Chapter 307: Treatment

Onoki’s remark about Kaede being a monster had barely faded when Ay moved again.

The muscles in both arms bulged as his fingers dug directly into the gaps between the dark spikes covering Isobu’s tail.

"Move!"

With a roar, Ay put his entire back and waist into the motion and physically dragged the Three-Tails away.

The pressure bearing down on Kaede immediately eased.

With Isobu pulled aside, Onoki acted from above.

His hands came together, and a brilliant white Particle Style beam formed again.

It sliced cleanly through the base of one of Gyuki’s huge tentacles.

Like a heated blade passing through butter, there was almost no resistance.

The severed tentacle crashed to the ground.

Gyuki roared in pain and turned its furious attention toward Onoki.

The old Tsuchikage snorted instead of retreating.

He deliberately lowered his altitude and flew toward another direction, successfully drawing the Eight-Tails away.

Seeing the battlefield open up, Kaede didn’t switch to offense.

He turned immediately.

The enormous wooden wall behind him was already covered in dense layers of White Zetsu.

The uppermost creatures had their claws hooked over the edge.

A few more seconds and they would cross the defense.

Kaede formed hand seals and prepared to clear the disgusting infestation away.

Just as the first White Zetsu’s claws dug into the wood at the top, dazzling gold poured down from above.

A vast flood of Gold Dust flowed over the wall like a broken dam.

Every grain accurately wrapped around the limbs and bodies of the White Zetsu.

"Looks like I didn’t arrive too late."

The Fourth Kazekage’s voice came from above.

Rasa hovered on a cloud of Gold Dust and looked down.

His hands came together sharply.

The Gold Dust binding the White Zetsu tightened at once.

Hundreds upon hundreds of them were ripped from the wall and compressed in midair into several enormous golden spheres.

Kaede looked up and met Rasa’s eyes.

Rasa said nothing. He only gave a small nod.

Then the golden spheres exploded.

White Zetsu limbs rained down like dumplings tossed from the sky, fragments scattering everywhere.

Having finished, Rasa turned the Gold Dust cloud and flew directly toward the raging Shukaku.

Kaede was just withdrawing his gaze when the sound of snapping wood came from the right.

Son Goku had finally broken every barrel-thick vine restraining its body through pure strength.

The Four-Tails raised an enormous hand and slapped directly toward Kaede.

Kaede’s eyes shifted, and he prepared to move.

A staff as thick as a building beam suddenly shot from the wall.

Its surface shone dark gold, carrying tremendous force as it slammed into Son Goku’s chest.

THUD!

The Four-Tails’ enormous body was actually lifted several meters and thrown backward before crashing to the ground and sliding away.

"Kaede, well done."

Hiruzen Sarutobi landed steadily atop the enormous staff and formed a seal with one hand, giving Kaede an approving look.

Then, above the wall, the formerly empty defensive positions lit up one after another.

Crimson Fire Style.

Blue Water Style.

Purple Lightning Style.

A storm of multicolored chakra illuminated the entire night.

The allied shinobi from every village had finally arrived.

On another part of the battlefield, the earth suddenly split.

An enormous purple snake erupted from underground and coiled its thick body tightly around Kokuo.

The Five-Tails kicked wildly, unable to break free.

The giant snake opened its mouth.

Orochimaru’s pale face slowly emerged from within.

"Kaede-kun."

His amber snake eyes turned toward Kaede, completely ignoring the Tailed Beast struggling behind him.

"Those ’weapons’ you ordered have all been distributed."

As soon as he finished, the allied shinobi along the wall activated the specialized ninja tools in their hands.

The devices had strange shapes, halfway between scrolls and metal bracers.

The moment they activated, formula markings across their surfaces lit up.

Genin and Chunin who could normally produce only ordinary fireballs or water bullets suddenly released composite ninjutsu several times stronger than before.

A genuine elemental storm poured over the White Zetsu army below.

The advancing white tide was driven backward by the unexpected barrage.

Kaede watched and gave Orochimaru a small nod of approval.

Then golden light flashed beside him.

Minato appeared.

He spoke rapidly.

"Kaede, you actually did it. The rear and the other sectors have all moved their forces here!"

Kaede didn’t ask anything else.

A trace of concern entered his voice.

"Did Tsunade come?"

Minato nodded firmly.

"She’s here. She’s already treating people in the rear safe zone."

At that answer, visible tension left Kaede’s face.

He released a long breath.

...

Behind the defensive line, Tsunade hurried to Pakura and crouched down.

Her eyes immediately settled on Mei in Pakura’s arms.

"She—"

Pakura had barely started explaining when Tsunade placed one hand gently on her shoulder.

"It’s all right. Don’t rush."

Her voice was gentle.

"I’m here."

Those simple words made Pakura swallow every explanation she had been about to force out.

Tsunade bit her finger and slammed a palm to the ground.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A massive Katsuyu appeared.

Tsunade pointed across the camp.

"Katsuyu, split into smaller bodies and spread across the battlefield. Prioritize critically wounded shinobi!"

"Yes, Tsunade-sama!"

The enormous slug immediately divided into countless fist-sized blue-white bodies that flowed outward across the battlefield.

Tsunade called two medical shinobi to bring a stretcher.

Then, with extreme care, she took Mei from Pakura and laid her flat.

Soft green light from the Mystical Palm Technique appeared over Tsunade’s hands and covered the terrible wound.

While stabilizing Mei’s vital signs, she raised her other hand and rapidly checked Pakura’s condition.

After several seconds, she withdrew it.

"You’ve exhausted your chakra and suffered some superficial wounds."

Tsunade summoned a small Katsuyu and placed it against Pakura’s back.

"Let it help you recover. Rest nearby for a while and you’ll be fine."

Then her attention returned entirely to Mei.

Her expression became intensely focused as green light formed around both hands and she began emergency treatment.

Pakura leaned nearby and watched Tsunade’s fully concentrated back, mixed emotions churning inside her.

...

In the distant forest, Black Zetsu watched the battlefield reverse completely.

At first, victory had seemed assured.

Then one powerful shinobi after another had arrived beside Kitahara Kaede.

The White Zetsu army Black Zetsu had trusted so much was pinned down under an elemental barrage.

The seven Tailed Beasts had been separated and restrained, each forced to fight alone.

A battle Black Zetsu had considered certain victory had somehow been overturned by that one young man.

The playful expression of a cat tormenting a mouse disappeared from Black Zetsu’s face.

"That brat..."

The words sounded as though they were being forced through clenched teeth.

"He really... held long enough for every main force to arrive?"

Black Zetsu whipped around toward the silent figure beside it.

"Fu."

Fu turned.

"We can’t delay any longer. It’s time for you to fight personally."

He nodded.

His figure vanished from the spot.