*Chapter 167: Whitebeard Arrives at Konoha Village*

The power of Wood Release is something etched deep into the bones of everyone in the ninja world. After all, it was the signature technique of Hashirama Senju, who almost unified the entire ninja world with it. If it weren’t for Hashirama’s belief in love and peace, there might not even be the Five Great Nations today.

Jiraiya never expected that Tsunade could use Wood Release now. And not just that—she could wield such a powerful technique with just a wave of her hand.

“Bunta!”

Jiraiya flipped and leaped onto the back of Gamabunta, shouting his command.

After years of working together, Gamabunta instantly understood Jiraiya’s intentions just from his voice.

“Toad Oil Flame Bullet!”

Whoosh!

The flames, combined with the oil from Mount Myoboku, engulfed the sea of trees in an instant. The intense flames swept across the entire plain. Sengoku and the others had to retreat. Kuzan created an ice wall in front of them to cool things down a bit.

They didn’t expect the ninja battles to be so spectacular, especially with flames like these. This kind of power was not much weaker than that of a typical Devil Fruit user! And with all the ninjutsu mixed in, Jiraiya definitely had the strength to be a Marine Vice Admiral.

“Hmm, so this is Tsunade’s companion? Seems like he’s got some skills,” Kuzan remarked, looking surprised at Jiraiya.

As a Marine Admiral, standing at the peak of the sea’s power, Kuzan was qualified to assess Jiraiya's abilities.

Tsunade specializes in Taijutsu, so Kuzan initially thought that most of the people here would also focus on physical techniques. But he soon realized that Ninjutsu was the mainstream here, and Taijutsu was just a supplementary combat method.

“Tsunade’s strength was said to be among the best here, wasn’t it? But it seems that flames do counter the powers of the Mori Mori no Mi a bit,” Sengoku observed.

He had confidence in his judgment. Tsunade was put on the list of candidate Admirals for a reason. Although she tends to cause trouble, she is still on their side. However, from what he saw now, it was clear that the Mori Mori no Mi fruit ability had some shortcomings against fire. But this wasn’t a big issue; every ability has its limits.

Sengoku believed that with enough physical strength, even Akainu’s magma wouldn't easily penetrate Tsunade's defenses.

“I disagree. I think Lady Tsunade has been holding back and hasn’t fought with all her strength. If she were to go all out, she would quickly defeat this man in front of her,” Fujitora interjected.

Although Fujitora couldn’t see the specifics of the battle, his Observation Haki allowed him to sense it. He noticed that Tsunade had always held back a bit, not using her full strength. He guessed that perhaps it was because her opponent was a former companion. If she had gone all out, the man in front of her wouldn’t last more than a few rounds.

“Tsunade, that woman!” Sengoku nodded slightly, understanding the situation. Despite her tough talk, Tsunade still has a sense of justice and wouldn’t let herself fall into darkness. This is why Sengoku values her, even though she was sent by Uchiha Reijin. If she were to be taken back by him in the future, Sengoku believed she wouldn't stoop to the level of typical pirates.

But… could Tsunade quit gambling?

“Tsunade, so you’ve mastered Wood Release! And to think you can even use Hashirama-sama’s Flower Tree World technique,” Jiraiya exclaimed. “Everything you have now was given to you by Lord Hashirama. Why are you still being so stubborn? Wood Release is the symbol of Konoha. Tsunade, don’t make a mistake!”

Seeing Tsunade use Wood Release filled Jiraiya with joy. With this ability, if she were willing to return, she would undoubtedly secure the position of Hokage. She wouldn't even need his endorsement—the entire Konoha would cheer for Tsunade’s Wood Release. Her return could lead Konoha to another pinnacle. Everyone had been waiting for Wood Release to reappear in Konoha.

“You’re saying my Wood Release is all thanks to my grandpa?” Tsunade’s face darkened instantly.

What about all the hardship she endured all these days? All the sneaking around to survive? How could everything she went through be wiped away by this guy's mouth, credited entirely to her grandpa?

Bam!

Tsunade leaped onto a tree trunk, her body emitting a green glow. In the next moment, her entire body turned green, merging completely with the tree. The massive tree trunk trembled, and thick branches converged around Tsunade. In an instant, they formed a colossal giant.

The giant extended one hand, its fingers turning into thick branches that shot towards Gamabunta, entangling him before he had any chance to evade.

“Jiraiya!”

Gamabunta called out, his face showing signs of distress.

“Alright! You go back now!”

---

Jiraiya knew that he couldn’t keep Gamabunta here any longer; in the next battle, Gamabunta would be a huge target.

And with his small size, he might be able to avoid Tsunade’s attacks in this vast forest.

“Boom!”

Gamabunta instantly exploded into a cloud of smoke and vanished.

Jiraiya leaped into the air, flipping to dodge the branches Tsunade was using.

“Whoosh!”

Countless branches attacked Jiraiya, and in a moment of inattention, one of them pierced his body.

“Ninjutsu, Needle Jizo!”

Jiraiya grimaced in pain as he formed hand signs, wrapping his body in hair.

The remaining branches avoided clashing with Jiraiya's hair, but they hit nothing but air, not penetrating the defense.

“Hahaha, Jiraiya, it seems you’ve misunderstood my abilities.”

“My Wood Release is a bit different from my grandfather's, for example—”

Tsunade, transformed into a giant tree, sneered as Jiraiya didn’t cut off that branch in time.

Since the branch wasn't cut, Jiraiya's battle was as good as over.

“Grr…”

Jiraiya felt a strange weakness in his body as he listened to Tsunade’s words.

The branch in question had developed a large lump, and his strength seemed to have been drained away in an instant.

“What is this?”

Jiraiya looked at the branch in disbelief. What kind of technique is this? It’s draining his stamina and feeding it to Tsunade? Isn’t this like a perpetual motion machine, with an endless supply of power for battle?

But why isn’t it draining chakra?

Tsunade didn’t give Jiraiya any time to think; his body fell from the air.

“Thud!”

He landed heavily on a tree trunk. His once rounded face had become dry and shriveled. He had at least lost half his weight and looked much older.

“Jiraiya, you’ve overestimated yourself. Do you still think I’m the same person I was before?”

“Konoha no longer needs me. You should return to being the Fifth Hokage.”

“I have no interest in Konoha. And the Wood Release power isn’t something you gave me.”

“After turning Konoha into this mess, you expect me to clean up your mess?”

“You guys really have a lot of nerve.”

Tsunade, now back to her normal form and with a cold smile, walked up to Jiraiya and withdrew the branch.

Konoha was no longer the Konoha it once was. Tsunade had no interest in it anymore.

Besides, Konoha was now targeted by Uchiha Raijin. Tsunade didn’t think she could match him and escape unscathed.

So, from now on, Konoha’s issues were not her concern; it had to rely on its own efforts.

“Tsunade…”

Jiraiya, still clinging to life, tried to reach out and grab Tsunade’s ankle.

But his hand fell limp halfway through.

Tsunade was merciless, though she hadn’t killed her former comrade. Her actions showed she intended to sever all ties with Konoha.

Previously, Orochimaru had left Konoha and headed for an unknown direction.

Now Tsunade was doing the same, leaving Konoha behind.

Jiraiya was left alone to watch the backs of his two companions.

“Hmph!”

Tsunade snorted and jumped onto the head of a toad.

She greeted Sengoku and the others, telling them to come over as well.

“Can you take us to the Wet Bone Forest?”

Tsunade asked the toad.

“Do you want them to come too?”

The toad asked Sengoku and the others.

“Take them along!”

“Then don’t resist!”

The toad absorbed Sengoku and the others into its body.

Only once they were fully engulfed could it transport them.

“Boom!”

The toad then exploded into a cloud of white smoke, disappearing along with Tsunade and Sengoku.

“Jiraiya-sama!”

Some Anbu ninjas rushed out and gathered around Jiraiya.

Seeing he was still alive, they finally relaxed.

“Grr, it seems this place is Tsunade’s hometown, but it doesn’t even have a sea. It feels a bit unsteady.”

Newgate, with his giant frame, sat on the steps of an inn and laughed.

“Dad, I asked about it. The sea is towards the Land of Water.”

“And this is the resource-rich Land of Fire. Only the borders are closer to the coast.”

Marco pointed out, munching on a skewer.

He immediately made a face. The food here didn’t seem very good.

Maybe it was because they hadn’t reached a hot town yet.

It seemed less oily and salty, and living here looked difficult.

“Interesting. Let’s visit the Land of Water after we get to Konoha.”

Newgate picked up a bowl that was barely the size of his fist and took a sip of soup.

After two days, the wild rabbits here weren’t enough for him to eat in one bite.

Only some wild boars could fill him up a bit more.

Newgate figured Charlotte Linlin must be worried about the food.

This woman would likely make a fuss if she didn’t eat for even a minute.

He hoped she wouldn’t end up devouring her own daughter.

Newgate drank a few more bowls of soup, enough to fill his stomach a bit.

His next goal was to look for game.

After all, Uchiha Raijin hadn’t said that this kind of big eater couldn’t eat here.

He should have eaten more in Dressrosa.

“Old man, here’s some money!”

Marco casually pulled a shiny gold coin from his pocket and placed it on the table.

The two continued towards Konoha.

Along the way, they had already been attacked by bandits four or five times.

To be honest, Newgate hadn’t expected the security to be so poor here.

Perhaps no one was maintaining it.

After all, some people still lived in earthen houses here.

It was even poorer than his hometown!

Newgate couldn’t understand this.

How could they let their people live like this?

He could only continue on and see for himself.

After a day’s journey, they arrived at the gate of Konoha village, hungry.

Newgate’s nearly seven-meter-tall stature startled the gate guards.

They had never seen someone so strong and tall.

“Where are you from?”

The gatekeeper swallowed and asked Newgate, looking nervous.

This person exuded a formidable presence, and the large sword he carried looked like it could split him in half with one blow.

“Ahem, we’re traveling martial artists from the Land of Water, here to visit Konoha and meet some masters. We plan to stay for a few days.”

Marco, relying on his experience from the journey, knew not to mention Uchiha Raijin.

After arriving in the ninja world, Marco found that Uchiha was a universally hated figure.

No wonder that guy had to run away; he couldn’t stay here.

Marco was curious about what he had done, but he hadn’t managed to find out.

“Sorry, I need to report to Lord Hokage.”

The gatekeeper wasn’t sure and decided to report to the Hokage.

Such a person looked dangerous; if he let them in directly, it would be his fault.

The gatekeeper ran quickly to the Hokage Building.

But there was no one there, only two guards who told him that the Hokage had gone to the hospital.

(End of Chapter)

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