Tsunade drew a long breath and made her decision. Her expression grew resolute.
She continued sending coded messages through Yusuke's hand: Let's meet up with the other four first.
Yusuke understood what she was thinking. He didn't argue further, only sighed and followed behind Tsunade.
After the two found the first tavern where they could rest, Tsunade hurried out to deliver the intelligence.
Yusuke ordered some snacks and ate as he considered what to do next.
"Tsunade's made up her mind to act. The worst-case scenario now is that Hanzo the Salamander hasn't left for the Land of Iron yet."
"Taking on this demigod clearly wouldn't be wise."
"Perhaps..."
He looked hesitant, struggling to make a decision.
Less than an hour later, Tsunade returned through the wind and rain. Looking tired, she sat down in front of Yusuke and picked up the teacup before her for a sip.
"It's cold out there, isn't it?"
Yusuke asked gently, reaching out to hold Tsunade's other, icy-cold hand.
To any onlooker, they looked like a loving couple.
Yusuke: How did it go?
Tsunade: I've passed along the intelligence. We've agreed to act at two tonight.
She took another sip of tea and gazed tenderly at the man before her.
Tsunade: I got some information from them. Hanzo the Salamander isn't in Amegakure, but they don't know where he went.
Hearing that, Yusuke finally let out the breath he'd been holding. The atmosphere around him seemed to grow much more relaxed.
Apart from Hanzo, Amegakure had no other ninja worth mentioning.
Since the future figure who would make his name through poison in the Ninja World—the Second Great Ninja War's boss who fought the Sannin and was defeated by them—wasn't there, this operation shouldn't be too difficult.
Time passed slowly, and soon it was time to act.
Six figures in hooded cloaks and masks darted swiftly between the buildings of Amegakure, closing in on a structure at the village's center.
The guards around the Amegakure Building were lax. It seemed that after Hanzo's departure, they had let their guard down too, chatting idly and yawning.
The six hid in the trees, carefully observing the patrols' routes.
Number Two urged them impatiently, "Captain, let's move."
He hadn't performed up to his usual standard during this operation. His contribution wouldn't amount to much by the time they returned to the village, so he was growing a little impatient.
Just as Tsunade was about to give the order, a voice interrupted them.
"Wait. Something still doesn't feel right."
Number Two was a sensory ninja too, and he had sensed long ago that Yusuke's strength was only that of a Chunin.
"Six, it's normal for a Chunin like you to be scared. You can't let your cowardice affect the whole operation."
Although Yusuke, or Six, was the captain's partner, Number Two couldn't help snapping at him.
Tsunade furrowed her brows and raised a hand to stop Number Two from saying more. Then she asked in a low voice, "What did you notice?"
Yusuke frowned. Using Sensory Ninjutsu, he had gotten a rough sense of the situation inside the Amegakure Building.
There were only two patrol teams, ten ninja in total. Everything seemed perfectly normal.
Yet a sense of danger lingered in his heart, impossible to shake.
Yusuke said helplessly, "I didn't notice anything in particular. It just feels wrong."
Number Two's mouth curled into a smirk, but he didn't start picking a fight with Yusuke like some brainless teammate in a novel.
In the dangerous setting of a mission, anyone who exposed themself was a fool.
"Captain, maybe Six has been too tense these past few days and his senses are playing tricks on him. This is a rare opportunity. Let's move."
Number Two urged them again.
Rumble, rumble. Thunder rolled across the sky, and the rain began to fall harder.
Tsunade drew a long breath and said, "Number Two and Five, take out the guards on the left. Three and Four, handle the guards on the right. Once the mission is complete, keep watch."
"Six and I will infiltrate the Amegakure Building. Move out."
The six figures vanished swiftly into the grass. Hidden by the sound of the rain, they soon reached their designated positions.
The other four were all Jonin, while the patrol ninja were Chunin at most. They had no trouble dealing with them, and it took only a few moves to knock them all out.
Tsunade and Yusuke then quickly entered the Amegakure Building.
The building's interior was dark, with no lights lit. It resembled a beast with its jaws wide open, waiting for prey to enter.
The two hurried through the first-floor lobby, their eyes quickly scanning the nameplates on the various rooms.
While Tsunade searched for the scroll room, Yusuke rapidly brushed his hands over the doors.
Tsunade noticed what he was doing. She saw the tags appearing one after another, but didn't stop him.
They finished searching the first floor and were about to head up to the second when Yusuke's quick reflexes—and a flash of lightning—helped him spot a white tag beneath the stairs. His alarm bells rang at once.
"Look out!" he shouted, throwing himself onto Tsunade.
A deafening boom rang out. The explosion blasted the stairs to pieces, scattering splinters everywhere.
If Yusuke hadn't reacted quickly, the two of them would have been blown to bits.
"Very impressive reflexes. But that's all you've got."
A deep voice sounded, muffled as if coming through a mask.
As he spoke, a surge of chakra burst from him and cracked the surrounding walls.
Tsunade and Yusuke immediately felt a tremendous pressure bearing down on them.
Rumble, rumble. Thunder crashed again, and the flash of lightning illuminated the figure leaping down from the second floor.
Yusuke and Tsunade quickly got to their feet and put some distance between themselves and their opponent.
"Hanzo the Salamander!"
Yusuke immediately called out his name.
"Interesting. But there's no point struggling. You're already surrounded."
"Cooperate, and I'll at least let you die quickly."
As soon as Hanzo finished speaking, a large number of ninja rushed out of the rooms on the first floor. The two of them were like dumplings surrounded by filling.
They stood back-to-back, watching for enemies on every side, while one hand behind their backs frantically sent coded signals.
"So they're Suppression Tags that conceal your chakra signatures? No wonder I didn't sense them."
Yusuke looked completely at ease.
"Stubborn fools!"
To an old-timer like Hanzo, this stalling tactic was childish. He had run out of patience.
But just as he was about to step forward and finish them off, Yusuke shouted, "Hah!"
The tags Yusuke had placed when they first entered burst into flames. In the corridor, one of the ninja sensed that something was wrong.
"Explosive Tags! Get out of the way!" he screamed.
Boom! Another explosion rang out.
This one was much louder than the last. After all, these Explosive Tags represented most of Yusuke's wealth.
"Go!"
Yusuke growled, and the two rushed toward the entrance through the aftermath of the blast.
Hanzo's eyes blazed with fury. He'd spent his whole life hunting eagles, only to let a sparrow peck him in the eye in his old age.
"Where do you think you're running?" he roared, using the Body Flicker Technique to chase after them.
Tsunade glanced behind her. Their pursuer was shockingly fast.
With a shout, she ripped the wooden door in front of her off its hinges and hurled it behind them with all her strength.
A clear blade rang out. Hanzo the Salamander held his sickle and sliced the oncoming door in two.
Then he swung the hammer on the other end straight toward Yusuke's back.
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