Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!-Chapter 363: The Curtain Falls

His brazen statement sent shockwaves through the remaining spectators. The ability to absorb a Tailed Beast Ball was already extraordinary, but to dismiss it and call the Hokage and a Tailed Beast weak? It was beyond arrogant.

"That's the Hokage!" one onlooker whispered in shock.

"And a Tailed Beast!" added another.

If they were considered weak, then what did that make ordinary ninja? Ants? None dared voice their frustration, as Nagato had clearly earned the right to his boldness.

"Ridiculous," Tsunade spat, though her earlier arrogance was fading. Her fierce confidence wavered as she began to bluff. "You haven't won yet!"

"It's almost over."

Nagato's calm declaration was followed by a sudden transformation. His back contorted, and six mechanical arms sprouted from it. The arms twisted together, pulling apart at the wrists to reveal an arsenal of missiles hidden within.

Without hesitation, the missiles launched in rapid succession, arcing through the air toward Chōmei.

Given its immense size, Chōmei was unable to evade all the projectiles.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of deafening explosions shook the battlefield. Chōmei's agonized roars echoed as the blasts left it battered and burned. When the flames dissipated, the damage was clear—its wings were shredded, and its body was riddled with wounds. Maintaining flight was now a struggle.

Nagato, of course, seized the opportunity and soared toward Chōmei, retracting his mechanical arms.

"I'll fight you to the death—Spear Attack: Shining Horn!"

Chōmei flapped his wings furiously, sending massive tentacles hurtling toward Nagato once more.

"The same trick won't work on me twice."

Nagato deftly sidestepped the attack, grasped two long black rods in his hands, and drove them into the base of Chōmei's wings.

"Ahhh!"

A cry of pain erupted from Chōmei, who was horrified to discover his wings had gone numb, refusing to obey his will. A disruptive force invaded his chakra, leaving him unable to maintain flight. Helpless, he plummeted toward the ground.

With a resounding crash, Chōmei's enormous tentacles buried themselves into the earth, his massive frame contorted in a grotesque posture.

"Summoning Technique."

Nagato summoned a colossal chameleon. Its tongue darted out, wrapping around Chōmei, effortlessly extracting him from the ground. The once-mighty beast now looked utterly spent. His wings drooped, and his body bore wounds that refused to heal.

This wasn't solely due to Tsunade's efforts. The Asura Path's devastating attacks, as seen in the original events, were capable of inflicting severe damage to a Jinchūriki. However, Tsunade had sustained genuine injuries as well.

To make the performance more convincing, Chōmei's form began to shrink, eventually revealing Tsunade's true appearance. Two black rods remained lodged in her back as she hung suspended in the grip of Shiromari's tongue. Her face was pale, bloodless, and streaked with blood that dripped from the corner of her mouth to her chin. She appeared utterly drained, devoid of the strength to continue.

The outcome was unmistakable.

The mighty Hokage had fallen to an unknown figure from the Akatsuki. Witnesses of the battle were stunned yet could only accept the undeniable truth. This was the most intense and thrilling confrontation they had ever seen. From this day on, Nagato of Akatsukigakure, would inspire terror across the ninja world.

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"What do you think, Lady Hokage?"

Nagato floated toward Tsunade, stopping just above her. His tone was laced with mockery, but beneath it, only Tsunade could detect a faint flicker of unease in his eyes.

"Think again. If you're so capable, just do it—kill me," Tsunade shot back, her defiance unwavering. "But know this: my husband will never let you go. If I die, you and the entire Akatsuki will follow me to the grave."

Her glare bore into Nagato, her words laced with raw defiance and venom. In her current state, she fully embodied the bitterness of a defeated warrior.

"I'm scared." Nagato's lips curled into a mocking smile.

"You don't think I dare?" he continued, his tone abruptly turning cold and deadly.

Nagato pressed the black rod against Tsunade's throat, the sharp tip grazing her skin. It was as though he might end her life at any moment.

But inside, Nagato was panicking. If Sensei finds out I've treated his wife like this, he'll kill me. He could vividly imagine the wrath of Kawakaze Hatake, a man known for his unyielding love for Tsunade.

The few remaining onlookers were frozen, their hushed murmurs betraying their growing unease.

"No way... does he really have the nerve to kill the Hokage?"

"This guy's out of his mind!"

"He must know that Tsunade's husband is Kawakaze Hatake. Right?"

"That's not something you joke about."

The tension in the air was suffocating. If Nagato truly killed the Hokage, the ninja world would descend into chaos. None could predict what havoc Kawakaze, a Super Kage-class ninja, might unleash. And Kawakaze wasn't just any Kage-level ninja; his destructive potential was unparalleled.

"You try," Tsunade growled, her voice unwavering. Even facing death, she refused to surrender her pride.

"Do you really think I won't?" Nagato shot back, his voice icy. He glanced briefly into the distance, then pushed the black rod deeper, piercing Tsunade's skin.

"Let go of my Sensei's wife!"

A sharp voice rang out, and a flash of ninjutsu streaked toward Nagato. He exhaled a massive sigh of relief, retreating smoothly into the air.

Shiromari, loyal but unlucky, was obliterated by Minato's Rasengan. Tsunade, freed, collapsed into Nawaki's arms.

"Looks like you've won," Nagato said coldly, though his heart leapt with joy. Thank goodness they showed up—now I don't have to figure out how to end this.

He cast a brief thought to Kakuzu and Konan. He wasn't worried about their safety; everything had gone as planned, even if it felt like he hadn't gotten the script in advance.

"You dare hurt my sister like this!" Nawaki spat furiously.

Before he could act further, Minato whisked him and Tsunade away, disappearing from sight.

"Not bad for a runner," Nagato muttered to himself, showing no intention of pursuit. The purpose of the spectacle had already been achieved.

Meanwhile, intelligence operatives from two major ninja villages sprang into action, relaying news as Nagato had anticipated.

"Get back quickly and report to Lord Tsuchikage that one of the Akatsuki leaders, Nagato, easily defeated Hokage Tsunade!"

"Quick, report to Lord Kazekage that Hokage Tsunade was nearly killed by Nagato, one of the Akatsuki's village leaders!"