Chapter 138: Hanzo

Hanzo of the Salamander, the demigod of the ninja world.

After the deaths of the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara, he was regarded as one of the strongest shinobi alive, standing at the pinnacle of the ninja world.

Orochimaru had thoroughly analyzed Hanzo's strength based on the intelligence he had gathered. Hanzo wasn't just a legend in the memories of his past life, his power was very real. Orochimaru was certain that even Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, might struggle against him in a direct fight.

A person acknowledged by the Five Great Nations and given the title of "demigod" had to be much stronger than your average Kage-level ninja. At this point in time, Hanzo was likely at his peak, comparable to the likes of the Third Raikage. Though their combat styles differed, their destructive power was undoubtedly on the same level.

Facing such a formidable enemy stirred excitement in Orochimaru. This was the first truly powerful opponent he had encountered since arriving in this world.

Orochimaru had approached this war with a certain ease. Under normal circumstances, he didn't even need to engage directly in battle. He could simply issue weapons and orders from a distance. His last fight was only because they had been nearby when Hyuga Ryuichi and his squad sent out a distress signal.

But this time...

"Here, take these antidotes," Tsunade said as they ran, pulling out two portable syringes from her ninja pouch. She handed one each to Jiraiya and Orochimaru. "I've made a temporary antidote based on the toxins extracted from previous victims of Hanzo."

The syringes looked like small test tubes with needles sealed by transparent caps, ready to be used at a moment's notice.

Taking the antidote, Jiraiya grinned. "Tsunade, you're incredible! The speed at which you make antidotes is unmatched. No one else in the entire ninja world could pull that off!"

"Don't flatter me," Tsunade replied, rolling her eyes. "I just don't want to be a burden to you two."

Tsunade had always thought of herself as a talented shinobi, a proud descendant of the Senju clan with formidable abilities. For a long time, she had even looked down on Jiraiya. But after fighting alongside him for so long, she had come to realize that Jiraiya was now stronger than her, which made her uneasy.

It wasn't a surprise that she couldn't match Orochimaru, he had always been gifted. But Jiraiya? Why had he suddenly pulled ahead of her? The realization sparked a sense of insecurity she couldn't quite shake.

Jiraiya was about to say something when Orochimaru interrupted, "Do you have an extra antidote?"

"Yeah, I do," Tsunade answered, slightly puzzled. "Why?"

"Give me another one," Orochimaru said nonchalantly, taking an extra syringe from her without further explanation.

---

The sky continued to drizzle, the rain unrelenting as it soaked the battlefield.

In a hilly area, a man stood tall, his posture commanding. He wore a helmet, a gas mask, a raincoat, and the vest of Amegakure. His presence radiated strength, making him seem like an unstoppable force—a god of war.

This man was Hanzo of the Salamander.

Opposite him stood five Konoha shinobi, their expressions tense and fearful. Though they outnumbered him, none of them dared to make a move.

Encircling the battle were several other Amegakure ninja, watching the scene unfold. They observed their leader with a certain air of confidence, knowing Hanzo could easily crush these intruders.

To the people of Amegakure, the shinobi from the three great nations—Konoha, Iwa, and Suna were nothing more than invaders, destroyers of their homeland. They felt no sympathy for these outsiders.

"Come on, show me your real strength," Hanzo taunted, his voice calm but full of disdain. He held a chain in his hand, swinging it slowly as he observed the Konoha ninjas. "With this level of power, you'll never defeat me."

To Hanzo, these Konoha shinobi were nothing more than ants. Just like Uchiha Madara had once regarded most ninjas, Hanzo saw no worthy opponents here.

"Damn it… we can't do anything…"

"This… this is a demigod…"

"We don't stand a chance!"

Facing the demigod of the ninja world, the Konoha ninjas had lost their fighting spirit. They stood frozen, paralyzed by fear.

Seeing this, Hanzo's eyes flashed with mild irritation. "So, you've already given up? Hmph, what a waste."

He turned his back to them, losing interest in the fight. To Hanzo, battling shinobi who had already surrendered mentally wasn't worth his time.

But just because Hanzo had lost interest didn't mean his subordinates had. The moment he turned away, the Rain ninja lunged forward, quickly overpowering the Konoha ninjas and leaving them writhing on the ground, defeated and helpless.

As the Rain ninja moved in for the kill, ready to eliminate the Konoha shinobi once and for all, a loud *boom* echoed across the battlefield, drawing everyone's attention.

All eyes turned toward the source of the sound.

Three figures stood in the rain, wearing Konoha uniforms and raincoats. Two men and one woman.

Even Hanzo's eyes narrowed slightly. "Judging from where you're coming from… you must be something special."

Jiraiya, standing in the center, was the one to speak. "You must be Hanzo of the Salamander, the so-called demigod of the ninja world, right?"

Despite Orochimaru being the strongest of the three, Jiraiya often took the lead in situations like this, especially when it came to direct confrontation. Their dynamic was clear, Jiraiya was the frontline attacker, Orochimaru was the strategist and controller, and Tsunade provided medical support.

Jiraiya's brash nature made him a natural fit for this role, and now, as they approached their target, he stood proudly in the center, his confidence practically radiating.

"Who the hell is this kid?" one of the Rain ninja grumbled. "How dare he address Lord Hanzo by name?"

"Unforgivable!" another one shouted. "Hey, brat! Show some respect!"

Ignoring their chatter, Jiraiya smirked. "Looks like we've found the right person."

"Oh?" Hanzo's expression remained neutral, though his interest was piqued. "So, you came here specifically for me?"

"That's right!" Jiraiya declared, his voice loud and confident. "Our mission is to defeat you!"

Hearing this, Hanzo remained silent, but the Rain ninja couldn't contain their laughter. They burst into fits of amusement as if they had just heard the funniest joke of their lives.

"Hahaha! Did I hear that right?"

"This idiot says he's going to defeat Lord Hanzo? What a joke!"

"Another group of kids who don't know their place!"

*Whoosh!*

A black blur flashed across the battlefield.

Orochimaru had already sprung into action. "Leave them to me. You focus on Hanzo."