Chapter 214

Boom!

A puff of white smoke rose, and the air rippled with tension.

Whoosh!

From within the smoke, Nono's figure emerged. Her cloak and casual attire had vanished, replaced by a sharp, practical outfit, she now wore a vest, a ninja sword strapped to her back, a utility pouch at her waist, and gauntlets on her hands.

She crouched low, her right knee bent and her left leg stretched behind her, her body poised like a vigilant predator. Her right hand gripped the hilt of the sword on her back, while her left hand adjusted her glasses before planting itself firmly on the ground for balance. Nono stood between Orochimaru and Tsunade, her cold gaze fixed on the woman before her.

Her heart raced. Who is this woman? How could she have landed a sneak attack on Lord Orochimaru?

On the other side, Tsunade was equally stunned. Her fist still tingled from the impact. Did I really just hit him?

With Orochimaru's strength, such a direct hit should have been impossible. Even if the punch had connected, the sensation wouldn't have felt so… real.

Doubt and panic swirled in Tsunade's mind. She knew just how devastating her punch had been, enough to take down a tiger with ease. Yet Orochimaru had taken it head-on.

Realizing the damage she may have caused, Tsunade felt her stomach twist with guilt. She stepped forward instinctively, intending to check on Orochimaru's condition.

But before she could take another step, a flash of steel glinted before her eyes. Nono's ninja sword was drawn, the blade gleaming coldly as it blocked Tsunade's path.

Tsunade's instincts kicked in, and she took a step back. Her gaze hardened. "You…"

Nono's voice was cold and unyielding. "No matter who you are, I won't let you take another step closer to Lord Orochimaru."

"I'm trying to treat his injuries! Move aside!" Tsunade said sharply, her voice rising in urgency.

"Treat his injuries?" Nono's piercing gaze didn't waver, her disbelief evident.

"I'm telling you to move!" Tsunade shouted, her patience quickly wearing thin.

Without waiting for a response, she launched herself into the air.

Boom!

Her foot slammed into the ground where Nono had been standing, sending cracks spidering through the earth. The raw force of the attack exploded outward, leaving Nono scrambling to dodge.

Nono wasn't a combat specialist, she was a spy, and in terms of pure fighting ability, she wasn't even on par with an average jōnin. There was no way she could stand against Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin.

The sheer power behind the kick left her shaken. This woman… she's unbelievably strong!

As Nono rolled to the side to evade, she realized with a sinking feeling that Tsunade had already closed the distance to Orochimaru.

Dammit! Nono gritted her teeth in frustration, cursing her own weakness. But there was no time to dwell on it. She scrambled to her feet, pulling three silver needles from her pouch.

Even though she knew she couldn't defeat Tsunade, she had to try something anything to protect Orochimaru.

But just as she raised her arm to throw the needles, she froze.

Tsunade wasn't attacking Orochimaru. She was kneeling beside him, her hands glowing faintly green as she applied medical ninjutsu.

What's going on? Nono stared, her mind racing. She's… healing him?

Her sharp eyes scanned Tsunade's movements. As a skilled medical ninja herself, Nono could tell that the woman was genuinely performing first aid.

She hit him… and now she's treating him?

As Nono's confusion mounted, her gaze shifted back to Tsunade's face. Recognition suddenly struck her. The face, the strength, the technique, it all clicked.

"You… are you Tsunade-sama?"

Her voice carried a mix of shock and hesitation. She had seen Tsunade before, albeit from a distance, many years ago. But the thought that this was her hadn't even crossed Nono's mind in the heat of the moment.

"Yes!" Tsunade snapped, not looking up from her work. "Do you have a first aid kit?"

"Y-yes, I do!" Nono stammered, still processing the situation.

"Then bring it to me. Now!"

"Right away!"

The exchange was quick and efficient, as both women focused on the task at hand.

Tsunade's hands glowed brighter as she worked to stabilize Orochimaru. Her voice trembled with a mixture of anger and worry as she scolded him.

"Orochimaru, you idiot! You could've dodged that punch, why didn't you?"

Orochimaru, lying on the ground with labored breaths, managed to smirk despite the pain. "Calm down… Tsunade. You're overreacting."

"Overreacting?!" Tsunade glared at him, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "If I'd hit you any harder, you'd be dead by now. Why didn't you dodge!"

"Dodge…? From you?" Orochimaru rasped, his tone faint but laced with dry humor. "That wouldn't have… calmed you down… would it?"

Tsunade froze for a moment, stunned by his response. "You mean to tell me… you let me hit you?!"

Orochimaru's faint smirk widened just a little, though blood still dripped from the corner of his mouth. "Maybe…"

"You're unbelievable!" Tsunade hissed, her voice breaking as tears slid down her cheeks. "This is all my fault… I shouldn't have—"

"Stop crying," Orochimaru interrupted, his voice tired but firm. "I'm not dying. Just… set the bones. The rest… will heal on its own."

"Right…" Tsunade sniffled, shaking her head as she tried to focus. "Yes, of course. A recovery potion would help—"

Her hands paused as she fumbled through her pockets. Realizing she hadn't brought any with her, she groaned in frustration.

"Damn it… I didn't pack one. Orochimaru, where do you keep your potions?"

"I… don't have one here," Orochimaru admitted weakly.

"I'll get it!" Nono, who had been standing nearby, suddenly spoke up. Without waiting for a response, she dashed toward the orphanage to retrieve supplies.

"Just hold on," Tsunade muttered, carefully setting Orochimaru's bones with precision.

"You really don't need the potion," Orochimaru said quietly, his voice still faint.

"Yes, you do!" Tsunade snapped, then paused. Her sharp gaze flicked to his injuries, her hands freezing mid-movement. "Wait… your cells…" Her eyes widened. "You have the sage body, don't you?"

Orochimaru didn't respond verbally, simply giving her a slight nod.

"How… how did you even manage that?" Tsunade murmured, momentarily taken aback. But she quickly shook her head. "Never mind. I'll focus on healing you for now."

By the time Nono returned with the recovery potion, Tsunade had finished setting Orochimaru's bones. Thanks to his regenerative abilities, his body was already starting to repair itself.

"Tsunade-sama, this is…"