Chapter 124: Fate's Cruelty, Evil Thoughts! (Fourth update, requesting everything!)
Is Hanzō weak?
Not at all.
A man who earned the title of Sannin is no ordinary person.
But, unfortunately, one of his strongest abilities was useless against Sarutobi Asuma.
Salamander Poison!
Sarutobi Asuma's Lightning Style Chakra Mode, and even his Scorch Release Chakra Mode, were fearless of Salamander Poison.
This was because both of these modes naturally possessed formidable defense, and incredibly high-temperature defense at that.
For example, the Scorch Release Chakra Mode could now reach a maximum temperature of 3000°.
The Lightning Style Chakra Mode, after utilizing the power of Electromagnetic Release, reached even higher temperatures, capable of 6000°, comparable to the surface temperature of the sun.
At such temperatures, even Hanzō's potent poison would be decomposed and rendered ineffective.
Just look at Jiraiya; even though he had brought the special antidote prepared by Tsunade, he stayed far away from this battlefield after the fight began, fearing Hanzō's deadly poison.
The lethal poison that terrified ordinary ninja, even when dispersed into the air or water, was ineffective against Sarutobi Asuma.
Furthermore, Hanzō's Sword Technique was undoubtedly no inferior to a master like Hatake Sakumo.
But Sarutobi Asuma didn't compete with him in Sword Technique; instead, he defeated him with speed.
Hanzō's Water Style was also astonishing, but it happened to encounter Sarutobi Asuma's overwhelmingly powerful Lightning Style.
A complete counter!
What's more, Hanzō was old now, no longer in his prime.
This was why he was defeated by one of Sarutobi Asuma's Shadow Clones.
It wasn't that Hanzō was weak, but that Sarutobi Asuma was too strong!
Hanzō was still within the ranks of regular ninja, but Sarutobi Asuma was no longer.
On the other side, Jiraiya and the others were still fighting.
Sarutobi Asuma's Shadow Clone immediately took Hanzō and moved.
"Stop!"
Sarutobi Asuma placed Hanzō on the ground and shouted.
Numerous gazes turned, then all were astonished.
"That's..."
"Lord Hanzō!"
"Lord Hanzō has been captured by the enemy!"
"What kind of joke is this?"
"It's Genjutsu!"
...
Astonishment!
Shock!
Disbelief!
The Rain Ninja widened their eyes.
Suddenly, someone's kunai dropped to the ground.
But some Rain Ninja also shouted and charged towards Sarutobi Asuma, only to be pierced by kunai that flew up from the ground, falling one after another with a thud.
This directly stunned everyone present.
From atop Gamabunta, Jiraiya, who had activated Sage Mode, shouted, "Surrender!"
"Hanzō has already been defeated!"
Clang!
More and more Rain Ninja dropped their weapons.
The masked Stone Ninja exchanged glances and began to withdraw.
At the same time, some Rain Ninja also retreated.
"Yahiko, Nagato, don't chase them!"
Jiraiya called out to Yahiko and Nagato, who were about to pursue.
Releasing the summoning, Jiraiya and the other two approached.
Looking at Hanzō on the ground, Jiraiya's gaze was incredibly complex, and he couldn't help but recall the scene of their battle with Hanzō back then.
The Sannin had fought Hanzō for a long time back then, but they were still no match for him.
And now, this man called Hanzō, the powerful man who had once suppressed them so completely, had been defeated by a Shadow Clone.
"Has the era changed?" Jiraiya sighed inwardly.
Sarutobi Asuma's Shadow Clone dispersed, and his main body, along with Konan, descended from the air.
At this moment, Yahiko angrily approached Hanzō, grabbed him by the collar, and questioned him with fury, "Why?"
"Why did you betray us?"
Hanzō's eyes flickered, but he was unable to speak.
Yahiko roared, "You were someone we respected and admired!"
"For your own position, you chose to betray us!"
"You destroyed everything!"
Yahiko screamed, tears involuntarily streaming down his face.
Beneath the mask, Hanzō opened his mouth: "Be careful..."
Huh?
Sarutobi Asuma sensed something was wrong. Just as he was about to act, Hanzō's abdomen exploded, spewing a mixture of blood and poisonous gas that formed a water jet, piercing Yahiko's heart with a thwip.
"Be careful!"
Jiraiya exclaimed in shock, grabbing Nagato and using the Body Flicker Technique to retreat.
"Damn it!"
Sarutobi Asuma, who had just landed with Konan, cursed under his breath. He flashed to Yahiko's side.
But he found there was no saving him!
His heart had been pierced, but that wasn't the critical issue. He could use Yin-Yang Release to create a new heart; there was still time for that.
The critical issue was that Hanzō's attack was mixed with the potent poison of the Salamander, which rapidly spread through Yahiko's body, reaching his brain in a very short time.
There was too much poison!
"You son of a..."
Sarutobi Asuma cursed inwardly. Lightning Style Chakra Mode enveloped him, and he instantly appeared back beside Hanzō, raising his fist and smashing it into the ground with a boom.
The earth cracked!
But it was too late!
"Yahiko!"
Konan cried out with piercing despair, rushing towards Yahiko.
Nagato, who had been pulled back by Jiraiya, froze, his eyes wide as he stared blankly at Yahiko lying on the ground.
Sarutobi Asuma stood up, looking up at the rain, and let out a long sigh.
He had thought he could change fate this time, just like before, but he had been slapped in the face.
This slap had brought him back to reality.
He had been careless!
He knew very well that Black Zetsu was likely nearby.
He had been too confident!
He had assumed that with his appearance, Black Zetsu would surely stay far away.
He hadn't expected it to take the opportunity to control Hanzō.
Clearly, it happened when he had embedded Hanzō into the rock wall.
All his efforts had gone to waste!
He had gotten arrogant!
Sarutobi Asuma sighed, then created a Shadow Clone and used Water Style to contain the poisonous gas leaking from Hanzō's abdomen, preventing it from spreading.
As for Yahiko, he also stopped Konan.
Yahiko's body was now covered in poison, and if Konan rushed to him, she would be poisoned immediately.
The Salamander's poison was a neurotoxin!
Sarutobi Asuma pulled Konan back, then created another Shadow Clone to use the Extracting Illness Technique in conjunction with Water Style, slowly extracting the poison from Yahiko's body before destroying it with high heat.
"Asuma, what just happened?" Jiraiya asked, stepping forward.
"Someone took the opportunity to control Hanzō..." Sarutobi Asuma replied.
"White Zetsu?"
Jiraiya's expression darkened.
Sarutobi Asuma shook his head. "It shouldn't be. If it were White Zetsu, it wouldn't have escaped my senses."
"But it should be something similar to White Zetsu."
Looking at Konan crying over Yahiko's corpse and then at the dazed Nagato, Sarutobi Asuma felt a headache coming on.
Yahiko was dead after all. Although the process was completely different from what he knew.
But Yahiko's death was ultimately related to Hanzō's betrayal.
"I'm sorry, I didn't expect anyone else to interfere."
Sarutobi Asuma spoke.
"No!"
"This is not your fault!"
Nagato suddenly looked up and said, "It's because our power was too weak!"
Sarutobi Asuma and Jiraiya both frowned, sensing that Nagato's voice was completely different from before.
It seemed devoid of emotion.
Exchanging a look with Jiraiya, Sarutobi Asuma said, "Your Akatsuki still has other members. The most important thing now is to rescue them."
Carrying the bodies of Yahiko and Hanzō, the group quickly relocated and soon encountered other Akatsuki members who had come to rescue Nagato and the others.
It was clear.
Because of the appearance of Sarutobi Asuma and Jiraiya, Uchiha Obito did not make a move against them.
"This is a good thing!"
Sarutobi Asuma thought to himself.
Returning to the Akatsuki's hideout, Sarutobi Asuma did not participate in the conversation between Jiraiya and his disciples, but stood in the corridor and waited quietly.
However, he was also thinking.
In the current situation, would Nagato still follow the original trajectory?
"Yahiko's death and Hanzō's betrayal this time will likely change Nagato's mind and make him inherit Yahiko's original ideals."
"So how should I guide him?"
"Or should I just watch?"
Sarutobi Asuma pondered.
Uchiha Madara's plan was to use Nagato as a pawn to resurrect himself, and Uchiha Obito was an insurance policy.
If he changed the two of them, could he prevent Uchiha Madara from being resurrected?
Probably not!
"Impure World Reincarnation!"
"Black Zetsu should know about Impure World Reincarnation!"
Sarutobi Asuma frowned, suddenly thinking, "For me, should Uchiha Madara be resurrected?"
"Yes!"
"If Uchiha Madara isn't resurrected, how will the Fourth Ninja World War begin?"
"How will the other villages be forced to unite and form the Allied Shinobi Forces?"
"How will I find an opportunity to completely kill Black Zetsu?"
"How will the God Tree reappear?"
A series of wicked thoughts surfaced in his mind, and then Sarutobi Asuma suppressed them, his emotions returning to calm.
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