Pfft— Tobirama Senju and Sarutobi Hiruzen simultaneously transformed into human high-pressure water cannons, relentlessly spraying Tsunade with the force of a fire hose.
But Tsunade remained tough as nails, not uttering a single scream despite the impact.
Because she knew—if she opened her mouth to scream, it would immediately fill with high-velocity water, making sound impossible and drowning her on dry land.
Though the Impure World Reincarnation bodies came with the cheat code of "unlimited firepower" and infinite chakra, they still technically required a split second of recovery time between volleys.
However, with two Kage-level shinobis working together, the Second and Third Hokage coordinated their attacks perfectly.
One would reload while the other fired, creating an endless, suffocating cycle of hydration.
Finally, Hashirama Senju couldn't stand watching his granddaughter getting waterboarded anymore.
"Tobirama, Hiruzen, that's enough. I'm sure Tsunade has sobered up by now."
"No, it's possible Lady Tsunade has already passed out from suffocation," Shizune trembled as she muttered this aside, looking terrified.
True to being the enabler who spoiled Tsunade into developing her crippling gambling addiction in the first place, Hashirama didn't wait for the attacks to stop naturally.
He clapped his hands together with a thunderous boom.
"Wood Release: Wood Humanoid Technique."
A massive wooden structure rose up, sealing the entrance and blocking the water.
Its sturdiness was legendary—it could withstand even Uchiha Madara's Armored Susanoo back in the day, let alone mere Water Dragon Bullets.
The two water-users had no choice but to cease their assault, as their attacks were just splashing uselessly against the wood.
"Hiruzen, help Tsunade clean up. She must be completely drenched by you two now—she can't appear before people as the Hokage looking like a drowned rat." Hashirama patted Sarutobi Hiruzen's shoulder with a helpful smile.
The only Hokage proficient in Fire Release sighed, formed a seal, and began to flame-grill the wooden barrier.
The Fire Dragon Bullet technique began drying Tsunade's clothes through the wooden barrier from the outside, turning the enclosure into a makeshift sauna.
Who knows how good the wooden barrier's heat insulation actually is.
Perhaps Hashirama Senju deliberately created a crack in it to let the heat in.
After transforming into a fire-breathing dragon and spraying flames for a solid minute, Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped.
He waited a moment longer, checking the temperature.
Uninformed observers might think he was finishing cooking the meal and letting it simmer for flavor.
The wooden barrier slowly creaked open. Inside, Tsunade leaned against the opening panel, emerging with a weary, distressed expression, steam rising from her clothes.
Of course Tsunade had sobered up by now.
She had no choice but to sober up!
If she didn't wake up now, she felt she might never wake up again.
Black, intricate patterns now spread across Tsunade's body from her forehead violently.
Clearly, she had been forced to activate the Strength of a Hundred Seal Technique just to survive her granduncle's "tough love."
Whether she used Creation Rebirth remained unknown. But if Tsunade had activated Creation Rebirth, those previous attacks would have been completely useless against her.
In the original work, even the Heavenly Transmission Technique—which tears apart matter—could be withstood by Tsunade's absurd recovery ability.
Unless she was instantly killed or exhausted to death, there was basically no way to kill her.
The damage inflicted by the Heavenly Transmission Technique on living beings is massive, tearing them apart frame by frame.
The Raikage's defense is a solid 10, which exactly cancels it out.
Tsunade just out-heals the damage in real-time.
Judging by the external effects alone, this is no different from Makoto's Crazy Diamond ability from the weird stories he told.
Oh, actually, there is one major difference.
That is the theory about the upper limit of cell divisions. No one knows if Hashirama Cells have a division limit but Tsunade definitely knows whether her own cells have an upper limit.
So, that previous round of "sobering up" attacks likely shortened Tsunade's lifespan by a few years.
"I never thought that bastard Orochimaru would dare to control you all to attack Konoha and even the Third Hokage..." Tsunade wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, clenched her fists, and wore a heavy, furious expression.
Fortunately, those reincarnated by the Impure World Reincarnation don't bleed... Huh?
What the hell did she just wipe from the corner of her mouth?
Tsunade subconsciously looked down at her fist, saw the crimson smear and her legs instantly went weak.
She collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.
The Strength of a Hundred Sealings Technique also deactivated instantly, retreating back into her seal.
Hashirama Senju: "..."
Tobirama Senju: "..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "..."
The three of them stood there, completely speechless.
They had been wondering how to explain themselves, seeing how fiercely Tsunade had charged at them with killing intent just moments ago.
This was Konoha, so even if they fought back, they would have to hold back to avoid destroying the place.
But they never expected Tsunade to just fold and collapse first because of a little blood.
"Tsunade, listen to me. We are not enemies, nor are we controlled by Orochimaru. Well, technically, that guy Orochimaru isn't an enemy at the moment either."
After Shizune rushed over and helped Tsunade back into the house, Hiruzen was the first to speak, his voice gentle but firm.
"I never thought Orochimaru could even manipulate your wills to make you say that..." Tsunade muttered, eyes unfocused.
"Tsunade! How long are you going to remain deluded? Are you going to keep this up until everyone in Konoha is dead?" Tobirama slapped the ground and stood up abruptly, his patience snapping.
He had already been furious after hearing that Tsunade's suspicion of Makoto led to Hiruzen's tragic death.
And now, seeing Tsunade still acting like this—refusing to see reality—was infuriating.
"Tobirama, calm down." Hashirama reached out and pulled Tobirama back to sit down, then sighed deeply.
"Hiruzen, you should explain things clearly to Tsunade. If you don't tell her the cold, hard facts, she'll keep holding onto this stubborn mindset." Hashirama could see the truth of the situation—Tsunade wasn't truly suspecting that Orochimaru was controlling them.
She was simply refusing to think things through because of the trauma of what happened before.
Because she had given up thinking, she was just going through the motions and sticking to her previous attitude as a defense mechanism.
At times like this, only a harsh dose of reality could shatter Tsunade's illusions.
"Alright." Hiruzen also sighed, preparing to drop the bomb. "Tsunade, do you know who killed me?"
"Oh, who was it?" Tsunade pretended not to care as she picked up the hot tea Shizune had poured.
She took a sip, trying to look composed.
But her tightly clenched hand gripping the teacup, knuckles white, betrayed her true feelings.
"Boruto."
"IMPOSSIBLE!" Tsunade widened her eyes, nearly dropping the cup.
"How could a little kid like Boruto have the strength or the damn courage to kill a Hokage?"
"Momoshiki Otsutsuki possessed Boruto and used the power of the Otsutsuki Clan to ambush me from behind, killing me instantly." Hiruzen closed his eyes, recalling the moment. "Based on how Asuma died, even if I hadn't been ambushed, I probably wouldn't have survived. At most, I could have struggled for a few more rounds before dying anyway."
"So it was Otsutsuki... that explains it... Wait, Asuma was also killed by Boruto?! Then what about Jiraiya..." Tsunade suddenly thought of something, panic rising in her chest.
Hadn't Jiraiya taken Naruto and Boruto out of the village? It was for the mission to find Asuma.
At that time, she was drowning herself in alcohol and didn't pay any attention to the details.
When news of Asuma's death came, she just drank a couple more cups without thinking deeply about it.
Shizune had been handling everything.
Could it be...
"Jiraiya was actually lucky. The future Uchiha Sasuke appeared at that time, and they worked together to stop Boruto from continuing his assassination spree..."
"Wait, wasn't it done under Otsutsuki's possession? Why are you still referring to Boruto, old man?" Tsunade frowned, catching the phrasing.
"Did I not make myself clear enough, Tsunade?" Hiruzen's eyes snapped open, sharp and cold.
"The plan to kill me and Asuma was formulated by Boruto himself."
"He wasn't being controlled by Otsutsuki against his will—he was cooperating with Otsutsuki!"
"Wh-what?!" Tsunade felt as if she had been struck by lightning!
Who had she suspected this whole time? And who had she trusted?
"It wasn't just me and Asuma, or Jiraiya. If no one had stopped him, countless more would have died by his hands."
"At the very least, Shikaku and Inoichi were certainly doomed to be next on his list." Hiruzen continued speaking, his words dealing massive, critical damage to Tsunade's.
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