The Rain Falls
The air was heavy with tension, the sound of rainfall pattering against the broken remnants of Amegakure's devastated landscape. The thick mist hung like a shroud, thick enough to obscure the movements of the combatants. The world felt as though it held its breath, waiting for the explosion of power that was about to unfold.
In the distance, Konoha's Three Sannin stood tall, resolute, and ready for the fight of their lives. The time had come to test their newfound abilities against the infamous Hanzō of the Salamander, a man whose reputation for slaughter was only rivaled by his desire to test the strength of others.
Jiraiya, the first of the Sannin, stood at the forefront, his eyes sharp and focused. The transformation that had taken place within him was undeniable. His connection to Sage Mode was now complete, and the natural energy flowed through his veins with a power that resonated throughout the battlefield. But there was more to Jiraiya now. His eyes had begun to shift, his transformation more than just physical—it was spiritual, elevating him to a true Sage.
Tsunade, standing to his right, was no less prepared. Her chakra surged, a tidal wave of energy that matched the ferocity of her ancestors. With the return of her Senju bloodline, her power was no longer just her own. Her body had tapped into the legacy of her grandfather, Asura Ōtsutsuki, and the result was nothing short of extraordinary. She could feel the Wood Style growing within her, intertwined with her Senju chakra, forming an unbreakable connection that would amplify her strength tenfold.
And then there was Orochimaru, the most dangerous of the three. A twisted smile played on his lips as he stood silently, his gaze flickering with excitement. He had always been one for experimentation, but now, his body had merged with his chakra seed, giving him power that stretched beyond his usual boundaries. His Dead Bone Pulse fused into his very essence, and he felt his bones shift with an eerie energy—an energy he had long sought but could never fully obtain until now.
"Let's finish this," Jiraiya murmured, cracking his knuckles.
Tsunade's eyes gleamed with determination. "We're not here for just a fight—we're here to end this."
And with that, the storm began.
The Rise of Hanzō
Out of the mist, Hanzō of the Salamander emerged, his massive figure cutting through the haze like a god of war. His presence was overwhelming—intimidating, terrifying. The battle-hardened warrior was not just another opponent; he was a legend. His eyes glinted with the kind of confidence that came only with age and the certainty of countless victories.
"I see Konoha's Sannin have come to play," Hanzō's voice resonated, deep and measured. "But do you truly believe you can defeat me? I've been through worse battles than this. This is where your legend ends."
Jiraiya smirked, his eyes narrowing as he prepared for the inevitable clash. "You'll have to do more than stand there and talk to stop us, Hanzō."
With a flash, Hanzō was gone, and the battle erupted.
The Battle Unleashed
Tsunade launched herself into the fray, her fists pounding against the ground, sending shockwaves that tore through the terrain. The Wood Style she had inherited surged from her body, wrapping around her enemies, constricting them with brutal strength. With every swing, her chakra resonated with the power of Asura Ōtsutsuki, amplifying the sheer might of her blows.
Orochimaru, ever calculating, moved through the battlefield like a shadow. His serpents surged from the earth, attacking with venomous precision. He moved with unnatural grace, his fusion with the Dead Bone Pulse giving him an edge few could anticipate. His body was now an ever-shifting form of bone and chakra, allowing him to break and reform in ways that defied reason.
Jiraiya was everywhere. His toads summoned in a cascade of energy, each one more powerful than the last. Sage Mode was in full effect as he channeled the energies of nature, sending wind, fire, and earth crashing down upon their foes. But it was his newfound true Sage power that truly separated him from the past. The energy was like nothing he had ever felt—raw, untamed, and yet perfectly controlled.
But as they fought, the rain grew more intense, and the battlefield began to shift. Hanzō was not only a master of combat but a tactician of the highest order. He unleashed his poison techniques, engulfing the Sannin in a mist of deadly gas that clouded their vision and choked the air.
For a moment, Jiraiya's senses dulled, but his Sage Mode flared, clearing the poison. Tsunade was unfazed, but the real test was yet to come.
Tsunade's Injury
Amidst the chaos of the battle, Tsunade overextended herself. Her attacks were powerful, but she grew careless for a moment. A sudden strike from one of Hanzō's salamanders caught her off-guard, and the blow sent her crashing to the ground. The impact left a deep gash across her abdomen—her chakra reserves fluctuated, and the force of the wound left her breathless.
She winced but refused to fall. Her Senju bloodline was an unyielding force, and already, her cells began to regenerate. The gash would heal in no time, but the shock of the injury rattled her.
Watching from a distance, Ryūsei's eyes locked onto Tsunade. His heart skipped a beat as he saw her wounded. For the briefest moment, his Ōtsutsuki bloodline surged—his Uchiha heritage reacting instinctively to the raw emotion of the moment.
The Sharingan flickered into existence in his eyes, its crimson gaze more intense than ever. As his chakra surged in response to the awakening of his Mangekyō Sharingan, Ryūsei's entire body trembled with power. The fusion of his Uchiha and Ōtsutsuki bloodlines had reached its zenith, far ahead of schedule. The Mangekyō Sharingan had awakened earlier than anticipated, and with it came new abilities, new insight into the world.
As his eyes glowed with an ethereal light, he felt the weight of his power, and yet, it felt as though this was only the beginning. The moment he felt the shift in his abilities, he turned his attention back to the battlefield, preparing himself for what would come next.
The Sannin's Strength
As Tsunade continued to fight, her chakra grew unstable for a moment, but the Senju regeneration quickly took over. She stood tall again, the wound completely healed in an instant. Her Asura Ōtsutsuki power surged through her, and with a yell, she slammed her fist into the ground again, shaking the earth beneath them. The battlefield shook, and Hanzō was momentarily knocked off balance by the sheer force.
Orochimaru's body shifted like a snake, his serpents moving with a mind of their own as he summoned more from the depths. His Dead Bone Pulse allowed him to regenerate his own bones, reshaping them into weapons to assault his enemies.
Jiraiya, now fully immersed in true Sage Mode, summoned his most powerful toad to the battlefield. Its size was colossal, and it crashed down upon the enemies with devastating force. But beneath it all, Jiraiya's eyes glowed with the essence of true Sage power, his form pulsing with energy that had reached beyond his previous limits.
The battle between the two forces raged on, neither side willing to give up an inch. Hanzō was powerful, but the combined might of the Sannin was overwhelming.
End of Chapter 39