Chapter 221: Tsunade in Crisis! Sakura Arrives at the Scene!
Konoha Village.
The Akatsuki four-man cell launched a surprise attack.
Edge of Konoha's Sensory Barrier.
Due to Orochimaru's previous Konoha Crush plan, countermeasures in this area had been specifically reinforced.
Consequently, their appearance was instantly captured by the village's Sensory Division. In a split second, piercing sirens resonated over Konoha.
EMERGENCY ALERT!
"Enemy attack!!"
"It's the Akatsuki!!"
Shrill screams tore through the sky, and the peaceful routine was utterly crushed in this instant.
Beneath the Hokage Rock, inside the Command Center, Minato Namikaze's golden hair looked somewhat solemn under the lights. His azure eyes were fixed on the huge map, where red dots representing enemies were moving at alarming speeds.
"The entire village enters highest alert status!"
Minato's voice was calm and decisive, transmitted to every corner of Konoha via loudspeakers. "All units proceed according to the predetermined plan! Prioritize evacuating civilians!"
"Lady Tsunade, I entrust the Medical Corps and Logistics Department to you—"
"Don't worry, Minato."
Jiraiya's figure flashed, appearing beside Minato with a grave expression. "I'll go to the front lines to check the situation. These bastards—"
He muttered under his breath, his figure disappearing again as he rushed to the battlefield.
"Kakashi," Minato turned to his proud student beside him, "You lead the direct-subordinate Jonin squad. Be responsible for the core area defense, while gathering enemy intelligence. Stay safe."
"Yes, Sensei!"
Kakashi Hatake's Sharingan under his forehead protector spun slightly as he led several Jonin away quickly.
Shikaku Nara stood in front of the huge sand table, his brows furrowed tightly. Countless pieces of intelligence were rapidly integrating and being analyzed in his mind.
"The enemy has split into two groups."
"Hidan and Kakuzu are attacking head-on; their goal is to create chaos."
"Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki are moving more covertly; they are likely coming for Naruto."
"Anbu, protect Naruto strictly! We've only discovered four Akatsuki members so far. The Akatsuki's goal is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Whether other members have infiltrated is unknown! Until we clarify the enemy's full situation, he absolutely cannot appear on the battlefield!"
Panic began to spread on the village streets, but more ninjas had already sprang into action.
Battlefield Front Lines.
Hidan laughed maniacally, wielding his Triple-Bladed Scythe. Each swing carried nauseating killing intent.
Kakuzu stood not far behind him, his five mask monsters spewing ninjutsu of different attributes. Fire Style explosions, Lightning Style roars, Wind Style cutting winds—tearing openings in Konoha's defense line one after another.
"Hahahaha! These are sacrifices for Lord Jashin!"
Hidan's roaring was exceptionally piercing amidst the explosions.
Konoha ninjas gritted their teeth, operating in squads, constantly using terrain and coordination to stall them. They understood that facing such immortal monsters head-on was the most unwise choice.
"Water Style: Water Encampment Wall!"
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"
The light of ninjutsu intertwined, explosions rose and fell, and the battle entered a fever pitch from the start.
Just as Konoha's defense line was about to be completely torn apart, a figure charged into the battlefield like a hurricane. A fiercely unmatched fist wind instantly shattered a fireball-spewing mask monster!
"Medical ninjas, fall back! Leave this to me!"
Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin. Currently in her prime, her long hair danced in the smoke, her eyes sharp as knives.
"The Akatsuki is getting more and more rampant—"
"You think Konoha is your backyard? Step over my dead body first!"
Tsunade looked at the man with gray slicked-back hair in front of her.
Hidan exaggeratedly opened his arms. "Oh? Another nice sacrifice!"
"Wah~ So scary~"
"But compared to the pain of being disemboweled, what should hurt your heart more is… that Hiruzen Sarutobi who died at Orochimaru's hands, right?!"
"If he knew you couldn't protect the village now, would he crawl out of his coffin and cry?"
"Hahaha~"
"Heard that little Nine-Tails kid is sleeping here? Lord Jashin says it's time to wake him up somewhere else~"
Seeing Tsunade, a glint of bloodthirsty excitement flashed in Hidan's eyes. He wielded his scythe faster, aiming straight for Tsunade's face with a sharp whistling sound.
"Scum like you who joke about the dead…"
"I'll nail you to a barbecue rack today and let my stomach acid slowly stew you into meat sauce!"
Tsunade snorted coldly, neither dodging nor evading. Her right fist wrapped in pale blue chakra, condensing terrifying power, met Hidan's scythe head-on.
"Heavenly Foot of Pain!" (Note: Often translated as Cherry Blossom Impact or just chakra enhanced strength, context implies a punch here despite the name often associated with kicks/ground smashes, likely referring to her monstrous strength punch).
CLANG!
The deafening sound of metal collision rang out.
Hidan felt an irresistible force transmitted from the scythe. The web of his hand ached sharply, and he flew backward uncontrollably, smashing heavily into the distant ruins, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Pathetic."
Tsunade's tone was cold as her gaze turned to Kakuzu.
Kakuzu's four mask monsters immediately changed formation. Wind, Lightning, Water, and Fire attribute ninjutsu attacked Tsunade simultaneously from different angles, sealing off all her escape routes.
"Hmph, cheap tricks!"
Tsunade stomped her foot, and the ground cracked instantly. Her figure moved fast as a ghost, shuttling through the dense ninjutsu attacks while her hands rapidly formed seals.
"Ninja Art: Creation Rebirth!"
Powerful vitality surged from within her body. Pale green light covered her entire form, and Tsunade's aura climbed again. She tanked a few weaker ninjutsu, relying on the rapid recovery ability of Creation Rebirth to rush in front of Kakuzu unscathed.
Tsunade swept a whip kick containing tons of force towards Kakuzu's main body.
Kakuzu's pupils contracted. His body hardened instantly (Earth Style: Earth Spear), while he controlled the remaining mask monsters to cover him.
BANG!
Even his hardened body was like paper before Tsunade's terrifying strength. Kakuzu grunted, a large part of his chest caving in; clearly, he had suffered significant damage.
"Damn woman!"
Kakuzu roared, a trace of apprehension flashing in his eyes. He could feel that this woman's strength far exceeded his expectations, and that rapid regeneration ability was extremely troublesome.
Just as Tsunade prepared to press her advantage, a bizarre bloody pattern suddenly spread from beneath her feet.
"Hehehe… Got you, old hag!"
Unnoticed, Hidan had crawled out of the ruins, a sinister grin on his face. He had drawn a strange circular formation on the ground with his own blood. And at the center of the formation stood Hidan himself!
"What?!"
"How are you unhurt?!"
What shocked Tsunade even more was discovering a tiny cut on her calf that she hadn't noticed. Although it healed quickly, blood had dripped down, merging into the bloody formation on the ground.
"What is this—damn thing?"
An ominous premonition rose in Tsunade's heart.
Hidan knelt on one knee, tearing open his shirt to reveal the curse seal on his chest, laughing maniacally.
"Come on, come on!"
"Let me see if the legendary monstrous strength can smash me into meat paste~"
"This is a ritual dedicated to Lord Jashin! Now, let us feel the pain together!"
"Hahahaha…"
Hidan laughed wildly, raised the pike in his hand, and stabbed it into his own heart without hesitation!
SQUELCH!
Blood sprayed.
Almost at the same time, Tsunade suddenly let out a muffled groan of pain. An excruciating pain came from her chest, as if pierced by an invisible blade!
She looked down; the clothes on her chest were already stained red with blood.
Crimson blood, blinding red…
Tsunade's pupils contracted sharply, long-buried memories flooding her mind. Her brother Nawaki, her lover Dan… their images lying in pools of blood overlapped with the crimson on her chest right now.
"No… d—don't…"
Intense fear instantly made her body cold, limbs stiff, even breathing becoming difficult.
Hemophobia!
This inner demon that had plagued her for years struck again at the most critical moment!
"Ah~"
"Hahahaha! That's right! Such exhilarating pain!"
"That's the expression! Die in pain and despair!"
"When you die, I'll use this body to pleasure myself in front of your tombstone! Hahahahaha~"
Watching Tsunade's painful expression, Hidan let out even more frantic laughter.
Kakuzu also seized the opportunity. The remaining three mask monsters spewed lethal ninjutsu again, aiming straight for Tsunade, who was temporarily incapacitated by her hemophobia.
Crisis! An unprecedented crisis descended upon Tsunade!
And on the horizon, Sakura's figure plummeted rapidly from the high skies of Konoha!!