Minato's team weaved through Amegakure, occasionally placing explosive tags as they moved.
It almost looked like they were merchants in the Fire Country market, casually distributing flyers throughout the village.
With Minato's team possessing both the Kagura Mind's Eye and the Flying Thunder God Technique, they could easily perform "x-ray vision" and "teleportation," making Amegakure's defenses seem as flimsy as paper.
"Nawaki, it's up to you now. Remember, set it to explode in five minutes."
"Got it, I know!"
After placing all four hundred explosive tags Nawaki carried with him, the three began preparing their final trap.
First, they would create enough damage and casualties to lure Hanzo back to the village, then use a Chain Explosion Trap to give him a devastating surprise.
This was Minato's plan to break Orochimaru and the others free from their predicament.
If they had released the Chain Explosion Trap right away, the entire Amegakure would have been leveled in an instant, which might drive Hanzo to take desperate measures.
Nawaki's face showed a hint of tension, but his hands were steady as he set the traps meticulously.
Having thoroughly studied Hanzo's book, "How to Use Explosive Tags Effectively", Nawaki could set up a delayed explosion trap even with his eyes closed.
In a sense, this was also part of the shinobi tradition—demonstrating what you've learned and giving back to your teacher.
"Alright, Minato, it's all set!"
Minato nodded, and the three of them simultaneously formed hand signs, triggering the explosion of the four hundred explosive tags they had placed earlier.
"BOOM!!"
The entire Amegakure was engulfed in flames. The village was filled with explosions, screams, and shouts of rage.
Nawaki, who hadn't used his chakra much since the war started two years ago, gathered his strength and shouted out the window:
"Help! Help!"
"The 'Blood Wolf' Fuma is attacking the village! Quick, go inform Lord Hanzo!"
"Hurry!!!"
With Nawaki's desperate cry, the Rain shinobi became even more frantic, with some even fleeing from the village in panic, pushing the situation into utter chaos.
"Whoosh!"
The three exchanged smiles, and with a flash of yellow light they disappeared from their spot.
Meanwhile, on the ground, a Chain Explosion Tag lay quietly in wait for its real target: Hanzo.
Orochimaru stood, holding the Chain Explosion Tag, facing off against Hanzo. The two locked eyes, both waiting for the other to make the first move.
Jiraiya and Tsunade had already collapsed, their bodies battered and exhausted. Only Orochimaru, using his Snake Substitution Technique, had managed to hold out until now.
The situation had reached a critical point.
Orochimaru maintained a sly smile on his face as he raised the explosive tag in his hand, looking at Hanzo and speaking slowly:
"Lord Hanzo, have you heard of the 'Mutually Multiplying Explosion Tag Technique' developed by the Second Hokage, Lord Tobirama Senju?"
"Consecutive explosions, focused on one point, until the enemy is reduced to ashes."
"So, how about it? Care to give it a try?"
Hanzo no longer maintained his calm demeanor. In the presence of Tobirama Senju, he was still considered a junior in the shinobi world.
This jutsu—he had heard about it from his father when he was young—was one of the most lethal techniques created by Tobirama.
Hanzo's expression darkened as he responded in a low voice, "So what? Do you think you can even touch me with your speed?"
Hanzo kept his gaze locked on Orochimaru. The moment Orochimaru showed even the slightest hesitation, he was ready to strike, cutting off Orochimaru's arm with the speed he prided himself on.
Despite the cold sweat running down Orochimaru's back, his face remained relaxed and carefree.
He, too, stared intently at Hanzo, his long, pale fingers forming hand seals, ready to take them both down in a deadly explosion at any moment.
A silent yet fierce psychological battle was underway between Hanzo and Orochimaru.
Both were intensely evaluating each other's mental state, calculating the perfect moment to act.
Suddenly, an unexpected event occurred!
The sound of dense explosions echoed from the direction of Amegakure, like a string of firecrackers.
Orochimaru glanced at the intense flames rising from the distant Amegakure. Though puzzled, he maintained a confident expression on his face.
Hanzo, on the other hand, stepped back and shot a quick glance over his shoulder, his mind now in turmoil.
Not far away, Amegakure was ablaze, with thick black smoke rising into the sky, and faintly, the cries of Rain shinobi could be heard.
Hanzo glared at Orochimaru, his heart filling with a rising sense of madness.
That village—it was his heart and soul, the product of nearly fifty years of hard work.
Orochimaru smiled even wider, taunting Hanzo, "Lord Hanzo, don't you have a jutsu that makes it rain? Perhaps you should hurry back to put out the fire. You might still make it in time."
Hanzo's eyes burned with rage as he raised his blade.
But seeing the Chain Explosion Tag in Orochimaru's hand, and thinking of his village's screams, he forced himself to calm down.
Amegakure still needed him—things hadn't reached the point of no return yet.
"We'll meet again, Konoha shinobi!"
Hanzo spat out a harsh parting remark before disappearing in a flash towards Amegakure.
Orochimaru kept his hand seals formed, watching Hanzo's retreat, thinking about his next move.
"Let's go, Orochimaru-sensei!"
After a while, a familiar voice broke Orochimaru's concentration.
Minato's team had been watching Hanzo from a distance. After confirming that he was gone, they quickly came to assist Orochimaru and the others.
Before Orochimaru could say anything, Nawaki hurriedly supported Tsunade, calling out to Jiraiya, "Perverted uncle, hurry up and get over here! Put your hand on Minato!"
Jiraiya's face reddened in embarrassment.Nawaki had always called him "perverted uncle" because he'd caught Jiraiya "gathering research" many times.
The five of them placed their hands on Minato's shoulder, and Minato focused on gathering chakra, sensing the Flying Thunder God mark he had placed earlier.
Teleporting so many people at once was still a challenge for Minato.
"Whoosh!"
The air rippled as space distorted, and in an instant, they all found themselves on a distant plain.
Minato gasped for breath from the exertion, and Kushina ran over to him, whispering in his ear, helping him recover his chakra.
Tsunade, beaming with pride, hugged Nawaki tightly, exclaiming, "Look at you, you've really become quite the shinobi!"
Tsunade felt a surge of pride—Nawaki had grown enough to cover their retreat.
Nawaki, grinning with pride, announced loudly, "Just wait a moment—we've left Hanzo a big gift! Something huge is about to happen!"
Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya all froze in surprise.
Something huge? What had these three kids done now?
At that moment, the ground trembled violently, and an earth-shattering boom echoed through the sky as a massive shockwave swept over them.
A giant mushroom cloud rose from the direction of Amegakure.
Minato smiled as he looked at his handiwork, thinking quietly to himself, "Looks like we'll have to say goodbye early, Lord Hanzo."
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