Hanzō retreated at once. Nagato's strange behavior had put him on guard.
Nagato appeared where Hanzō had been standing and shielded Konan. A faint smile crossed Hanzō's face as his hands flashed through a series of signs.
A long strip of Explosive Tags peeled up from the ground and flew toward Nagato. In the blink of an eye, they wrapped around his feet.
The Explosive Tags detonated in rapid succession. Flames surged skyward, evaporating the rain before it could fall. The thunder of explosions went on and on.
The fighting below had ended. Nearly all the Akatsuki Elite Yahiko had brought were dead. Standing beyond the blast zone, Hanzō watched the heart of the flames.
"Akatsuki is finished. Whatever strange abilities that boy has, there's no surviving an explosion like that."
Hanzō spoke with confidence, but many of the Rain shinobi surrounding the area had mixed feelings. They were seasoned Ninja, capable of telling right from wrong.
What Hanzō had done today was disgraceful, even contemptible. But they were ordinary Rain shinobi. They could change nothing. In a land this chaotic, staying alive was the best they could manage.
In a distant corner, Black and White Zetsu and Guangtai watched it all.
The flames soon died down, revealing Nagato's body, still largely intact. He had suffered little harm, though most of his feet were charred.
Konan was unhurt. Nagato released her.
"Guard Yahiko's body. Don't let anyone touch him."
"Okay."
The fierce clash had cleared Nagato's head. Hanzō had too many men, and Nagato could no longer afford to worry about anything else.
Ever since he had gained the Rinnegan, a Summoning Technique had been etched into his mind. But using it demanded a terrible price.
Hanzō looked at Nagato and offered a rare word of praise. "Not bad, kid.