Watching Hanzo slice through the Wind Release with a single strike, the three felt a sense of helplessness. Their various coordinated attacks were useless against this man.
"Are you going to give up?" Hanzo narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the three ninja before him.
For the moment, Hanzo didn't take the initiative to attack. In the past, he would have been focused on quickly eliminating these three and moving to the battlefield.
But that Lightning Release just now made Hanzo change his mind.
Being able to use that kind of Lightning Release, no matter which village the ninja was from, could have a decisive effect on the battlefield.
In other words, the situation on the battlefield should already be clear. At this point, it would be pointless for Hanzo to interfere.
Since that was the case, he decided not to enter the battlefield. He never wanted an alliance in the first place. Moreover, there weren't many Rain Village ninja present—the main forces were from the Sand and Stone villages. Let them fight each other.
Hanzo had this thought, so he wasn't in a hurry to attack. However, he didn't realize that the Sand Village forces shared the same mindset. From beginning to end, the only ones who were truly committed to the alliance were the Stone ninja.
As for why this happened, ninja historians have debated it for years. After all, the Third Tsuchikage was a well-known schemer, rarely outwitted by others.
Finally, over a hundred years later, when archaeologists excavated the seventy-two suspected tombs of the Third Tsuchikage, they accidentally discovered a diary.
It was then that the truth became clear.
The diary recorded that, as a child, the Third Tsuchikage had visited Konoha—only to be beaten up by a strange uncle.
From that moment, he developed a deep hatred for Konoha, vowing to defeat the village at all costs.
As for why he set up so many decoy tombs, that remained a mystery. However, many speculated that it was also related to Konoha.
---
At this moment, Orochimaru and Jiraiya were still young—fiery twenty-year-olds full of spirit.
Hearing Hanzo's mocking words, they didn't hesitate to form hand seals, their unparalleled teamwork on full display as their hands blurred with afterimages.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
The two powerful fire-based jutsu intertwined, rushing toward Hanzo with immense force.
Hanzo watched the fire dragon surge forward and quickly formed his own hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
The collision of the jutsu created a dense fog that spread across the battlefield. Taking advantage of the concealment, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade immediately assumed a triangular formation.
Suddenly, the sound of projectiles slicing through the air filled their ears.
Hundreds of kunai burst from the fog, leaving them with no room to dodge.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya quickly brandished their own kunai, blocking the incoming weapons with sharp, metallic clashes.
But in that instant, Hanzo emerged from the thick fog, his long-chained sickle swinging straight for Jiraiya's abdomen.
Jiraiya's eyes widened in alarm. He instinctively raised his kunai to block the attack.
"Flash," Hanzo muttered.
A layer of wind chakra coated the sickle, increasing its cutting power to terrifying levels. The weapon moved as fast as lightning.
Orochimaru reacted instantly, delivering a violent kick to Jiraiya.
"Ugh—!"
Jiraiya was thrown backward just as the sickle slashed through the air where he had been standing.
Even so, it was a moment too late. The sharp edge grazed Jiraiya's side, slicing through his ninja uniform. His kunai, which he had attempted to block with, was severed cleanly in two—the cut unnervingly smooth.
Hanzo didn't stop there. As he passed Jiraiya, he twisted his wrist.
"Chain Sickle Second Stage Slash!"
The sickle, already moving past Jiraiya, suddenly changed direction in midair, curving in a strange arc to attack him from behind.
"Hidden Shadow Many Snake Hands!"
At the critical moment, a multitude of serpents erupted from Orochimaru's sleeve, coiling around Hanzo's limbs.
Jiraiya desperately tilted his head, and the sickle, meant for his neck, instead grazed his shoulder.
A deep cut appeared, and darkened blood began to seep from the wound. The poison on Hanzo's sickle had already taken effect.
Hanzo glanced at Jiraiya, noting the non-fatal strike, but he wasn't disappointed. He turned and prepared to finish the job.
"Tsunade, take care of Jiraiya!" Orochimaru called, his golden eyes narrowing.
Tsunade was already at Jiraiya's side, channeling medical chakra into his wound, drawing out the venom before it could spread further.
Orochimaru turned back to Hanzo and lunged.
Poisonous snakes burst from his sleeves once more, lunging at Hanzo with open fangs.
Hanzo swung his sickle.
"Flash!"
The blade cut clean through the mass of serpents. But in the split second his weapon was occupied, Orochimaru's free hand formed another jutsu.
"Hidden Shadow Many Snake Hands!"
Another group of snakes shot out, this time aiming for Hanzo's face. Hanzo had no choice but to lean to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Orochimaru's lips curled into a smirk.
"Serpent Swarm Explosion!"
A muffled explosion rang out as the summoned snakes self-detonated, spraying purplish-black venom in all directions.
The poison splattered onto Hanzo's armor and face.
Yet, Hanzo remained completely unaffected.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
"Why...?"
Hanzo calmly wiped his face. "Because of the poison sac of the Salamander, I am immune to all poisons."
"Damn it!" Even Orochimaru couldn't suppress his frustration.
Still, he had no choice but to continue the battle.
But Hanzo was done playing.
He formed one-handed seals.
From underground, the massive Salamander burst forth, its enormous body and flexible tail working in tandem with Hanzo.
Orochimaru struggled to evade. A single misstep gave Hanzo the opening he needed.
He disappeared.
Hanzo reappeared behind Tsunade and Jiraiya, unleashing a flurry of kunai before forming more seals.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A roaring water dragon surged forward, empowered by the damp environment.
And then, Hanzo flicked his wrist.
A dozen explosive tags followed the attack.
Tsunade, still tending to Jiraiya, gritted her teeth. She knew what to do.
Jiraiya formed hand seals, his long white hair rising like hardened steel.
"Ninja Art: Needle Hell!"
His hair shot forward, clashing against the airborne kunai.
Jiraiya didn't stop there.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Technique!"
A massive fire dragon erupted from his mouth.
However, the moist atmosphere weakened its strength, and Hanzo's Water Dragon was still too powerful.
Tsunade clenched her fists and slammed them into the ground.
A shockwave rippled outward.
Rocks erupted from the earth, forming a makeshift wall.
The fire and water dragons collided, producing a thick mist. The explosion rocked the battlefield, but the stone barrier held firm.
Hanzo expected this.
He smirked and formed several strange hand seals.
Suddenly—
The ground beneath Tsunade and Jiraiya turned dark.
It was covered in explosive tags.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
"Fire Release: Explosive Tag!"
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