where are you feeling unwell?" Guy asked, puzzled. This reaction was far too severe - nothing ordinary could explain it.
Leaning against the tree, Tsunade raised a trembling hand and pointed toward a corpse not far away.
The gesture looked eerily similar to Adam in Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam.
Minato glanced at the body, confused. Was Tsunade warning him that the enemy wasn't completely dead yet?
Thinking about it, it made sense. Even with a severed carotid artery, a normal person could take over ten seconds to die. A determined shinobi might still act in that time.
Amazing. As expected of the greatest medical ninja in the world - her understanding of vital points far surpassed his own.
"I understand, Tsunade-sama."
Minato nodded firmly, flashed to the corpse, and stabbed a kunai straight into the enemy's heart. Blood burst out with a wet sound.
With both the neck and heart pierced, there was no chance of any last move.
"Hn - ugh… Minato…!!"
Seeing that, Tsunade's condition worsened. Her whole body trembled as she glared at Minato through clenched teeth, clearly wishing she could kick that blond head hundreds of miles away.
Maí silently sighed, bent down, and turned her body so she no longer had to see the corpse.
After a few seconds, the fear in Tsunade's heart finally began to settle. Even so, just recalling the body made her limbs weak.
"Tsunade-sama… could it be that you…" Minato returned, his expression changing as he finally noticed the issue. Could Tsunade be suffering from a psychological disorder?
Witnessing or personally experiencing bloody deaths could easily result in recurring post-traumatic stress.
Tsunade's hemophobia was exactly that.
Veteran shinobi like Minato or the Sannins, who had long been accustomed to life and death, theoretically shouldn't develop such conditions. That was why it hadn't crossed his mind at first.
But now, everything made sense.
"Yes…" Tsunade nodded. "After the Second Shinobi World War, I developed hemophobia. Whenever I see or touch blood, my body loses all strength. Don't let this spread."
In an instant, Minato understood the full picture. No wonder the Third Hokage had insisted on bringing Tsunade back to the village - or at least ensuring her protection.
One jōnin and three genin guarding Tsunade sounded ridiculous on the surface, but now it all lined up.
"Damn it… those enemies who escaped earlier…" Minato's face darkened.
They had witnessed Tsunade's episode from start to finish. Even if fear of the Sannins had made them retreat immediately, a later analysis would surely reveal something off.
If this got out, Tsunade would lose her strategic value.
"Kakashi, Maí, Guy - you three stay here and protect Tsunade-sama. I'll pursue the enemy," Minato ordered decisively.
"Understood!"
"With me, Might Guy, here, no one will get within a single step of Tsunade-sama!" Guy declared, fully alert.
"Sensei," Maí said, stepping forward. "There should be about five enemies who escaped. If they scatter in different directions, even with your speed, you might not be able to eliminate them all. I request permission to pursue with you."
"All right."
After a brief consideration, Minato agreed. He rapidly formed hand seals and slammed his palm onto the ground. Chakra gathered into a summoning array.
With a bang and a cloud of white smoke, a large toad appeared - about one and a half meters tall, light green skin, a long sword strapped at its waist, striking an overly dramatic pose.
"Toad Takumi of Mount Myōboku, re - por - ting!"
"Takumi, no time for talk. Stay here and help protect Tsunade-sama," Minato ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
Takumi nodded vigorously, drew his sword, and positioned himself in front of Tsunade, his large eyes sharply watching every movement around them.
And thus, the pursuit began.
end of chapter
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thanks for read ;)