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Official cover art of A Three-Way Deadlock of Offence and Defence!!
Cover art © Masashi Kishimoto / Shueisha. Not an original work of Daddy Jim Headquarters. Displayed for editorial commentary and review purposes.

A Three-Way Deadlock of Offence and Defence!!

Manga ChapterCh. 170

Chapter 170 brings the three legendary Sannin together for a final showdown, each riding a massive summon, as Jiraiya and Tsunade join forces to pin Orochimaru and his serpent down.

Volume: 19
Japanese Release: 26, 2003
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Summary

Orochimaru calls forth the serpent Manda, Tsunade summons the slug Katsuyu, and Jiraiya brings out the toad Gamabunta. The young toads Gamakichi and Gamatatsu greet their father; Tsunade directs Katsuyu to carry Naruto over to Shizune; and Manda hisses threats at the very master who summoned it.

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Key Events

Announcing this as the last time the three Sannin will ever meet, Jiraiya and Tsunade strike at Orochimaru together. Their assault falls short, since Manda's swiftness keeps sliding Orochimaru clear of every blow. Just as the serpent moves to sink its fangs into Gamabunta, Tsunade appears and drives the toad's enormous blade through Manda's mouth, clamping it shut and staking the creature to the earth.

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Notes

Orochimaru coils his tongue around Tsunade's throat to choke her, but she seizes it, hauls him toward her, and lands a punch square in his face. This chapter is part of the Search for Tsunade arc and was collected in Volume 19; Viz issued it as Deadlock!!!.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the three-way deadlock in Naruto?

The three-way deadlock is the showdown between the three legendary Sannin, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya, each riding a giant summon, Manda, Katsuyu, and Gamabunta, to fight one another in chapter 170, "A Three-Way Deadlock of Offence and Defence!!"

What summons do the three Sannin use in this chapter?

Orochimaru summons the serpent Manda, Tsunade summons the slug Katsuyu, and Jiraiya summons the toad Gamabunta.

How does Tsunade save Gamabunta from Manda's bite?

Just as Manda moves to sink its fangs into Gamabunta, Tsunade appears and drives Gamabunta's enormous blade through Manda's mouth, clamping it shut and pinning the serpent to the ground.

How does Orochimaru try to attack Tsunade directly?

Orochimaru coils his tongue around Tsunade's throat to choke her, but she grabs it, hauls him toward her, and lands a punch square in his face.

What arc does "A Three-Way Deadlock of Offence and Defence!!" belong to?

This chapter is chapter 170 of the Naruto manga, part of the Search for Tsunade arc, collected in Volume 19 and released by Viz as "Deadlock!!!"

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This content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Naruto anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.

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Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:

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  • Game pages: official box art for the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm games, credited to Bandai Namco.
  • Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto.

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