Hanzo of the Salamander looked at the person charging toward him, a disdainful smile appearing beneath his gas mask.
He knew his own affairs best.
The existence of two organizations within a single ninja village had already angered him greatly, so he knew quite a bit about Akatsuki.
Yahiko, their leader, did not possess Kage-level strength. If Hanzo of the Salamander had not long since lost his original ambition,
how could he have allowed Akatsuki to emerge in Amegakure and stand against him as an equal, turning him into the laughingstock of other minor ninja villages for a time?
Thus, when Yahiko charged at him, Hanzo of the Salamander's decision was simple.
He would kill him by his own methods, then make them hand over Nagato and obtain what he wanted.
After a brief exchange, the outcome was as expected.
Though Yahiko was young and his strength had improved, he was still no match for the aged Hanzo of the Salamander.
Even then, Hanzo of the Salamander did not reveal his objective.
Right now, he only wanted Nagato to lose all ability to resist. The best way was to kill Yahiko before his eyes.
Yahiko seemed to understand his fate as well and did his best not to look at Nagato.
He did not want Nagato to be heartbroken by the sight of him in his final moments, nor did he want Konan and Nagato to grieve at seeing him like this.
Just as Hanzo of the Salamander raised his sickle, intending to end Yahiko's life—
"His life is not yours to take!"
A mass of white steel needles then shot toward them from afar.
Faced with the sudden attack, Hanzo of the Salamander, a veteran ninja, prioritized his own life above all else.
So he gave up his final