Return Journey and Analysis

"Got it! I'll pass it on to my big brother after I return to the village!" Fusui took the scroll without inspecting or even opening it. Without any probing or doubt over Qing Si's identity, he simply stowed it in his ninja tool pouch, displaying his confidence in his side's formidable lineup and strength.

"Then I'll take my leave!" Qing Si did not mind. Since he had completed the mission smoothly, he naturally had no unnecessary thoughts about it, so he bid the Hidden Cloud group farewell.

Having completed the uneventful secret mission, Qing Si, eager to return home, swiftly chased after the direction his subordinates had departed in. Before long, he caught up with Qian Nai, Yagura, and the others, who had no idea Qing Si had already returned after completing his mission and were still talking big.

Qing Si silently caught up to them and was just about to reveal himself when he heard Munashi Jinpachi curiously ask Yagura, "Captain Mirror, have you sparred with the squad leader before? How strong is he?" Qing Si gave up on showing himself immediately and decided to hear what Yagura had to say.

"Heh, don't let the fact that Bone used to be the captain of our Sixth Squad fool you. I'm no weaker than him at all. Every one of our matches ended in a draw!" Yagura bragged shamelessly.

"Then why was Bone the original captain of the Sixth Squad? And why did he later become the squad leader of the First Division?" Ao calmly exposed him. As an elite ninja personally requested by Qing Si, he knew Bone—or rather, Qing Si's—true identity and approximate strength quite well.

"Yes, they were all draws, but it was two against one. And who knows whether the captain was holding back? There were several times when he didn't even use Shikotsumyaku!" Qian Nai also launched a venomous verbal attack against Yagura.

"ANBU squad leaders are at least Elite Jonin. He definitely wasn't holding back—though perhaps he went easy on you by an ocean!" Biwa Jūzō and Kushimaru Kuriarare chimed in with teasing remarks.

"Flower! How can you slander me out of thin air?" Yagura flushed red, then continued, "A two-on-one draw is still a draw! Can sparring between teammates even count as holding back?"

What followed was a string of obscure and incomprehensible words, and for a time, the air around them was filled with joy.

Over the course of this mission, which had lasted nearly a month, the group had truly become familiar with one another. Although the difference in rank between superiors and subordinates within the ANBU remained obvious, Yagura still had the temperament of a young boy. Moreover, Kushimaru Kuriarare, Munashi Jinpachi, Biwa Jūzō, and Ao were all exceptionally talented, so Yagura did not take their teasing to heart.

Qing Si, eavesdropping nearby, could not help but laugh. He then quietly appeared at the back of the group and said gloomily to Yagura, "Mirror, I'll satisfy your request. Once we return to the village, I'll have another proper spar with you!"

Startled by Qing Si's sudden voice, Yagura stumbled. Damn it, I bragged too hard—and got caught by the person involved on the spot.

"My lord! You're back!" The others respectfully greeted Qing Si upon hearing his voice.

Qing Si nodded to acknowledge them, then asked Ao and the other three, "You watched the entire battle from the sidelines. Tell me what you think."

"The title of demigod suits Hanzō of the Salamander very well. Although Hanzō and the Hokage ultimately fought to a draw, I think Hanzō actually won. He was merely afraid that, after defeating the Hokage, the enraged Konoha ninja would forcibly keep him there." Biwa Jūzō spoke first, voicing his speculation and opinion.

"Agreed!" Kushimaru Kuriarare said succinctly.

"Same here!" Munashi Jinpachi followed.

"That's right, Hanzō did win. I could clearly sense that Hanzō's presence did not decline nearly as drastically after the battle as the Hokage's did. And despite such terrifying ninjutsu, he was completely unscathed!" Ao, the only one among them with sensory abilities, added.

"Hanzō did win, but he was not uninjured." Qing Si corrected Ao. "Ao, your sensory ability has great potential for development, but you still need to strengthen it further. Hanzō was injured, and his injuries were not light."

"Although it could not be seen externally, and Hanzō's chakra presence had not declined too noticeably, I could sense fluctuations in his life force. Hanzō was forcibly using his immense chakra to suppress his injuries, deceiving every ninja present with sensory abilities," Qing Si continued to explain.

Qing Si had not noticed it at first either, but after the battle ended, Hanzō's remarks, which were clearly out of character for him, aroused Qing Si's suspicions.

So Qing Si carefully sensed Hanzō's condition once more, and only then did he discover the clues.

"Hanzō is indeed very strong, already close to the limit of Kage Level. But calling him the strongest in the Shinobi World is not entirely accurate. Setting others aside, at the very least, our Mizukage is not much inferior to Hanzō." Though this somewhat embellished his own Kage, and their Kage was indeed weaker than Hanzō in raw strength, Qing Si had seen scenes of the Third Mizukage fighting during the First Shinobi World War in his memories and truly believed he could contend with the current Hanzō.

Hanzō was a Kage Level powerhouse proficient in Water Release, Fire Release, and swordsmanship, but the Third Mizukage's Ice Release, developed to its utmost limit, happened to counter most of Hanzō's abilities.

Therefore, although Qing Si believed their Mizukage Bing was not much stronger than the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, with the advantage of elemental restraint, he absolutely possessed the strength to contend with Hanzō.