Return Trip and Analysis

"So that's how it is! Once I return to the village, I'll pass it on to my big brother!" Fusheng Yi accepted the scroll without inspecting or even opening it. He made no attempt to test him and showed no doubt whatsoever about Seiji's identity. He simply stored the scroll in his Ninja Tool Pouch, displaying his confidence in his side's formidable lineup and strength.

"In that case, I'll take my leave!" Seiji did not mind. Since he had completed the mission smoothly, he naturally had no further thoughts on the matter. He bid the Kumogakure group farewell.

Having completed the uneventful secret mission, Seiji, eager to return home, swiftly chased after the direction his subordinates had gone. Before long, he caught up with Chino, Yagura, and the others. Completely unaware that Seiji had already returned after completing his mission, they were still talking big.

Seiji silently caught up to the group and was just about to reveal himself when he heard Munashi Jinpachi curiously ask Yagura, "Captain Mirror, have you sparred with the division captain before? How strong is he?" Seiji immediately gave up on showing himself and decided to hear what Yagura had to say.

"Heh, don't let the fact that Bone used to be the captain of our Sixth Squad fool you. I'm no weaker than him at all! The few times we fought, every match ended in a draw!" Yagura boasted shamelessly.

"Then why was Bone the original captain of the Sixth Squad? And why did he later become the captain of the First Division?" Ao calmly exposed him. As an elite ninja personally recruited by Seiji, he knew Bone—or rather, Seiji's—true identity and approximate strength very well.

"Yes, they were all draws, but it was two against one. And who knows whether the captain was holding back? There were several times when he didn't even use Shikotsumyaku!" Chino also launched a venomous attack on Yagura.

"An Anbu division captain is at least an Elite Jonin. He definitely wasn't holding back—if anything, he probably went easy on you by a mile!" Juzo Biwa and Kushimaru Kuriarare chimed in with teasing remarks.

"Hua! How can you slander me out of thin air?" Yagura's face flushed red. Then he added, "A draw in a two-on-one is still a draw! Can sparring between teammates even count as going easy?"

What followed was a string of obscure, incomprehensible words, and for a time, the air around them was filled with merriment.

Over the nearly month-long mission, the group had truly become familiar with one another. Although the distinction in rank between superiors and subordinates remained obvious within the Anbu, Yagura still had the temperament of a young boy. Moreover, Kushimaru Kuriarare, Munashi Jinpachi, Juzo Biwa, and Ao were all exceptionally gifted, so Yagura did not take their teasing to heart.

Seiji, who had been eavesdropping nearby, could not help but laugh. He then quietly appeared at the back of the group and said ominously to Yagura, "Mirror, I'll fulfill your request. Once we're back in the village, I'll have a proper spar with you again!"

Hearing Seiji suddenly speak, Yagura jumped in fright and stumbled. This was bad. He had bragged too hard—and been caught red-handed by the very person involved.

"Sir! You're back!" the others said respectfully upon hearing Seiji's voice.

Seiji nodded to them, then asked Ao and the other three, "You all watched the battle from the sidelines from beginning to end. Tell me what you think."

"The title of demigod suits Hanzō of the Salamander well. Although the final result was a draw between Hanzō and the Hokage, I think Hanzō actually won. He was simply afraid that after defeating the Hokage, the enraged Konoha Ninja would forcibly keep him there," Juzo Biwa spoke first, offering his speculation and opinion.

"Agreed!" Kushimaru Kuriarare said succinctly.

"Same here!" Munashi Jinpachi followed.

"That's right, Hanzō did win. I could clearly sense that Hanzō's aura had not declined as drastically as the Hokage's after the battle. And he came out completely unscathed despite such terrifying ninjutsu!" Ao, the only one among them with sensory abilities, added.

"Hanzō did win, but he wasn't uninjured." Seiji corrected Ao. "Ao, your sensory ability has great potential for development, but you still need to improve it further. Hanzō was indeed injured, and his injuries were not light."

"Though there was nothing visible on the surface, and Hanzō's Chakra signature had not noticeably weakened, I could sense fluctuations in his life force. Hanzō was forcibly using his immense Chakra to suppress his injuries, deceiving every ninja present who possessed sensory abilities," Seiji continued to explain.

Seiji had not noticed it at first, either. But after the battle ended, Hanzō's remarks, which were clearly out of character for him, aroused Seiji's suspicions.

So Seiji carefully sensed Hanzō's condition again, and only then did he discover the signs.

"Hanzō is indeed very strong, already close to the limit of Kage-level. But calling him the strongest in the shinobi world would not be entirely accurate. Setting others aside, at the very least, our Mizukage is not much inferior to Hanzō." Though there was a hint of embellishing his own Kage, and though his own Kage was not as strong as Hanzō in pure combat strength, Seiji had seen the Third Mizukage fight during the First Great Shinobi War in his memories and truly believed he could contend with the current Hanzō.

Hanzō was a Kage-level powerhouse proficient in Water Release, Fire Release, and swordsmanship, but the Third Mizukage's Hyoton, developed to its utmost limit, happened to counter most of Hanzō's abilities.

Thus, although Seiji believed his own Mizukage's strength was not far from that of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, elemental restraint meant that he absolutely possessed the power to contend with Hanzō.