Kirito couldn't help but sigh inwardly when he saw the beautiful blonde female ninja, Tsunade, approaching. He maintained a vigilant stance, hoping to avoid a confrontation with her if possible.
In Kirito's eyes, Tsunade was first and foremost Mito-sensei's cherished granddaughter and Nawaki's older sister. She was a beautiful woman in her twenties, and her identity as Konoha's Princess came second.
He didn't want to be an enemy of Tsunade. A real fight might expose his true capabilities, which could be embarrassing if she later discovered his secrets. Powerful ninjas had keen intuition, and if any information slipped during a fight, it could lead to their techniques being studied and potentially revealing their weaknesses.
For this reason, Kirito had refrained from using his sealing and spiritualization techniques, instead focusing on basic Water Release ninjutsu that could be commonly performed by a Jōnin. These were Water Formation Wall, Water Body Technique, and Water Dragon Bullet. Such techniques were quite ordinary and didn't draw attention.
Water Release was a prevalent choice among Rain ninja due to the constant rainfall in their homeland. As a result, it wasn't surprising for him to employ these techniques.
Kirito's current persona was carefully crafted, allowing him to remain incognito.
He portrayed himself as a Rain ninja who had once escaped from Hanzo's tyranny in the Land of Rain. He had been disliked by Hanzo due to his disagreement with Hanzo's plan to make the Land of Rain the sixth major ninja village.
Consequently, he fled and was even labeled a traitor, eventually falling into banditry in the Land of Fire.
Afterward, he came to the Land of Waves to eke out a living and accepted a bounty mission to eliminate Gojo Shin in the black market.
Gojo Shin, another persona of his Zetsu's avatar, had met his end at Masanari's hands, consolidating Kirito's identity as a Rain ninja.
Hattori Masanari, also known as Masashi, was the name of the Rain ninja portrayed by his Zetsu's avatar. He was a Jōnin specializing in Water Release.
Upon Tsunade's arrival, the three Konoha Chunin were emboldened and began shouting once more.
"Master Tsunade!"
"It's Tsunade-sama! We're saved!"
"Damn Ame-nin, your end is near! If you're smart, release our comrades!"
The appearance of Tsunade bolstered their spirits, and they continued their verbal assault on Kirito.
"One of the sannin, Tsunade, the one named by Hanzo. Are you here to be my enemy too? "
Kirito maintained his composure, not showing any fear or intimidation in Tsunade's presence.
Tsunade quickly entered the fray. Before confronting Kirito directly, she sent a shadow clone to treat the severely injured Pineapple Head Chunin. She then observed Kirito.
It didn't take her long to identify the Rain ninja persona Kirito had adopted. She remarked sarcastically, "I remember you as Hattori Masanari, the one who escaped on the battlefield. Why have you returned? Aren't you afraid of being hunted down as a traitor by that arrogant fool Hanzo?"
"I never approved of this war in the first place. Now that it's over, I returned to contribute my skills. As for whether Hanzo, that arrogant idiot, sends someone to hunt me down, it doesn't matter. I've been prepared for that."
Kirito responded confidently, neither humble nor overbearing.
"Is that so? Then why are you disrupting the peace we've finally achieved? Attacking Konoha ninjas goes against your supposed contribution to the Land of Rain."
Tsunade questioned loudly, her anger evident.
"Hehehe, I didn't expect that you, the granddaughter of the God of Shinobi, the disciple of the Third Hokage, and one of the legendary Sannin, would be so ignorant. It's quite amusing. It seems that even a Konoha ninja of your stature doesn't know much."
Kirito chuckled.
With that, he dispelled the Water Prison jutsu, allowing the sword Chunin, who had been trapped, to surface.
"What do you mean?" Tsunade asked, a frown creasing her brow. She seemed to realize something and glanced at the Konoha Chunin nearby.
The four remaining Konoha Chunin immediately averted their gaze or hung their heads in guilt, unwilling to meet Tsunade's stern stare.
Tsunade held high prestige among Konoha's ninjas due to her status and the numerous medical ninjas she had trained, saving countless lives on the battlefield. Many hoped she would succeed the Third Hokage and become the Fourth Hokage.
The swordsman Chunin had received a favor from Tsunade in the past, and now, under her disapproving gaze, he felt a creeping sense of unease. He hesitantly began, "Tsunade-sama, we..."
But Tsunade interrupted him abruptly, saying, "That's enough. We'll discuss this further when we return."
As a top-tier medical ninja, Tsunade was not only physically delicate but also exceptionally intelligent. With just a few clues, she deduced the situation. The guilt on her subordinates' faces confirmed her suspicions.
"What a bunch of troublesome idiots," Kirito thought to himself.
"It appears you've grasped the situation," Kirito remarked with a sneer as he slowly backed away. "I have no intention of making Konoha my enemy, so let's just part ways now."
However, Tsunade wasn't willing to let Kirito leave so easily. She responded coldly, "Hold on a moment, Hattori Masanari. Who said I was going to let you go? As a traitor from the Hidden Rain Village, it's only natural for us Konoha ninjas to handle you. I've heard you're a master of Water Release ninjutsu; let me see your skills today."
Tsunade's words were accompanied by swift action. A hole appeared beneath her feet, propelling her toward Kirito with incredible speed, even faster than the Body Flicker Technique.
While she disliked the act of twisting the truth, she couldn't simply ignore the situation.
She needed to cover up this scandal among Konoha's ninjas and correct the false impression that had been created.
they, Konoha, can't be seen as weak and divided at this point.
Otherwise, it would severely tarnish Konoha's international reputation.
Though Masanari Hattori was considered a traitor with no standing in the ninja world, she couldn't afford to let him go easily.
His claim of returning to the Land of Rain to contribute might or might not be true, but the current situation was a rare opportunity for peace among the villages, which she couldn't overlook.
"You're quite persistent," Kirito sighed as he observed Tsunade rushing toward him at high speed. Although he didn't wish to become her enemy, he couldn't deny that he was eager to test his abilities against a formidable opponent like Tsunade.
In the next moment, he clapped his hands and vanished instantly, leaving Tsunade's fist swinging through the air.
Kirito reappeared more than ten meters away, only to disappear once more. He repeated this maneuver three times, ultimately emerging a hundred meters away from Tsunade.
With swift hand seals, he activated a Water Release technique.
Five seals per second; the ninjutsu was complete.
A massive water dragon materialized from behind him and surged menacingly toward Tsunade.
"Water Escape: Water Dragon Bullet Technique! "
Tsunade merely huffed in response to the oncoming colossal water dragon. Instead of dodging, she opted to charge head-on, striking the water dragon with a punch.
A tremendous force surged from Tsunade's fist in an instant. The water dragon's head was obliterated by her punch, and the sheer power of her strike tore through the massive body of the water dragon.
Strange Fist! or the Chakra Enhanced Strength.
This secret technique had been passed down through generations in the Senju clan. It involved precise chakra control, allowing chakra to be concentrated in any part of the body and then released with devastating power and formidable airflow.
Kirito recognized the sheer destructive potential of this technique and knew he had to avoid being hit by it at all costs.
As Tsunade closed in on him again, Kirito clapped his hands and activated the Water Release: Water Body Flicker Technique, quickly distancing himself from Tsunade. He then formed another seal.
This time, he successfully executed a new Water Release ninjutsu with just two hand seals. It was one of several Water Release techniques he had learned from Hattori Masanari's memories, a skilled Amegakure Jōnin.
Water Release: Torrential Surge!
A vast amount of rainwater swiftly gathered and coalesced around Kirito, forming a colossal wave that towered over 20 meters high. It surged menacingly towards Tsunade.
In this water-filled battlefield, the chakra consumption required for his Water Release techniques was greatly reduced, and the potency of his ninjutsu was significantly enhanced.
Facing the colossal wave this time, Tsunade couldn't simply rely on her Strange Fist technique to confront Kirito's Water Release ninjutsu.
Quickly forming seals, Tsunade prepared to counter the incoming wave. As the Princess of Konoha, she was well-versed in various ninjutsu, including Water Release and Earth Release. However, she typically favored Taijutsu and medical ninjutsu over the others. Nonetheless, her proficiency in ninjutsu combat remained exceptional.
With just one seal, she unleashed Earth Release: Earth Wall. A massive earthen wall abruptly rose from the ground, resembling an impenetrable barrier that stood against the raging waves.
Tsunade nimbly leaped onto the earthen wall and gazed down at Kirito, her expression filled with contempt. "Impressive escape skills, Masanari the Escapist."
"Hahaha, I appreciate your compliment, Konoha's Princess. However, even with such praise, I won't engage you in close combat. Your fists are too mighty for me to handle," Kirito replied, laughing without a hint of shame but with a touch of pride.
Tsunade's expression grew colder as she listened to Kirito's cheeky response. She found herself even more perplexed about this opponent. Facing him was proving to be a formidable challenge. His chakra control was on par with hers, and his proficiency in the Water Release ninjutsu type was no less impressive. Furthermore, he possessed the extraordinary Water Body Flicker Technique without requiring seals for activation, which made him a nightmarish adversary for a physical combatant like her.
The major drawback of Taijutsu practitioners had always been their limited range of attack options. Without a substantial speed advantage, they often became vulnerable targets.
Tsunade had no choice but to acknowledge that the individual called Hattori Masanari before her was the most formidable Rain ninja she had ever encountered, aside from the notorious Hanzo.
"Master Tsunade, we'll assist you."
Observing that Tsunade was struggling to subdue Kirito, the Konoha ninjas surrounding them exchanged glances and decided to intervene together. On the battlefield, it was a common practice for outnumbered opponents to be targeted.
After all, Kirito was only one person.
The pineapple-haired Chunin had been revived by Tsunade's shadow clone and was now back in fighting condition. The one-eyed ninja had been unearthed from the ground by his comrades, and Tsunade had brought three additional Konoha Chunin with her, one of whom hailed from the Hyuga clan.
The eight Konoha Chunin were divided into four teams, each charging at Kirito from different directions.
"A bunch of fools, get back!" Tsunade exclaimed urgently, seeing their actions.
Having personally experienced the difficulty of dealing with Kirito, Tsunade realized that even with eight additional Chunin, the situation would not improve, and it might only lead to increased casualties.
"Hmph, a bunch of small fry. Do you believe I have a gentle temper and won't kill you?" Kirito retorted with cold disdain as he found himself growing increasingly irritated.
He felt it was time to assert himself as a traitor from Amegakure Village; otherwise, anyone could come along and challenge him.
With swift hand seals, he rapidly amassed a considerable amount of chakra. In less than a second, he successfully executed another new Water Release ninjutsu.
Water Release: Torrential Whirlpool!
This particular Water Release ninjutsu summoned a massive quantity of rainwater before shaping it into a swirling maelstrom. Thanks to the abundant rainwater in the vicinity, Kirito could employ it directly, eliminating the need for water-summoning processes.
Four immense water vortexes, each exceeding ten meters in diameter, suddenly manifested beneath the four groups of Chunin. The range of these vortexes rapidly expanded.
Five of the eight Chunin were ensnared by the unexpectedly appearing whirlpools. Even though the remaining three managed to leap out of harm's way in time, their landing positions still fell within the vortex's reach.
All eight Konoha Chunin were now trapped.
"Stop!" Tsunade bellowed in distress upon witnessing her comrades' peril and dashed Kirito.
Unfazed by Tsunade's pursuit, Kirito decisively employed the Water Body Flicker Technique to distance himself from her. Meanwhile, he utilized Water Clone Jutsu to create over a dozen water clones, further hindering Tsunade's approach.
As long as Kirito, the caster, remained on his feet, the maelstrom conjured by Water Release: Torrential Whirlpool would persist. Should the enemy fail to break free swiftly, they would be relentlessly pounded by the high-pressure torrents within the vortex.
Realizing that she couldn't catch up to Kirito, Tsunade's frustration and anxiety intensified. She assaulted all the water clones launched by Kirito and swiftly executed a new ninjutsu technique.
Earth Release: Earthquake pillar!
Within moments, four square stone pillars surged from the centers of the four vortexes, rescuing the trapped Konoha ninjas from their predicament.
Simultaneously, Kirito's ninjutsu reached completion.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!
This time, Kirito unleashed an enormous chakra expenditure all at once to activate this ninjutsu.
One dragon.
Two dragons.
Three dragons.
...
Five colossal water dragons emerged rapidly from behind him, invisible roars echoing as they converged toward Tsunade from five distinct directions.
"This guy has mastered the Water Dragon Bullet technique to such an extent," Tsunade mused with surprise, feeling the imminent danger from Kirito's ninjutsu.
She decisively chose to evade the impending onslaught and once more employed Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall, while simultaneously erecting four earth walls around her to intercept the incoming gigantic water dragons.
The four earthen walls just managed to block Kirito's oncoming torrents.
Before Tsunade could catch her breath, a massive surge of water erupted from beneath her, forming a swirling vortex. With a sudden upward surge, the water launched her into the air, where it coalesced into a colossal water dragon, jaws aimed to devour her.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!
This was Kirito's most potent Water Release jutsu to date.
"Master Tsunade!"
"Damn Amenin, cease this!"
"Tsunade-sama, hang on, we're here to assist you..."
...
Konoha's chunin survivors atop the four stone pillars witnessed Tsunade's direct hit by Kirito's formidable Water Release ninjutsu. Shocked and anguished, they cried out in dismay.
Had they not just pulled Tsunade to safety, the detested Rain ninja Kirito wouldn't have had an opening to strike her with his jutsu. With Tsunade's combat experience and prowess, she wouldn't have fallen prey so easily.
The colossal water dragon sank its jaws into Tsunade, the immense pressure rendering her immobile. She managed to coat her body with a thin layer of yang chakra, fortifying her physical defenses, but the impact was overwhelming.
"Boom!"
The water dragon, having soared thousands of meters, emitted an inaudible roar before crashing heavily, gouging a massive crater in the earth.
Tsunade lay at its center, clutching her chest, blood spilling from her lips, visibly wounded.
No ordinary jonin could survive such a fall, even with Tsunade's legendary resilience, the damage was severe.
"As expected of a descendant of the Ninja worshipped as a God, your resilience is remarkable, but it seems your luck ends here today," Kirito said, panting from his Chakra expenditure, relieved Tsunade survived.
He began forming seals, intending to finish Tsunade off but leaped back as a colossal serpent emerged from where he stood, narrowly avoiding being devoured.
The emerging threat wasn't over.
A ninja cloaked in mucus and cold aura emerged from the serpent's head—Orochimaru, one of Konoha's legendary trio.
His mouth stretched wide, and a small snake slithered out, its mouth bearing a gleaming blade aimed at the airborne Kirito.
"Orochimaru, you've made your move," Kirito remarked calmly, unperturbed by Orochimaru's sudden attack.
With his soul's perception, Kirito had sensed Orochimaru's underground presence, feigning ignorance until Orochimaru revealed himself.
Brandishing a handful of kunai in his right hand, Kirito swiftly formed hand seals with his left hand, conjuring a high-speed rotating water blade with kunai as carriers.
Water Release: Water Fang Blade!
Swiftly deflecting the incoming Kusanagi sword, the water blade extended rapidly, targeting the prominent snake pill atop the serpent's head.
Orochimaru, seeing the imminent threat, abandoned the fallen Kusanagi sword and leaped to evade Kirito's water blade. Seizing the moment, he extended his hand, and several serpentine appendages slithered forth from his sleeves, poised to strike Kirito with venomous fangs.
Ninjutsu: Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!
Successfully landing, Kirito discarded his kunai, clapped his hands, and vanished using the Water Body Flicker Technique.
Orochimaru, realizing his attack had missed, refrained from pursuing Kirito. Instead, he swiftly reached Tsunade's side, wary that Kirito might target her next.
"What a pitiful sight, Tsunade," Orochimaru sneered upon reaching her.
"Hmph, spare me the lecture. This guy is formidable; stay on guard," Tsunade retorted unhappily, focusing on healing herself with the Mystical Palm Technique.
"Enough of the theatrics. He's likely to flee and avoid a direct confrontation," Orochimaru suggested calmly.
Tsunade remained silent, acknowledging Orochimaru's assessment.
In the next moment, Orochimaru's words were swiftly validated as Kirito, not far away, declared coldly, "I didn't anticipate another Sannin's arrival. Princess Konoha, you're fortunate this time. We'll cross paths again."
With those words, Kirito clapped his hands together and employed the Water Release: Water Body Flicker Technique to make a swift escape.
Kirito wasn't foolish; he recognized that Orochimaru's presence, combined with the presence of two Sannin, made continuing the battle a death wish. Retreating was the only sensible course of action.
Following his battle with Tsunade, Hattori Masanari, the Rain ninja persona he'd assumed, would undoubtedly gain notoriety. His plan to establish a formidable, solitary Rain ninja had already achieved its objectives.
Tsunade and Orochimaru watched as Kirito made a swift exit, choosing not to pursue him. They were aware that getting too close to Amegakure's territory could expose them to potential danger from the Rain Ninja.
Although Konoha and Yuyin had ceased hostilities, their animosity still ran deep. Being near Yuyin's territory could lead to an encounter with Yuren, and they couldn't be certain about the outcome of such an encounter.
Furthermore, Tsunade and Orochimaru realized that even if they caught up with Kirito, subduing him wouldn't be an easy task. Kirito's proficiency in Water Release had greatly improved his strength in the water-filled battlefield. Taking him down without incurring significant losses seemed unlikely, even in one-on-one combat.
"I never expected Amegakure to harbor such a powerful Water Release ninja. Thankfully, he has a strained relationship with Hanzo. Otherwise, if he were to ally with Hanzo, we might have to pay a much higher price in our conflict with the rain," Tsunade remarked as she struggled to rise from the ground, her expression serious.
Orochimaru nodded and let out a hoarse laugh. "Let's hope that his feud with Hanzo continues. Given Hanzo's distrustful nature, he might find it hard to tolerate an uncontrollable and potent ninja-like Masanari under his command. We might even provide a little assistance to this individual."
Hearing what Orochimaru said, Tsunade nodded thoughtfully.
Every family has its black sheep.
From this perspective, there was indeed a significant contradiction within Amegakure Village.
This internal discord was previously suppressed by Hanzo's strength and the support of many Rain ninjas. However, with Ame's defeat and the resulting damage to the Rain Country's national power, along with Hanzo's tarnished reputation for the loss, the internal conflicts within Ame Village were bound to resurface.
For Konoha, an ame Village embroiled in internal strife was a favorable situation. All they needed to do was provide a gentle push from behind to potentially make this desire a reality.
Tsunade quickly grasped the essence of Orochimaru's words and actions, deciding to return to Konoha to discuss the feasibility of the proposed plan to divide Ame Village.
Her gaze then shifted to the eight Konoha ninja who were rapidly approaching their location. When her eyes met those of five of them, her expression turned cold.
With the foreign threat successfully repelled, it was now time to address the internal issues plaguing Konoha.
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that's it, hope you enjoyed it. a very long chapter compared to usual.
Drop stones and comments !
I would be most grateful if you were to support me in kofi, im in a bit of tight situation.
Kofi /lightofcertainity
Of course, i won't impose it, and the story will always be free. chapters will freely flow depending on my free time ( i work 14h per day, sleep 8, and write in the resting free time to de-stress and pleasure. ).