I have great confidence in my own skull.

Kisame originally planned to slip away quietly, but he still ended up catching the eye of Tsunade, who was drunk and unruly. In that moment, he didn’t hesitate to hide behind Yatabe Tsugusa, his newly acknowledged big brother, shoving him forward as a human shield.

Perhaps it was Tsunade’s murderous aura that did it.

Hm?

Tsugusa shivered, instantly sobering up. When he saw Tsunade marching over with clenched fists and imposing presence, he froze on the spot, then snapped back to attention and barked, “What’s going on?!”

“Out of my way, you meddlesome big nose. I’m here to teach a lesson to the guy behind you,” Tsunade waved him aside.

Tsugusa’s expression changed, especially as he saw the legendary Three Sannin of the Leaf standing there; his bravado faltered considerably. But as one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, being ordered around by Tsunade like this was a blow to his dignity.

Given the situation, he couldn’t retreat. Gritting his teeth, he stood his ground.

“If there’s a problem, say it first before you start swinging! Even if Kisame did something wrong, he should be dealt with by the Mist, not by you Leaf shinobi meddling in our affairs!”

Tsugusa tried to talk his way out, his words sharp but his heart timid, hoping to stall Tsunade.

Unfortunately, not everyone was Naruto Uzumaki; his bluster only made things worse.

“Annoying,” Tsunade muttered impatiently, suddenly taking a step forward. A powerful surge of energy erupted from her, and she punched straight at Tsugusa’s prominent nose.

No!

Tsugusa’s face changed dramatically, hurriedly raising his blunt sword, Kabutowari, with the axe end held defensively in front of him.

With a loud bang, Tsunade’s fist struck the axe.

In the next instant—

Crack.

A crisp shattering sound echoed. In Tsugusa’s horrified gaze, cracks radiated from the point of impact, spreading across the axe. The sword broke apart, splintering into a pile of metal fragments that scattered onto the ground.

And that wasn’t all.

Whoosh.

Tsunade unleashed a spinning kick, striking the hammer end of the blunt sword, sending it flying from Tsugusa’s grasp—who knows into which sewer it disappeared.

In mere seconds, all that remained of Kabutowari in Tsugusa’s hand was a length of rope.

Is this the strength of the Leaf’s Three Sannin? How could it be… so overwhelming?

Tsugusa fell to his knees with a thud, unable to accept the harsh reality.

He had no way of knowing that Kabutowari had been swapped out by Kisame with a counterfeit; that’s why it crumbled so easily in front of Tsunade.

Tsunade’s drunken rampage had inadvertently helped Kisame.

Still, he now had to face the madwoman himself.

Tsunade strode toward him, murderous intent boiling over.

Kisame took a step back, raised both hands, and said, “Lady Tsunade, may I ask what I’ve done wrong?”

He looked the picture of innocence.

“Hmph, you’re that mummy… Kisa-what? Hurry up and hand over what you tricked from Shizune, or you’ll taste my fist,” Tsunade pressed him, advancing rapidly.

The commotion had already drawn a crowd of curious onlookers.

Kisame glanced at the gathering bystanders, retreating as he raised his voice and challenged Tsunade, “Lady Tsunade, you’re twenty years older than me. Bullying a junior in the street like this—aren’t you afraid of how it’ll look?”

“Brat, nothing you say will change my mind today—I’m going to pound you,” Tsunade sneered, stubborn as ever.

At this point, Kisame realized that even if he handed over what he’d gotten from Shizune, he’d probably still get beaten.

He had no choice but to fight.

Suddenly inspired, he stopped retreating and called out to Tsunade in a deep voice:

“Lady Tsunade, if you truly want to fight, I, Kisame Hoshigaki, won’t back down. But I know your monster strength and Heaven’s Kick are legendary—if you truly have the guts, don’t use your hands or feet. Fight me another way. Even if you cripple or kill me here, I’ll accept it.”

Hearing his words, Tsunade finally paused.

Actually, after smashing Kabutowari, the effects of the alcohol had faded, and she was much clearer-headed.

She also knew: if she really hurt Kisame badly here, things would spiral out of control. After all, Kisame had just won first place in the Chunin Exams, and if he were beaten by a Leaf shinobi the very same night, word would spread and severely damage the reputation of the Leaf Village.

Not to mention, her teacher—the Third Hokage—would certainly come after her for answers.

The Mist would not let it slide, either; they’d seize the chance to make a fuss.

So her original plan was to make a show of it, beat Kisame up just enough to leave him with some bruises, and call it a day.

Who would have thought this guy would have the guts to fight back?

Thinking this, Tsunade’s gaze sharpened. She raised her voice to the surrounding crowd:

“You all heard him—this brat is reckless enough to challenge me! To defend the honor of the Leaf’s Three Sannin, I have no choice but to accept his challenge!”

Then she turned back to Kisame, her eyes burning as she pressed him:

“As you said, no hands or feet—how do we fight, then?”

“With this,” Kisame removed his forehead protector, pointing to his own forehead, “Let’s settle it with headbutts—see whose head is harder. I, Kisame Hoshigaki, have absolute confidence in my skull.”

“Fine, we’ll do it your way. That way, no one can say I’m bullying you,” Tsunade agreed without hesitation. As she spoke, she stepped up to Kisame and looked up at him.

“Are you ready? Do you want to go first, or should I, or should we do it together?” she raised a brow and asked.

“Lady Tsunade, please go ahead.” Kisame replied politely, tensing his body, patting his own forehead as a signal for her to strike.

“Then I won’t hold back,” Tsunade said, eager to begin.

Kisame was nearly one meter ninety tall, while Tsunade was only one meter sixty-three. Standing normally, her headbutt wouldn’t reach his head.

So Tsunade chose to crouch slightly, planting her feet, and then leaped upward to headbutt Kisame.

Hm?

From Kisame’s perspective, he suddenly noticed that as Tsunade crouched before him, she seemed—intentionally or not—to expose herself.

Under the dim streetlights, a deep cleft was faintly visible.

Even Kisame, with his iron will, was momentarily distracted.

Now!

Tsunade’s lips curled into a sly smile. Seizing Kisame’s moment of distraction, she pushed off the ground with all her strength, launching herself at him.

Bang!

The two collided in a powerful embrace.

Tsunade’s forehead shot forth a burst of energy, like a gale, slamming hard against Kisame’s brow.