The night before the date that Naruto promised Tsunade to master Rasengan-
Jiraiya drinks with Tsunade, catching up with old times. Tsunade looks at Jiraiya, seizing the chance, she poured mysterious powder into the sake bottle out of a small sachet hidden in her hands.
Colourless, odourless, tasteless. A poison that would act after it metabolises and would take effect only after digestion.
Seeing Jiraiya take it in, Tsunade acts like normal. Jiraiya won't be able to use any of his chakra tomorrow. She won't let him take away the chance for her to see her loved one again.
In her room, Shizune suddenly stood up. Her expression filled with worry for Tsunade.
"Tsunade-sama… please do not agree to him!".
Tsunade remained silent, unable to mutter a word.
"Why don't you say anything!".
…
"If… you are going…".
"What are you going to do?".
"I will stop you with my life!".
"Shizune! Who do you think you are talking to!?", Tsunade just walked past her. With a single hit, Shizuned lost consciousness.
Even though she decided to make the deal, a part of her is hesitating. Is this… really what she wanted.
I will resurrect your little brother and that man… with the forbidden technique that I mastered.
Orochimaru's devil whisper rang in Tsunade's ears. Nawaki… Dan… She murmured those names.
Don't you want to see those two…? Tsunade….
***
Jiraiya woke up groggy, someone pushed and shook him up. He felt so much headache, his body ached all over. It felt like he couldn't move a muscle.
My chakra…!?
Jiraiya realised he couldn't muster his strength and chakra. Tsunade…! To think you would poison me…
Jiraiya gritted his teeth and moved his body. He needs to meet Shizune to ask what's really going on.
***
"Ero-sennin! How come you are poisoned! You always talked about how awesome of a ninja you are!", Naruto said in disbelief.
"Shut up Naruto! She is the best medical ninja of Konoha. Only she is capable of concocting a poison even I couldn't detect… to think I let my guard down so much… Shizune, tell me, what's really going on with her and Orochimaru!".
"Orochimaru-sama… it's…", Shizune explained the deal they made. Healing Orochimaru's hands, in exchange, reviving Nawaki and Dan.
"We need to stop them…!", Jiraiya mustered strength. Naruto too realised the seriousness of the matter.
"Damned granny…!", Naruto felt angry that Tsunade wanted to heal that evil person.
"Tsuyu, I will rely on you this time. I cannot use any more than 30% of my chakra right now…". Jiraiya said to Tsuyu in a guilty tone. He is the sannin, but this time, he may had to rely on her to stop Orochimaru.
"Understood. I will do my best".
Shizune is quite shocked that Jiraiya had that much trust in Tsuyu's strength. Naruto too, felt complicated on this matter. Why ero-sennin didn't ask him… he's not sure, but it does hurt a little. But regardless, he too wanted to stop stupid granny Tsunade from doing such a stupid thing.
The four people flickered in a direction that the Tonton the pig smells. But all of a sudden…
"AAHH! Help!!!", Naruto suddenly got hit by some sticky web-like substance and was thrown into the ground. The web tied him up like a dumpling.
"Naruto!". Jiraiya screamed out. All of them stop for a moment.
Kidomaru in his Cursed Mark 2 pulls a thread on his finger, looking forward to killing the sannin himself!
Multiple kunai made of hardened mucus shot out from all directions towards them!
Shizune uses chakra scalpel on both of her hands, deflecting them one by one. Jiraiya uses Lion's Mane technique, using his hardened hair to protect Naruto and cover himself. Tsuyu used Earth Armament technique, hardening her body into steel, deflecting all of them.
Clang, clang, clang.
"Tch, Tayuya! Go!".
"Don't order me! I know what to do!", the curse mark spread over Tayuya, fully transforming her into CM2.
Demon Flute: Chains of Fantasia!
The sound of flute echoed in the surrounding, catched off guard all 4 of them were caught in the genjutsu. At the same time, Kidomaru bit his thumb and slapped his hand onto a web. Kuchiyose no jutsu! Mother spider and its spiderlings began to drop to attack them!
"Ah…!", Naruto suddenly felt his body restrained, and his vision turned distorted from being caught.
But the worse part comes… Naruto can only watch as his entire arm melts little by little, spiders are approaching him, adding even more fear. He screamed in pain feeling his tissue destroyed. His skin, flesh, even to the very bone.
"Ahhh!! Ah-... Nnnh-", tears shed from his eyes. It hurts so much his entire body is shaking.
"Nii-san!", Tsuyu who broke out from Kurama's help in the next second quickly helped everyone release the genjutsu with a slap of chakra infusion.
"Focus your chakra on the tenketsu in your ears!", Tsuyu screamed out.
Everyone did as told and resisted the sound genjutsu but they cannot use their chakra for anything else. Tsuyu, being able to resist with Kurama's will - while she handles all the spiders that's coming at them, dashing left and right, sending chakra blasts through Raging Fist.
Naruto is going in and out of the genjutsu constantly from not being able to do what Tsuyu instructed, at times in pain, at times he felt okay. He screamed in frustration, summoning shadow clones once he's awake but even the clones fall into genjutsu. Tayuya's most dangerous technique is the fact that as long as she's playing, the genjutsu never ends!
Kagebunshin no jutsu!
Poof! 3 Tsuyu's shadow clones appeared, each going separate directions to find the caster, blasting the spiders on the way.
Jiraiya is sweating profusely. He cannot believe he can't muster his chakra to break out of the genjutsu at first. And now he cannot use any jutsu from focusing the chakra to his ears to block and resist the sound effect.
He use his fist and kicks to destroy the endless spiders coming at them.
Meanwhile, Kidomaru took this chance to prepare his final strongest technique… he made a large long arrow from his mouth, using all his 6 hands and thick thread to pull it as hard as he could.
"Too many…!", Shizune despite being able to fight while blocking the genjutsu, she is overwhelmed by the spider. Her hands moved as fast as she could to cut them too with chakra scalpel. Tsuyu too is overwhelmed on the surface, but in fact the spider couldn't even break her skin with her body infused with Earth chakra.
The genjutsu eventually stopped. Her clone found the caster. But in just few seconds, the memories transmitted back to Tsuyu.
She turned her glare to Southward direction, where the caster is. There's someone protecting her. There's 4 opponents in total!
"Tch". Tsuyu made hand seals quickly. Earth Release: Earth Dome! She slapped the ground and infused her chakra. The earth trembled, a dome of earth formed covering them all completely in all direction, isolating them from the sound and the spiders.
Seeing this, Kidomaru launched his powerful arrow hoping for a blindshot.
Whoosh!!!
Boom! The wall of the doom is blasted leaving a large hole on two sides as it pierces through.
But as the dust settled… Kidomaru saw a hole deep underground.
A tunnel…!?
Kidomaru is taken aback. Shit! What a coward! You are the sannin! Dammit!
Jirobo, Sakon and Ukon, and Tayuya flickered towards Kidomaru.
"Our ambush failed…", Kidomaru looked at the tunnel. He never expected them to just run this way…
"Don't just gawk, chase them!", Tayuya started to move but Jirobo pulled her back.
"There might be traps set in this tunnel. Don't be reckless. Let me find the direction and use other way". Jirobo crouched down and slammed his hand on the ground. Sending earth chakra, reflecting it, he found the direction of the tunnel.
"Follow me!".
But before the Sound 4 could move, a powerful pressure suddenly pressed them like a mountain.
"Who said you can leave, hah?".
4 of them look up, instinctively taking a step back looking at the figure standing on the branch.
Her blood red eyes with black slit looking at them like prey. The blonde hair swaying in the air.
Tsuyu will hold these 4 on her own!
***
Naruto, Jiraiya and Shizune keep going, following Tonton to Tsunade's location. Naruto clenched his fist, feeling so useless and so worried for Tsuyu.
"Ero-sennin! Let me help her!".
"Don't be stupid! You will only drag her down! Those should be Orochimaru's people. There should be 5 people. Each with a unique ability. 4 of them on their own may be people you can fight with. But when they work together, even a Jonin would fall from their techniques! You have seen it just now!".
Jiraiya had read the files on them. During Konoha crush, their abilities are recorded. The most fearsome is the user of Shikotsumyaku. Jiraiya is not sure if all 5 of them are there since they escaped earlier. But 2 are confirmed to be present.
"5…? You are saying she's fighting against 5 people! Ero-sennin! I don't care! I will help!", Naruto felt his heart filled with anxiety. He turned around but Jiraiya quickly snatched him.
"Do you want to kill her, Naruto!?".
"I-". Naruto is shaken after hearing Jiraiya say that. Jiraiya knows Naruto is strong, but it's against potentially 5 opponents. Naruto would become her weakness instead of helping. Once Naruto is in a disadvantage, or being targeted for being the weaker one, Tsuyu might die instead.
"Listen. Trust her. She is strong enough to fight them. You have never seen her go all out, but I had. It's up to us to stop Orochimaru and Tsunade".
Naruto bit his lips, unable to retort anymore.
Tsu-chan… please be safe…
…
Everyone seemingly collectively forgot Tsuyu can just run with Flying Raijin if she's really in danger… but why would she;
When she's the hunter.