A sturdy Water Formation Wall formed in an instant, firmly blocking Jiraiya's second wave of fire release attacks.
At the breach, kunai and shuriken crisscrossed through the air, forming dense crossfire that forced the advancing Konoha vanguard back.
The Sannin took turns launching assaults, but the elite troops under Hanzō fought in perfect coordination, leaving no gaps between offense and defense.
Even under relentless attacks from three top-tier ninja, they held their formation firm, never retreating a single step.
As the battle reached a stalemate, a figure abruptly appeared in the very center of the battlefield.
Hanzō had entered the fray himself.
Ibuse slowly rose beside his feet. The poison sac inside him contracted and swelled violently, spraying a vast fan of poison mist that covered the entire frontline in moments.
Several Konoha vanguard ninja who were a little too slow to retreat inhaled just a trace of the mist and collapsed stiffly to the ground. Their faces blackened, foam spilled from their mouths, and they were instantly rendered unable to fight.
Tsunade's Medical Team immediately rushed forward with the Antidote, doing everything they could to save the fallen.
Orochimaru's snakes were driven steadily back by the deadly mist. Within its reach, Jiraiya's fire release ninjutsu lost all precision, severely limiting his attacks.
The kusarigama in Hanzō's hand traced an icy arc.
He now showed none of the restraint he had displayed against Mifune, nor the lofty composure with which he had judged people in the square.
Driven into a corner, the Demigod cast aside every last restraint. Every strike aimed straight for a vital point, every attack meant to kill.
He charged at Tsunade first, wrapping his chain precisely around her incoming Monster Strength punch before yanking hard.
An instant before the shock wave of her monstrous strength erupted,