The Water Ninjutsu: Water Severing Wave doesn’t have such power in Tobirama Senju’s hands, but at this moment, Senju Hashirama is in Sage Mode, greatly amplifying the power of the ninjutsu.

Moreover, A Mu and Hashirama are incredibly close, within less than a meter.

Water droplets fell from Senju Hashirama’s chin, causing faint pain on his cheeks. This was due to the high-pressure splashing of water.

Senju Hashirama’s branch-like arms released A Mu’s horns, and A Mu collapsed silently on the ground.

Clang.

A crisp cleave sound came from behind Hashirama, who instinctively crouched down.

Swoosh～

The long knife slashed close to the back of Hashirama’s head, and as Hashirama crouched, those two branch-like arms quickly climbed onto his arms, wrapping his hands and forearms.

These branches are very thin, only slightly thicker than animal hair. This way, Hashirama seems to wear two dark green bracers, protecting his arms without affecting his seal formation.

Hashirama barely dodged Su Xiao’s attack, and Su Xiao was already kicking towards Hashirama’s side waist.

Bam!

The kick landed squarely on Hashirama’s lower back. However, given Hashirama’s power attribute and combat experience, he did not get kicked away but instead channeled the force into the ground using his crouched posture.

Stones scattered around, and Su Xiao immediately raised his left arm to shield himself, and the stones hit the crimson metal bracer, clinking loudly.

Su Xiao successfully got close to Hashirama. Although Hashirama is also a ninja, his body is not fragile; on the contrary, his body strength is absolutely at a monster level.

Hashirama took a deep breath; receiving the kick from Su Xiao looked easy, but this kick, which hit a soft spot, nearly disrupted his breathing.

In a crouched posture, Hashirama swung his arm towards Su Xiao’s lower abdomen direction, and as he swung his arm, his body started to turn towards Su Xiao. Even Senju Hashirama dared not turn his back on Su Xiao.

Almost at the moment Hashirama’s arm swung up, Su Xiao’s left leg had already lifted, the long knife in his right hand raised high, aiming straight at Hashirama.

Bam.

Splurt.

Su Xiao’s calf grew numb; Hashirama’s 84-point power attribute was no decoration. Fortunately, Su Xiao’s constitution was strong enough; otherwise, he would have undoubtedly been heavily injured and fallen incapacitated.

Su Xiao’s body flew backward; his attack meant he was bound to fly out with only one leg landing.

While mid-air, Su Xiao quickly adjusted his center of gravity, and the Boundary Line from his left wrist shot out, piercing deep into the ground.

Su Xiao pulled the Boundary Line, yanking out a large boulder from the earth and shattering it.

Stably landing, Su Xiao glanced at the Dragon Slash in his hand, now bloodstained on the blade.

Looking at Senju Hashirama again, there was a slash mark on Hashirama’s shoulder, not deep enough to sever the bones.

Although the Dragon Slash was very sharp, against Hashirama’s physical defense, its sharpness was clearly inadequate, which was normal, considering Hashirama’s strength was far beyond Su Xiao’s, plus he was in Sage Mode. Moreover, the current Dragon Slash is of Light Gold grade; if it were an ordinary Light Gold grade weapon, it wouldn’t even harm Hashirama in Sage Mode.

Su Xiao tried moving his calf; other than feeling slightly numb, there was no serious concern. He kept a close watch on the wound on Hashirama’s shoulder, silently counting in his mind.

’1.2.3.4...’

Both stood still, about 26 seconds later, the wound on Hashirama’s shoulder fully healed, revealing some insights to Su Xiao.

Firstly, Senju Hashirama’s recovery ability was greatly reduced. According to the information provided by Madara, as long as Hashirama didn’t suffer a fatal injury, he could heal within seconds.

Secondly, the Blue Steel Shadow energy was effective, evident from Hashirama’s previously twitching cheeks.

In this case, as long as Su Xiao triggers Soul Electrification during close combat with Hashirama, he can nearly halve his opponent. Now, what he needs is an opportunity.

Hashirama was not proactively attacking Su Xiao, he was also trying to gather intel. Firstly, the extent to which his recovery ability was weakened and the internal injuries.

Hashirama realized that after being slashed by Su Xiao, the flesh wounds were trivial, but the internal damage was more lethal.

No wonder Hashirama felt this way; the damage caused by Blue Steel Shadow energy and the Soul Cutting Ability are both inflicted internally.

Hashirama decided not to engage in close combat with Su Xiao anymore and planned to release ninjutsu from mid-range to stall Su Xiao, conducting a war of attrition. Even if the attrition was ineffective, he could delay time, as he sensed the life energy of the Senju clan within himself was not permanently sealed but in a semi-dormant state.

Hashirama didn’t wish for close combat, and naturally, Su Xiao wouldn’t agree. He stomped on the ground, rushing straight towards Hashirama.

Su Xiao instantly disappeared from his initial position.

"Earth Jutsu: Swamp of the Underworld."

Hashirama slammed his hand on the ground, rapidly softening the surrounding rocky terrain into a large area of dark red swamp. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya frequently used this ninjutsu, but the developer of this technique was neither of them, and when the two used the jutsu, they could only create a swamp of a few meters.

At this moment, with Senju Hashirama as the center, the surrounding hundred meters transformed into a swamp, leaving only the ground beneath his feet as the sole foothold.

Dark red mud splattered as Su Xiao emerged five meters before Senju Hashirama, his legs sinking into the swamp, with a slash from his long knife, sending out a blade aura.

Hashirama clearly didn’t expect Su Xiao to have this move. Helplessly, he could only cross his arms in front.

Splurt.

The branches mixed with blood splattered, shallow slash marks appeared on Hashirama’s arms.

An energy shield formed beside Su Xiao; as soon as the energy shield appeared, he immediately disconnected from it and pushed it flat onto the adjacent mud swamp.

Su Xiao pressed his hand on the energy shield, exerting force, and freed his legs from the mud, jumping onto the energy shield.

This energy shield is 7 meters long and 5 meters wide; it’s the largest energy shield Su Xiao can form. Although the energy shield was slowly sinking, Su Xiao had a foothold.

"Water Ninjutsu: Sky Tears."

Hashirama completed the seal as Su Xiao jumped onto the energy shield. Even though he couldn’t use Wood Jutsu, Hashirama was still powerful; he knew too many ninjutsu and had an enormous chakra level.

Water Ninjutsu: Sky Tears is also Tobirama Senju’s signature ninjutsu. This move forms water needles, its attack power on par with Water Severing Wave.

Just as Hashirama was about to use Water Ninjutsu: Sky Tears, muddy water splashed behind him, and a large hand emerged from the swamp, grasping Hashirama’s calf.

The owner of this large hand is A Mu. Although A Mu was impaled by Hashirama using Water Jutsu, nearly becoming skewered beef, it didn’t die.

A Mu’s physiological structure resembles biological entities, but its vital points differ. As long as its Core Alchemy Array Diagram isn’t destroyed, it can keep fighting; a pierced skull is merely a serious injury. Only by destroying its head can it temporarily lose its ability to act.

A Mu’s sudden appearance interrupted the ninjutsu Hashirama was about to cast.