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  ....

  Tsunade cracked her knuckles, making a crisp popping sound.

  Yes, it was her fault for not paying her debts. But putting the facts aside, wasn't the underworld debt collector at fault for hiring a bounty ninja of the "Seven Ninja Swordsmen" caliber to collect a debt from her?

  The underworld boss was just being owed some money. If a fight broke out, an average ninja could very likely lose their life here.

  "L-Lady Tsunade, what should we do?" Shizune asked nervously.

  "What should we do? Naturally, we should eliminate evil for the people," Tsunade replied.

  "?"

  "Hoshigaki Kisame, it's that woman right in front of you! Break her limbs for me!" the underworld boss shouted excitedly, pointing at Tsunade. His gaze toward her was anything but pure.

  His eyes were full of greed-not like a creditor meeting a debtor, but like a starving man eyeing a piece of delieat.

  Kisame noticed the underworld boss's lecherous gaze and frowned. "Taking her down is not a problem, but she looks like a total pauper. Are you sure you pay me half the debt amount after I deal with her?"

  "Of course! Even if she doesn't have money on her, I'll pay you out of my own pocket!"

  "But on the dition that you break her limbs for me. I want t her back as a sve!"

  Such vulgar words!

  Kisame's frown deepened. He took a deep breath and said nothing more, turning to look at the blonde woman not far away, whose face seemed somewhat familiar.

  Not repayis?

  She seemed to fall into Kisame's " kill" category. But the girl beside her, probably around fourteen or fifteen years old, still needed her care-probably.

  In summary, the blonde woman fell into the "ot kill because she has responsibilities" category.

  As for the underworld boss's ission... if he elimihe one who issued the ission, he'd get the money and wouldn't viote his own four principles-a win-win situation.

  "Hoshigaki Kisame?"

  Hearing the versatioweewo, Tsunade became alert.

  Sihe current Hidden Mist and Konoha were allies, the Mist Vilge's wanted posters were naturally dispyed within the Land of Fire.

  This was known as the "Joint Anbu Iion of the Two Vilges" and the "Extraditioy"...

  Once, after waking up from a druupor in a tavern, Tsunade happeo hear about the bounty on Hoshigaki Kisame.

  Hoshigaki Kisame's shark head was worth 35 million ryō; capturing him alive was worth 40 million ryō. If she brought him back to Konoha...

  Tsunade rolled up her sleeves, her eyes gradually showiement.

  She wasn't particurly ied in money, nor did she care for being a bounty hunter.

  But as the saying goes, "A traveler nearing home feels timid." A wanderer who hasn't returned home for a long time 't go back empty-handed, right? Hoshigaki Kisame could be her gift upourning home.

  "Kisame, what are you waiting fo catch Tsunade for me!" the underworld boss shouted.

  "Wait, Tsunade? Did you say she's Tsunade?" Kisame paused.

  No wohe blonde woman in front of him felt oddly familiar; she was Tsunade of the Legendary Sannin, whom he had seen in Anbu intelligence reports.

  Because the woman before him had a strong gambler's aura and wasn't wearing a ninja headband, Kisame hadn't reized her at first.

  Simirly, after learning her identity, Kisame became even more excited.

  As everyone knows, ninjas earitles through their own efforts.

  In the ninja world, there is no authoritative anization to define a ninja's strength. But a ninja with a title is certainly not weak!

  If we were to quantify a ninja's strength, ranging from levels 1 to 100, then titled ninjas would be the pinnacle of the ninja world at levels 91 to 99!

  As for what level 100 is above titled ninjas... Kisame believed it was Konoha's First Hokage.

  Now, the granddaughter of the First Hokage stood before him; using her as a stepping stoo earn his own title couldn't be more appropriate.

  The title of the "Legendary Sannin" was earned by battling evenly against "Hanzo the Samander." Although it's hard to say who made whom famous, the fact remains.

  Currently, a title for himself, Kisame, was also quietly cirg in the ninja world-"The Tailed Beast Without a Tail."

  It sounded arrogant, but Kisame didn't like this title.

  First, because he owed it to Samehada; sed, because there were a full hers who were openly strohan him.

  Hoshigaki Kisame felt that his ninja skills had reached their peak, and it was time to wield his bde against the "titled ninjas" of the ninja world.

  He slowly swung his rge sword, leveling it in the air and aiming it at Tsunade, greedily lig his lips. "Today, when I defeat you, the ninja world will spread a title belonging to me, Kisame."

  "Wonderful, you even pick your own title," Tsunade smirked, mimig the way Gojo Kaigetsu spoke in her memory.

  It seemed this time, they both had reasons they couldn't afford to lose.

  A great battle was about to erupt-!

  Shizune and the underworld boss tacitly retreated to the side to avoid being caught iermath of the csh between these powerful individuals.

  Kisame held his sword aloft, not minding the weight, and step by step closed the distaween himself and Tsunade.

  "People 't breathe uer, but the increasing pressure ihe body stimutes the respiratory ter to demand air, causireme disfort."

  "Because it's uer, a person's sciousness trols the body not to breathe. But when they really 't hold it anymore, instinct overrides sciousness, and they try to breathe uer."

  "The mouth and nose will inhale a rge amount of water, triggeried reflexes. The body enters a state of extreme hypoxia; this is the most painful stage for a drowning person."

  "sciousness gradually colpses; the brain begins to shut down."

  "Finally, your pain disappears, but the most basises remain. You'll feel your body being light, thinking you're floating in the air, and your brain automatically repys the happiest moments of your life."

  "The human body is fasating, isn't it?"

  "Tsunade of Konoha, I, Hoshigaki Kisame, will use the gra Water Release jutsu to give you a near-death experience."

  "But don't worry; I won't kill you or break your limbs to hand you over to the underworld boss because you have the responsibility of taking care of that little girl."

  "???"

  Tsunade squeezed her fist with a puzzled expression.

  Had she been out of touch with the dangerous yet captivating ninja world for too long? She felt she couldn't keep up with the current state of the ninja world.

  Tsunade didn't know Hoshigaki Kisame.

  Her stereotype of Hidden Mist ninjas was that they were bloody, cruel killing maes.

  As a wielder of a legendary sword, even if he was a rogue ninja, he should be the killing mae among killing maes-the ultimate vilin devoid of humanity.

  But listen to what Hoshigaki Kisame just said?

  Because Shizune was beside her and needed her care, he wouldn't kill her? Not to mention how many rounds Kisame could st under her Iron Fist, wasn't this a bit too benevolent?

  Right now, the two of them were in a life-ah ninja duel!

  Not to mention Hidden Mist ninjas-even Konoha ninjas, who are ily kind, would be ready to eliminate all threats at this point, right?

  Had she found a savior among vilins?

  What had he experieo create such a huge trast with her stereotypical image of the "Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist"?

  Tsunade could only think that it was hard to say.

  "Although I don't know what you've been through, there are some things you've misuood."

  "Let me make it clear: our roles and identities are not as you imagine. From my perspective, you're the one who needs mercy."

  "Fight!"

  Hoshigaki Kisame took the lead. Sihis was to prove himself, he didn't pn to use the Great Sword Samehada.

  He cpped his hands and quickly formed seals:

  "Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"

  "Water Release: Giant Shark Bullet Teique!"

  "Water Release: Water Prison Teique!"

  Although Kisame's thinking had gradually beore introspective due to his self-refle, he didn't hold back at all during bat.

  He khat mercy toward the enemy was something to sider after the battle; during the fight, even a lion uses all its strength to catch a rabbit!

  So he didn't hold back at all, fully unleashing his masterful bat skills, starting off with a full barrage of powerful Water Release jutsu.

  But unfortunately.

  Hoshigaki Kisame entered the currently furious, reigning taijutsu top master of the ninja world-Senju Tsunade!

  Fag the deadly Water Release jutsu r toward her, Tsunade remained unflustered.

  Deeply iing her grandfather's essesunade cpped her hands and called out:

  "Morength!"

  Then, raising her fair and tender hands-which Gojo Kaigetsu regarded as treasures, enough to make him blush-she casually swung a punch.

  ...

  "Normal Punch!"

  "secutive Normal Punches!"

  "Serious Punch!"

  "Deliberate Bst Punch!"

  K.O

  ...

  Tsunade's battles have always been pin and unadorned, even a bit dull.

  If fists didn't work, then she'd use the "Heavenly Foot of Pain." Whether against enemies ojo Kaigetsu, it's equally effective.

  In short, she focuses on overp all ninjutsu with sheer force.

  After several exges, wheermath of the Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave dissipated...

  The underworld boss peeked out from a distant er, looking expetly toward the ter of the battlefield.

  "Did he win?"

  As the water receded, it revealed the two people at the ter.

  Hoshigaki Kisame y colpsed on the ground, weakly coughing up water:

  "I couldn't make Lady Tsunade use her full strength; I apologize for that."

  "My ninja way ends here..."

  ...

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