Chapter 123: Confronting Hanzō! (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Passes)
Anbu training ground.
Sarutobi Asuma's Shadow Clone leaned against a tree, watching Kakashi, also in a mask, spar with Rin Nohara, who was also masked.
One held the Lightning Blade: Kiba, the other the Great Sword Samehada.
With a change of attire, coupled with the black mask created by Sarutobi Asuma using Yin-Yang Release, and the addition of Samehada and Water Style, it would be impossible to identify Rin Nohara even if Uchiha Obito were present.
At this moment on the training ground, Kakashi, sparring with Rin Nohara, was secretly shocked and felt the strain.
Rin Nohara's strength was terrifying!
If it weren't for him constantly sparring with that beast Might Guy, and Rin Nohara's almost nonexistent sword technique, he would likely have dropped his sword by now.
"Kakashi, the rest is up to you."
"Remember, from this moment on, her codename is Sage!"
After Sarutobi Asuma finished speaking, he left.
From then on, Rin Nohara would be trained by Kakashi, and like Kakashi, would officially join the direct Anbu under the Hokage.
Returning to the Senju Ancestral Home, Sarutobi Asuma received news from Shizune.
The Three-Tails had been taken by Mist Ninja, for a final price of 500 million ryo.
This was half of the initial asking price.
"Asuma, is it really okay to just let the Three-Tails go back?"
Shizune asked worriedly.
"Don't worry, I left something inside the Three-Tails. There won't be any problems,"
Sarutobi Asuma said with a smile.
He had already considered this.
In fact, this wasn't to guard against the Mist Ninja, but against Uchiha Obito.
In case Uchiha Obito couldn't be brought back...
Land of Rain.
Sarutobi Asuma and Jiraiya waited quietly.
They waited for three full days.
"They're finally moving!"
Inside the cave, Sarutobi Asuma received information from his Shadow Clone.
However, it wasn't feedback from the Shadow Clone's memory being released, but information transmitted remotely via electromagnetic waves.
For Sarutobi Asuma, who could already transmit Chakra remotely, this was nothing significant.
"Hanzō is really making a move against Yahiko and the others?"
Jiraiya frowned.
"Yes, Konan has already been captured by Hanzō. They'll likely use her as a threat to lure Yahiko and Nagato into a trap."
Sarutobi Asuma nodded, then smiled, "Let's go, Lord Jiraiya. It's time for you to fulfill your responsibility as a teacher!"
The next moment, the two figures vanished from the cave.
Under the rain.
Sarutobi Asuma, using optical camouflage, watched Yahiko and Nagato being surrounded by Hanzō and many Stone Ninja below. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly again.
Witnessing destiny once more!
"Asuma, we don't need to wait any longer, do we?"
Jiraiya was already getting impatient, even though he knew Sarutobi Asuma might be waiting for Uchiha Obito or someone from Uchiha Madara.
"Alright, Lord Jiraiya. Konan is my responsibility, and Yahiko and Nagato are yours."
Sarutobi Asuma nodded, no longer wanting to wait and risk any unforeseen circumstances.
Below.
Nagato looked at the kunai on the ground, breathing heavily, yet still felt suffocated.
To kill the person he swore to protect for the sake of the person he swore to protect.
Why was there such a painful choice in this world?
At that moment, scenes from the past flashed through his mind.
He also recalled the Konoha ninja he had met not long ago.
"If... I had believed then..."
Nagato suddenly jolted awake and looked up to see Yahiko shouting at him.
"Nagato!"
Yahiko shouted loudly.
With Hanzo's hand, Konan's tears splattered, "Stop!"
Nagato stepped forward.
He bent down...
Reached out...
Suddenly, a gentle and familiar voice echoed beside his ear.
"Nagato!"
Nagato suddenly looked up, and a tall, broad back filled his vision.
"J-Jiraiya-sensei!"
Nagato's mouth opened.
Yahiko, not far away, was equally surprised and quickly shouted, "Jiraiya-sensei, why are you here?"
"Hurry and leave, this place is already surrounded by Hanzo and the Stone Ninja!"
Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta, standing on its head. He tilted his head slightly, revealing a brilliant smile, "Don't worry, I am Jiraiya the Sage from Mount Myōboku!"
On the other side.
Hanzo's gaze sharpened as he saw Jiraiya make a move, "The Konoha youth from back then!"
"Calling him teacher, just as the Stone Ninja said, these people are all from Konoha..."
As he thought this, Hanzo's pupils suddenly constricted.
Because Konan in his hand had disappeared, replaced by another figure that left a deep impression on him.
"Konoha's Purple Flash!"
His battle with Onoki was too memorable, so he instinctively retreated.
In the air, Sarutobi Asuma's main body floated with a still-shaken Konan, looking down below, he smiled, "Let's go down later!"
Before Konan could speak, astonishing roars erupted from below, and rolling flames soared into the sky.
Hanzo had landed and pressed his palm against the ground, causing explosive tags to appear. He then sent them wrapping around the legs of Sarutobi Asuma's Shadow Clone.
The Shadow Clone made no move, directly activating Lightning Style Chakra Mode, its body covered in a purple lightning armor.
The next moment, flames engulfed him.
As the smoke and dust dispersed, Sarutobi Asuma, encased in the purple crystal lightning armor, was unharmed.
"Such astonishing Lightning Style, to actually block my Fire Style."
Hanzo showed surprise.
"Thank you for the compliment, senior. Coincidentally, I also wish to experience the power of a Ninja Demigod!"
Sarutobi Asuma said with a smile. As soon as he finished speaking, he vanished.
Almost simultaneously, Hanzo raised one hand, and his body also disappeared from his spot.
Konan in the air, and Yahiko and the others, all saw sparks flying in the air and heard the clash of metal.
"So fast!"
"Hanzo has been intercepted!"
Yahiko exclaimed, but his eyes couldn't track their movements.
Suddenly.
With a boom, the ground exploded, and smoke billowed.
"Cough... cough..."
Hanzo waved away the smoke, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked at Sarutobi Asuma standing in the air, saying, "What a remarkable young man, but..."
Summoning Jutsu - Salamander: I'bu!
A giant salamander was summoned by Hanzo, which immediately sprayed purple poisonous gas from its mouth, mixing with the air and the rain.
"Attack!"
Hanzo commanded.
The Rain Ninja, who had remained still, and the masked Stone Ninja all moved, charging towards Jiraiya and the others.
Their target was Yahiko, the leader of Akatsuki!
"You two, come up here!"
Jiraiya shouted.
"Jiraiya-sensei, where is Konan?"
Yahiko asked urgently as he landed on Gamabunta's head.
"Don't worry, Konan is safe now!"
Jiraiya said.
Gamabunta had already drawn his sword, blocking all the incoming projectiles, then pressed his abdomen, and a giant water ball shot towards the Rain Ninja.
"Let's deal with these enemies first!"
Gamabunta leaped up, dodging the Stone Ninja's Earth Style jutsu, and couldn't help but grumble.
Sarutobi Asuma's Shadow Clone ignored the cannon fodder and the sweeping poison gas, charging forward.
A flash of purple electricity split the rolling poison gas in two.
The next moment, three water dragons attacked, sandwiching Sarutobi Asuma who was charging at high speed.
Rumble!
The water dragons, infused with the deadly poison of the Salamander, collided with a deafening roar, and the splashing water surged outwards like waves.
"This guy is too fast!"
From atop the Salamander, Hanzō leaped up with his scythe, meeting Sarutobi Asuma, who had narrowly dodged the three water dragons.
Clang!
The two blades met, and Hanzō's scythe was split in two.
Their bodies crossed paths, and Sarutobi Asuma used the momentum to spin back for another strike.
Splash!
Hanzō's body transformed into a pool of water, cut by Sarutobi Asuma's Lightning Blade.
Water Clone!
At the same time, the Salamander roared, its tail swinging down towards Sarutobi Asuma.
Screech!
The purple lightning on Sarutobi Asuma's body erupted, and the falling Salamander's tail immediately stiffened, then, amidst screams, it was torn to shreds, blood mist bursting outwards.
Bang!
The giant Salamander disappeared in a puff of smoke.
On the ground, Hanzō had completed his ninjutsu.
The earth cracked open, water pillars shot into the sky, and water dragons formed, circling Sarutobi Asuma, spinning at high speed, constricting him.
Water Style: Water Dragon Constriction!
Furthermore, rainwater and water from underground veins continuously flowed into the swirling water dragon vortex, expanding the water domain and forming a massive circular body of water, like a lake suspended in the sky, sealing Sarutobi Asuma from all sides.
"As expected of the man called a demigod, this Water Style is no worse than the Mizukage's!"
High in the air, Sarutobi Asuma's main body couldn't help but praise.
He thought this technique was somewhat similar to Kisame's Water Prison: Water Shark Dance Technique.
However, this technique was more lethal.
The water dragons continuously condensed, spinning and constricting layer after layer, compressing the enemies trapped in the center.
Its lethality wasn't just from the spinning water dragons, but also the terrifying pressure created by the condensing water dragon vortex pushing towards the center!
If he couldn't break out of this massive water domain in one go, he would definitely be crushed into pulp by the water pressure from all directions.
At the core of the water domain, Sarutobi Asuma's Shadow Clone clasped his hands together, and waves of purple electricity radiated outwards, drilling into the swirling water.
He created an electromagnetic field that directly covered the entire water domain, causing the temperature to rise sharply.
Below, Hanzō, who was controlling the ninjutsu and continuously injecting water, changed his expression. He felt that he had lost control of his ninjutsu.
The water dragons at the core of the water domain, meant to crush Sarutobi Asuma, had collapsed.
Soon, Sarutobi Asuma's figure disappeared from sight, shrouded in mist.
Rumble!
Suddenly.
The water domain in the air exploded.
First, waves of water surged outwards, followed by scorching hot airflow.
But faster than the airflow was a streak of purple electricity.
Hanzō once again used the Body Flicker Technique, but Sarutobi Asuma was right behind him.
And as he tried to create distance again, he found his body uncontrollable.
"What's happening?"
Hanzō's face changed drastically.
The next moment, Sarutobi Asuma's Shadow Clone appeared before him.
Boom!
His body, enveloped in electrical light, was sent flying backward, embedding deeply into the rock wall.
Shattered rocks rained down from all around.
"Whoa!"
Hanzō spat blood, unable to move his body.
"What an astonishing young man..."
Hanzō's gaze fell upon Sarutobi Asuma, as if seeing Senju Hashirama, the man known as the Ninja God!
High above.
Konan was stunned.
Hanzō had lost!
The being known as a demigod had lost so... easily!
Yes.
In her eyes, Hanzō had lost too easily, too quickly.
The person beside her had only used a Shadow Clone.
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Machine Translation by: beta.randomtranslator.com
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