Hanzo didn't like betting, especially with Byakuya. From his experience, no matter whom he bet on, unexpected events always seemed to unfold in Byakuya's favor. Even if he wins, there were few benefits. Heck, he might even be outsmarted by Byakuya.
I mean, if he had the capacity to even race Byakuya, he wouldn't have become Byakuya's bitch.
Thinking of this, Hanzo smiled at Byakuya, "Byakuya, I trust your judgment. So, I'll bet on you to win!"
Hearing this, Byakuya immediately lost interest in the bet. When did this old man become so shrewd? Had Hanzo regained his intellect after stepping down from the position of Demi-God?
While Byakuya and Hanzo quietly observed, the atmosphere between Kakuzu and the Uchiha ninjas grew increasingly tense. They eyed each other warily, ready to strike at any moment.
For Kakuzu, the Sharingan wasn't as valuable as the Byakugan, but the bounty for Uchiha was still substantial. If he could eliminate these Uchihas, he wouldn't have to worry about food and drink for years. The only problem was that he wasn't confident he could defeat this group.
The Uchiha were not ordinary ninjas. It was because they had the advantage of their bloodline limit and were known for working in teams. If he couldn't quickly resolve the two Uchiha squads in front of him, prolonged combat might attract nearby Konoha ninjas, leading to a potential siege by Konoha forces.
Therefore, Kakuzu hesitated, unsure whether to make a move.
The Uchiha were also hesitant. Although they were notoriously arrogant, they still held genuine respect for true power. Kakuzu, despite being a rogue ninja, had been active since the Warring States period, surviving encounters with the "God of Shinobi" and making a formidable name for himself in the underground black market.
Frankly, Kakuzu was among the strongest ninjas in the world. Perhaps only Fugaku, the Uchiha clan leader, could rival him.
After a tense standoff, Kakuzu's greed for money overcame his caution. He quickly created distance and performed a series of hand seals: "Fire Style: Fire Torrent!"
In an instant, Kakuzu spewed a torrent of flames from his mouth, engulfing the Uchiha in front of him. The massive fire surged like a tidal wave, the heat swiftly scorching the forest floor and turning the trees into charred husks, filling the air with the acrid smell of smoke.
The Uchiha, having already dispersed, activated their Sharingan and glared fiercely at Kakuzu.
Kakuzu using Fire Release, a technique the Uchiha prided themselves on, was an outright insult to their pride. Drawing their kunai and short swords, the Uchiha vanished from their positions and launched an attack on Kakuzu.
Among them was Shisui Uchiha, leading the charge. He had hoped to avoid this conflict, believing that there was no need for the Uchiha and the rogue ninja Kakuzu to fight—perhaps because neither his clan nor he excelled at negotiations.
Dodging Kakuzu's fireball, Shisui formed a single-handed seal, splitting into two clones to flank Kakuzu. After a feint, Shisui slashed at Kakuzu's arm with his short sword, feeling a brief sense of relief.
For a ninja, losing an arm was almost worse than losing their life. Both hand seals and attacks typically required two hands. A ninja who lost an arm was usually unable to continue their career, and even someone as powerful as Kakuzu would lose a significant portion of their combat ability.
However, just then, the severed arm flew back to Kakuzu's body, and the wound stitched itself up within seconds.
Seeing this, Shisui's momentary relief turned to alarm. He cautiously retreated to his team. A ninja who had once fought the First Hokage was no ordinary opponent. The ability to heal such a wound so quickly explained why no one had managed to kill Kakuzu over the years. This was going to be a tough battle.
Kakuzu also realized the gravity of the situation. Though he hadn't lost a heart yet, he could sense Shisui's formidable prowess. Shisui's reaction speed was extraordinary with the addition of the surrounding Uchiha who were constantly using genjutsu to disrupt him.
Thanks to his Earth Grudge Fear, Kakuzu could break free from genjutsu, but every time he dispelled one, another would follow, making it a relentless onslaught.
Taking a deep breath, Kakuzu reached into his body, extracting three masks from his stitched-up torso. The upcoming battle was going to require his full effort.
As Kakuzu and Shisui fought, Byakuya sat on a tree branch, observing as a spectator. Intervening in such an intense battle now would neither suit his style nor allow him to enjoy the thrilling spectacle. If only he had learned White Zetsu's video recording technique, he would have liked to document it.
Hanzo seemed to share the enjoyment of being a spectator, attentively watching the fight between the Uchiha ninjas and Kakuzu, while also occasionally showing a thoughtful expression.
At this moment, Kakuzu started pulling out his masks, preparing to unleash the Five Elements Jutsu. With the support of Earth Grudge Fear and his five hearts, Kakuzu unleashed a torrent of ninjutsu without restraint. The destructive power was considerable, and the effects were dazzling, reducing the surrounding forest to a flat, charred wasteland.
Seeing this scene, Byakuya felt a bit puzzled and asked Hanzo beside him, "I heard that the Third Hokage is proficient in the Five Nature Transformations. How does he compare to Kakuzu? Who is stronger?"
"I don't know…" Hanzo replied, sticking to his usual tactic of evading questions he didn't want to answer.
"Hmm?" Byakuya frowned. "Hanzo-senpai, you were once known as the Demi-God. Haven't you ever fought the Third Hokage? How did you earn that title?"
Hanzo frowned, sensing Byakuya might have some misconceptions. He began to explain.
Village leaders were indeed the strongest ninjas in their villages, but they didn't go around challenging each other to duels. His experiences were rooted in the great ninja wars, not street brawls. His title of Demi-God came from his terrifying dominance on the battlefield. With his salamander partner, he could decimate enemy troops swiftly.
Besides, boasting about one's opponents was a common tactic in the ninja world. Losing provided an excuse, while winning enhanced one's own reputation. Through mutual exaggeration, titles like Demi-God and the Strongest Hokage emerged.
After listening to Hanzo's explanation, Byakuya countered, "I think there are plenty of village leaders who engaged in duels. The Second Mizukage and Second Tsuchikage, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, and even the Third Raikage, who recently had to face an entire army alone."
Hanzo's expression shifted. Byakuya always seemed to poke holes in his statements. Those figures were monsters among ninjas. Ordinary ninjas got hurt when struck and died when killed.
Byakuya didn't give Hanzo more time to explain. Seeing that both Kakuzu and the Uchiha had worn each other out, he leaped from the tree branch and headed towards the battlefield.
It was time to clean up and reap the benefits.