The salamander's head was smashed open, leaving a gaping hole. Its action of gathering poison mist was interrupted immediately.
Feeling the pain, it turned around and—without any command from Hanzo—swung its tail to strike at Tsunade.
"Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"
Jiraiya spewed flames from his mouth; Gamabunta cooperated, adding toad oil to fuel the blaze. The fire surged forward, engulfing the salamander and Hanzo.
The salamander had no choice but to give up attacking Tsunade and leap aside.
The Toad Oil Flame Bullet burned violently upon impact.
Right after that, Orochimaru and Manda launched their assault. The salamander had just landed and managed to steady itself.
It took Manda's heavy tail strike head-on, while Orochimaru once again engaged Hanzo with his sword.
Both sides were forced back a few meters.
Tsunade and the other two gained some advantage in the first exchange, forming a triangular encirclement around the salamander.
"Excellent teamwork. Sarutobi Hiruzen is truly blessed."
Hanzo sighed with genuine admiration.If only he had three disciples like this… life would be very different.
Amegakure simply lacked high-tier combatants.
"Cut the crap."
Tsunade, once angered, became frighteningly aggressive.
She raised her fist high and slammed it down. The ground cracked instantly, fissures racing toward the salamander.
"That's all you can do to me."
Hanzo jumped off the salamander and charged at Tsunade.
"Ninja Art: Chaotic Lion's Mane!"
Jiraiya leaped down from Gamabunta, attempting to intercept Hanzo.
Of course, Orochimaru wouldn't miss the chance. He lunged in again, drawing another blade from seemingly nowhere.
"Wh—?!"
Tsunade didn't retreat. She surged forward instead, shouting as she punched Hanzo in the face.
Hanzo used a water-flash step to evade Orochimaru and Jiraiya's attacks.
The salamander rushed toward Tsunade.
"Kenjutsu: Iaido Slash."
Hanzo's voice was cold. He clearly intended to eliminate Tsunade first.
Tsunade didn't retract her punch in time. She narrowly avoided a fatal blow.
A deep gash opened across her waist, while her punch struck Hanzo's shoulder.
Hanzo was blasted backward by her monstrous strength, while Tsunade's wound began rapidly closing under the power of her Byakugō Seal.
Meanwhile, the three summoned beasts continued their own fierce battle.
Gamabunta's short blade cut the salamander but had little effect.
Manda, far smaller in size, lost the direct clash and was injured by the salamander's charge.
"Gamabunta, CUT HARDER!"
The arrogant Manda could only hope Gamabunta would pick up the slack; it could no longer defend itself.
"Stop spouting nonsense. I'll chop it right off."
Gamabunta leaped high and stabbed his dagger straight into the salamander's head.
The salamander barely resisted. It submerged into the earth and burst out again, knocking the snake aside.
Just like the last time they clashed…
"I'll be back!"
Manda vanished in a puff of smoke once more.
Gamabunta was left alone to face the salamander.
Hanzo landed, rolling his shoulder—Tsunade's punch had caused a mild injury.
"Not bad. If I'm not mistaken… you're from the Senju clan."
"It's a pity Hashirama's Wood Release has been lost."
"Do you really think I need my grandfather's Wood Release to defeat you?"
Hearing that, Tsunade's irritation deepened. Research on her grandfather's cells had been progressing painfully slowly.
Where on earth is Kawakaze? Why isn't he here yet?
"Shadow Clone Technique!" ×2
Orochimaru and Jiraiya attempted to overwhelm Hanzo with numbers.
Eight clones appeared and rushed in, boxing Hanzo in.
Hanzo failed to notice for an instant.
Tsunade once again leapt high into the air.
"Heaven Kick of Pain!"
Hanzo remained calm. He formed hand seals, expression unshaken.
One versus nine.
"Water Release: Hidden Mist Jutsu."
A heavy mist erupted around Hanzo, spreading in every direction.
Tsunade and the others instantly lost sight of their target.
When Tsunade's heel struck the ground, a crater exploded beneath her.Four more loud bangs followed—
She had accidentally crushed four shadow clones of Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
"Now… it's my turn."
Hanzo's voice echoed from everywhere at once. None of them could locate him.
Moments passed—
Another loud bang.
Another clone died.
"Such a shame… just a clone again."
"In that case, I'll kill them one by one."
Hanzo's whisper slithered through the mist like a demon from hell.
"Wind Style! Breakthrough!"
Orochimaru's voice held panic. They were as blind as children.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" ×3
Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and their remaining clones spewed powerful gusts.The mist gradually dispersed.
They could vaguely see each other's silhouettes again.
Hanzo did not stand idle while his chains sought their lives.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya rolled aside just in time, but the last clone was cut down.
When the fog fully cleared, Tsunade and the others realized—
Gamabunta was gone.
And Hanzo stood once more atop the salamander's back.
His real intention earlier had been to free the salamander from Gamabunta's interference.
Their situation deteriorated rapidly.
Most of their chakra was spent.All three were visibly exhausted.
Meanwhile, Hanzo—aside from a minor shoulder injury—looked perfectly fine.
"You three are always troublesome… but it's about time."
"Ninja Art: Poison Mist Eruption."
Seeing their state, Hanzo decided this was the right moment.The salamander had gathered enough toxins.A thick wave of purple poison mist burst toward them.
The range was enormous. Without space-time ninjutsu, escape was nearly impossible.
Tsunade and the others were not especially fast shinobi.
"Hold your breath—RUN!"
Tsunade shoved a high-grade antidote pill into each of their hands and sprinted away.
Holding their breath and relying on antidotes was only temporary relief.
If they stayed inside the mist, they would die.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya swallowed their pills and followed her out.
But Hanzo would never let them go so easily.A smile stretched across his face.
He had done more than just cast Hidden Mist earlier.
"Fire Release—Detonating Flame Array!"
As Tsunade ran, she suddenly noticed her right foot covered in exploding tags.
Her face drained of color.
Her mind went blank—the only thing she could think of was Kawakaze's face.
If you're ever in danger, remember to stand behind me.
Kawakaze, where are you?Why aren't you here yet?
"Tsunade!!"
Jiraiya also saw the tags on her leg.He shouted and formed hand seals.
"Ninja Art: Needle Jizō!"
His long white hair flared outward, about to wrap around Tsunade to shield her from the explosion.
Orochimaru even threw kunai, hoping to interrupt Hanzo's detonation, but it was far too low-level to stop him.
"Tsunade—I'm here!"
Kawakaze didn't hesitate for even a second. He followed the trajectory Tsunade had taken.
The moment he sensed the Flying Thunder God mark—he appeared beside her and immediately saw the tags on her leg.
Just like in the original timeline…except this time, Jiraiya hadn't protected her yet.
And Kawakaze couldn't stop himself—his spatial barrier brushed against the explosion point.
Jiraiya's hair hadn't yet wrapped around Tsunade.
Hanzo had only just uttered the word "explode."
Kawakaze transferred all the destructive force to the thousand senbon he had scattered earlier.
And then—
A massive blast tore the air apart.
"Kawakaze-kun!!" ×3
Tsunade and the others shouted with relief and excitement.
Reinforcements had arrived.
"You three rest. Leave the rest to me."
Kawakaze gripped his sword, stepping forward with his back toward Tsunade and the others—
Finally facing the real Hanzo of the Salamander.
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All the fanfiction is 30-chapter ahead but this "Naruto: Tsunade the Fugitive Healer" is 30 chapters ahead there