The whole space was a shattered landscape of broken earth and smoldering debris, the air thick with the stench of burning chakra. Tsunade’s breath came in controlled, steady exhales as she eyed her opponent—a figure she had once known, long before the war had torn them apart. Their eyes met, a silent recognition passing between them. There was no room for hesitation, no place for old loyalties now.

Her opponent moved first, a blur of speed and precision, hurling a barrage of kunai infused with deadly chakra. Tsunade countered with swift, fluid movements, her hands glowing with the green light of medical chakra as she deflected the attack. The ground trembled as she channeled her strength, shattering the earth beneath them with a single punch, forcing her opponent to leap back.

They clashed again, trading blows that sent shockwaves through the air. Tsunade’s fist collided with her opponent’s jutsu, the sheer force cracking the earth beneath their feet. Sweat dripped down her brow, but her eyes remained focused, unyielding.

In a flash, her opponent unleashed a jutsu that enveloped the battlefield in a vortex of wind and fire, a deadly combination that scorched the ground and tore through the air. Tsunade braced herself, the diamond seal on her forehead releasing its stored chakra. Her body healed almost instantly from the burns and cuts, her strength renewed. With a roar, she surged forward, her fist smashing through the vortex with a power that could level mountains.

“I won’t let you destroy what’s left,” she said, her voice as firm and unyielding as her resolve.