The immense energy fluctuations from the battle between Obito and Danzo naturally couldn't escape the notice of Amegakure's ninja.
News of the powerful enemy's arrival quickly reached Hanzo. At the time, Hanzo was enjoying himself with a pair of songstresses. The two attractive women nestled against him, one on each side, and passed him fine wine from their lips. Hanzo's hands were busy too, fondling the songstress in his arms.
Hanzo of the Salamander was a genius without a protagonist's luck. His childhood experiences were comparable to Naruto's. But he hadn't given up on himself or grown to hate the people of his village. Once he grew powerful, he resolved to lead Amegakure to prosperity and break the great nations' monopoly on resources and their oppression of smaller nations!
And he had done it. It had to be said that he had done a fine job. A small nation had attacked the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, yet he had still been able to enjoy a peaceful retirement. That showed just how powerful he was. The title of Demigod of the Ninja World was the finest recognition of his accomplishments.
But now, Hanzo's ambition had been exhausted by wine and women. He was lost in the haze of alcohol and the embrace of women.
Hanzo pushed away the fair, delicate body draped over him, picked up a garment, and threw it over his shoulders. His once-powerful frame had grown somewhat gaunt...
Hanzo took the report from the loyal warrior and read it. The incident had taken place at Root's headquarters. Clearly, Danzo's presence in Amegakure had become known to Konoha. Hanzo had worried about this possibility too, but he hadn't expected it to be exposed so soon.
Every nation hunted its own rogue ninja. They knew the traps and barrier formations of their home villages, and the higher their rank, the greater the threat they posed to their village!
That powerful Fire Release... Was it the white-haired young ninja named Jiraiya? Hanzo pictured him in his mind.
He put down the report and urgently gathered the village's ninja forces to surround the site. At the same time, he dispatched a large number of loyal warriors to escort him.
Hanzo of the Salamander, known as the Demigod of the Ninja World, wore an iron breathing mask and stood atop a gigantic summoned beast.
His eyes fixed on the man walking out of the battlefield! It wasn't Jiraiya, as he had guessed.
Danzo could run away without regard for anything else, but Hanzo couldn't! In that respect, Hanzo had far more integrity than Danzo.
"Are you a ninja from Konoha? Do you think you can attack Amegakure without cause and not spark a war between our nations?" Danzo demanded.
"Are you the Salamander Hanzo, the man they call a demigod?" Obito walked forward unhurriedly. His powerful presence drove the Amegakure ninja in front of him back!
The face beneath Hanzo's mask darkened. Age had robbed him of the strength he'd possessed in his prime, but no one had dared challenge him all the same! He hadn't given himself the title of Demigod of the Ninja World. He had earned it through countless battles!
"Arrogant Uchiha! Even the Konoha Sannin were defeated by me. State your name! I do not kill nameless men!"
Danzo had roamed the Shinobi World for decades. He recognized Obito's origins from his eyes. And after all the years Danzo had spent researching First Hokage Cells and the Sharingan in Amegakure, Hanzo knew plenty of relevant information as well.
Hanzo lowered his eyelids slightly to avoid Obito's gaze and guard against genjutsu.
"You don't need to know my name. Danzo died too quickly. I forgot to tell him that anyone who dies by my blade becomes my servant after death!" Obito planned to end the fight quickly. Hanzo was a formidable figure, but he stood in Obito's way, so Obito would just have to send him on his way.
Susanoo!
Blue chakra formed into a crow-tengu warrior. Obito stood atop Susanoo's head, looking down at the Amegakure ninja below. Starting tomorrow, Amegakure would be reborn!
Hanzo stood on the back of Salamander Ibuse, his expression even graver. Susanoo's vast chakra was clearly no bluff!
But he was still too young!
Fire Release: Explosive Flame Formation!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A string of explosions echoed throughout the rainy night! While Obito had been fighting Danzo, Hanzo had already planted thousands of Explosive Tags here!
At Hanzo's command, thousands of Explosive Tags shot out of the earth and stuck to Susanoo's legs! They detonated in an instant!
By the time Obito realized what was happening and tried to fly into the air, it was too late. He could only take the blast head-on.
The heat from the thousands of exploding tags abruptly drove away the rain around them, turning it into a dense white mist!
When the mist cleared, Hanzo and the Amegakure ninja were dismayed to see the enormous blue warrior standing completely unharmed!
Had the explosions of thousands of Explosive Tags failed to hurt him at all? Hanzo raised his assessment of his enemy's danger once more. In the blink of an eye, offense and defense had changed hands. Susanoo's massive blade came crashing down!
BOOM!
The Amegakure ninja could no longer hold their formation. A single strike routed them!
But the dozens of loyal warriors surrounding Hanzo closed in even tighter, rapidly forming Hand Seals in unison.
Earth Release: Earth Flow Rampart!
Great earthen walls rose from beneath their feet, forming layer upon layer of defensive barriers!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! A series of deafening crashes rang out as Susanoo's massive blade slammed into the Earth Flow Rampart with crushing force. Layer after layer of defenses crumbled, sending earth and stone flying! But even a brief delay was enough for Hanzo!
Hanzo flung out a chain, wrapped it around Susanoo's massive blade, and yanked hard. Using the recoil, he sprang high into the air and, in a few bounds, reached the top of Susanoo's head!
The scythe in his hand slashed toward Obito, who stood inside Susanoo's head!
With a sharp crack, the barrier around Susanoo's head split open—but it restored itself in an instant.
Susanoo clenched its left hand into a fist and punched down. Hanzo had nowhere to dodge in midair and was blown apart by the punch!
Hanzo's body burst into a splash of water in midair. It had been a water clone. His real body had already landed on the salamander!
The Demigod of the Ninja World was no empty title!
Hanzo had tested the massive opponent's defenses with his attacks. His chain and scythe would be of little use now. He could only resort to poison.
"Everyone, withdraw and clear the battlefield," Hanzo said gravely.
His poison didn't distinguish between friend and foe. Against an enemy this powerful, they couldn't win with numbers. It had been a long time since he'd faced an opponent like this! The blood that had lain dormant in Hanzo for years began to burn again! He could still fight!
"Yes!" The Amegakure ninja retreated one after another. Obito didn't stop them. Beneath the torrential rain, the drops beat like drumbeats, sounding a battle hymn for the two fighters! This was a conversation between a legendary ninja of the older generation and a powerful young warrior!
Poison Mist Spray! The salamander beneath Hanzo raised its head and spewed billowing clouds of purple smoke! They surged toward Obito Uchiha!
Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique! Thick white mist followed close behind, making the already stormy night even harder to see through. Susanoo's immense size made it the most conspicuous target of all!
"Are you trying to force me to release Susanoo?" Obito murmured. Good. It's rare to meet a worthy opponent. I may as well savor the joy of battle to the fullest!
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