"The troublesome one is gone now."
Uchiha Sogetsu adjusted his glasses and spoke with a calm demeanor, "By the way, it's time for the real protagonist to show up."
There's no need to worry, Hikari.
If he hadn't given prior instructions to Hikari to keep a low profile in front of Tsunade, those few thugs wouldn't have even made it close—they'd have been reduced to ashes by Amaterasu.
Not many can survive Amaterasu, and those goons definitely aren't among them.
"Alright, here he comes."
In an instant, a figure appeared, moving quickly towards them.
When they were about ten meters apart, both sides could see each other clearly.
Hanzo suddenly stopped, surveying the area with careful scrutiny. After ensuring everything was clear, he asked, "What happened? Where is Tsunade?"
"Tsunade-sama's disciple was kidnapped by those people," replied Uchiha Sogetsu, keeping a sharp eye on Hanzo.
Ten meters... it's a significant distance.
If they need to retreat, there's plenty of space for a quick escape. But if they need to engage, it's close enough to strike lethally in one move.
Even if the opponent is just a Jonin, you must remain cautious and ready for anything.
As the saying goes, "When a lion hunts a rabbit, it uses all its strength." Hanzo embodied this caution perfectly.
Uchiha Sogetsu narrowed his eyes, impressed. Hanzo was indeed a seasoned veteran who'd survived the Second Great Ninja War. His meticulous caution, even in a seemingly simple situation, was a testament to his experience.
"Is this guy one of their group members?" Hanzo seemed more at ease now that Tsunade wasn't there. He then glanced at the ground and asked with feigned nonchalance, "Did you find any information on him?"
"Yes," Uchiha Sogetsu responded with a subtle nod.
"What's this information?"
Hanzo wasn't particularly concerned about his plan being exposed. He knew Root's method, and as he approached Uchiha Sogetsu with a seemingly casual attitude, he asked, feigning interest in the well-being of his allies, "Do you know who he is? What brings him to the Hidden Rain Village?"
As long as he could get close enough...
He could rush to him and cut his throat with a single slash.
Even with the Sharingan, there'd be no time to react.
"Oh, he said he was from the Root."
Uchiha Sogetsu tilted his head, eyeing Hanzo with a curious expression, a half-smile playing on his lips. "He also mentioned that..."
Bang!
Hanzo suddenly lunged forward, his scythe slicing through the air, aiming straight for Sogetsu's throat.
He didn't need to wait for him to finish talking; he already knew his cover was blown.
In this situation, it was better to strike first!
However, Uchiha Sogetsu was clearly prepared, gripping his kunai and countering with a swift block.
Clang!
The kunai and the scythe collided, sending sparks flying.
"The esteemed leader of the Hidden Rain Village is attacking a ninja from Konoha without a word?" Uchiha Sogetsu remarked with a hint of sarcasm. "If word gets out, your reputation will be in shambles."
"Ninjas don't need fame," Hanzo replied in his low, gravelly voice. "As long as I kill you, no one will know."
Hanzo's weapon was unusual—a long-handled scythe with a chain attached at the end. At the far end of the chain was a heavy iron ball. He would typically entangle his enemies with the scythe and then swing the chain, using its force to smash the iron ball into them.
Whoosh!
The heavy iron ball tore through the air with a dull sound, signaling its deadly intent.
Hanzo felt confident.
If none of the Konoha Sannin could best him, what chance did this mere ANBU Jonin have?
In his mind, Hanzo had already rehearsed the entire battle:
"Uchiha kid will try to retreat and then use the Great Fireball Technique to stop me from pursuing. But that's fine—I can use the Water Flicker Technique to escape before he hits me, and then, while he's disoriented, I'll cut him down with one clean stroke!"
Unfortunately for Hanzo, he encountered Beyonder of "Spectator" Pathway.
Uchiha Sogetsu's eyes narrowed slightly, with shallow whirlpools swirling within his scarlet Sharingan.
While the Spectator pathway's direct combat ability ranks low among the "22 Pathway", even at bottom at early stages but it's adept at a form of observation akin to "mind reading."
It can sense hidden emotions, detect subtle hormonal changes, and even read faint facial expressions. This lets Uchiha Sogetsu accurately deduce what his target is thinking.
If Hanzo was strategizing at a higher level, then Sogetsu was already on a completely different plane of understanding.
As Hanzo adjusted his stance, Sogetsu anticipated his move. He swiftly twisted his waist and delivered a heavy side kick to Hanzo's lower ribs.
*Boom!*
The kick landed squarely on Hanzo's liver, sending a shock of pain through his body. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as his facial muscles twitched from the sudden agony, his mind momentarily blanking out.
"The legendary Hanzo of the Salamander isn't as formidable as they say," Uchiha Sogetsu remarked, standing in place without pressing the attack.
His demeanor was calm, almost as if he were waiting for Hanzo to regain his composure. "Even the most powerful ninja can't escape the ravages of time."
"Kid," Hanzo muttered through gritted teeth, glaring at his opponent. "You'll regret saying that!"
"Oh, will I? Let's see," Sogetsu replied, crossing his arms with a look of arrogance. His attitude only fueled Hanzo's rage.
"Very well, kid. You've managed to irritate me," Hanzo replied, biting his finger and pressing it against the ground with a look of fierce determination. "I didn't want to cause too much commotion, but you've left me no choice. Summoning Technique: Salamander Ibuse!"
*Bang!*
A massive cloud of smoke erupted out of nowhere. As the wind dispersed the smoke, a giant black salamander emerged, towering like a mountain.
"So, this is the famous Salamander?" Uchiha Sogetsu remarked, showing no signs of fear as he sized up the massive summoned beast. "Let's see what makes it so formidable."
"Ibuse, release the poison mist!"
Hanzo, standing atop the giant black salamander, commanded with a steely voice.
The salamander's belly swelled, and it spewed a dense cloud of purple poison from its mouth, infused with Hanzo's chakra. The mist was so thick that even the Sharingan couldn't penetrate it.
But the real problem was that the poisonous mist showed no signs of dissipating. Instead, with the aid of the wind, its range expanded, threatening to cover a radius of nearly a hundred meters.
"Your Sharingan won't help you here, kid."
Hanzo's voice echoed through the toxic fog, though his location remained hidden. "Ibuse's poison is lethal. An ordinary person only needs to inhale it for half a minute to become paralyzed, their heart will stop, and they'll be dead!"
He had complete confidence in the poison of Ibuse. Most of his victories were attributed to it. It was precisely because of this dangerous toxin that he had climbed the ranks to his current position.
"I beg to differ," replied Uchiha Sogetsu, standing in the midst of the fog. "Tsunade-sama has already developed an antidote for your Ibuse's toxin. Do you have anything new up your sleeve?"
A long silence filled the air from within the fog.
"Really, Lord Hanzo?" Uchiha Sogetsu said, rubbing his forehead in disbelief. "You once defeated Konoha Sannin, but that was six years ago. The proud toxin of Ibuse has long been neutralized by Tsunade-sama. Yet you still rely on it like it's your trump card?"
"Shut up, Uchiha brat!" Hanzo snapped, his veins bulging with anger, and his eyes turning bloodshot. "You may have an antidote for the poison, but do you really think you can defeat me?"
Boom!
The massive Ibuse stomped its legs, rumbling like a black mountain coming to life.
"Ha!"
Uchiha Sogetsu smirked, his eyes flashing with a hint of gold.
Suddenly, Ibuse froze in place.
To the beast, the small ninja in front of it seemed to transform into a giant gray dragon. In those golden eyes, a profound dark ocean surged with tremendous fury, radiating an intimidating, abyssal pressure.
"Begone!" Uchiha Sogetsu shouted, his eyes glowing light gold. His voice carried a force akin to a god's wrath.
The sheer intensity of the spiritual shockwave overwhelmed Ibuse, sending it fleeing back to its home.
"???"
Hanzo, left behind in the poisonous mist, was utterly confused.
********
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