Hanzo Enters the Fray

An hour earlier.

Inside Amegakure.

As the leader who had built Amegakure from the ground up, Hanzo of the Salamander had to deal with a great many affairs every day.

While he was busy with work, one of his subordinates suddenly reported that Jiraiya had killed Aonosuke.

Hanzo of the Salamander's first reaction was disbelief.

As a former opponent, he had some understanding of Jiraiya's character.

In his view, Jiraiya wasn't the sort of person who would kill one of his subordinates for no reason.

Especially not someone like Aonosuke, who held a high position in Amegakure.

That would undoubtedly be a provocation against Amegakure, and could easily spark a war.

However, when he saw Aonosuke's body with his own eyes, he began to doubt his initial judgment.

Although the corpse was in a terrible state, with even the head destroyed,

the mighty "Demigod" could still recognize one of his own subordinates.

Since Aonosuke really was dead, then in the Land of Rain, only Jiraiya and Uchiha Mikoto were capable of killing him.

After all, Aonosuke was a Jonin of Amegakure. As the spokesman for the Radical Faction, he naturally had considerable strength.

"Lord Hanzo, you have to deliver justice for Lord Aonosuke—and for all of us."

The other Rain Ninja of the Radical Faction hurriedly pleaded with him.

"We were only following your orders to keep an eye on Jiraiya and the others. We never expected Jiraiya to suddenly kill Lord Aonosuke. This is a provocation against you, Lord Hanzo!"

"That's right, Lord Hanzo. Jiraiya's actions are a provocation against you, and against all of Amegakure!"

"If we let this go, we won't just break everyone's spirits. The entire Ninja World will look down on Amegakure!"

Hanzo of the Salamander knew the Radical Faction was trying to goad him, but what they said did make sense.

For his own reputation and Amegakure's, he had to step in personally.

So, no matter how much the Moderate Faction tried to dissuade him, he paid them no heed and led his men out of Amegakure.

And that brought us to the present.

When Hanzo of the Salamander arrived with his men, he saw Qingshui and the others preparing to flee, while the ground was strewn with dead Rain Ninja.

Before he could even speak, they were the ones who questioned him first.

Hanzo of the Salamander was so furious that he actually laughed.

"You Konoha Ninja killed my subordinates, and you still dare ask if I'm trying to start a war with Konoha?"

At his words, Mikoto's expression darkened.

It was true that these Rain Ninja had died at their hands, but Amegakure had clearly attacked first.

Hanzo of the Salamander was refusing to admit it and trying to shift the blame.

After all, these Rain Ninja had acted on Aonosuke's orders, and Aonosuke was Hanzo of the Salamander's subordinate. He must have been acting on Hanzo's instructions.

Otherwise, how would Aonosuke have dared to provoke Konoha?

But before Mikoto could say anything, the furious Hanzo of the Salamander had already given the order to attack.

In an instant, the Rain Ninja, who had the advantage of the terrain, hurled a huge number of Shuriken and Kunai, some of them fitted with Explosive Tags.

Faced with an attack as dense as a torrential rain, Mikoto's expression changed dramatically.

There was nowhere to escape from an assault like this. She could only protect herself, not the others.

Of course, Qingshui was strong enough not to need her protection, and Minato should be able to protect himself too.

But Sasaki Ayami and Mukai Yuki were in danger.

The problem was that her specialties—Genjutsu and Fire Release Ninjutsu—couldn't counter an attack like this.

Just as Mikoto was at a loss for what to do, Qingshui stepped forward.

He formed the Hand Seals at incredible speed, and the rainwater immediately gathered into a circular wall of water, protecting everyone inside.

Water Release: Water Wall!

This was a defensive Water Release Ninjutsu that Qingshui had learned from Kosuke back in Konoha.

"Nice work!"

Seeing this, Mikoto couldn't help praising him.

At the same time, she leapt into the air to guard the only opening above the Water Wall. She threw more than ten Shuriken with both hands, knocking down all the remaining projectiles.

"I almost died! Good thing Teacher Mikoto and Big Brother Qingshui are here,"

Mukai Yuki said, patting his chest in lingering fear. Sasaki Ayami nodded repeatedly beside him.

Minato, however, didn't relax.

They had only blocked the Rain Ninja's first wave of attacks. This was far from over.

Qingshui and Mikoto were just as alert.

"Hmph. You do have some skill."

Hanzo of the Salamander had witnessed everything and gave a cold snort. Then he waved a hand, sending dozens of his subordinates rushing forward.

Given his status, he had no need to personally deal with a bunch of unknown young Konoha Ninja.

This wasn't arrogance on Hanzo of the Salamander's part. It was simply the truth.

After all, of the five, only Mikoto, who had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, was even slightly famous in the Ninja World.

In his view, the dozens of subordinates he had brought were more than enough to deal with the five of them.

He would only need to act personally once he saw Jiraiya.

Though Jiraiya had once been his defeated opponent, Hanzo of the Salamander acknowledged his strength.

"Mikoto, use your Fire Release technique with the widest range. I'll support you with Wind Release."

Seeing the dozens of Rain Ninja charging at them, Mikoto had no time to think. She immediately did as Qingshui said.

Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!

Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!

With Qingshui's Wind Release supporting her, the sea of flames Mikoto exhaled grew even more terrifying, and its heat instantly evaporated the rain.

Under Mikoto's control, the Great Fire Annihilation, amplified by Wind Release, spread over a wider area and split apart to engulf every Rain Ninja.

"What terrifying Fire Release! Everyone, use Water Release together to defend!"

Even though the Rain Ninja joined forces to defend in time, nearly half of them were still caught in the attack.

After being swallowed by the terrifying sea of fire, they were either dead or maimed.

Fire Release could absolutely kill people!

Watching from higher ground, Hanzo of the Salamander's expression darkened.

He hadn't expected just two people to work together and unleash such a terrifying technique.

Only he, using Water Release, could withstand Fire Release of that power.

And unlike Konoha, Amegakure simply didn't have many Ninja.

He couldn't just stand by and watch his subordinates go to their deaths.

"Everyone, fall back!"

Hanzo of the Salamander ordered in a low voice. The surviving Rain Ninja hurriedly retreated behind him, in a sorry state.

The arrogance on their faces had vanished, replaced by fear and lingering dread.

But when they saw that Hanzo of the Salamander was preparing to take the field himself, they calmed down again, reverence appearing on their faces.

Lord Hanzo was the "Demigod." These Konoha Ninja had no chance of surviving.

Seeing this, Mikoto's expression also turned grim.

As a Uchiha Jonin who had awakened the Three Tomoe, she naturally had her own pride.

But that pride didn't make her blindly overconfident.

Facing the "Demigod," famous throughout the Ninja World, Mikoto knew she was no match for him.

"I'll hold Hanzo off. Qingshui, get them out of here!"