Sasori hurled insults, but Orochimaru's expression didn't change.
"If you won't let me help, you might actually die."
"I don't really care, but the Leader… won't find it easy to explain."
Sasori's face darkened like the bottom of a pot.
That disgusting snake really was as unbearable as ever.
He spat out a single word at Orochimaru:
"Get lost."
Orochimaru spread his hands helplessly—and actually stepped aside.
After leaving Sasori, Orochimaru turned to Tsunade again.
He murmured with a strangely sincere tone:
"I never planned to kill you."
"But to uncover the truth of this world… you'll have to sacrifice yourself."
Under everyone's shocked gaze, Orochimaru pulled out a kunai and drove it into his own palm.
That kind of self-harm wouldn't mean much to normal people.
But for Tsunade—who suffered from hemophobia—it was the deadliest possible attack.
Sure enough—
The moment she saw the blood flowing from Orochimaru's hand, Tsunade began to tremble violently.
What happened to her lover and her younger brother had left a deep psychological scar.
With that shadow swallowing her, Tsunade slowly dropped to her knees.
Seeing this, Genma and the other two, who had followed Orochimaru, couldn't help shouting:
"Lady Tsunade—what's wrong?!"
Tsunade's lips shook.
She couldn't even form a complete sound.
Sasori was also confused.
She'd just been fighting like a hawk.
How did she suddenly turn into a quivering sparrow?
Sasori stared at the bright red blood on Orochimaru's hand—
and his pupils suddenly contracted.
Don't tell me…
Orochimaru smiled and nodded.
"You're right."
"Tsunade has severe hemophobia."
"It's a secret of the ninja world—only I, and a few core figures in Konoha, know it…"
Sasori clicked his tongue in disdain.
So that's what it was.
He'd thought Orochimaru was impressive—
Turns out he was just a petty man who attacked people's weaknesses.
Are all "Konoha Sannin" like this?
Orochimaru didn't care what Sasori thought.
If Tsunade's hemophobia had already triggered and he still couldn't win—
Then he might as well go buy tofu and smash his head into it.
Hearing the truth, Genma's team suddenly understood.
No wonder the Hokage sent them to protect Tsunade.
So she really did have a massive hidden weakness.
Kage-level fighters rarely "flip the car," but illness was a different story.
For a medical ninja, hemophobia was basically a dead end.
Can't see blood, and you still want to do medical work?
Perform surgery with your eyes closed?
Tsunade's condition had relapsed—she couldn't fight.
If this dragged on, they could get wiped out.
Genma immediately decided:
They would use the "Flying Thunder God Technique" together and escape with Tsunade.
But—
Sasori obviously wasn't going to give them that chance.
Tsunade was already handled.
A few small fry still wanted to make trouble?
He'd already lost face once today—he wouldn't let it happen again.
The moment Genma's team tried to approach Tsunade, Sasori's puppets blocked their path.
"No further."
Genma and the others turned pale.
Trying to take Tsunade away in front of a Kage-level opponent was basically impossible.
While Genma's team panicked, Sasori locked his gaze on Tsunade with malicious intent.
"I never imagined the famous medical ninja… would have such a bizarre condition."
"You destroyed the Third Kazekage puppet."
Then use your own body to compensate.
"I'll turn you into a collection piece equal to the Third Kazekage."
As he spoke, Sasori walked toward Tsunade.
At that moment, Genma's team finally moved.
"Ninja Art: Senbon Rain!"
"Secret Technique: Black Blade Greatsword!"
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
But attacks from two chūnin and one special jōnin were nothing to Sasori.
With a flick of his finger, a puppet stepped forward to block.
"Overestimating yourselves."
"Performance: Thousand Blades Assault!"
Under the dense barrage, Genma's team was forced back.
Compared to Sasori, the quality gap in ninjutsu was simply too huge.
"Lady Tsunade…!"
Unable to reach her, they roared helplessly.
Sasori gave them no opening at all.
"Performance: Human Puppet Control!"
His fingers danced—chakra threads instantly stuck to Genma and the others.
They became dolls in his hands, unable to move by their own will.
After dealing with them, Sasori turned back to Tsunade.
If he was going to make a puppet—
He obviously didn't need her alive.
With one hand controlling a puppet, he drove a blade straight for Tsunade's throat.
"Die!"
At the last possible instant—
A chakra-metal sword suddenly blocked in front of Tsunade.
"That's enough."
The attack was interrupted, and Sasori's eyes turned ice-cold.
"Who are you?"
Orochimaru froze for a moment, then spoke.
"Yusuke… we meet again."
Uchiha Yusuke's sudden appearance made Genma's team breathe in relief.
Whether he could fully reverse the situation was uncertain—
But Tsunade's safety was probably secured.
Yusuke had once faced the Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki alone without losing ground.
Saving Tsunade should be no big issue.
"Lord Yusuke—Lady Tsunade's illness has flared up."
Genma immediately reported.
Yusuke nodded lightly.
That arrogant woman Tsunade… finally paid for her hemophobia.
Sasori wanted to strike, but Orochimaru stepped in and stopped him.
"Don't act rashly."
"This is Konoha's infamous 'Flame Demon'—Uchiha Yusuke."
Uchiha Yusuke?
Sasori was startled.
He'd heard that name.
Konoha's "Flame Demon" was a reputation approaching the legendary Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze.
And recently, he'd apparently become the Hokage's assistant.
Facing someone like that, Sasori naturally couldn't be careless.
He stared at Yusuke, eyes flickering.
Konoha Flame Demon…
I've wanted to test you for a long time.
Orochimaru's thoughts were even more active.
After witnessing Uchiha Itachi's shuriken skill, he'd become obsessed with the Sharingan.
He desperately wanted a young Uchiha body—but never got the chance.
Now, with Sasori as backup—
A 2v1 might actually be enough to take Yusuke down.
Orochimaru licked his lips.
"Yusuke-kun…"
"Interrupting someone else's fight isn't a very good habit, is it?"
His intent was obvious—he was trying to stoke Sasori's hostility.
Yusuke smiled.
"Interrupting others?"
"Wasn't it you who moved first?"
Orochimaru's expression stiffened.
Yusuke wasn't wrong.
And if they argued, Sasori—the traitorous type—might even turn his anger on Orochimaru instead.
Orochimaru forced a smile at Sasori.
"Well?"
"As partners… want to team up and test Uchiha Yusuke?"
Sasori huffed, full of pride.
"Uchiha Yusuke is my prey."
"Don't stick your nose in, snake."
He said no—
but his body language clearly accepted Orochimaru's help.
Seeing Orochimaru lower himself to ask was satisfying.
So you think you're better than me?
Then why are you begging me now?
And the best part—
I didn't even agree, I insulted you back.
It felt amazing.
Orochimaru didn't care about pride.
He only cared whether they could beat Uchiha Yusuke.
A quick analysis made the situation look perfect.
They had 2v1.
And Yusuke also had to protect Tsunade.
That made it a gift from the heavens.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Orochimaru attacked first.
"Venom Barrage!"
Sasori followed, controlling two puppets to fire.
Yusuke frowned slightly.
He had to protect Tsunade—
and face two Kage-level fighters at once.
This was… not ideal.
No time to think.
Yusuke grabbed Tsunade in his arms and instantly retreated out of their attack range.
Orochimaru and Sasori refused to let him go, biting after him like rabid dogs.
"Don't think you can run."
"Today is the day you die, Uchiha Yusuke!"
Sasori's fingers twitched—another wave of hidden weapons sprayed toward Yusuke.
Normally, with flame-elementalization, Yusuke could ignore this completely.
But with Tsunade in his arms, he had to draw his sword to block.
His sword moved like wind, knocking the weapons to the ground.
Tsunade, regaining awareness, flushed red.
Since adulthood, she had never been this physically close to a man.
Even her former lover and her brother had only held hands or kissed her forehead.
She struggled to get out of his arms—
but with her hemophobia still active, her body was weak and powerless.
In a tiny, trembling voice, Tsunade whispered—
Yusuke's lips curled.
"I can put you down."
"But I can't guarantee your safety in front of two Kage-level opponents."
Tsunade froze.
She had become someone else's burden.
Being alive was already lucky—what was there to complain about?
So Tsunade instinctively held Yusuke tighter.
Her mind exploded with muttering.
If I can't fight, at least don't cause trouble.
You Uchiha brat—stop taking advantage of me.
Fight properly. Don't let those two shameless bastards off.
…
With Tsunade no longer struggling, Yusuke could move more freely.
A bit restrictive—
but dealing with Orochimaru and Sasori shouldn't be too hard.
After his swordsmanship breakthrough, Yusuke had officially stepped into the "super-Kage" realm.
And with an Eternal Mangekyō nearing completion—
he had effectively reached the "demigod" tier of the shinobi world.
Orochimaru placed both hands on his stomach and spat out a Kusanagi sword.
If Yusuke wanted weapon combat, Orochimaru would gladly oblige.
"Take this, Yusuke."
Orochimaru rushed in again.
Yusuke met him head-on—steel clashed.
But within moments of exchanging blows, Orochimaru fell into a disadvantage.
Yusuke's swordsmanship had reached the Great Swordmaster level—ordinary Kage simply couldn't handle it.
"Red Secret Technique: Double Puppet Strike!"
At the critical moment, Sasori intervened, stabilizing Orochimaru's position.
Even as a 2v1, Akatsuki still couldn't gain any advantage against Yusuke.
Forced back again and again, Orochimaru's eyes filled with shock.
He hadn't expected Yusuke to break through again in such a short time.
Weapon play wasn't working.
Orochimaru immediately changed tactics.
As an old-school Kage-level fighter, his toolbox was endless.
He lowered himself and extended his long, saliva-coated tongue.
"Secret Technique: Ten Thousand Snakes Formation!"
With that, countless snakes surged out in a flood.
The sight was disgusting—
black-brown snake shadows covered the sky, and their mouths held sharp long swords slick with drool.
Yusuke wasn't exactly a clean freak—
but he still hated sticky, slimy things.
He gripped his sword with both hands and cut out a flying slash.
"One-Sword Style: Horizontal Sever!"
A massive mushroom cloud erupted.
The snake swarm turned to dust instantly.
Orochimaru was caught in it too—half his body almost completely ruined, like Madara after taking Night Guy.
Yet Orochimaru's face remained calm.
He smirked, opened his mouth wide—
and performed a classic Orochimaru-style "substitution" by shedding into a new body.
As soon as the fresh body hit the ground, he slipped away with snakelike movement.
Yusuke silently thought:
Kage-level monsters really aren't that easy to deal with.
Now that Orochimaru and Sasori were coordinating—
winning would take real effort.
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