"You killed Kandachi?"
Hanzō's eyes narrowed sharply. Kandachi was his top fighter—his "right hand."
"So, his name was Kandachi."
"You can still see his body if you go now."
Kawakaze stood with his sword drawn. After saving Tsunade, his emotions had settled, and he responded calmly to Hanzō's questioning.
"Then you can join Kandachi in death."
"Kenjutsu: Kusarigama Two-Stage Strike."
Hanzō leapt from the top of Ibuse's head, his kusarigama already sweeping toward Kawakaze's sword.
Ibuse remained stationary, continuing to gather poisonous mist.
Meanwhile, Tsunade had undone the Strength of a Hundred Technique, the Cursed Seal fading as she used the Mystical Palm Technique to heal Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
"Aren't you worried?" Jiraiya asked, surprised that Tsunade was focused on healing while Kawakaze fought Hanzō alone.
"He hasn't activated Sage Mode yet. He'll be fine," Tsunade replied, not pausing in her work. She was one of only two people who had seen Kawakaze's full strength in Sage Mode. The other, Kandachi, was already dead.
Using the Mystical Palm Technique with both hands, Tsunade treated Orochimaru and Jiraiya simultaneously.
"Just wait and see the power of Shikkotsu Forest's Senjutsu," she said arrogantly, a slug crawling onto her shoulder.
"We'll see," Orochimaru murmured, his gaze fixed on the duel between Hanzō and Kawakaze.
Kawakaze entered his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, swiftly evading the attacking chains and clashing with Hanzō in close combat.
He raised his sword to block Hanzō's downward slash, then struck diagonally at his opponent's side, each slash aimed to kill.
"Not bad at Kenjutsu," Hanzō remarked, still composed as he tightened his kusarigama to block Kawakaze's strikes.
"Your Kenjutsu is just so-so," Kawakaze countered with a faint smirk, his relentless attacks targeting Hanzō's vital points.
For a moment, Hanzō was forced entirely onto the defensive, unable to continue the exchange of words.
Kawakaze's eyes flicked toward Ibuse, now readying its condensed poisonous mist, giving him a clearer sense of Hanzō's combat strategy.
"Sage Art: Thunderclap and Flash—One Flash of Lightning."
Activating Sage Mode, Kawakaze's body radiated with thunder, his speed increasing dramatically.
Recognizing the danger, Hanzō quickly used the Water Body Flicker Technique to evade a strike aimed at his chest, reappearing at a safe distance.
However, Kawakaze showed no interest in pursuing him—his target lay elsewhere.
"Sage Art: Gate of the Great God!"
Six massive red torii gates descended from the sky, precisely targeting Ibuse, who was poised to release its poisonous mist.
The gates pinned Ibuse's limbs, head, and tail firmly to the ground just as it began to open its mouth.
A gust of dust erupted, mingled with Ibuse's anguished screams.
When the dust settled, the six red torii gates were firmly in place, sealing Ibuse's chakra. Though traces of poisonous mist still leaked from its mouth, the beast no longer had the strength to expel it.
"Kenjutsu: Flaming Thunder God!"
Kawakaze moved at an unimaginable speed, so fast that the friction with the air ignited flames around him. From afar, he appeared like a fire-breathing thunder dragon.
In one swift motion, he dashed past Ibuse's neck.
Ibuse didn't even have the chance to dissipate into smoke; its head was severed cleanly.
The massive head toppled to the side, and blood gushed forth like a river.
It all happened so quickly that Hanzō had no time to intervene.
"Ibuse!" Hanzō cried out in anguish.
Ibuse had been more than just a summoning beast—it was a trusted companion that had fought beside him for years. Watching it die before his eyes, Hanzō's composure shattered.
Consumed by grief and rage, Hanzō charged at Kawakaze like a man possessed.
"Thunderclap and Flash: Ninefold."
Kawakaze once again transformed into a blur of lightning, leaving a trail of scorched earth in his wake.
Hanzō, unable to keep up with Kawakaze's speed, relied on the Water Body Flicker Technique to evade.
But Kawakaze anticipated this. As water droplets sprayed from Hanzō's escape, Kawakaze struck with precision, slicing both Hanzō and his kusarigama cleanly in half.
Hanzō's eyes widened in disbelief.
His death was brutal—his severed body parts were charred black, with not a single drop of blood spilled.
The so-called Demi-God of the Ninja World met his end in silence, a tragic figure consumed by defeat.
Disengaging Sage Mode and sheathing the Eight-Sided Han Sword, Kawakaze walked back to Tsunade and the others.
"It's over," he said.
"Yes, it's finally over," Jiraiya replied, his voice tinged with relief.
"It's only the end of one chapter," Orochimaru remarked, his gaze lingering on the Amegakure ninja who had already begun to scatter and flee. He made no move to pursue them. A crueler war loomed ahead—this was merely the beginning.
"Are you hurt?"
Tsunade withdrew her hands from Jiraiya and Orochimaru, then stood, placing a steadying hand on Kawakaze's arm. After a brief examination, she confirmed he had only lost some chakra, and her expression softened with relief.
"Isn't my Shikkotsu Forest Senjutsu very powerful?" Lady Katsuyu said smugly, pride evident in her tone.
"It seems like I should make a trip to the Ryūchi Cave," Orochimaru mused. At this point, he had yet to delve into immortality research, but the display of Sage Mode's power stirred a longing in his heart.
"You be careful..." Lady Katsuyu began, initially intending to warn him. However, as she observed Orochimaru's unflinching snake-like pupils, she decided against it. This man likely wouldn't mind any serpentine traits that Sage Mode might bring.
"Regardless of what happens next, we should return for now," Kawakaze suggested. He knew the inevitable next step: war with the Land of Wind. The true goal of the Land of Fire's martial faction was never the small Land of Rain.
"Then let's go," Tsunade said, taking the lead as she exited the valley.
The Konoha ninjas began regrouping, and Katsuyu handed Tsunade an antidote it had retrieved from Hanzō before returning to the Shikkotsu Forest.
It had to be said—Lady Katsuyu was remarkably thorough in her work, even retrieving valuable items from fallen enemies like a meticulous scavenger.
With Hanzō dead, there was no need to pursue the fleeing Amegakure ninja. In the original timeline, after Hanzō defeated Tsunade and the others, he signed a ceasefire agreement with Konoha, which then shifted its focus to the Land of Wind.
Now, that ceasefire agreement would never happen. The Land of Rain would face a devastating civil war in the absence of its leader.
A nation without leadership could only rise again through war or risk annexation. However, with the Land of Rain serving as a buffer among the three great nations, none would dare to occupy it outright—it would provoke conflict from all sides.
Hanzō's death also threatened to destabilize the delicate balance the Land of Rain had maintained, leaving it vulnerable to endless strife.
Kawakaze and the remaining troops left the valley. Along the way, they encountered Sakumo and Duy, leading victorious Konoha ninjas who had come to provide reinforcements.
"Is Hanzō dead?" Sakumo asked, his sharp instincts deducing from the situation that Kawakaze's earlier battle had been more than it appeared.
"He's as dead as he can be," Kawakaze replied firmly.
"Kawakaze defeated Hanzō of the Salamander single-handedly. His strength is unfathomable," Orochimaru added, rare praise escaping his lips. For the first time, he recognized a force in the world he might trust, his cold smile carrying an oddly captivating charm.
"Well done," Duy said simply. His raised thumb and the respect in his gaze conveyed his sentiments better than words could.