The collision of strange forces

Arm Wrestling Showdown

This was a pure contest of strength.

Asuma wiped a bead of cold sweat from his forehead as he watched the standoff between Tsunade and Sakura.

It wasn't just the strength that concerned him—it was these two specifically.

Should they switch the table to solid steel?

Wooden or stone tables simply wouldn't survive…

"If Lady Tsunade has invited me, then I have no reason to decline," Sakura said, irritation creeping into her tone as she dispensed with calling Tsunade her "senior."

To be fair, Tsunade was someone Sakura had admired deeply in her previous life. She liked Tsunade in many ways—all ways, really. But this was their first meeting, and Tsunade's provocations were grating. Sure, it fit Tsunade's character, but Sakura wasn't one to back down either.

The two moved to a sturdy stone table in the training field's rest area. Sakura locked eyes with Tsunade, her expression serious.

In terms of raw strength, the woman before her was perhaps the only one in the ninja world who could rival her, aside from Onoki. Tsunade had trained in her monstrous strength techniques for over three or four decades. Sakura wasn't sure if she could win in an all-out battle of power.

But who was Sakura?

Her arms could support a standing person, her back could carry a galloping horse—

A true warrior, a pure powerhouse, the epitome of human resilience.

Losing?

Even if her opponent was Tsunade, that wasn't an option.

Shizune, cradling Tonton the pig, looked enviously at Sakura, the young girl with the purple diamond-shaped mark on her forehead. Tsunade had taught Shizune the techniques for the Yin Seal long ago, but after years of training, Shizune still hadn't mastered it. Yet Sakura had succeeded in just four years.

Comparisons like this were infuriating.

"Ready, little girl?" Tsunade taunted, placing her hand on the table, her crimson-painted nails gleaming provocatively.

"Let's hope you don't lose, Lady Tsunade," Sakura retorted, gripping Tsunade's smooth, pale hand with her own.

"Hah, such a temper for someone so young. You're eight centuries too early to beat me!" Tsunade smirked, her golden pigtails framing her now-intense gaze.

"Ahem, I'll referee this match," Asuma coughed nervously, stepping between the two women.

Tsunade's power and personality were infamous. A princess of the Senju clan, spoiled by the First Hokage and adored by the entire village, Tsunade was untouchable. Even if she declared, "Konoha is dead; the Senju will rule," the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, would likely have to placate her.

And on the other hand, there was Sakura. Though her background and influence didn't match Tsunade's, she was only twelve years old. Yet she'd mastered the Yin Seal, stood toe-to-toe with Orochimaru, and rivaled Tsunade in medical ninjutsu. She'd even shaped the current ninja world situation single-handedly.

Both were impossible to offend, even for Asuma, despite being the Third Hokage's son.

Placing his hand over theirs, Asuma took a deep breath.

"Begin!"

With his shout, both Tsunade and Sakura unleashed their monstrous strength simultaneously.

Chakra surged wildly, visibly rippling around their bodies.

Sakura locked her gaze on Tsunade. For the first time, she felt the terrifying boost monstrous strength gave to taijutsu specialists. She had always used her power to crush others, but now, facing Tsunade, her once-unmatched strength met its first true challenge.

"Not bad for a brat," Tsunade taunted, her voice calm despite the tremendous force being exerted.

The force Sakura was exerting… it was stronger than the Raikage's!

Tsunade's playful expression turned serious, and she gradually increased her strength.

"Of course! To become the best, every aspect must be perfected!" Sakura shouted, refusing to yield as golden flames of chakra flared visibly from Tsunade's body.

Sakura's hand inched toward the table, but her eyes sharpened with determination.

One hundred percent power!

She would crush this big-chested woman!

With a roar, Sakura exploded with her full strength, her blue chakra flames surging wildly.

CRACK!

Under their combined strength, the stone table split with a deafening crack, shattering into countless fragments. Yet neither Tsunade nor Sakura relented.

Their feet planted firmly, they stood as unyielding pillars embedded in the ground. The earth beneath them began to crack under the strain of their immense power.

Asuma wiped sweat from his brow.

"Well, this is Tsunade and Sakura, after all… Stubborn as a herd of raging bulls."

Sakura gritted her teeth, the monstrous strength from Tsunade feeling utterly inhuman—more like a prehistoric tyrannosaurus!

But no matter what, she refused to lose!

The ground beneath them gave another ominous groan before finally collapsing into rubble.

Tsunade, too, started to reevaluate Sakura. Despite hearing Hiruzen's assurances of Sakura's potential, she had never taken them seriously.

Now, though, facing this twelve-year-old head-on, Tsunade felt something almost absurd:

If she didn't give it her all…

She might lose.

Lose in the one domain she prided herself on above all else—raw strength.

Golden and blue chakra flames roared and intertwined as their wills clashed violently. The ground cracked and crumbled further, sending shockwaves in all directions.

CRASH!

A nearby giant tree, unable to withstand the force of their battle, collapsed into splinters under the aftershocks of their monstrous power.

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