Chapter 12: The Unbeatable Duo
Fuma stroked the wound on his arm. The [Savage Growth] title endowed him with formidable regenerative abilities, granting him the confidence for high-intensity combat.
With the enhancement Mangekyō Sharingan, Tsunade had gained the ability to engage in close combat with Fuma. However, it was merely a matter of strength.
Tsunade's strength was already exceptional, and with the addition of the Senju Clan's monster strength and the Mangekyō Sharingan, she could rival Fuma.
But could she keep up with Fuma's speed? The answer was no.
Fuma's body moved with agility, circling around Tsunade. His afterimages flitted rapidly across the ground, ghost-like, as he attacked Setsuna.
Earlier, Setsuna had launched a massive assault with Yasaka Magatama, a saturation attack that left no room for evasion.
However, how many more times could he use it?
Setsuna was wild but not reckless. At over fifty years old, he couldn't use his ocular powers as freely as Sasuke, shooting arrows and forcefully activating his Susano'o at will.
Fuma left Tsunade far behind, his hands crackling with lightning as he formed a long lightning blade, striking at Setsuna.
Setsuna steadied himself and reinforced his Susano'o, raising his white katana to meet Fuma's attack.
Unexpectedly, Fuma retracted his blade midway, contracting his abdomen in mid-air, and with a swift spin, he dodged the strike and positioned himself at Susano'o's flank.
Fuma's thigh muscles bulged with a resounding roar. He tightly gripped both sides of Susano'o, lightning chakra erupting, and leaped into the sky with tremendous force!
"——Thunder Bomb!"
The weakness of the second-stage Susano'o lay in its lack of ground defense. The white god of war was hoisted high and then violently slammed into the ground with electrifying force.
After a successful strike, Fuma glanced back at Tsunade, then used a body flicker technique to create distance once more.
Observing intently, Homura Mitokado adjusted his glasses and couldn't help but comment, "Hiruzen, Danzō, Koharu. I believe Fuma's combat prowess can rival that of the Second Raikage."
The Third Hokage exhaled a puff of smoke, his face showing a sense of resigned detachment. "Yes, it's the first time I've heard of an Uchiha's Susano'o being lifted like that. Quite an eye-opener."
Jiraiya wore a rigid expression, "Indeed, and it was lifted by an Uchiha."
This remark elicited wry smiles from the assembled Jōnin, even Danzō was not exempt.
Setsuna struggled to his feet, his half-body Susano'o armor tattered, exposing bones and tendons. He had suffered significant shock from the impact, with blood streaming from his nose and ears.
Tsunade helped Setsuna up, channeling her Healing Jutsu to heal his injuries, though it had limited effect.
Setsuna waved his hand, and his left eye's Mangekyō began to spin again, tears of blood streaming down. With a flash of white light, his injuries were once again healed.
"No matter, today, even if I lose my sight, it will be worth it!"
Seeing Setsuna's determination, Tsunade hesitated no longer and summoned a giant slug.
"Slug-sama, please take care of this Uchiha."
The slug wobbled slightly and split into dozens of smaller slugs, which crawled onto Setsuna, glowing green and replenishing his chakra.
Setsuna, controlling his Susano'o, swung his long katana, carving out deep trenches around him, creating an isolated island with himself and the slug at its center.
The slug opened its mouth slightly, secreting viscous acid that corroded Fuma's limited attack space.
Fuma smiled at Setsuna's strategy, then began to run around the isolated island, his fingers weaving signs, as he employed traditional Five Elements Ninjutsu.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" "Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bullet!" "Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
"Combination Ninjutsu: Molten Earth Technique!" The wind fueled the flames, and the flames ignited the earth dragon bullets, sending powerful molten projectiles hurtling towards Setsuna from all directions.
Setsuna's blood boiled with excitement, his battle spirit reignited by his clash with Fuma. He shouted at Fuma, "Such Ninjutsu has never been of any concern to us Uchiha!"
He then swung his white katana horizontally, a powerful slash cleaving through the molten earth, leaving Setsuna unscathed.
Setsuna's right eye's Mangekyō began to spin slowly, and Tsunade's chakra surged violently once more.
The white Susano'o sat on its isolated island, like a commander on the battlefield.
Tsunade charged at Fuma again, their punches and kicks clashing once more. This time, Fuma adopted a new tactic.
To seriously injure Tsunade, he needed to deliver heavy blows to vital points.
However, heavy blows required slight preparation, allowing Tsunade to keep up with Fuma's speed and trade blows, ignoring her own injuries.
Fuma was always one step faster than Tsunade. Tsunade was not known for her speed, and even with the Mangekyō's enhancement, she couldn't fully match Fuma's speed.
Fuma dodged left and right, moving with butterfly-like agility, evading Tsunade's straight punches, hooks, and side kicks.
He occasionally exploited the openings in Tsunade's attacks to wear her down with light punches.
Tsunade, frustrated by the harassment, leaped back and shouted to Setsuna, "How much longer? The next strike will decide the victory!"
Fuma smiled, understanding their intent to use another saturation attack to limit his movements, forcing him to take Tsunade's powerful blow. Simple but effective.
Fuma resumed his guerilla tactics, continuing to harass Setsuna with Ninjutsu while occasionally engaging Tsunade in brief skirmishes.
He seemed unconcerned that Setsuna's eyes were gradually recovering.
Feeling the intense pain in his eyes, Setsuna thought to himself, "It seems I can only use one more ocular technique without going blind."
He shouted to Tsunade, "Continue with the previous strategy!"
Though it was a transparent tactic, it was an open strategy, using brute force and Susano'o's long-range attacks to corner Fuma into their rhythm.
Fuma glanced at the sky, seeing a black dot rapidly descending.
He smiled, knowing victory was at hand.
With a loud roar, Fuma seemingly ignored Setsuna and launched a powerful assault on Tsunade.
Finally, Yasaka Magatama rained down on Fuma again, and Tsunade silently gathered her strength, waiting for the opportune moment for a decisive strike.
Under the barrage of magatama, Fuma was forced to dodge continuously, while Tsunade watched intently for an opening in his defense.
A black shadow carrying a massive boulder appeared in the sky—it was the summoned eagle, Dahei!
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