"Boom!"
The six-tailed beast vanished in an instant.
A mangled figure lay collapsed on the ground.
Its fate, uncertain.
"Gulp..."
"The Jinchuriki's rampage…. was suppressed."
"This is the power of Wood Release?"
Those who witnessed the entire shocking scene—
Seeing Tsunade, use the formidable Wood Release to overpower the rampaging Six-Tails.
Even the shinobis of Kirigakure couldn't help but swallow nervously.
A shiver ran down their spines.
"Lady Mei..." Ao approached Mei with his team.
As he looked at Kiyoshi, Tsunade, and the others, a sense of unease and vigilance rose within him.
If the enemy intended to snatch the Six-Tails by force.
It was likely they wouldn't be able to stop them.
"Impressive, Lady Tsunade." Karin and Shizune looked on, their eyes filled with reverent admiration.
"This power... is certainly remarkable."
Tsunade smiled with satisfaction.
She was clearly pleased with the strength of the Wood Release.
In truth—
Using the Wood Dragon Technique had cost her a considerable amount of chakra.
With her current strength, she couldn't yet wield more advanced techniques like the Wood Golem, let alone the True Several Thousand Hands.
"For your sake, Lady Mei."
Kiyoshi crossed his arms, his expression calm as he glanced at the severely wounded, unconscious Six-Tails Jinchuriki, his chakra completely exhausted.
Noticing Mei, Ao, and their group visibly unnerved by Tsunade's show of strength, he smiled and said, "You can keep the Six-Tails, but..."
"But the Byakugan... must be returned."
Before Kiyoshi could finish—
Tsunade stepped forward, her gaze fixed firmly on Ao's right eye.
"The Byakugan is a Kekkei Genkai of the Hyuga Clan," she stated assertively. "It must not be allowed to fall into foreign hands. You choose."
"What?"
Ao's face paled.
Sweat began to bead on his forehead.
He had never expected them to demand the Byakugan he had taken from the battlefield.
To him, it was as precious as his life—a prize that symbolized his triumph, one that had deterred the Hyuga Clan's main family from recklessly entering battle.
It was his greatest source of pride, the honor of his life.
"No way."
Even Mei's face darkened.
She rejected it without a second thought.
There was no way she could agree to something like that.
Ao was one of her trusted aides, someone who had come to her of his own volition.
"This is outrageous."
"Don't push it too far."
"This Byakugan is Kirigakure's hard-won trophy."
"Ao's Byakugan no longer belongs to Konoha."
The Kirigakure shinobis couldn't hide their indignation.
Their gazes sharpened, fists clenched around kunai and swords, ready for a fight.
"The Byakugan belongs to the Hyuga Clan."
Shizune, who had arrived with Karin, couldn't help but sneer as she listened to the self-righteous Kirigakure shinobi.
"Taking something by force and calling it justice—how very Kirigakure of you."
"Lady Tsunade, are you trying to start a war?"
Mei's eyes locked onto Tsunade.
Her face filled with fury, but also tinged with fear, as she ground out the words through clenched teeth.
"War?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
She looked at Mei with a bemused expression. "Are you threatening me?"
Taking a moment to look over the woman before her, Tsunade had to admit—
She was truly stunning.
The perfect face, the curves that even her uniform couldn't hide.
No wonder that brat Kiyoshi was eager to curry favor with her.
"Damn it."
In an instant—
The Kirigakure shinobis broke into a cold sweat.
Tsunade's overwhelming presence left them paralyzed, too terrified to speak.
Karin, Shizune, and Kiyoshi—
The three looked on, taken aback by Tsunade's show of dominance.
But now wasn't the time to question her authority.
"Lady Mei, as much as I don't want to be your enemy."
Kiyoshi shrugged.
The Byakugan wasn't something he cared about.
But since it was Tsunade's decision, he couldn't openly oppose it.
He wasn't about to lose sight of his own allies just to defend someone he had met barely an hour ago—a woman who would one day become the Fifth Mizukage.
Even if he had to admit—
The allure of this woman was hard to ignore.
"But you should make your choice wisely. Surrender the Byakugan and leave with your Jinchuriki."
His voice carried a hint of exasperation as he spoke plainly. "Or we'll take it back ourselves… by any means necessary."
Though he left his words unfinished—
Mei and the others clearly understood his message.
If they didn't hand over the Byakugan, not only would they lose their claim to the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, but escaping unscathed would be near impossible.
"Tsunade-sama... must you be this relentless?"
Mei's expression shifted, her fist tightening as she bit her lip.
She glanced at Ao, whose face was twisted with anger and resentment, wavering with indecision.
The Six-Tails Jinchuriki was an invaluable strategic asset for Kirigakure.
But Ao's Byakugan was equally precious.
Not to mention, Ao was a loyal subordinate, someone she had worked hard to win over.
Given her current fragile power, she couldn't afford a rash decision.
She had to tread carefully, lest she lose her ally's loyalty.
"Damn you, Konoha shinobis—you won't threaten us."
Just then—
One of the Kirigakure shinobis, a savage look on his face, rushed at the seemingly defenseless Karin, who looked no older than ten.
He aimed to capture her, planning to use her as a hostage and force Tsunade, Kiyoshi, and Shizune to back down.
"Wait... stop."
Mei's face fell.
She tried to halt the shinobi, but it was already too late.
In an instant—
Shizune sprang into action.
With a single movement, she appeared in front of Karin, blocking the shinobi's path.
Lightning crackled faintly around her form.
With one swift punch, she struck.
"Boom!"
"Aaagh..."
The Kirigakure shinobi had no time to evade.
To the astonished eyes of Mei, Ao, and the rest of the Kirigakure shinobis—
He was sent flying, crashing through tree after tree, clouds of dust billowing up in his wake.
His body crumpled on the ground, lifeless.
"One punch..."
"What terrifying speed, what monstrous strength."
Watching the scene unfold through his Byakugan, Ao couldn't contain his cold sweat.
Shizune's speed was overwhelming.
Even with his prized Byakugan, he couldn't keep up.
Combined with the presence of the formidable Tsunade with her Wood Release, and Kiyoshi, whose skill with the Flying Thunder God Technique was so masterful it defied comprehension—
In a real battle—
They would be outmatched, even with Mei as their leader.
For a moment, Ao's face betrayed his inner conflict.
The Kirigakure shinobis, too, felt their blood run cold.
They had not expected not only Tsunade and Kiyoshi to possess such strength—
But even Shizune, who accompanied them, had a power that was terrifying.
"Have you decided?"
Tsunade's soft smile betrayed a deadly intent.
Her face shone with a chilling confidence.
But her calm tone carried a silent threat.
All of the Kirigakure shinobsi, including Ao himself, felt a deep sense of dread.
A heavy weight pressed upon them.
Even Mei's expression darkened, the usual lightness gone from her face.
Her teeth clenched, her gaze seething with rage as she stared at Tsunade.
This woman… this damn old hag was pushing her to the limit.
"Wait… I agree to hand over the Byakugan.."
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