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SHOOM!
From his vantage point in the air, Ōnoki thrust his palm forward. A cubic field of Particle Style expanded, engulfing the skeletal Susano'o and Sasuke within.
—Particle Style: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu!
ZZZAP! A flash of white light filled the cubic field. The Susano'o, and Sasuke inside it, were instantly reduced to dust.
"Did he… get him?"
The Five Kage and their guards, Mifune and his samurai—all watched in tense silence.
Ōnoki dispersed the Particle Style, casting a sidelong glance at a grim-faced Tsunade. He snorted inwardly, triumphant, and declared loudly, "Indeed. As you have all witnessed, Uchiha Obito has been reduced to molecules by my Particle Style!"
A spike of worry shot through Kabuto. Particle Style is undefendable. Ōnoki attacked from a blind spot. Could Sasuke really have…?
Shoom.
The green healing glow faded from Tsunade's hands.
The Raikage, now fully healed, erupted to his feet. "You damn fossil! Uchiha Obito was MY prey! Who gave you permission to interfere?!"
Ōnoki turned, hands clasped behind his back. "What an ungrateful oaf. If not for my Particle Style, that Susano'o alone would have given you a run for your money!"
The Raikage snorted, arrogance rolling off him. "The hell you say?!!"
Mifune stepped forward to mediate. "Esteemed Kage, please cease your quarrel. With the ringleader vanquished, we should resume the Five Kage Summit and discuss the eradication of Akatsuki's remnants."
Ōnoki offered a thin smile. "Lord Mifune speaks reason. Raikage, Akatsuki has no shortage of powerful members. You will have plenty of opportunities to prove yourself."
The Raikage roared, "Hah! I'll take on ten of their bastards at once!!"
—"Tsuchikage. Raikage. Aren't you celebrating a bit too early?"
A cold, youthful voice cut through the air.
"What…?!"
All heads snapped toward the source—a white-clad, masked youth stepping from the shadow of a pillar.
"A… clone? Just now?" Ōnoki's mind, honed by the Warring States era and sharper than any present, instantly grasped what the others had missed. "A clone. But a clone capable of using the Susano'o… that's no ordinary Shadow Clone. Could it be…?"
Cold sweat traced a path down the wrinkled skin of the old Tsuchikage's face.
Kabuto let out a quiet sigh of relief. Of course. A veteran like Sasuke would never overlook Ōnoki's Particle Style. He used a Wood Clone from the start.
BOOM!
The skeletal frame of the Susano'o rose around Sasuke once more.
"This arena is a bit cramped… hard to move properly."
He brought two fingers together before his chest.
CRACK! CRACK! The Susano'o's two skeletal fists ignited with a glow like burning coals. Together, they slammed down onto the stone floor.
"Is that… Explosion Release?!" Ōnoki's eyes widened in alarm. "He's trying to bring this whole place down on top of us!!"
Before he could finish, Gaara's sand surged, forming a protective dome over everyone present.
—Explosion Release: Susano'o Landmine Fists!!
KABOOOOOOOM—!!!
A cataclysm of fire and force erupted from the point of impact. The castle, standing firm in the Iron Country's snowy valley, shuddered, groaned, and then collapsed in on itself, sending a tidal wave of snow and debris skyward.
WHOOSH…
The sand shield pushed aside the falling rubble and masonry. The Five Kage were fine. Thanks to Gaara's swift reaction, the guards and samurai escaped with nothing more than a fright.
In the center of the newly formed ruins, the instigator stood, untouched within his skeletal guardian.
Mifune's face darkened with fury. "To commit such an act of terror on neutral ground… You Akatsuki scum go too far! Samurai! With me! Surround and eliminate him!"
"YES, MY LORD!"
Swords were drawn in unison under Mifune's command.
Sasuke's voice was a low rumble. "My targets are the Five Kage. If the samurai choose to interfere, I will not hold back."
Mifune's gaze was icy. "Samurai do not fear death."
Tsunade spoke up then. "Mifune. This is a conflict of the shinobi world. Leave it to us, the Five Kage."
Mifune hesitated briefly, then slid his sword back into its sheath. "Very well. Then, Five Kage… unleash your might. Bury this villain in the snowfields of the Iron Country!"
The samurai followed suit, sheathing their blades and withdrawing.
Ōnoki barked, "Akatsuchi! Kurotsuchi! You two fall back as well!"
Akatsuchi worried, "Old man, what about your back?"
Ōnoki grunted. "Seeing that 'Wood Clone' just now… my back pain vanished in an instant."
Kurotsuchi blinked. "Eh? Is that a thing?"
"You wouldn't understand…" Ōnoki turned to the other Kage. "A word of advice. Have your guards retreat as well. Otherwise, they'll just die for nothing."
The guards stood firm.
Gaara said, "Temari. Kankurō. Fall back."
Temari protested, "But—"
Gaara cut her off, his voice leaving no room for argument. "If our opponent is 'him,' this is not a battle you can participate in."
Mei Terumī added smoothly, "Ao. Chōjūrō. As the saying goes, 'disregard an elder's advice and suffer the consequences.' Stand down."
The Raikage bellowed, "Darui! C! You two get the hell out of here!!!"
Tsunade ordered, "Shikaku. Inoichi. You too."
Shikaku, ever the strategist, asked quietly, "One question. Can you bring yourself to do it?"
Tsunade's jaw tightened. "Given the circumstances, I'm not so foolish as to miss the bigger picture. Since he dares to raise a sword against the Five Kage, he must be fully prepared. I suspect if he were overpowered, Orochimaru would appear to rescue him. At the very least… he won't be killed."
Shikaku's mind raced with contingencies. The true fear is that the Five Kage might not be his match… If the situation turns dire, Inoichi and I will not stand idly by. I suspect the other Kage's guards feel the same.
"Understood."
Tsunade clenched her fist, knuckles turning white. "The rest of you have had your turn. This round… let me take the lead."
Mei voiced her concern. "Lady Hokage, you are a medical-nin. Shouldn't the vanguard role be left to the Raikage?"
"It's fine." Tsunade's voice rang with absolute conviction. "The ironclad rule that medical-nin must not charge into the fray… can be broken by one with the Strength of a Hundred Seal!"
ZZZT… As her words fell, the diamond-shaped seal on her forehead unfurled. Intricate purple markings spread across her face before flowing down her neck and beneath her clothes. A palpable, overwhelming surge of chakra radiated from her.
The other Kage stared, sensing the drastic change.
"Lady Hokage… this chakra…?!"
"Five Kage! Provide me with support!"
BOOM!!!
With a mighty leap, Tsunade charged at Sasuke—not with blinding speed, but with an aura of devastating, unstoppable force.
Behind his mask, Sasuke allowed a smile to form. Finally. The one I've been waiting for.
WHOOSH…!!!
Tsunade launched herself into the air. Her fist, devoid of any fancy technique, met the ribs of the Susano'o.
CRUNCH—!!!
The skeletal structure shattered on impact.
The Raikage's eyes widened. "What?!"
"Lady Tsunade…" Ōnoki breathed, astounded. "Her speed may not match the Raikage's, but her raw power surpasses it!"
Sasuke's thoughts moved quickly. With the Strength of a Hundred, she won't die easily from a stray hit. The Five Kage aren't truly united yet, each wary of the others. To force them into a desperate, cooperative fight against me… I need to apply some serious pressure.
—Wood Style: Adamantine Strength!
As Tsunade's fist closed in, SMACK!! Sasuke's right hand shot up, catching her devastating punch squarely in his palm!!!
The Five Kage gasped in unison. "He… caught it head-on? The fist that broke the Susano'o?!"
Watching from a distant ridge, Orochimaru chuckled. "Naturally. After absorbing 'State Three,' Sasuke-kun gained access to the Senju's 'Adamantine Strength.' That is the true, orthodox source of Tsunade-hime's monstrous power."
Sasuke's eyes sharpened. A white spiral formed in his left palm and slammed directly into Tsunade's chest.
—White Spiral!
CRACKLE…!!!
From the spiraling pattern, a chaotic thicket of wooden stakes erupted, piercing straight through Tsunade's torso from front to back.
"Guh—AAGH!!"
Thud.
She collapsed into a rapidly expanding pool of her own blood.
"LADY HOKAGE!!!"
Under the horrified gaze of the Five Kage, Sasuke calmly brought his hands together before his chest.
Five Kage… if you don't bring out your true power, this can't be called the Seventh Bout.
—Wood Style: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!
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