On the chaotic battlefield, Tsunade's arrival caused a visible tremor on Sunagakure's side. During the previous Shinobi Wars, the title Princess Tsunade had been far too renowned—so much so that even Chiyo had been wary of her.
To encounter such a legendary kunoichi on this battlefield was, for Sunagakure, an immense psychological blow.
Tsunade's fists did not slow as she pressed her assault on Shiraishi. His body twisted sharply, movements exquisitely precise under Psychic control, barely slipping past her blows. Yet Tsunade's offense was relentless—she pivoted and unleashed another explosive punch.
The detonation-like impact tore through the air, violent shockwaves shredding everything in their path. For a split second, it felt unreal, as though the scene before Shiraishi was an illusion. He caught the faint, terrifying scent of something absolute—
—the scent of a future that might end here.
It was not just the raw destructive force of her fists. Tsunade's killing intent had taken tangible form, a crushing pressure that gave Shiraishi the unmistakable illusion that resistance itself was meaningless. His chest tightened; breathing became difficult.
So this is the pressure of a Sannin fighting at full power…
Shiraishi forced his chakra flow into strict control, sealing his meridians. Goosebumps rose across his skin, refusing to fade. Fear, dread, and tension surged together inside him—yet instead of breaking him, they fused into blazing battle intent.
He could not retreat.
In a flash, Shiraishi drove the silver blade into his own palm. Blood splashed outward. Tsunade's expression shifted sharply—her punch lost a fraction of its power. Even so, Shiraishi took the blow head-on.
Several ribs were shattered. A dull, crushing internal injury spread through his body, nearly dropping him to his knees.
But he did not fall.
Using the Sand-Gathering Technique and high-speed movement, Shiraishi desperately widened the distance between them. As he retreated, he continuously expelled rings of black Mist.
Once wasn't enough.
He forced out a second Black Mist.
A third.
A fourth.
Six times in total—only then did the fog barely cover the surrounding area, buying Sunagakure the critical opening they needed to withdraw.
Several squad leaders decisively ordered a retreat. At the same time, Shiraishi instructed Saki and Haruka to take the severely injured Fukuyama and Kitajima and pull back.
"Captain—"
Suppressing the agony tearing through his body, Shiraishi gritted his teeth.
"Tsunade's target is me. Get out of here. Now."
Tsunade's presence meant that something in Ebizō's and his own plan had gone wrong. Sunagakure's situation was now extremely dangerous.
Just as Shiraishi feared, countless summoning arrays erupted across Kikyo Pass. The earlier strike on the Medical Corps had not gone as planned—although Konoha had taken losses, the impact was limited. Worse still, with Sunagakure's main forces committed to the front, their rear had been left dangerously exposed.
Venomous snakes and ambush units surged through Kikyo Pass, crushing Sunagakure's rear lines. Compared to Konoha's losses in the Medical and Sensory Corps, Sunagakure—already short on manpower—suffered devastating blows to its puppet masters and pharmacists, who were now being specifically targeted.
On another front, Maki and Shikasa were in grave danger. Scrolls danced through the air as Maki used sealing techniques to hold off Konoha ninja, while Shikasa's puppets whirled relentlessly, blocking the advance of the snakes.
For a time, the situation at Kikyo Pass was even more chaotic than inside Konoha's camp.
Ebizō clenched his teeth. The mudstone giants behind him reformed, transforming into even more formidable black mudstone colossi that plunged back into battle.
With Konoha attacking from both front and rear, Sunagakure's morale began to falter. Shiraishi and Ebizō both felt a growing urgency—if things continued to deteriorate, Sunagakure's remaining options would be reduced to only one…
Tsunade roared, and the sheer force of her punch instantly blasted apart the Black Mist Shiraishi had created.
This Mist is strange.
Though she shattered it with brute force, the lingering icy residue still interfered slightly with her fists. Combined with Shiraishi's ability to continuously spew Black Fog while retreating, Tsunade briefly suspected—
Is this brat a jinchūriki?
She quickly dismissed the idea. Studying Shiraishi more closely, Tsunade became increasingly certain of just how troublesome this boy was.
Forcing down her blood-induced agitation, she regained her usual cold composure.
"Brat," Tsunade said flatly,
"Are you from the Yuki Clan of Kirigakure?"
Her opening line was deliberate—intended to stir suspicion within Sunagakure itself. The name of a Kirigakure bloodline clan, combined with the chilling undertone of Shiraishi's Black Mist, made the association plausible.
"It's just a basic chakra-nature combination technique," Shiraishi replied calmly.
"Besides the Yuki Clan, the Snow Ninja of the Land of Snow use similar methods. Tsunade-sama, you're making a bit too much of it."
As he spoke, Shiraishi sensed something off.
After that exchange, Tsunade—despite her overwhelming speed and power—had chosen to stop and talk instead of continuing her assault.
Something wasn't right.
Regardless, he could not allow himself to be dragged into her rhythm. He needed to stall her—to provoke her—to keep this Sannin pinned here for Sunagakure's sake.
Delaying Tsunade was strategically invaluable. In many ways, she was even more important to Konoha than Orochimaru.
Recalling Kitajima's usual jokes and outrageous banter, Shiraishi hesitated—then made his decision.
In a measured, unhurried tone, he said,
"Besides this technique, I've also developed another one. It has an extremely powerful enhancement effect, specifically for female medical ninja. Or rather… for Tsunade-sama."
The words immediately caught Tsunade's attention. Even Saki and Haruka turned to stare at Shiraishi.
An enhancement technique for female medical ninja?
Could it increase chakra control? Double it?
Even Tsunade, still suppressing her hemophobia, could not help being drawn in.
Sensing something suspicious, she sneered lightly.
"It seems you've invented quite a few techniques, brat."
"When a woman's mammary glands enter certain states," Shiraishi continued calmly,
"They secrete a white or slightly yellowish, opaque liquid rich in nutrients—"
Tsunade's gaze grew terrifying.
Unfazed, Shiraishi went on,
"This technique converts that substance into life energy. Once applied, allies on the battlefield can drink it as a fresh supplement, greatly enhancing vitality."
"So I call it 'Drink Milk.' It's especially suitable for Tsunade-sama. With it, your identity as a medical ninja would become even more… sacred."
He concluded without the slightest hesitation, completely ignoring the stunned expressions of everyone watching—friend and foe alike.
Shiraishi's words detonated Tsunade's last shred of restraint.
"I'll kill you!"
One final note—
Tsunade, at this point in history, was very different from her later self.
In short—
Shiraishi's words were lethal.
If you want to read more, join my Patreon/kazama677
I will drop 1 bonus chapter for every 50 Power Stones