This wasn't self-harm, it was the Strength of a Hundred Seal's combat strategy.
If not for Ye Zi's Lightning Dragon Armor, enduring two direct strikes from Tsunade's monstrous strength would have left him incapacitated. Yet now, Tsunade remained completely unscathed, the only price she paid being the fleeting pain from her injuries.
Such an astounding regenerative ability, combined with punches capable of shattering boulders, was enough to drive most opponents to despair.
However, if Tsunade were to face a monster like the Third Raikage, it might very well be her turn to feel despair.
Against Ye Zi, though, such hopelessness wasn't yet warranted.
The wooden pillars of the Tree Bind Technique surged toward her.
Tsunade didn't choose to evade, knowing full well that the pillars could be controlled at Ye Zi's will. With so many aiming at her in such rapid succession, dodging alone would likely result in being struck before she could even close the distance.
To make matters worse, Ye Zi's spiritual entity loomed behind her, an ever-present threat. If she were immobilized and left vulnerable to the entity's invasion, it would spell her end.
Tsunade wouldn't take such a gamble. Her response to the incoming Tree Bind Technique was simple, use her fists!
This was the most effective countermeasure.
With a sharp cry, Tsunade charged straight into the oncoming wooden pillars.
"Facing it head-on?" Ye Zi's eyes narrowed as he willed the wooden pillars to abruptly fan out, intending to encircle Tsunade as she approached.
The fanned-out pillars cast shifting shadows across Tsunade's determined face, like a carousel of silhouettes.
"Your Wood Release is nowhere near as strong as Grandpa's!"
With a roar of fury, Tsunade's fists blurred into a flurry of strikes, unleashing a barrage of punches across a 180-degree arc in front of her.
Crack!
The wooden pillars trying to spread out around her shattered under the relentless force of her punches, splintering into chunks that flew off to the sides.
While demolishing the pillars, Tsunade's speed didn't waver for even a moment. She charged directly at Ye Zi, closing the distance with relentless determination.
"So it's weaker than the First Hokage's Wood Release, is it…?"
Ye Zi didn't know the true extent of the First Hokage's abilities with Wood Release, but it didn't matter. Whether or not it was weaker, all that mattered was defeating her.
"Don't get ahead of yourself!"
With an icy snarl, Ye Zi dismissed the remnants of his Tree Bind Technique. By now, Tsunade had closed the gap to within a single meter.
A meter traversed a fleetingly short distance, barely the span of a breath at her astonishing speed.
Wood Release: Giant Wooden Palm!
Ye Zi's hands transformed into massive wooden palms that intercepted Tsunade's incoming fists precisely.
Boom!
The instant the wooden palms collided with Tsunade's fists, a shockwave rippled outward, stirring a fierce wind in every direction.
Ye Zi's body shook violently, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Yet, he withstood Tsunade's monstrous force without being flung away. Still, cracks quickly spread across the surface of the wooden palms.
"That's why I said your Wood Release is far weaker than Grandpa's!"
Tsunade roared, her arms surging with explosive power. The cracked wooden palms shattered instantly, and the residual force barreled toward Ye Zi. He withdrew the wooden palms and stepped back to disperse the impact, his body flipping through the air before landing deftly. Digging his hands into the ground, he left four deep grooves in the soil to stabilize himself.
Looking up at Tsunade, a glint of cold determination flashed across Ye Zi's face.
Thud!
A massive green root, as thick as a barrel, suddenly burst out of the ground in front of Tsunade, piercing straight through her chest.
Tsunade let out a muffled groan, blood gushing from her mouth as her brows furrowed in pain.
"When did… this happen?"
Her expression twisted slightly as she glared at Ye Zi, gripping the green tree root with both hands, attempting to break it with sheer force.
"This is the so-called 'weak' Wood Release in your eyes."
Ye Zi rose to his feet, walking steadily toward Tsunade while weaving hand signs.
Squelch!
At that moment, Tsunade snapped the tree root in half and yanked the remaining portion from her chest, tossing it aside. The gruesome hole in her chest healed in an instant.
Through numerous piercing attacks, her upper clothing had nearly been torn to shreds, leaving her upper body exposed to the air. However, her torso was still smeared with blood, as if coated in a layer of red paint.
In the midst of a life-and-death battle, Tsunade had no time to care about her bare chest being exposed to Ye Zi's gaze. As she prepared to act, another green root burst from the ground, piercing her chest once again.
Though Tsunade's figure was fully exposed, Ye Zi remained utterly unfazed. The moment she broke free, he promptly conjured another root to strike.
"Even if it's weak, it's enough to take you down."
Stopping ten meters away from Tsunade, Ye Zi coldly watched her struggle as several more roots erupted from the ground, piercing her body in succession. Bloodied and battered, the roots coiled around her tightly.
Tsunade, with immense willpower, suppressed the scream that threatened to escape her throat. With a gaze full of hatred and fury, she let out an enraged roar. Ignoring the surging waves of pain, she tried to break free with brute strength.
"It's futile," Ye Zi said, his tone cold and indifferent.
The first layer of roots pierced through Tsunade's body and entwined around her, while a second layer reinforced the bindings, increasing their strength.
Such a degree of restraint was beyond Tsunade's ability to overcome, especially with the pain from the piercing wounds sapping her strength.
For the first time since creating the Strength of a Hundred Seal, Tsunade found herself in such a dire situation. No matter how much strength she mustered, she couldn't break free from Ye Zi's Wood Release. She could do nothing but endure the injuries and the excruciating pain they brought.
The instantaneous regeneration ability of the Strength of a Hundred Seal was undeniably powerful. It allowed her to disregard injuries entirely, launching attacks without concern for her own safety. However, even in this state, the pain from the injuries couldn't be ignored.
From the start of the fight until now, Tsunade had endured countless grievous wounds. She hadn't been unaffected by the pain, it was her immense willpower that suppressed it.
Yet the unrelenting waves of agony were beginning to overwhelm even her.
If she had mastered Sage Mode, not only could it have significantly reduced the pain feedback from her injuries, but it would have also amplified her physical strength several times over.
Unfortunately, that was only wishful thinking. Facing a Tsunade in Sage Mode, Ye Zi knew he wouldn't stand a chance.
The roots continued to drain Tsunade's chakra, rapidly spawning more roots in the process.
Ye Zi controlled his spiritual entity, intending to absorb Tsunade's chakra to replenish his own.
After observing Tsunade's abilities during the fight, he had already prepared for a prolonged battle. However, things were progressing even more smoothly than he had anticipated.
Staring at her face, deliberately left unbound by the roots, Ye Zi's expression was icy. The spiritual entity closed in from behind Tsunade.
Her face contorted with hatred, Tsunade glared at Ye Zi with defiance. Despite the searing pain spreading throughout her body and her rapidly depleting chakra, she refused to give up trying to break free from the entangling roots.
I can't die so helplessly...
I will... kill you! For Dan's sake!
But her efforts were all in vain.
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Currently on Chapter 442 - The Spoils of War