The ground was densely covered with explosive tags, like a giant vortex about to swallow Tsunade and Jiraiya.
"Heavenly Foot of Pain!"
Tsunade stomped down with force, shattering the explosive tags beneath her feet. However, the remaining tags, like venomous snakes, slithered toward her once more.
"Hiss!"
Hanzo made a hand seal, triggering the detonation.
"Needle Jizo!"
Jiraiya roared, rushing toward Tsunade and embracing her just as the explosion erupted.
A deafening blast shook the battlefield.
Smoke and dust surged into the sky as gravel scattered in all directions. The rock barrier Tsunade had formed was long gone, reduced to nothing but ash.
As the smoke cleared, a strange cocoon-like structure was revealed.
It was Jiraiya's jutsu. In the instant before the explosion, he had wrapped his body and Tsunade within his hardened hair, shielding them from the brunt of the blast.
Hanzo observed this technique with a trace of regret. Another carefully planned attack had failed.
As the cocoon unraveled, revealing its softened strands, Jiraiya emerged—his body riddled with burns and wounds. His legs trembled, barely able to support his weight. Tsunade immediately reached out to hold him steady.
Jiraiya had taken the full impact of the explosion to protect her.
Tsunade's face twisted in concern. Injuries of this severity needed immediate medical attention.
But Jiraiya simply grinned through the pain, his eyes never leaving Hanzo, wary of another sudden attack.
"Jiraiya! Tsunade!"
Hearing the explosion, Orochimaru shouted. Without hesitation, he consumed a vast amount of chakra, recklessly forcing his way through the Salamander's defenses. He took injuries in exchange for passage, finally arriving beside them.
The Salamander ceased its attacks, responding to Hanzo's silent command.
"Are you two alright?" Orochimaru asked, his golden eyes scanning Jiraiya's battered form.
"We got caught in Hanzo's trap," Tsunade muttered, irritation lacing her voice. "If Jiraiya hadn't reacted in time, we would've died."
Jiraiya chuckled weakly. "The gap between us… is really overwhelming…"
His body was growing weaker by the second. Blood from his open wounds had mixed with the residual poison in the air. The antidote pills he had taken earlier were no longer effective.
Hanzo leaped high into the air, landing atop the Salamander's massive head. He looked down upon them with an aura of absolute dominance.
"Now that your team is in this state," Hanzo said, his voice cold, "what can you possibly do?"
Yes.
What could they do?
They had exhausted every tactic, spent every ounce of energy, yet Hanzo still stood unscathed.
They had reached their limit, while he had yet to show his full strength.
"Life and death are in your hands. Do you still intend to resist?"
"You should know by now… even if the three of you join forces, the gap between us is insurmountable. Surrender, and I will let you live."
Hanzo's tone was not mocking. It was merely stating a fact.
But to Jiraiya, it was unacceptable.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Jiraiya roared, forcing himself upright despite the pain. "Leaf Village shinobi don't surrender on the battlefield! Even if I die, I'll never admit defeat!"
It wasn't mere stubbornness. He had a reason he could not fail.
Behind them, their comrades—friends and fellow shinobi—were still fighting. Some had already fallen.
If he surrendered now, how could he ever face them again?
Although Orochimaru and Tsunade remained silent, the fire in their eyes spoke volumes.
They would never give up.
The three stood together, battered but unyielding, facing the demigod of the Rain Village without a single step backward.
Hanzo observed them for a long moment.
Then, he closed his eyes.
He was hesitating.
Should he simply execute these promising young shinobi?
Or should he let them go?
His instinct told him that allowing them to live would be a mistake.
If left unchecked, they would only grow stronger. The Leaf Village was already too powerful.
And yet…
Hanzo exhaled slowly. The image of that devastating Lightning Release attack flashed through his mind.
It wasn't that he doubted the strength of the Stone and Sand villages. But from years of experience, he knew that shinobi capable of wielding such terrifying Lightning Release techniques almost always came from the Leaf Village.
The war's outcome was already clear to him. Even the Allied Forces would not be able to stop Konoha's advance.
If he killed the Third Hokage's disciples… would the Rain Village even survive the consequences?
His killing intent faded.
"It has been a long time since I've encountered such excellent young shinobi," Hanzo finally said. "Your strength has earned my recognition."
He straightened his stance atop the Salamander's head.
"You three… may go."
"…What?"
Jiraiya and Tsunade froze.
Moments ago, they had been locked in a battle to the death. They were on the verge of losing.
And now, Hanzo was simply letting them leave?
Jiraiya clenched his fists. "No! We can't let you enter the battlefield!"
Hanzo chuckled. "Worry not. Since I am allowing you three to live, I will also withdraw from the war. I will not continue fighting alongside the Sand and Stone ninja, nor will I step foot on the battlefield again."
Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged confused glances.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. "This isn't just because of us, is it?"
Orochimaru did not trust Hanzo. The leader of the Rain Village was not a man to spare lives on a whim. Even if he respected their talent, there had to be another reason.
Hanzo folded his arms.
"It's simple," he said. "The Leaf Village has already won this war. Continuing to fight would be meaningless. Consider this my mercy… a path for you to survive. Does that explanation satisfy you?"
Jiraiya's anger flared. "We don't need your pity! We can still fight!"
"Enough, Jiraiya," Tsunade warned.
Hanzo ignored Jiraiya's frustration and turned to leave.
Then, he paused.
The three immediately tensed, preparing for another attack.
But instead, Hanzo smirked.
"Relax, brats."
He looked down at them, a rare gleam of amusement in his eyes.
"The three of you survived against me. That is no small feat. You should feel honored."
He tapped a finger against his chin in thought.
"…Let me think. From now on, I shall call you the Sannin of the Leaf."
Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru froze.
"As the price for your survival, you will carry the title I bestow upon you. Bear it with pride."
Then, with a sharp stomp, Hanzo signaled his Salamander. The massive creature leaped over them, disappearing into the distance.
"…Leaf Sannin? What kind of nonsense is that?" Jiraiya grumbled, crossing his arms. "It doesn't even sound cool. My toads are way better than that!"
Tsunade chuckled. "Alright, Toad Ninja. Whatever the reason, at least we survived."
Jiraiya let out a sigh, then laughed.
The lingering poisonous mist had begun to fade with Hanzo's departure.
"He really left," Orochimaru murmured.
Tsunade nodded. "Then let's go. We still have a war to fight."
Without hesitation, the three turned and ran toward the battlefield.
Little did they know that the title bestowed upon them by the demigod would follow them for the rest of their lives.
Rather than an honor, it was a reminder of today's humiliation—one they would never forget.
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