Hanzo's strength lay in many areas.
Even now, with his signature summoning beast Ibuse no longer useful, he remained one of the Shinobi World's towering powerhouses.
Hanzo took a large step back, wrapped the chain of his kusarigama around his arm, and gradually cleared his gaze. His breathing slowed, yet the aura around him grew ever sharper.
When he had been young, he had traveled alone to the Land of Iron. With nothing but the kusarigama in his hand, he had carved out his own fearsome reputation.
Back then, every samurai fled upon hearing Hanzo's name.
"Sword Art: Iai Flash!"
A frigid blade flashed past. Though Orochimaru tried his utmost to evade it, his right arm was still severed.
A savage grin spread across Hanzo's face. Without giving Orochimaru the slightest chance to recover, he rapidly formed hand seals with one hand.
"Fire Release: Explosive Flame Formation!"
Densely packed Explosive Tags emerged from the ground like parasites clinging to bone, adhering tightly to Orochimaru's legs.
"Boom!!!"
This was Hanzo's signature ninjutsu. It contained not only the power of Explosive Tags, but also a combined application of formations and Fire Release.
When Hanzo was nearly seventy, he had used this very move to blow off the legs of the adult Nagato.
Surging flames swallowed Orochimaru's figure. Hanzo raised a finger and said indifferently,
"I accidentally killed one, but don't worry. I'll capture you two alive."
"After all, Konoha may have won this war."
Before his words had even faded, Orochimaru's charred "corpse" made a strange sound and eerily rose to its feet.
Hanzo watched with great interest, his tone filled with the ease of someone who had everything under control.
"Oh? You're still alive?"
The next instant, Hanzo could no longer smile. A hair-raising sight appeared before him.
Using his remaining