Takamagahara was said to be the dwelling place of the gods—the realm of heaven itself.
Uchiha Ran activated Takamagahara, tearing open space itself.
"So this is space–time ninjutsu… Truly incredible."
For Ran, this Takamagahara space was astonishing.
Unlike the Kamui dimension, Takamagahara was filled with countless structures and vibrant life.
The sky here was eternally clear, bathed in warm sunlight, without a single trace of cloud. Flowers, grass, and trees bloomed in dazzling colors. Clear streams and waterfalls flowed beside majestic palaces, the sound of running water echoing softly throughout the land.
Ran carefully sensed the space.
"…It feels unreal. Half illusion, half reality. Is this because of Floating Life, Like a Dream from my Zanpakutō?"
He didn't dwell on it.
Using Takamagahara, Ran tore open space once more—and stepped through to the adjacent battlefield.
Just before Ran shattered space—
Tsunade and Pakura, still locked in battle, both sensed something strange.
The massive roar of the One-Tail… and its chakra rapidly fading away.
Pakura felt nothing in particular. The monk Bunpuku had spent his life sealed away in a temple, rarely ever seen. To be honest, she barely knew him at all. Even the disappearance of the One-Tail's chakra didn't worry her in the slightest.
But Tsunade was different.
At that moment, her heart clenched violently.
She and Ran had only just acknowledged their feelings—and with Nawaki's fate burned into her memory, fear surged uncontrollably within her.
Please… don't let anything happen to him…
"There's an opening!"
Seeing Tsunade momentarily distracted while being pressed by her three disciples, Pakura was overjoyed.
Could this be it? Could I really kill Tsunade of the Sannin—an outright Kage-level monster?!
Scorch Release: Excessive Steam Murder!
"…No—!"
Tsunade saw the scorching technique bearing down on her—
—and at the same time, space itself tore open.
Ran appeared.
His three-tomoe Sharingan spun violently.
Ran… did you come because of me…?
Pakura burst into laughter, mocking Tsunade—mocking the legendary Sannin who was about to be reduced to a dried corpse before her eyes.
Ran stared at Tsunade within the blazing Scorch Release.
His Sharingan transformed—
Mangekyō Sharingan.
Perfect.
He had been troubled about finding the right moment to awaken the Mangekyō.
And now—
Tsunade possessed Creation Rebirth. This attack couldn't truly harm her.
Yet it gave him the perfect justification to awaken his Mangekyō… openly.
Just as Pakura was reveling in her triumph—
"Don't get carried away, Pakura."
"And Ran—don't worry."
Tsunade's voice echoed calmly from within the raging flames.
As the fire dispersed, Tsunade emerged—completely intact.
Pakura's pupils shrank in terror.
"Medical ninja rules," Tsunade said coolly.
"Rule one: Never abandon treatment before a teammate dies.Rule two: A medical ninja never fights on the front line.Rule three: A medical ninja is always the last to fall.
And the final rule—only those who have mastered the Strength of a Hundred: Creation Rebirth may break the above."
As she spoke, Tsunade's wounds healed at terrifying speed before Pakura's eyes.
With a proud expression, Tsunade stepped forward.
"My regeneration may not equal my grandfather's, but my medical ninjutsu has reached true mastery. Your so-called Excessive Steam Murder can't injure me at all."
Her gaze softened as she turned to Ran, worry flooding her eyes.
"Ran, you—"
Ran looked back at her, his Mangekyō Sharingan glowing faintly.
"That's great… Tsunade-neesan. You're safe."
"Damn it… this is infuriating!"
Watching the two gaze at each other so openly, Pakura nearly exploded with rage.
This is still a battlefield!Do you two have any shame at all?!
She would mete out justice herself!
Scorch Release: Excessive Steam Murder!
A classic move, used to dominate countless battles.
As a wielder of Scorch Release, this was Pakura's signature technique—feared throughout the shinobi world for its cruelty.
But against Ran—
Now wielding the Mangekyō Sharingan—
It no longer mattered.
"Danku…"
Ran turned away with deliberate swagger, gently taking Tsunade's soft hands.
"Tsunade-neesan, let me check. Are you hurt?"
"Ran, behind you—!"
Seeing him ignore the incoming attack, Tsunade panicked and tried to pull him away.
"It's fine," Ran said calmly."Tsunade-neesan… let me show you some fireworks."
Danku was an application of Takamagahara—the right eye's power—folding space itself to form an invisible barrier.
Its function closely resembled the Danku technique from the Shinigami world.
So Ran gave it the same name.
"BOOOOM—!"
"What…?!"
"Why can't our attack hit him?!"
Pakura and her students stared in disbelief as their technique slammed into an unseen wall.
"Hmph."
"Pakura," Ran said coldly, "interrupting my reunion with Tsunade-sensei… that really annoys me."
"Looks like you've already forgotten the lesson from last time."
"T-Those eyes…" Tsunade gently touched Ran's cheek, heart aching.
He awakened the Mangekyō… because of me…
She clenched her fist.
As his teacher—no, as his elder—I really am unqualified…
"Enough already!"
Pakura screamed, furious.
"Is Scorch Release really such a joke to the two of you?!"
The bloodline feared across nations—reduced to nothing before them!
"Tsunade-neesan, Pakura's getting noisy."
"I'll deal with them first."
"Ran…?"
Tsunade knew exactly what he was about to do.
As the last surviving Senju, she knew the price of the Mangekyō Sharingan all too well.
"Yes," Ran said softly."Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
Watching his back, Tsunade felt uneasy.
The Mangekyō's side effects are irreversible… so why isn't he afraid?
But she didn't press him.
Men had their pride.
Still—accepting someone so much younger than herself…
What am I even doing…
"And worst of all," Tsunade groaned internally,"how am I supposed to explain this to Orochimaru and Jiraiya?!"
My partner is an Uchiha—this is humiliating!
Ran stepped forward, standing protectively before her.
"Pakura," he said calmly,"you have no chance against me."
In Pakura's furious gaze, Ran raised his hand—
Crossed two fingers.
"Six Rods Prison of Light."