"Demigod" Approaches

Noticing the strange look on Kagura's face, she also saw the blurry figure in the distance.

Before Kagura could say more, Tsunade had already rushed back into the cave to wake Orochimaru and Jiraiya.

The cave, flickering with firelight, had undoubtedly become a beacon on this rain-soaked plain.

That person in the distance had clearly noticed them and was walking toward them at an unhurried pace.

Kagura and the others had long since prepared themselves, standing guard at the cave entrance.

It was not that Kagura did not want to flee. The surrounding terrain was simply too open; running would only make them conspicuous targets.

It was still difficult to tell whether the approaching person was friend or foe. If he truly was an enemy, fighting inside the cave was better than fighting outside in the rain.

Under their uneasy vigilance, the figure gradually became clearer.

He wore a black bodysuit and had a large breathing filter over his mouth.

Beneath his disheveled hair were eyes colder than ice. The forehead protector on his head bore the symbol of Amegakure.

If those features were not enough to reveal his identity, then the person following at his side as he drew nearer was enough to explain everything.

That person had short black hair and an utterly ordinary face with no distinguishing features. The only memorable thing about him was his pair of narrow, gloomy eyes, like those of a venomous snake.

Kagura and the others had seen this man's appearance before, because he was the target of their mission—Shota Futa.

At that moment, the two men had arrived outside the cave.

When he saw Kagura and the Konoha symbol on his forehead, Shota Futa's eyes erupted with undisguised hatred.

With a helpless sigh, Kagura spoke to the three behind him in a voice too faint to hear clearly:

"Once I rush out, take the chance and run!"

After saying that, he did not wait for any response. His left hand gripped his right wrist as he lowered his body and stared fixedly at the Amegakure Ninja before him.

"Crackle... chirp!"

As a shrill bird cry rang out, powerful blue currents flared in Kagura's right hand.

Facing this unknown powerhouse, Kagura opened with his strongest ninjutsu.

He looked up at the man ahead. His eyes had transformed into the Sharingan, the Double-Tomoe within them spinning continuously. He had clearly activated Kotoamatsukami as well.

Yet the Amegakure Ninja remained unmoved by Kagura's attacking stance, still standing with his arms folded and watching everything coldly.

After a brief silence, the man spoke in a hoarse voice:

"Those eyes... the Uchiha Clan of Konoha...

Give up. Your genjutsu is useless against me, though the Lightning Style in your hand is somewhat interesting.

Attack if you dare. You know you only have one chance."

This was no empty threat. Kagura had just used Kotoamatsukami on the man before him.

But unlike Kinkaku back then, his genjutsu had absolutely no effect on this person.

Gritting his teeth, the spinning Sharingan slowly came to a stop as he ceased activating Kotoamatsukami.

With a low shout, the Chidori in his hand blazed brilliantly. His body skimmed close to the ground as he shot forward like a diving hawk.

The leaking energy from his right hand carved a straight trench along his path. Just as he was about to reach the man, Kagura leaped high into the air.

The Chidori in his hand had condensed to the size of an apple. Its shrill cry had vanished, a clear sign that its energy had been concentrated to the extreme.

Just as that lightning-fast strike was about to pierce the man's chest, he seemingly slowly extended his right hand.

To Kagura's disbelief, that hand seemed to lift only slightly before accurately gripping the wrist of his attacking right hand.

Kagura only felt as though his right hand had been restrained by an iron hand forged from refined steel. No matter how hard he struggled, he could not advance even half an inch.

Before Kagura could make another move, the man's lips curved slightly as he raised a leg and kicked forward.

Kagura's body instantly flew backward like a cannonball, smashing into the rock wall beside the cave and blasting out a Big Hole.

Without the slightest hesitation, the instant Kagura was sent flying, The Other Three did not follow Kagura's instructions and flee.

Instead, they charged at the man just as Kagura had.

In only an instant, the three were sent flying back at even greater speed, leaving three more large craters in the rock wall.

Falling from the rock wall, Kagura dropped to one knee and coughed up blood. He stared at the enemy ahead with utter shock.

Kinkaku had been severely weakened when they fought, but Kagura had never imagined that a random person he encountered in the wilderness would possess strength beyond even Kinkaku's!

Watching the four Konoha brats before him get beaten down, Shota Futa revealed an excited grin.

With a crazed expression, he said to the man in front of him:

"Hanzo, kill them!

When we return, I can have the higher-ups offer you a larger reward!"

The instant Kagura heard the name Hanzo, his heart lurched. He immediately realized that the person before him was the legendary "Demigod"!

Hanzo of the Salamander, Amegakure's future Leader. At his peak, Ninja regarded him as the pinnacle of the Shinobi World, granting him the title of "Demigod."

In the future Second Great Ninja War, he would lead the power of one nation against the Three Great Nations, including Konoha.

Although Konoha won that battle and defeated Amegakure, it still could not defeat Hanzo of the Salamander.

Of course, he was only in his Youthful period now and had yet to reach the "Demigod" strength people would praise in the story.

But no Ninja ever granted the word "god" in his title could be an ordinary person. No wonder Kagura had seemed like a newborn infant before him.

Upon hearing Shota Futa's command, Hanzo looked toward him with those cold eyes.

This time, a hint of chill seeped into his hoarse voice:

"I said, have you still not recognized your current situation?

If the village's Leader had not ordered me to keep you alive at the very least, do you think you could have escaped the search of those Konoha Anbu?"

After saying that, he paid no attention to Shota Futa's furious expression and casually walked into the cave.

Before entering, however, he paused slightly and spoke:

"You four, if you are not dead, come in yourselves.

If you try to run, I will kill you."

After saying that, he ignored Kagura and the others and walked straight into the cave.

Shota Futa swept his vicious gaze over Kagura and the others, but when he considered the consequences of offending Hanzo by making a move here,

he unwillingly withdrew his gaze and followed Hanzo into the cave.

Kagura, who had barely managed to stand, looked toward the other three with concern.

Fortunately, Hanzo seemed to have held back against them. The three also gradually managed to stand.

Seeing the questioning looks his companions cast at him, Kagura said nothing. He merely shook his head slowly and entered the cave as well.

The three frowned, but in the end, they could only grit their teeth and follow him inside.

Kagura casually found a place in the cave to sit, then closed his eyes wearily.

Besides taking the opportunity to rest, he began considering their current situation.

From the situation at hand, he could at least confirm that Konoha's search operation ahead had definitely failed. After all, the target had already appeared before them.

And the reason for all this was likely that Hanzo had made a move.

Hmm, that made sense.

For a future "Demigod" to personally act and pull someone out from under the noses of those Anbu was not difficult.

But the question was, why had he not killed their group?

From their brief fight just now, it was clear that killing them would not have required much effort from him at all.

Thinking back on Hanzo's personality, he truly had been a very contradictory person in the original story.

Both mercy and cruelty had appeared in him to varying degrees.

Hanzo cherished talented young Ninja with great strength.

For example, during the Second Ninja World War, when facing the youthful Sannin who had been defeated by him.

Hanzo greatly admired them, so he bestowed the title "Konoha Sannin" upon Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade, then let them leave.

Yet in his later years, because Yahiko and Nagato threatened his position, he chose to join forces with Danzo and wipe them out.

Both contradictory sides of his nature were reflected in him.

But judging from their performance just now, Kagura did not think they were worth Hanzo sparing.

So what would become of their group afterward?