The rain continued to pour relentlessly as Hanzo and his Ame ninja finally arrived at the plaza. They stopped, scrutinizing the stranger who had appeared so suddenly. Hanzo, once regarded as a demigod, was a man who knew no fear—or at least would never admit to it. But as he looked at this stranger, whose presence seemed to dominate the entire plaza, he felt something unusual. It was a feeling of unease, touching him deep within his soul, a sensation he hadn't felt in years.
Standing beside Hanzo was Danzo Shimura, the shadow from Konoha, always with a plan in mind. His cold, single-eyed gaze scrutinized Akai with growing distrust. He, too, sensed that something was wrong. Danzo was no fool—he could sense danger, and the aura of this man, casually standing between Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, was overwhelming. Danzo knew that things could quickly become dangerous here. His instincts screamed at him to prepare for a retreat. But before he could process another thought, he saw Akai slowly turn away from the three teenagers and fix his gaze directly on him.
Akai had gently released Konan from his arms and positioned himself in front of Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan. His posture shifted. What had once been that of a benevolent young man now became the stance of a ruler, a man whose strength and superiority could be perceived by everyone. His eyes glinted coldly, his expression resolute as he advanced toward Danzo.
The silence on the plaza was overwhelming. None of the Ame ninja dared to move. Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan stood speechless behind Akai, their thoughts racing. They were still in shock from how he had just saved them from certain death. Their hearts pounded, their gazes filled with questions. Who was this man who had changed their fate with a mere flick of his fingers?
Suddenly, Akai's voice broke the silence. He fixed Danzo with a gaze dripping with disgust and contempt.
"Someone like you…" Akai began slowly, his words laced with disdain, "who feeds on war, blood, intrigue, and malice, has no place in this world. This world is already poisoned—you're nothing but another tumor."
For a moment, the seasoned manipulator Danzo was frozen. Something in Akai's words pierced through his facade of calm. But before he could formulate a response, Akai raised his hand, moving it slowly, almost leisurely, from left to right. The motion was so gentle, it almost seemed casual.
Yet, in the next second, the unthinkable happened.
Danzo's eyes widened in shock as he felt a sharp, invisible cut slice through the air. A faint hissing was all that could be heard. Then, as if in slow motion, the heads of Danzo and his loyal Root followers rolled from their shoulders. A dozen men—including Danzo himself—fell lifelessly to the ground, even before anyone could truly comprehend death. Not a drop of blood splattered. It was so clean, so precise, that it seemed almost inhuman.
A deep, unsettling silence fell over the plaza.
Akai lowered his hand as if nothing had happened, as if he had merely brushed dust off his fingers. His gaze remained cold as he cast one last look at the lifeless bodies of the Root followers and Danzo's bloodless corpse.
"Scum," he murmured softly, his voice filled with icy indifference.
Then he snapped his fingers, and in the next instant, the lifeless bodies ignited in blue flames. The flames devoured them in seconds, so hot that not even ash remained. It was as if they had never existed.
The sight was so surreal that no one reacted at first. Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan stood motionless, their minds overwhelmed by what they had just witnessed. They had grown up in the world of ninja, a world where violence and death were everyday occurrences—but this? They had never seen anything like it.
Yahiko's eyes were wide open, his mind racing. What on earth is this man? he wondered. He killed Danzo and his men as if it were nothing. And those flames… A shiver ran down his spine. But at the same time, he felt something else—a hope rising deep within him. Maybe… maybe there really is someone strong enough to change this world…
Nagato, naturally more cautious and thoughtful, felt a similar wave of uncertainty. His eyes narrowed as he watched Akai. Is he a god? Nagato wondered. Or something far more terrifying?
Konan, on the other hand, was frozen. She felt the tremor in her limbs, her thoughts swirling in confusion. But deep in her heart, a spark of relief—and respect—was born. This stranger had saved her. Whoever he was… she owed him her life.
The Ame ninja surrounding Hanzo barely dared to breathe. All of them had their hands on their weapons, ready to fight if necessary—but deep down, they knew they didn't stand a chance against this man. The stranger was beyond their imagination, and the way he had killed Danzo had shown each of them the insignificance of their own strength.
Hanzo, the demigod who was unwaveringly regarded as the most powerful man in Amegakure, suddenly felt small and weak. His heart raced, sweat dripping down his forehead despite the relentless rain. He had seen many powerful men in his life, fought countless battles—but this? This was different. Akai was no ordinary person. Hanzo didn't know what he was, but he sensed that he was facing something far beyond his abilities.
When Akai now turned his gaze to Hanzo, the former demigod felt a chill run through his body. Akai showed no aggression—yet that was what made it so terrifying. His mere presence pressed down on Hanzo like an insurmountable weight.
Akai spoke, his words like a death sentence: "Now we come to you, demigod Hanzo the Salamander."
Hanzo's breath caught. His knees trembled slightly. For the first time in his life, he felt true fear—not of death, but of the unknown standing before him.