I Admit It

Tsunade's strike left a massive crater in the ground, and in an instant, dust billowed up, obscuring everyone's vision.

Hiding within his Needle Jizo, Jiraiya asked, "Did you get him?"

"I missed!" Tsunade pushed off with her legs, leaping out of the dust cloud.

Based on the sensation of her strike, she had already realized her attack had hit nothing but air.

As the dust settled, the three of them saw only a puddle of water left on the ground.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi's disciples? Nothing special!" Hanzo's voice rang out not far from the trio, his disdain clear.

He wasn't lying; during the time it took for Jiraiya to react and defend just moments ago, Hanzo could have killed him instantly had he chosen to.

Hanzo's mastery of the kusarigama was divine, and his application of Sword Technique: Iai Slash was so refined that not even the samurai of the Land of Iron could compare to him.

It was just that, from start to finish, he had never intended to kill the three of them.

Killing ordinary Hidden Leaf Village ninja could be seen as a show of force against the village.

But if he were to kill the disciples of the Third Hokage, then the Hidden Leaf Village and the Hidden Rain Village would be locked in an irreconcilable blood feud!

"I had hoped to end the battle quickly with a surprise attack, but it seems that won't work," Orochimaru said with a look of disappointment. "Jiraiya, Tsunade, we must retreat as soon as possible. This environment is far too disadvantageous for us."

While their physiques were far superior to those of average ninja, the poisonous gas was still taking a heavy toll on them; only Tsunade was able to remain unaffected for the time being thanks to her medical ninjutsu.

Jiraiya said in a deep voice, "I'm afraid it won't be that easy!"

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!" Hanzo removed his mask and spat out a massive sphere of water that surged toward Orochimaru and his companions.

Standing between the three, Jiraiya slammed his palms onto the ground. "Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

Several massive earthen walls rose up in front of them, bracing against the onslaught of the Great Waterfall Technique.

Hanzo lived up to his reputation as the ninja with the greatest mastery over water; with the A-rank Great Waterfall Technique combined with the unique water-rich environment of the Land of Rain, he had forcibly created a small lake.

Tsunade and the others stood upon the water.

Hanzo stood before them and asked coldly, "Can you continue?"

"Who do you think you're looking down on?!" The hot-tempered Tsunade wouldn't let him get away with that, and she performed the Summoning Technique to call forth Katsuyu.

After a burst of white smoke, the massive slug appeared.

"Lady Tsunade!"

Orochimaru and Jiraiya exchanged a glance and simultaneously performed the Summoning Technique, calling forth Manda and Gamabunta, who were still in their adolescent stages and stood only about forty meters tall.

Shikkotsu Forest, Mount Myoboku, and Ryuchi Cave were known as the three great sage regions, but only the summons of Shikkotsu Forest were clones of the Slug Sage; the summons of the other two regions were clans, and it took time for them to grow into giant beasts.

Orochimaru and Jiraiya had considered summoning larger creatures, but due to the influence of Hanzo's poisonous mist, their chakra reserves were already running low.

Manda, not yet grasping the situation, said arrogantly, "Orochimaru, have you prepared the sacrifice for summoning me?"

"Where is this?!" Gamabunta brandished his short blade, temporarily dispersing some of the eerie mist. "Jiraiya, you brat, have you gotten yourself into trouble again?!"

Hanzo looked at the three behemoths before him, completely unfazed.

In the ninja world, size wasn't everything.

"Acidic Mucus!"

"Water Release: Gunshot!"

Katsuyu and Gamabunta launched their long-range attacks first, spitting corrosive liquid and a large water projectile from their mouths.

"The power looks quite impressive, but it's meaningless if you can't hit your target!" Hanzo said as he put his mask back on, diving into the water to move with ease and dodging the attacks one by one.

"Water Release: Water Instant!"

The water in the lake seemed to be under his control, binding the three giant beasts and attempting to drag them under.

Although the three beasts were immensely strong and could easily break free from the currents, the water kept surging forth in endless waves, becoming an unbearable nuisance.

Hanzo was in no rush to continue his assault.

If one looked closely, they would notice the color of the water had changed; not far from the four-way battlefield, a giant Ibuse was submerged, spewing poisonous gas into the water.

He didn't need to fight them head-on; he only needed to wait quietly and block them when they finally decided to retreat!

At the edge of the lake, the reinforcements led by Senju Genma arrived fashionably late.

"Dan, Shin, leave the rest to you!" Senju Genma looked at the wounded nearby and said to Kato Dan beside him.

Given Senju Genma's strength, Orochimaru naturally allowed him to lead a portion of the troops, and Kato Dan was the adjutant Orochimaru had assigned to assist him with command.

Shin and the others had temporarily become Senju Genma's personal guard.

"Captain, are you going?" Kato Dan asked, filled with concern.

Hanzo was a legendary ninja, which made it impossible for him not to worry.

"Of course, Tsunade is still out there!" Senju Genma said firmly.

Kato Dan knew that he would only be a burden if he faced Hanzo, so he could only nod and say, "Alright then, leave things here to us. You can go with peace of mind!"

Senju Genma frowned slightly, feeling that the phrasing was somehow strange.

Should I add a line at the end: "If you don't make it back, I will take care of your wife"?

Senju Genma shook his head and rushed toward the battlefield where Tsunade was.

Arriving at the center of the lake, Senju Genma saw the Yellow-Gambling-Poison Trio supporting each other as they stood on the water, looking utterly disheveled.

Hanzo stood atop the head of his giant Ibuse, looking down at the three of them.

"Not bad at all! To have inhaled my lethal poison for so long and still be standing—I acknowledge you. From this day forward, I, Hanzo, shall call you the Sannin!"

"I, Hanzo, bestow upon you the title of the Sannin of Konoha!"

Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya were furious.

Bestow? This was nothing but an insult to them!

"Sage Art: Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"

Bullying his wife? Senju Genma couldn't tolerate it for even a second!

Senju Genma channeled his Sage chakra directly, using it as a source of life to rapidly sprout multiple trees from the ground. In an instant, he created a forest that covered the lake, transforming the terrain into one advantageous to himself.

Hanzo leaped onto a tree, feeling the chakra constantly draining from his body. His gaze turned grave as he spoke, "Are you the White Yasha, Senju Genma? The legendary Wood Release truly lives up to its reputation! I acknowledge your name."

Senju Genma gained a new appreciation for the sheer melodrama of these ninjas. Giving the Sannin nicknames was one thing, but even at a time like this, Hanzo was still obsessed with his own reputation!

As he pondered, Hanzo once again used the Summoning Technique to call the Ibuse from below to his side.

The giant salamander began to spew its mist once more.

Senju Genma shielded Tsunade behind him, created a Wood Clone to carry the three of them to safety, and looked at Hanzo, eager for the fight.

As for this legendary ninja, Senju Genma was very much looking forward to crossing blades with him.

With Senju Genma's sensory abilities, he already knew that Hanzo's chakra reserves were far inferior to his own.

But a ninja's strength was never determined by chakra volume alone.

Still, Senju Genma was not worried about his own safety.

He felt his chances of winning were high, and even if he were to lose, he had the Flying Thunder God as a fallback; running away would be no problem at all.