Filthy—this was beyond filthy.
Surrounded by the poisonous mist, Salamander Hanzō's mind was filled only with contempt toward Gekko Chizan.
As a ninja, ambushes and sneak attacks were normal. But someone like this brat—hiding off to the side and constantly firing underhanded sneak attacks—was just too dirty.
The surrounding Iwagakure ninjas retreated swiftly, leaving only Hanzō within the thick, dark-purple poison fog.
After all, that kind of toxin wasn't something to play with—just breathing in a little was enough to kill.
"Tsk tsk, he's really keeping his cool, huh?"
"Tell me, my three Serpent Princesses—how should we deal with him?"
Gekko Chizan wasn't in a hurry at all. With the three Snake Princesses by his side, he was expending no energy whatsoever.
But the same couldn't be said for the poison mist. Even if the Salamander's toxic gas could be released continuously for a long time, it wasn't infinite.
"Hmph! Brat, you still won't come out?"
"You do realize this is the Land of Fire, right? If I keep releasing my poison gas…"
"Nothing will grow in this area ever again."
Seeing no response from Chizan, Hanzō could only continue to taunt. He had no other options.
For the first time, the man known as a demigod felt truly humiliated.
"Clang!"
Suddenly, a kunai was thrown toward him. He swung his weapon, deflecting it easily.
"You little bastard! I knew you were still—"
The attack ignited his fury—but before he could even finish shouting, a figure appeared right in front of him.
A long serpent lashed out, touching Hanzō's body. In the next instant, both Hanzō and the salamander beneath him vanished.
At the same time, Gekko Chizan disappeared as well.
Salamander Ibuse froze. His master? His enemy? Where had they gone?
...
When the two reappeared, they were already midair.
"You damn brat! You actually—!"
Feeling himself falling, Salamander Hanzō's rage exploded.
Meanwhile, Gekko Chizan slowly released his Transparent Release, his body emanating an eerie glow. Red, blue, and green serpents coiled around him—the sign of Sage Mode.
Unlike Hanzō, who was plummeting downward, Chizan floated calmly in the air, gazing down at him.
"Old man, you really need to step it up."
"What's the point of fighting on the ground? I brought you up here—don't you think that's better?"
"Or is it too boring for you?"
"Fine then..."
Chizan smirked slyly and brought his hands together.
Crystalline senbon began forming all around him.
"If I remember correctly, your Amegakure has a technique called 'Senbon Shower,' doesn't it?"
"Let's see if my Crystal Release lives up to your standards!"
Countless crystal senbon shot toward Hanzō.
Normally, an attack like this would never trouble him—but this wasn't a normal situation.
In midair, with nowhere to dodge and gravity working against him, Hanzō was completely at a disadvantage.
Still, he was the man known as a demigod of the ninja world. Even in such dire straits, not a flicker of panic crossed his face.
"Hmph! You damn brat!"
He tossed a handful of explosive tags into the sky, forming hand seals with one hand. His eyes flared wide as the tags detonated above him.
Infused with chakra, the explosive tags erupted in a massive chain reaction, blanketing the air overhead.
The explosion's power offset the rain of senbon—while the shockwave propelled Hanzō downward even faster.
"You little bastard!"
"I'll kill you for sure!"
The roaring wind filled his ears as fury nearly drove him mad.
And just then, Gekko Chizan's lips curled upward.
[Ding! The host's relentless actions have disgusted Salamander Hanzō to his very core, shattering his perception of combat. Special reward: Ninjutsu Power +5%.]
As expected of the so-called Demigod of the Ninja World—the reward was pretty nice.
Still, hearing Hanzō's furious roars, Chizan didn't intend to let him off.
"Oh? That's not enough?"
"I didn't expect someone of your stature to make that kind of request."
"So you think I'm hitting too lightly, huh? Fine!"
"I'll add a little more force!"
Channeling natural energy, Chizan's voice carried clearly into Hanzō's ears.
Crystal Release surged, and massive crystalline boulders began materializing in the sky.
"If senbon aren't enough for you, let's try some rocks."
"I hope you enjoy this, old man."
"Fall!"
Countless crystalline boulders rained down from above.
The sight left Hanzō wide-eyed in disbelief.
"Damn it!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Those boulders weren't something senbon could compare to—getting hit by one would be devastating.
With no choice left, Hanzō gathered chakra and unleashed a massive water dragon from his mouth.
The roaring dragon coiled around him, surging upward toward the sky.
"Oh? You can use Water Release even midair?"
"Then I have to test that!"
"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
A gigantic fireball blazed through the air, turning the entire sky crimson.
Even the raging water dragon seemed pitiful beneath that overwhelming heat.
That display of Fire Release left Hanzō stunned.
But as a veteran of countless battles, his surprise didn't last.
He quickly altered his jutsu—the water dragon stopped surging upward and instead curled around him defensively.
"Boom!"
Water and fire collided, followed by a barrage of falling boulders.
In an instant, the sky changed color. The watching Iwagakure ninjas—who had long since retreated—stared in shock.
"Old man, see you next time!"
Looking down at the buried figure of Salamander Hanzō, Gekko Chizan said in a tone that could infuriate even a saint.
Then, openly and unhurriedly, he flew off toward the Land of Fire.
...
Barely managing to withstand the barrage of flames and stones, Hanzō's bloodshot eyes followed Chizan's retreating figure.
He wanted to curse him out—but the crushing pressure of the burning rubble left him completely immobile.
By the time he was near the ground, he finally felt a moment of relief.
Ibuse rushed over to catch his master.
The force of the impact was so great that Ibuse's massive body sank into the ground beneath him.
The poisonous mist, which had long since stopped spreading after Hanzō disappeared, was already dispersing.
What remained was swept away by the air currents created by their clashing jutsu.
When the last traces of fire faded and the stones crumbled to dust, Hanzō finally let out a roar.
"That brat from Konoha!"
"I'll kill you!"
After so many years dominating the ninja world, this was the angriest Hanzō had ever been.
A brat filthier than mud itself.
A brat whose every move was utterly nauseating!
He was driving the Demigod of the Ninja World insane!
Hanzō swore—he would kill that brat.
Otherwise, he'd never know peace again!
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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