"Hanzo... I'd heard he was formidable, but I never expected him to be this strong."
"Danzo isn't here. I've already sent word to the village and just received a reply..."
Strictly speaking, Shimura Danzō was the overall commander of the Land of Rain front. However, Kumogakure had stirred recently, forcing Danzo to support the eastern battlefield.
Seated at the head of the table, Torifu Akimichi did his best to make his baby face look serious.
"The Third, Lord Sarutobi Hiruzen, will personally come to the battlefield!"
Upon hearing this, the gloom among Konoha's people was instantly swept away.
The Hokage was not merely the title of the strongest in a village, but someone acknowledged by everyone.
Sarutobi Hiruzen...
Kamizuki recalled how excited the man had been when rushing to the battlefield during the Fourth Shinobi World War and could not help but smile.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was probably the only Hokage who had attended all four Shinobi World Wars.
Everyone had flaws: his soft heart toward his disciples in old age, his indecision in village matters...
But claiming that he feared battle and only dared manipulate things from behind the scenes in Konoha was utter nonsense.
"Hmph! He only relies on poison. Give me time, and I'll soon formulate an antidote."
Tsunade was not entirely boasting.
Even Sakura Haruno, her disciple, had quickly formulated an antidote to Sasori's poison during her battle with Sasori of the Red Sands, a poison more complex than Ibuse's toxins.
With Tsunade's abilities, as long as she had enough samples, cracking it was only a matter of time.
Kamizuki turned to look at her and let out a faint puff through his nostrils.
He did not say a word, but that expression alone made Tsunade flare up.
"What do you mean by that, brat?! Are you questioning me?!"
Orochimaru deliberately sat beside Kamizuki, ready to stop any conflict between the Senju and Uchiha at any moment. "Kamizuki, Tsunade has that ability."
"I never said she couldn't do it."
Kamizuki stopped deliberately provoking Tsunade and said slowly, "If Hanzo were merely a ninja who relied on poison, do you think the Hokage would need to come personally?"
Tsunade turned her head and huffed. "Who knows? Maybe the old man just wants to show off!"
"No."
It was Orochimaru who refuted her again.
"Ibuse's toxins are only one part of Hanzo's strength. More importantly, there is his mastery of Water Release and taijutsu powerful enough to defeat the Land of Iron's general."
"Water Release, Fire Style, taijutsu, poison..."
"He is an extremely well-rounded battlefield ninja. His strength far surpasses the leaders of minor ninja villages. Perhaps he can rival the Kage of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, and his lethality against ordinary ninja may be even greater."
Orochimaru analyzed calmly as everyone's eyes focused on him.
"And Lord Hokage..."
"He has mastered Chakra of all five natures and over a thousand ninjutsu. Wind Release can disperse poisonous mist, Earth Release can defend against the Explosive Flame Formation, Lightning Release can enhance speed..."
The corners of Orochimaru's lips lifted slightly, his confidence in his teacher absolute. "Lord Hokage is also among the Shinobi World's very best in taijutsu, not to mention Enma, the strongest Summoning Beast, whose offense and defense are one."
"Teacher... will definitely win!"
"Enma..."
Jiraiya propped up his head, recalling the time Sarutobi Hiruzen had taught him the Summoning Technique in his youth.
Come to think of it, the old man seemed to want me to contract with the monkey clan?
Unfortunately, he had used the Summoning Technique before forming a contract and had been transported to Mount Myoboku...
It wasn't bad. Aside from eating bugs being a little disgusting, Mount Myoboku was pretty great too.
Kamizuki agreed with Orochimaru's assessment.
Although Hanzo had been called the pinnacle of ninja because of his performance in the Second Shinobi World War, the gap between him and Sarutobi Hiruzen in his prime was still obvious.
The Adamantine Staff Enma transformed into could even knock the Nine-Tails out of Konoha. Sarutobi Hiruzen did not lack methods for dealing with large Summoning Beasts.
Among all the Hokage... Sarutobi Hiruzen was like an apple among fruits. There was nothing especially memorable about his strength, but he was exceptionally well-rounded.
Excluding Kekkei Genkai ninja, he was the man who had truly reached the pinnacle of ninja.
Oh, and excluding freaks like Might Guy who traded their lives for power.
Kamizuki only knew the general circumstances of the Second Shinobi World War, but the plot where the Sannin fought Hanzo had not happened yet. Sarutobi Hiruzen should not have had any role in it...
Then... who stopped Sarutobi Hiruzen?
And Danzo...
As far as Kamizuki knew, the Second Shinobi World War was what left Danzo seriously wounded several times, causing him to gradually retreat behind the scenes during the Third Shinobi World War.
Judging by the current developments...
Could the Third Raikage have done it?
To survive that brute's hands, Danzo really did have some skill...
One reason Kamizuki had remained in the Land of Rain was to see whether he might get a chance to secretly eliminate Danzo.
He had said it long ago: he would not wait for an enemy to make a move against him before passively striking back.
Things had not reached that point yet. Could he try changing Danzo's view of the Uchiha?
What a joke. With that much effort, I could kill him ten times over!
The meeting ended amid cheerful discussion over how long it would take Lord Hokage to defeat Hanzo. As Orochimaru had said, no matter how one looked at it, Hanzo could not possibly be the Hokage's opponent.
Orochimaru walked out alongside Kamizuki and asked in a low voice,
"You don't think Teacher Hiruzen will win?"
He understood his disciple too well; he could roughly tell what Kamizuki was thinking just from his expression.
Kamizuki shook his head. "I just don't think he'll be able to come to the Land of Rain."
Orochimaru's expression shifted slightly.
Kamizuki often claimed he could foresee the future, but Orochimaru had never taken it seriously. The few accurate predictions he had made were all attributed to his ability to analyze situations like Shikaku.
"You mean someone will stop Teacher Hiruzen? Who could possibly stop him?!"
Whether now or in the future, Orochimaru was Sarutobi Hiruzen's greatest admirer when it came to the man's strength.
Even his dream of learning every technique had been inspired by that man.
Likewise, until Sarutobi Hiruzen's death, he still saw Orochimaru as the boy he had once been.
"I don't know. The future I foresee isn't that precise."
They walked quickly as Nawaki waved behind them and shouted, "Kamizuki! Teacher Orochimaru! Wait for me!"
"Why did you bring that idiot along?"
Kamizuki glanced back at him, making no effort to hide his disdain.
Orochimaru smiled gently. "Nawaki may not have your talent, but he will become an outstanding ninja."
"No one can keep walking alone. Form some bonds with your companions when appropriate. Besides, Nawaki is your junior disciple."
Kamizuki did not reject useful tools, like Shikaku, but someone like Nawaki...
Without protagonist luck, someone with that personality was simply courting death on the battlefield.
Even with Kamizuki's warning, Orochimaru might save him once, but another deadly situation would be waiting for him.
"Perhaps the Uchiha and Senju can truly, in your generation..."
While speaking, Kamizuki sensed something and looked toward a certain spot.
A familiar figure entered his sight, and his expression changed.
Whoosh—
With a shriek as his body tore through the air, Kamizuki vanished in an instant.
So fast!
Orochimaru's pupils contracted slightly. After half a year apart, Kamizuki had become even faster!
"Who let you come here?"
A cold voice rang out, and several young ninja sitting in a circle looked up.
Kamizuki's face was icy as he stared fixedly at a face somewhat similar to his own, yet more delicate and feminine.
Uchiha Mikoto.
Before you continue