Boom! Boom! Boom!
The clash of monstrous strength erupted into thunderous roars.
Tsunade's brute force was overwhelming Kakuzu.
But Kakuzu's Earth Spear could defend against most physical attacks except Lightning Release.
One had high offense, the other high defense, making the battle evenly matched.
The Three-Tails controlled by Uchiha Obito was also being held back by Shishou's red-armored centipede.
Although the centipede was half the size of the Three-Tails, its shell was incredibly tough.
Winning against the Three-Tails was impossible,
But losing to it wouldn't happen quickly either.
It was a perfect stalemate.
"Heh, what technique are you going to use against me now?"
"Last time, I turned you into a cripple."
Standing before Uchiha Obito, Shishou mocked him with a smile.
Among the people present, only he fully understood Obito's abilities.
Therefore, he had to be the one to keep an eye on Obito.
"Hehehe, trying to provoke me?"
"I don't need to do anything. Just watching you is enough."
Obito replied with a sinister laugh, his voice eerie.
Shishou was keeping an eye on Obito, but Obito was also keeping an eye on him.
Mei Terumi's Water Release was on par with Kisame's, but Kisame's unique physiology and Samehada minimized his chakra loss.
Over time, Mei Terumi was destined to lose.
The summoned centipede faced the same situation.
It was only a matter of time before the Three-Tails defeated it.
As time passed,
The scales of victory would tilt in Obito's favor.
Hearing Obito's words, Shishou felt a headache coming on.
He had tried to provoke Obito into attacking, giving him a chance to strike during Obito's brief moments of tangibility.
Then he could help the others.
But Obito had seen through his plan.
With Kamui, as long as Obito didn't attack,
Shishou couldn't do anything to him for the time being.
Sure enough,
It wasn't long before Mei Terumi began to falter, barely fending off Kisame's attacks.
The red-armored centipede was also showing signs of defeat under the Three-Tails' onslaught.
Only Tsunade had the upper hand against Kakuzu.
Suddenly,
"Tsunade, look who this is!"
Two Venus flytrap-like structures emerged on a large tree, revealing a black and white face and shouting.
Black Zetsu, wearing an Akatsuki cloak, held an unconscious Shizune.
Shizune was covered in blood, gravely injured.
Her abdomen had a large gash, bleeding profusely.
Without immediate treatment, her life was in danger.
"Shizune..."
Seeing the blood on Shizune's body, Tsunade turned pale.
The scenes of her brother Nawaki and lover Dan's deaths flashed in her mind, causing her to collapse to the ground.
"What's going on?"
Kakuzu, watching Tsunade trembling in fear, was puzzled.
She had just been overpowering him with ferocity.
How did she suddenly become like this?
"It seems the rumors are true."
"Rumor has it that Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin, developed hemophobia after witnessing the deaths of her brother and lover."
"When her hemophobia flares up, her strength is greatly diminished."
Black Zetsu explained as he tossed the injured Shizune next to Tsunade.
"Shizune, I'll heal you right away..."
Tsunade, trembling, crawled to Shizune, trying to heal her.
But her shaking hands, caused by her hemophobia, made it impossible to perform healing jutsu.
She could only watch as Shizune's life ebbed away.
This filled Tsunade with despair and fear.
"You had a backup plan!"
Shishou, seeing Shizune gravely injured by Black Zetsu, frowned.
"Of course," Uchiha Obito replied calmly.
"Finish her off," Obito ordered.
"Understood," Black Zetsu responded, moving towards Tsunade with Kakuzu.
In the next moment,
Shishou threw several shuriken at Obito while using the Flying Thunder God technique to appear beside Mei Terumi, grabbing her shoulder.
With another use of the Flying Thunder God technique, Shishou and Mei Terumi appeared next to Tsunade.
Simultaneously, the red-armored centipede abandoned its fight with the Three-Tails and charged at Kakuzu and Black Zetsu.
Seeing the giant summon charging, Kakuzu and Black Zetsu jumped aside to avoid the centipede's impact.
The centipede did not pursue but instead stood guard behind Shishou and the others.
Then,
Kakuzu, Kisame, Black Zetsu, Obito, and the Three-Tails surrounded Shishou and his group.
"Shishou, what now?"
Mei Terumi asked, her face pale as she looked at the encircling enemies.
"Do you know any healing techniques?"
Glancing at Tsunade's trembling hands, Shishou knelt down, placing several healing insects into Shizune's body, and asked Mei Terumi.
Obito and the others were not a significant problem.
For Shishou, Shizune's injuries were the biggest concern.
Black Zetsu's attack had been ruthless, destroying Shizune's internal organs with the Piercing Technique.
Even with several healing insects in her body, Shishou could only delay her death, putting her in a temporary state of suspended animation.
The healing insects worked by devouring the host's chakra and life force to heal.
So Shishou couldn't place too many healing insects in Shizune.
Otherwise, her body wouldn't be able to withstand it.
He needed Mei Terumi to stop Shizune's bleeding to buy more time.
"Just a little."
"Then stop her bleeding first."
"What about them?"
"Don't worry, I've got this."
Mei Terumi knew that Tsunade was unable to function properly.
If she also became occupied with healing Shizune,
Shishou would have to face all these enemies alone.
Mei Terumi couldn't imagine that being possible.
But seeing Shishou's determination, she decided to trust him.
She moved to Tsunade and Shizune, starting to use her rudimentary healing jutsu to stop Shizune's bleeding.
This earned a grateful look from Tsunade.
"So, what are you going to do now?"
"How well have you mastered the Flying Thunder God technique?"
"Can you take all three of them at once?"
Uchiha Obito sneered, mockingly.
Shishou knew that the Flying Thunder God technique couldn't teleport three or four people at once.
Otherwise, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, wouldn't have needed to stay behind to cover for the Third Hokage and the others. He could have just taken them all away.
In the original Fourth Great Ninja War, the Flying Thunder God technique could teleport many people because the Nine-Tails chakra linked everyone together.
The key was the Nine-Tails chakra link, followed by the Flying Thunder God technique.
Shishou hadn't yet mastered the Flying Thunder God technique to the level of the Fourth Hokage. If he tried to use it to escape, he could only take one person.
The remaining two would be killed instantly by Obito and his allies.
At the same time, Shizune's condition was worsening, and without timely treatment, she wouldn't survive.
The situation was dire.
Hearing Obito's words, Shishou chuckled lightly:
"Isn't it simple?"
"I just have to defeat you all."
Uchiha Obito said menacingly, "You think you can do that!"
He pressed one hand to the ground.
Wood Release: Wood Spikes!
Dozens of sharp spikes emerged from the ground in front of him, targeting the three women behind Shishou.
Seeing Obito initiate the attack, Shishou formed hand seals and pressed his hands to the ground.
Wood Release: Wood Formation Wall!