The rain seemed to never weaken. The gray clouds looked as if someone had put a lid on the sky. The puddles on the ground rippled endlessly as raindrops fell, like someone chattering incessantly.
Suddenly, a roaring Kirin appeared in the distant sky.
"That is...!?"
The four of them stopped simultaneously, turning to gaze at the sky. After a moment, the lightning, like a deity, disappeared. However, the four were inwardly shaken.
Because the Land of Rain experienced constant rainfall, visibility was always poor. One could only imagine how powerful that ninjutsu's light must have been, for it to be seen so clearly even from this distance. And if its radiance was that intense, then its power must have been truly terrifying.
"What kind of Lightning Release is that?" Hanzo stared at the light with a burning gaze.
He immediately turned to the three Konoha ninjas before him and asked, "Among your three great nations, is there any ninja who can use such a Lightning Release?"
The three ninjas fell into contemplation.
"Could it be Sakumo?" Tsunade asked softly.
"It can't be him. Putting aside the fact that Sakumo is currently holding back the Four-Tails Jinchuriki and doesn't have the time, even his most powerful Lightning Release technique doesn't have such an overwhelming presence," Orochimaru shook his head.
He was very familiar with Sakumo's strength. Sakumo's mastery of Lightning Release was exceptional, but all his techniques were channeled through his blade. He didn't possess such an enormous Lightning Release.
But then, who could it be? The question gnawed at them.
"It seems you don't know either. Another new powerhouse? You great nations are so lucky—there's always another genius emerging. How could you understand the struggles of us smaller nations?" Hanzo narrowed his eyes and sighed.
"Hmph, struggles? If you were struggling, there wouldn't be this war. I witnessed the gold mine affair with my own eyes," Orochimaru retorted in his usual hoarse voice.
"Young man, how can you be so sure that what you saw is the absolute truth? We could all be mere pawns in someone else's game," Hanzo replied, shaking his head.
"Pawns? Who has the power to manipulate the entire ninja world like that? Don't tell me you think Uchiha Madara is still alive," Tsunade mocked.
"Too arrogant. Konoha taught you confidence but failed to teach you humility," Hanzo said, gripping his sickle.
In an instant, Orochimaru and the others' alertness shot to its peak.
Jiraiya quickly formed hand seals.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
A violent sphere of flame shot forward, barreling toward Hanzo.
But with a single swing of his sickle, chakra surged around him, and he sliced through the great flame bullet with ease. The flames scattered harmlessly to the sides, leaving Hanzo completely unscathed.
Whoosh!
Hanzo suddenly vanished from their sight.
The three Konoha ninjas were stunned.
"So fast!"
Though none of them specialized in speed, their abilities were formidable. Yet, compared to the man before them, they were still a step behind.
"Behind you!"
Orochimaru's sharp instincts kicked in.
Tsunade didn't hesitate—she whirled around and threw a monstrous-strength punch behind her.
Her fist met Hanzo's sickle with a resounding clang.
Hanzo felt an immense force travel up his weapon, forcing him back several steps until his foot crushed a large rock beneath him.
"Your strength is impressive, but your speed is lacking," Hanzo remarked.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hand!"
Orochimaru flung a shuriken, which instantly multiplied, creating a storm of deadly steel hurtling toward Hanzo.
Hanzo narrowed his eyes. Just as he prepared to dodge with the Body Flicker Technique, he noticed that the boulder beneath his feet had turned into a swamp, pulling him down.
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!" Jiraiya shouted.
"Good coordination. Unfortunately, it's not enough to injure me."
"Flash!"
With a precise slash of his sickle, Hanzo deflected the incoming shuriken.
At that moment, Tsunade appeared behind him, her monstrous-strength punch fully charged.
Boom!
A deafening impact followed as a colossal black behemoth emerged from the ground—Hanzo's Summoning Beast, Salamander!
The swamp beneath Hanzo was shattered in an instant, freeing him. At the same time, the force of Salamander's sudden rise knocked Tsunade backward.
"Wild Lion's Mane Technique!"
Jiraiya's hair rapidly extended, attempting to catch Tsunade midair.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Hanzo's hands moved at incredible speed, forming seals. A towering wall of water erupted and surged toward the airborne Tsunade.
"Earth Release: Multiple Earth Wall Technique!" Orochimaru countered, raising barriers of stone.
With a crash, the waterfall collided with the earthen walls. After a few moments, the Earth Release crumbled, dissolving into mud. Soon, it seemed as though it was raining sludge.
As the battlefield cleared, Hanzo stood tall in the rain, his sickle once again resting on his back.
"Be careful—his summon is gone again!" Tsunade warned.
The Salamander had vanished beneath the battlefield once more. Just moments ago, it had ambushed her from below—who knew when it might strike again?
Suddenly, the ground trembled. The three Konoha ninjas immediately leaped into the air. A massive shadow surged up from below.
Salamander's mouth gaped open, emitting thick purple smoke, its dark-yellow tongue lashing through the air like a whip.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hand!"
Orochimaru's right hand extended over ten meters, transforming into a dark green snake that latched onto a stone, anchoring him. At the same time, he used his left hand to conjure multiple smaller snakes, which wrapped around Tsunade and Jiraiya, pulling them to safety.
Seeing this, the Salamander swung its massive tail toward them. Even before it reached them, the sheer force of its movement sent airwaves crashing forward.
Faced with such an overwhelming assault, the three knew that brute force defense was impossible.
Jiraiya's hands flew through seals.
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
A massive dragon-shaped projectile shot through the air, colliding with Salamander's tail.
But despite its immense size, the Salamander was unexpectedly agile. It adjusted the arc of its swing, meeting the attack head-on.
With a loud crash, the Earth Dragon shattered into debris.
Orochimaru immediately formed a new set of seals.
"Wind Release: Thousand-Faced Wind Blades!"
Hundreds of wind blades shot toward the Salamander.
But before they could reach it, Hanzo stepped forward.
"Flash."
Hanzo swung his sickle, infused with wind chakra. In an instant, the wind blades collapsed and vanished without a trace.
Roar!
The Salamander let out a deafening bellow, shaking the battlefield. Even Orochimaru and the others felt their eardrums ache.
Is this the strength of a demigod?
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