"Sorry... I was hoping once this was over, I could give you your freedom. Looks like that's not happening."
Despite everything, Naruto turned to Kurama and offered a sincere apology.
"I'm sorry, Kurama. I've let you down."
Hearing Naruto apologize even at a time like this, Kurama didn't know what kind of expression to make.
He turned his anger toward the pig-headed humanoid monster before them.
"Damn it... If I could move, garbage like you wouldn't even know how you died!"
Kurama spat the words with what little strength he had left.
The pig-headed creature's grin only grew more twisted at those words.
It raised its massive arm, aiming to bring it down on Kurama's head.
SHOOOM!!
Suddenly, a massive column of water fell from the sky, crashing into the pig-headed monster and blasting a hole clean through most of its body.
The splashing water, sharp like countless hidden weapons, pierced through many smaller monsters nearby!
"Huh?"
Everyone stared in confusion at the sky, wondering where the water had come from.
Then they saw it—a gigantic fish-like creature flapping two round fins as it descended from the clouds.
It was none other than Kyogre, summoned by Mei!
"Whew! Just in time!"
On Kyogre's back, Tsunade wiped the sweat from her brow and sighed with relief.
She then turned to Mei beside her.
"Thank you, Mizukage. That really helped."
"Don't mention it. But if you're heading down, let me handle one more thing for you first."
Mei raised her hand.
"Kyogre, whip up a storm and blow that smoke away!"
With her command, Kyogre flapped its fins hard, creating a raging gale that swept the poisonous smoke away from Konoha and toward the monsters.
Several of the monsters were poisoned on contact and collapsed instantly.
"Perfect. Thank you."
Tsunade expressed her gratitude, then leapt down, followed closely by a group of Konoha Jonin who had traveled with her to the Five Kage Summit.
"We'll head to the Blood Pool and handle the rest of the monsters!"
Mei gave her orders, and Kyogre flew onward toward the distant frontlines.
As Tsunade descended, a fat humanoid monster over a hundred meters tall opened its mouth wide, trying to swallow her whole.
"Out of my way!!"
Tsunade shouted furiously, channeling chakra into her fist—along with both Armament and Conqueror's Haki.
She smashed her fist downward.
BOOOOOOM!!!
An immense shockwave burst from her fist, shaking the air violently.
The monster below erupted in blood and collapsed, defeated by the sheer force.
This was a new technique Tsunade had developed during her flight on Kyogre—refining her control of both chakra and Haki to unleash power that transcended her old limits!
Tsunade landed right beside Naruto.
"Granny Tsunade! You're finally here! What took you so long?"
Naruto called out weakly, feigning annoyance.
"Sorry, Naruto. You know how it is—heroes always arrive late."
Tsunade smiled down at him.
Then her expression hardened as she looked around.
Konoha, which had only just begun its reconstruction, was now in ruins again. Countless citizens and shinobi lay dead.
Seeing this, Tsunade was consumed with fury.
As Hokage, not being there when her village needed her most was a heavy burden of guilt.
That guilt, mixed with anger, surged through her—along with a massive rise in chakra and Haki.
Dark lightning crackled around her.
"Ugh... What is with this woman?!"
Kurama flinched, stunned by the pressure she was giving off.
"You dare destroy my village while I was gone... You beasts better be ready to pay for it."
As Tsunade spoke, her eyes flashed red. Then her Conqueror's Haki erupted like a tsunami, washing over the battlefield.
The majority of monsters caught in the wave collapsed instantly, unconscious.
Even massive monsters weren't spared—only those over 400 meters tall were unaffected.
"What the hell kind of monster is she?!"
Kurama groaned, feeling like he might pass out from proximity alone.
"Tch... Kurama, I didn't expect you'd actually listen to Naruto and help protect the village."
Tsunade looked at the weakened beast with a bit of surprise.
"Even if your reasons weren't pure, thank you—for protecting Konoha."
As she spoke, she bit her thumb and drew a vertical line on her wrist with her blood.
Then she slammed her hand to the ground.
POOF!
A burst of white smoke erupted, revealing none other than the Great Slug Sage.
"Slug Sage, please help heal everyone."
Tsunade sat down cross-legged and began channeling her chakra.
"Understood."
The massive slug responded immediately, splitting into countless smaller slugs that scattered across Konoha to treat the wounded.
One of them, nearly half Kurama's size, attached itself to the Nine-Tails to help heal his injuries.
"Tsunade... This battle is unlike any other. Even if you drain all your chakra, you won't be able to save everyone."
One of the smaller slugs perched on her shoulder warned her.
"I know. But I still have to try—for everyone."
Tsunade declared firmly.
A second later, glowing runes appeared across her body—her jutsu activating and releasing her stored chakra.
She was ready to give it all.
"Granny Tsunade!"
Naruto, beginning to recover thanks to the slugs, managed to sit up and looked at her with deep concern.
Meanwhile, Mei and Kyogre had reached the forest just outside Konoha.
"So that's the Haki Tsunade told me about... Impressive. Just her aura alone knocked out so many monsters."
She looked ahead at the distant horde.
"Well then, time for me to join in. Kyogre—use Ice Beam!"
Kyogre roared, unleashing a freezing blue beam toward the monster army.
It swept across the battlefield, creating an enormous ice wall that sealed off their advance toward Konoha.
(End of Chapter)
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