Hanzo rubbed his brow as his right eyelid twitched.
For some reason, ever since he had agreed to cooperate with Danzo that day, he had always felt uneasy.
Just like an invisible net had quietly closed around him, while he struggled helplessly like an insect caught within it.
"Phew... It seems that once people get older, they start worrying more and more."
Hanzo pinched at his twitching brow and sighed again. If he had been ten years younger, would he have had this mindset?
"Lord Hanzo, it is time to depart."
Outside the door, the elite jonin he trusted most waited for his orders.
Today was the agreed-upon date.
"Let's go."
Hanzo slowly rose to his feet, his gaze gradually hardening.
He was still the leader of Amegakure, the legendary Hanzo of the Salamander who had crushed Konoha's Legendary Sannin!
This was merely a simple mission. In his long ninja career, it did not even rank among the difficult ones. Tsunade was the only troublesome factor.
Very soon, Amegakure would welcome the light.
Looking at the overcast sky, Hanzo thought this to himself as he stepped out from underground for the first time in months.
In the wilderness not far from Amegakure, Hanzo led more than a dozen elite jonin to the meeting point.
Tsunade, Little Hikari, and Uchiha Sōgetsu had already been waiting there.
Fully armed, Hanzo showed none of the air of old age. An imposing aura radiated from him, as though this was his original self.
Is that the brat?
Hanzo was extremely cautious. He gave the Anbu following behind Tsunade a very subtle glance.
To avoid being noticed by the perceptive Sharingan, he quickly withdrew his gaze and acted as though nothing had happened. He said to Tsunade, "To prevent any accidents, I brought Amegakure's elites. We have gone to such lengths, so I hope Konoha can give us some compensation afterward. What do you think?"
"I will report it truthfully to the old man."
Tsunade replied blandly.
"Good."
Hanzo narrowed his eyes in apparent satisfaction. Then he said nothing more and did not look at the mission target again.
All he had to do next was wait for the right opportunity. Once Tsunade was lured away by Root, he had to kill the target as quickly as possible. Only then could he find an excuse to clear himself afterward.
As Hanzo calculated the next stages of his plan, he failed to notice that someone was watching him.
"Hanzo just looked at me as though by accident."
Hanzo, who believed he had concealed it perfectly, could not hide it from Uchiha Sōgetsu's eyes.
Out of caution, Uchiha Sōgetsu often used Spiritual Vision, silently observing everyone's spiritual bodies, body movements, and facial expressions from a third-person perspective.
And at the instant they met just now, he had noticed something unusual about Hanzo.
Though Hanzo was trying desperately to disguise it, his minute movements and microexpressions undoubtedly revealed that he was attempting to hide his intentions.
It was hostility!
Even someone skilled at disguising themselves could not conceal their emotions in front of a spectator.
Judging by the color emanating from around Hanzo's Ether Body, there was no doubt murderous hostility filling it. He intended to make a move against them!
No, Hanzo's target could not be Tsunade.
Uchiha Sōgetsu immediately dismissed that possibility.
With Hanzo's character, he would never risk public condemnation to harm the last bloodline of the Senju Clan. That would be no different from slapping the Third Hokage in the face.
Behind his mask, Uchiha Sōgetsu revealed an amused smile.
Since Tsunade had been ruled out, that meant Hanzo's target was him!
That was rather strange.
He had never met Hanzo before. When they had met two days ago, Hanzo had not displayed any hostility.
Why, after just two short days, did Hanzo now reveal such killing intent toward him when they met again?
Unless... Uchiha Sōgetsu sneered inwardly. "Heh, Danzo's handiwork again?"
Thinking it over carefully, aside from that bastard Danzo, practically no one else had any reason.
First of all, Black Zetsu was impossible. That dutiful son had more important matters to attend to. Hanzo and Uchiha Sōgetsu were not worth Black Zetsu wasting time over.
"Should I call it a coincidence?"
The corner of the lips of Uchiha Sōgetsu curled upward as he looked meaningfully at Hanzo. "Even fate is on my side. I was just worrying about not having an excuse."
Hanzo wanted to kill him, but had he not also wanted to kill Hanzo?
Now, the chess piece had been placed.
The outcome of this game would depend on who was more skilled.
Though all this seemed to have taken a long time, only a few seconds had actually passed.
Having sorted out the entire situation, Uchiha Sōgetsu said nothing more and quietly waited for Hanzo's "performance."
Since he had already guessed the other side's intentions, he was now rather curious how Hanzo planned to lure Tsunade away from his side later.
Each harboring their own schemes, the group traveled silently through the canyon.
Before long, they arrived at the sealing site.
"It's here."
Uchiha Sōgetsu confirmed the seal's location according to the Scroll.
However, the area near the seal had been severely damaged. It was obvious that someone had taken something from inside.
"Tch." Tsunade frowned tightly. This meant she had to work overtime again.
"Someone destroyed the seal, and it happened not long ago." Hanzo asked, "It seems your whereabouts were leaked."
"This is troublesome..." Tsunade rubbed her forehead with a headache. "The mission has changed. Continue tracking them."
Since little time had passed, that person had not erased their tracks.
Following the trail, they soon discovered two identical sets of tracks before the two paths at the end of the canyon.
"Looks like we have to split up," Hanzo said blandly.
"The enemy is clever." Tsunade did not object. Splitting into two groups was currently the best choice. "In that case, we'll take one group, and you take the other."
"Fine."
Hanzo led his subordinates along the tracks on the left.
Meanwhile, Tsunade led Little Hikari and Uchiha Sōgetsu along the tracks on the right.
The scenery on both sides flashed past at high speed.
"I see them!" Tsunade's gaze sharpened. "They're on our side!"
A figure appeared not far ahead, clutching something wrapped in black cloth. Seeing pursuers behind them, the figure immediately accelerated.
"Trying to run?!" Tsunade snorted coldly and stomped her foot.
Boom!
The ground instantly shattered.
Using the powerful impact, Tsunade shot forward like a cannonball.
"Stop right there!"
Tsunade raised her right leg high and brought it down from the air like a battle axe.
Rumble!!!
The ground across dozens of meters instantly collapsed, while the resulting shockwave shot into the sky.
The terrifying destructive force pulverized the hard rock and smashed a massive crater into the ground like a falling meteor.
The ninja ahead was sent flying by the shockwave, coughing up blood with his chest caved in. He clearly would not survive.
"Who sent you?" Tsunade stood with her hands on her hips as she walked before him and demanded from above.
"Hehehe..."
Unexpectedly, rather than being afraid, the man revealed a strange smile.
Tsunade felt vaguely uneasy. Before she could speak, she caught sight of the rocks near Little Hikari writhing from the corner of her eye.
"Not good!"
Tsunade spun around and charged toward Little Hikari. "Get away from there!"
Just now, eager to pursue the target, she had left Little Hikari behind, while Uchiha Sōgetsu had also been pulled some distance away.
The next moment, the writhing rocks were thrown aside, and several black figures sprang out.
"Ah!"
Little Hikari did not even have time to cry out before those black figures seized her and raced toward the forest.
"Damn it!"
Tsunade's eyes widened in fury. She shattered the ground with an enraged stomp, her figure leaving behind streaking afterimages.
Gazing at the abducted Little Hikari, Uchiha Sōgetsu muttered to himself, "The method may be old, but I have to admit, it is indeed effective."
He walked over to the dying ninja and looked down at him.
"Uchiha Sōgetsu..."
The ninja showed a cruel smile. "Lord Danzo... sends his regards..."
"Oh."
Uchiha Sōgetsu replied calmly and stepped on his neck.
Crack!
A crisp sound of breaking bone rang out.
The ninja stared wide-eyed, a trace of the desire to live remained in his pupils. Bloody bubbles spilled from his mouth as he slowly breathed his last.
He did not have the habit of confiding in a dead man.
Uchiha Sōgetsu removed his mask and tossed it aside, then put his black-rimmed glasses back on and gently adjusted them. "When you see Danzo, remember to send him my regards as well."
Ah... It's the first round of recommendations. I'm so nervous, ORZ.
Before you continue