Chapter 48

Even Hanzo had not anticipated it. Konoha was preparing to attack the Land of Rain. Originally, Hanzo believed that the two great nations were just engaged in the usual conflict along their border.

But when Konoha's army appeared outside the Rain Shinobi Village, Hanzo of the Salamander was taken aback. He quickly rushed to the front line to confront the Fourth Hokage, Ryan.

As Hanzo looked at the young Fourth Hokage standing before him, he found himself momentarily undecided. "Fourth Hokage," he said, his voice deep and uncertain. "What is the meaning of Konoha's actions? Are you intending to start a war with Amekagure?"

In response to Hanzo's words, Ryan wore a playful smile on his face and replied, "Indeed, that is precisely What we are going to do."

Hearing Ryan's answer, Hanzo's eyes were instantly filled with a dangerous light. His gaze shifted towards the three individuals standing beside Ryan—Jiraiya and the other two Sannin.

As he looked at the three individuals who were once bestowed with the title of Konoha Sannin, Hanzo's face contorted with ridicule.

"So, that old guy, Sarutobi Hiruzen, did not pass on the mantle of Hokage to any of you three!" he scoffed. "It is true that as you age, you become senile. It seems that Konoha truly has no one left, having chosen such an unknown young man as the Hokage!"

Before Jiraiya Could respond to Hanzo's words. They heard Ryan taunting the demigod of the shinobi world, "Did you forget you are also an old man, Hanzo?"

Instead, they stared coldly at the former ninja demigod before them. Hanzo, awaiting a reply from the three, found himself instead facing another taunt from Ryan.

"Does the so-called demigod of the ninja world now need to rely on sentimentality as he grows older?" Ryan jeered.

Hanzo, no longer interested in prolonging the conversation, fixed a cold stare at Ryan. As he looked at Ryan standing in front of him, Hanzo's wariness grew. How could someone as young as Ryan become the Fourth Hokage and hold Konoha in such high regard? And that was when there were individuals like three Sannins, Sukumo Hatake and Minato. It was clear that Ryan was no ordinary individual.

However, as Ryan continued to mock Hanzo, referring to him as a demigod, Hanzo couldn't help but grow angry. "The Fourth Hokage is indeed young," he retorted. "But there are countless examples in the ninja world of those who perished young."

As soon as Hanzo's voice fell, countless shuriken rushed towards Ryan in an instant. Simultaneously, Hanzo swiftly formed hand seals.. Fully aware that Konoha had come prepared for this battle, Hanzo knew there was no avoiding it—he had to act first.

"What a clumsy approach!" Ryan calmly muttered in response. "You are already half a year too late!"

In an instant, an invisible repulsive force, Shinra Tensei, swept across the battlefield.

Hanzo's salamander, which was summoned by Hanzo earlier, was directly struck and vanished. Realizing the dire situation, Hanzo quickly used the Body Replacement Technique to evade, leaving the spot just in time.

Boom! As Hanzo evaded, the place where he had stood was blasted apart by the repulsive force, creating a large hole. Observing this scene, Hanzo's pupils contracted.

"What ability is this?" he wondered. "There are no seals! Gravity ninjutsu? No, a bloodline?"

Filled with doubts, Hanzo gazed at Ryan in shock. However, before Hanzo could utter a word, he suddenly felt a terrifying suction pulling at his body. "What?!" he exclaimed.

At that moment, Ryan raised his hands, pointing directly at himself. Universal Pull! Having almost mastered the basic abilities of the Rinnegan, Ryan sought to test his powers against Hanzo.

The fundamental abilities of attraction and repulsion rendered Hanzo utterly helpless.

As Hanzo's were pulled by the Universal Pull, Ryan unleashed Shinra Tensei once more. The two forces acted upon Hanzo instantaneously.

"Puff!" A mouthful of blood sprayed from Hanzo's mouth, and he felt the impact of the attack. With just one blow, Hanzo realized that his internal organs had been damaged.

Panic welled up within him. How could he fight against such an enemy? More than half of his methods had been rendered useless. The life-or-death situation left Hanzo with no choice but to quickly employ the Summoning technique again.

Boom! A massive cloud of smoke emerged, revealing a colossal salamander on the battlefield. With each breath, the salamander unleashed countless toxic gases, spreading across the field. The Rain Shinobi, prepared for this situation, quickly donned gas masks.

"Be careful!" Jiraiya cautioned Ryan with a vigilant expression. "Hanzo is known as a demigod largely due to this salamander and its poisonous abilities."

As the salamander appeared, Ryan stood before the army, ready to act. Just as Hanzo anticipated, a kunai was swiftly thrown to intercept the venomous spray.

"You certainly know how to cause trouble," Ryan remarked.

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