Hanzo of the Salamander had moved away from Uchiha Gen and reached Ibuse's tail. He stared at the sickle in his hand, his face dark. The weapon that had followed him through half a lifetime of battles was now riddled with notches. There was even a conspicuous crack running along the blade.
That crack was the source of the crisp sound from moments ago.
He had been utterly outmatched when it came to weapons.
"Is your weapon some kind of divine artifact?"
Lowering his sickle, Hanzo of the Salamander looked at Uchiha Gen with a grim expression.
His sickle wasn't particularly famous, but given the materials it had been made from, it should have been able to hold its own against a blade on the level of the Kusanagi Sword.
And yet it had been completely unable to withstand the ornate blade in Uchiha Gen's hand, which looked like the Sword of Sacrificial Ritual.
The thought left Hanzo of the Salamander unable to help suspecting that Uchiha Gen's weapon might be a legendary divine artifact.
"Ninja Art: Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"
Before Uchiha Gen could answer, two angry shouts rang out at once.
It was Orochimaru and Jiraiya, whom Tsunade had successfully cured of the poison. They had watched the entire fight between Uchiha Gen and Hanzo of the Salamander. The moment they saw Uchiha Gen destroy Hanzo's weapon, they immediately used their techniques to distract him and create an opening for Uchiha Gen to attack.
"Hmph."
A surge of water enveloped Hanzo of the Salamander, and he vanished once more.
When he reappeared, he was on the ground beside Ibuse, while Orochimaru and Jiraiya's attacks had both missed.
Hanzo of the Salamander had dodged with a Body Flicker. His icy gaze settled on