A tall figure approached from afar, carrying something on its shoulder, which appeared to be a woman.

It was A Mu who had arrived, and what he was carrying was not Tsunade. Su Xiao captured Tsunade only to hold Senju Hashirama back. As for threatening Hashirama with Tsunade’s life during the battle to make him submit, Su Xiao never considered it. He sometimes uses any means necessary, but it depends on who the opponent is.

Facing someone like Senju Hashirama, who can maintain composure even when his strength is weakened, Su Xiao would not do such a thing.

In battle, it’s life or death. Those who strive to become stronger, none of them dislike fighting.

Senju Hashirama is a gentle person. Does he dislike fighting? Did he study Ninjutsu just to protect his loved ones? Protecting loved ones is only part of the reason; the bigger reason is that Senju Hashirama also enjoys life-and-death battles, though he doesn’t show it.

For example, someone who cooks food every day does it for what? Of course, to enjoy it himself or for others, and to improve cooking skills in the process.

Becoming stronger is similar to this process. Anyone who becomes stronger wants to find an opponent to have a great battle, even a life-and-death one, because only in battle can they deeply feel how much they’ve grown stronger.

When you defeat those you once looked up to, the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction is unmatched in anything else.

Being stronger is closely related to battle. People like Hashirama and Naruto, after becoming stronger, just hide their desires, but once there’s an opportunity, they also fight freely.

But for someone like Su Xiao and Uchiha Madara, they never hide it. Though they won’t harm the innocent, if they stand opposed, prepare for a life-or-death battle.

To achieve something, you need motivation. If you don’t like fighting or don’t have any other obsessions, you can never become stronger quickly. This is a law. If Hashirama were just a kind man, would he be as strong as he is today? Absolutely not!

A Mu arrived behind Su Xiao, and the one carried on A Mu’s shoulder was the terrified Shinfuru.

Su Xiao signaled A Mu to release Shinfuru. As soon as Shinfuru stood on the ground, she suddenly felt weak in the knees because she thought the person not far away looked familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before.

Gulp. Shinfuru swallowed.

"Is this... Senju Hashirama??"

Shinfuru was clearly uncertain. She had seen statues of Senju Hashirama many times, coupled with Hashirama’s enormous Chakra level, Shinfuru guessed Hashirama’s identity.

"Yes, the living Senju Hashirama."

Su Xiao’s voice was very calm.

"Are we... going to fight him?"

Shinfuru’s voice carried a sob.

"You don’t need to fight him, just heal me well and sense the surrounding movements."

"O... okay."

Shinfuru quickly stepped back, crossing her arms. Su Xiao’s words ’just heal me well’ caused her to misunderstand.

Not only is Shinfuru sensing the surroundings, but Bubu Wang is also sensing the surroundings, while providing the Ice and Snow Goddess’ Aura.

Do not think Bubu Wang is just loafing around the battlefield. On the contrary, its task is very demanding: sensing, minor healing, controlling A Mu in battle, ambushing Hashirama at critical moments, and blocking or diverting the Ninja Union Army’s reinforcements.

In every battle, Bubu Wang hardly appears on the field, but this doesn’t mean Bubu Wang is a hindrance. It is Su Xiao’s greatest assistance. More importantly, Bubu Wang is trustworthy, which allows Su Xiao to focus on dealing with Senju Hashirama.

The alchemy array diagram flashed in A Mu’s eyes as Bubu Wang took control of its body. Compared to A Mu’s own consciousness, Bubu Wang and Su Xiao have more tacit coordination.

Without Su Xiao’s instruction, Bubu Wang controlled A Mu to charge towards Senju Hashirama.

Bang, bang. Boom...

Under A Mu’s feet, shards of rock splattered. As cold air ascended from its horns, its charging speed increased rapidly. This was A Mu’s Charging Skill, Fearless Charge.

Swoosh～

A Mu’s charge left an afterimage behind, the result of brute strength and speed.

Feeling the slight vibration of the ground, black patterns appeared around Senju Hashirama’s eyes, with a black circle and a black dot in the center on his forehead, signaling his Sage Mode.

Hashirama put his thumbs in his mouth, and with a click, bit down. Just when Su Xiao thought Hashirama was going to use the Five Pronged Seal Gate, small branches grew from Hashirama’s wounds, swiftly wrapping around his arms.

Seeing this, Su Xiao frowned. He wasn’t surprised that Hashirama used Wood Jutsu of this magnitude, but Hashirama’s reaction did surprise him.

Judging by Hashirama’s reaction, Su Xiao wasn’t the first to seal his Bloodline Limit. Hashirama seemed to have experienced a similar battle before.

"The last time I was this weak, it was when I fought that old guy from the Uchiha Clan."

Hashirama’s body crouched low, arms extended at his sides.

Bang, bang, bang.

A Mu charged headfirst up to Senju Hashirama, its horns aiming straight for Hashirama’s chest, clearly intending to pierce through him.

Kaka kaka～

The branches on Hashirama’s arms rapidly grew, extracting moisture from his blood.

These branches quickly formed two arm-like shapes. When A Mu charged in front of Hashirama, the two branch arms accurately caught A Mu’s horns.

Boom!

The legs of Senju Hashirama sank into the ground below his knees. Behind him, soil and rock erupted, caused by the impact.

Smoke and impact waves spread outward. Within the smoke and dust, Hashirama leaned his body forward, the two branch arms linked to his shoulders, firmly grasping A Mu’s horns.

Senju Hashirama withstood A Mu’s collision, but his physical attributes surpassed A Mu’s. Although it seemed grand and dangerous, it didn’t actually harm Senju Hashirama.

Senju Hashirama’s idle hands quickly formed seals. It seemed like it had been a long time since he used this Ninjutsu; his hand seal speed wasn’t very fast.

"Water Jutsu: Water Severing Wave."

Hashirama slightly tilted his head back, a straight stream of water, about the thickness of a finger, shot from his mouth. The Water Severing Wave is Tabirama’s signature Ninjutsu, and as Tobirama’s elder brother, Hashirama would know this move as well, as all their Ninjutsu is shared.

This stream of water was swift and forceful, aimed directly at the back of A Mu’s head. Targeting A Mu’s horns, which were held by branch arms, meant there was no way for it to dodge.

Sizzle—a sound as the finger-thick water jet pierced A Mu’s head. Though small, the water jet came with extremely high pressure, akin to a high-pressure water cutter.

Water splashed dozens of meters high, faintly revealing tiny fragments of the skull.

When the water fell, Hashirama and A Mu were still in the same posture. On A Mu’s head appeared a finger-thick hole. Around the hole, the skull was shattered, revealing the intricate soft tissue structures and large areas of Alchemy Array.

Not only the head, but on A Mu’s lower back, there was also a hole. Hashirama’s Water Jutsu: Water Severing Wave pierced directly through A Mu.