Clang!
The colossal clang of metal on metal was so loud it felt like eardrums would burst.
Gamabunta's massive body jolted due to the terrifying recoil from the blade.
He instantly widened his eyes. He felt as if his short sword hadn't struck an energy body, but rather a mountain.
"Damn it! This power!"
"Hmph!" Madara snorted.
Susanoo's power suddenly doubled. It erupted in dazzling light, an unparalleled, immense force pressing down relentlessly.
Gamabunta felt an irresistible force from the hilt of his sword, and his colossal body lost its balance. He was like a toy swatted away by a giant.
He tumbled uncontrollably through the air for over a dozen rotations, finally crashing down dozens of meters away.
A world-shaking boom echoed, and dust billowed into the sky.
"Ow! Damn it!"
Gamabunta struggled to lift his head from the dust, roaring at Jiraiya in the distance, who was diligently concentrating Senjutsu Chakra.
"Jiraiya! This guy's too tough! Hurry and call out that old Great Toad Sage!"
He had personally witnessed how terrifying the seemingly senile Great Toad Sage was when he fought.
A single punch, purely out of instinct, had nearly killed A.
Regardless of whether he could defeat this monster in front of him, stalling for time was definitely more than enough.
Jiraiya's face twisted into an expression uglier than crying when he heard Gamabunta's shout.
"If I had that ability, would I be getting beaten so badly?!"
"Where's your annoying student?!"
"How should I know? He said he was going somewhere, and I can't find him now!"
"Damn it! Failing at the crucial moment!"
Gamabunta got up. He didn't know why, but he suddenly missed that mischievous white-haired boy.
...
In Konoha, more and more ninjas noticed the blue giant rising from the ground. Some recognized what it was.
"Susanoo, this is the legendary Susanoo. The person here is a member of the Uchiha clan."
Members of the Konoha Military Police Force drew their long swords one after another.
"Hokage-sama isn't here. Now is the time to test us."
"Konoha Military Police Force, attack!"
Ninjas in Konoha Military Police Force uniforms roared as they charged, various Ninjutsu crackling as they struck Susanoo.
Madara snorted, "Hmph, a bunch of ants."
A casual wave from the giant sent the Police Force members sprawling, their livers and guts trembling with fear.
"Retreat! This is not an opponent you can handle!"
Even so, the battle had to continue.
Gamabunta swung his sword, clashing head-on with Susanoo again and again, and then flying off again and again.
"Cough, cough."
Finally, he collapsed into a huge crater.
His sword had fallen from his grasp, his body was covered in wounds, and he no longer had the strength to get up.
"Sorry, Jiraiya, I've reached my limit."
Jiraiya still maintained his hands-clasped posture. "You worked hard."
Bang!
A puff of smoke dispersed, and the heavily wounded Gamabunta vanished from his spot, returning to Mount Myōboku to recover.
With Gamabunta's shield gone, Madara's cold gaze locked onto Jiraiya once more.
His steps didn't falter, the massive, heavy energy body slowly pressing forward.
Looking at the struggling ninjas and the ruins around him, a flicker of disgust crossed Madara's eyes.
He changed his mind. "Since I'm here, I might as well take some time to crush these annoying insects first."
Water Release: Water Severing Wave!
A water pillar struck Susanoo, but it had no effect whatsoever.
Fukasaku said, "Jiraiya, I need another half minute. You should retreat for now."
Jiraiya gritted his teeth, his gaze sweeping over his severely wounded comrades lying behind him. And Tsunade, who was curled up, her body still trembling slightly.
"Retreat? If I retreat, they'll all die."
"Tsunade!"
Jiraiya yelled in anger, "Pull yourself together!"
This roar seemed to contain some power, making Tsunade tremble violently and lift her head.
That back, silhouetted against the blue giant, appeared so small, yet so indestructible.
"You are the granddaughter of the First Hokage, Hashirama! You are one of Konoha's Sannin!"
"Stop dawdling! Get up now! Look at these people! Without your strength, they'll all die!"
"Have you forgotten what First Hokage-sama said back then?!"
"His purpose in establishing Konoha was to protect his comrades! Look at you now, what have you become?!"
"Fight back! Get up and fight back now!"
Every word from Jiraiya was like a heavy hammer, relentlessly striking Tsunade's sealed heart.
She bit her lip so hard it was almost bleeding. Her body trembled violently, and her hands clenched tightly, her fingernails digging deep into her palms.
"Jiraiya… I…"
Susanoo's shadow had already fallen, Chakra surging wildly within the colossal energy body. Four more grotesque arms formed, raised high.
Madara said with disdain, "It's one thing that Hashirama's granddaughter can't use Wood Release, and her Medical Ninjutsu isn't even as good as one of Hashirama's fingers. Now she doesn't even have the courage to resist."
"What a complete and utter waste."
"Waste…"
Tsunade murmured the word, falling into a deathly silence.
However, just as those four giant Chakra arms were about to descend, Tsunade moved. She slowly raised her head.
In the depths of her originally fear-filled and bewildered brown eyes, something seemed to have been ignited. A long-dormant pride and power, belonging to the Senju clan, was breaking free.
"I am the First Hokage's descendant, and it's true I can't use Wood Release."
"As for Medical Ninjutsu, compared to grandpa who didn't need hand seals, I'm nothing special."
"That being said, I am not a weak woman."
Tsunade slowly stepped forward, protecting Jiraiya behind her, directly facing the suffocating indigo-blue giant.
"What I possess isn't just simple strength, but something inherited from grandpa, passed down to this day."
"Don't underestimate the will of fire burning brightly within me!"
Her fists clenched, and the diamond mark on her forehead was fully unleashed. Vast life force and Chakra, like a torrent, instantly surged through her entire body.
Black markings covered her whole body, and the Strength of a Hundred Seal activated at full power.
Creation Rebirth—Strength of a Hundred Seal!
"Don't underestimate me, you bastard!"
Accompanied by this roar that shook the battlefield, Tsunade unleashed a punch, condensed with anger, pride, and conviction.
She slammed it, without holding back, into Susanoo's energy armor, which was boasted as absolute defense.
CRACK!!!
A crispier shattering sound than all previous impacts rang out.
For the first time, a subtle ripple appeared on Madara's perpetually ice-cold face.
On Susanoo's incredibly solid Chakra shell, a spiderweb of cracks spread out from the point where Tsunade's fist struck.
"Oh?"
A very subtle curve appeared at the corner of Madara's lips.
"It seems to be a little interesting."
The moment Madara finished speaking, he formed hand seals.
Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!
A surging inferno roared, rushing towards Tsunade.
"Tsunade! Get out of the way!"
Just at this critical life-or-death moment, the Sage Mode markings on Jiraiya's face finally fully formed.
Sage Art: Goemon!