The Main World.
Spring, Year 30 of Konoha.
The Golden Forest could no longer be called a forest.
Broken timber lay scattered across scorched earth. Golden leaves mixed with rubble and blood covered the entire clearing. Hanzō's Water Curtain remained, but its mist had thinned considerably-not because he had withdrawn it, but because he could no longer sustain it. Chakra of five attributes surged through his body. The Water Curtain required a constant output, and his output was already declining.
It was not that he was too weak. The four brats facing him were simply too absurd.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Hanzō formed hand seals, and a fire dragon shot from his palm, baring its fangs and claws as it lunged at Ryukōshi. This was an S-rank ninjutsu. No more than three people in the Land of Fire could take it head-on.
Ryukōshi did not take it.
His golden wings of light beat once, and he leaped into the sky in a golden arc. The fire dragon swept beneath his feet and crashed into the ruins, exploding in a blinding blaze. He hovered in midair, his left eye fixed on Hanzō as his golden Mangekyō slowly rotated.
"Heavenly Wrath."
Hanzō's pupils abruptly contracted. He twisted sideways, chakra raging within him-this time, he had anticipated it. Rather than endure it head-on, he evaded it with the Body Flicker Technique. Heavenly Wrath required a continuously focused gaze to maintain its lock. Hanzō was too fast, too fast for Ryukōshi to keep him locked on.
"You can dodge once. You can't dodge for the whole fight."
Ryukōshi's voice came from above. His breathing was a little faster than before, and the golden light in his left eye flickered faintly, but his condition remained fairly stable. He could still withstand Heavenly Wrath's