Boom—
The laser beam piercing through the chest instantly reached the end of the straight line, landing on the mountain wall of a huge mountain.
A deafening explosion, like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, resounded.
Dazzling black-red light blossomed on the mountain wall, like a signal flare accidentally misfired.
Miraculously, despite such a huge explosion, no dust or mist scattered.
Zooming in, one would find no falling debris.
It was as if that thunderous explosion was all bark and no bite, causing no damage to the mountain wall at all.
It wasn't until the light disappeared, revealing a huge circular gap with smooth edges and spiral patterns inside on the mountain wall, that one could realize how astonishing the power of that explosion was.
No dust flying, no falling debris, because the black-red light possessed extremely terrifying destructive power, annihilating the enveloped mountain body into powder.
Hanzo the Salamander, whose chest was pierced, had a thumb-sized hole in his right chest. The skin, flesh, internal bones, blood vessels, and lung tissue all turned into nothingness.
"Blargh..."
Hanzo the Salamander spat blood and landed on the ground. Ignoring checking his injuries, he hurriedly used Body Flicker to disappear.
As soon as he disappeared, another black-red laser beam landed on his original position.
Boom—
The deafening explosion sounded again, and black-red light blossomed like fireworks.
Seeing the second shot miss, Gojo Yoru was about to use Body Flicker to chase.
At this moment, Orochimaru's voice came from afar.
"Yoru, don't chase."
Hearing this, Gojo Yoru, who had just appeared on the ground, stopped his leaping motion.
Turning to look at Orochimaru and Jiraiya, who used Body Flicker to arrive, Gojo Yoru's gaze held a trace of doubt.
Orochimaru explained with a serious expression: "Although I also really want to kill Hanzo, the Ninja Continent cannot lose this Demigod of the Ninja World, especially our Land of Fire."
Jiraiya, usually carefree, also echoed at this moment: "Orochimaru is right. If Hanzo dies, the Land of Rain, the junction of three major powers, will be divided. With the Land of Wind and Land of Earth watching covetously, our Land of Fire cannot fully occupy this place."
"Even if we successfully occupy the Land of Rain, we don't have enough troops to resist the Land of Wind in the south and the Land of Earth in the north."
"Once we divide the Land of Rain with the Land of Wind and Land of Earth, they will definitely move their border bases to the Land of Rain. Whether we move our border base to the Land of Rain or split some troops to build another border base in the Land of Rain, we will be at a disadvantage."
"So Hanzo cannot die. As long as he lives, the Land of Wind and Land of Earth won't dare to launch a war of annihilation against the Land of Rain. When this war ends, if they want to launch a war against our Land of Fire again, they must pass through the Land of Rivers and Land of Waterfalls."
Saying this, Jiraiya felt a wave of fear in his heart.
They never expected Gojo Yoru to severely injure Hanzo the Salamander.
If they had known, they would have secretly reminded Gojo Yoru long ago.
When Orochimaru and Jiraiya saw Hanzo the Salamander spitting blood, their first reaction wasn't shock at Gojo Yoru's new move, but worry that Hanzo the Salamander would be killed by Gojo Yoru.
Killing the Demigod of the Ninja World was certainly the greatest achievement in a ninja's career.
But Gojo Yoru wouldn't be hailed as the new Demigod of the Ninja World. Instead, it would make the Land of Earth and Land of Wind ecstatic, escalating the war again.
All troops of the three major powers might gather in the Land of Rain, allowing the watching Land of Lightning and Land of Water to find opportunities, turning the four-nation melee into a five-nation melee.
Located in the center of the four major powers and possessing the best resources, the Land of Fire would definitely become the target of focused fire.
No matter how tricky the Flying Thunder God Technique was, it didn't have the astonishing strategic deterrence of the Salamander.
Hanzo the Salamander could release poison on a large scale, move at high speed on the ground and underground, and use the Reverse Summoning Technique to escape. Acting alone every time, even ten thousand ninjas besieging him couldn't do anything to this Demigod of the Ninja World.
But Gojo Yoru's Flying Thunder God Technique, once Chakra ran out, could only run away.
Those major powers would fear Hanzo the Salamander, but not Gojo Yoru who killed Hanzo the Salamander, just as no one feared Senju Tobirama, who mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, choosing to initiate the First Great Ninja War.
Without the ability to massacre on a large scale while being untouchable, Senju Tobirama and Gojo Yoru didn't qualify to ascend the altar.
"?"
Just like last year when they thought injuring the Salamander was achieving a feat no one in the Five Great Nations could do, Gojo Yoru, who hadn't fully integrated into this world, still didn't understand their brain circuits.
If the opponent was so tricky and terrifying, shouldn't they kill him to eliminate future troubles?
Such an opportunity to severely injure the opponent using the intelligence advantage of a new move didn't come often.
Gojo Yoru didn't show mercy just now.
Just like Hanzo the Salamander didn't cut off his head but cut him in half at the waist to prevent him from dodging the fatal blow, Gojo Yoru aimed for the chest instead of the head.
To prevent Hanzo the Salamander from using the Summoning Technique or creating Shadow Clones to leverage in the air, Gojo Yoru used a laser beam that wasn't full power but close to instant cast.
Even so, Hanzo the Salamander still moved his body in the air, causing the laser beam to hit his right chest instead of the solar plexus.
Seeing them stop him, Gojo Yoru couldn't help but ask, "If we don't pursue and attack, what if he recovers and takes revenge on us?"
Before the two could speak, a voice suddenly sounded not far away: "...I lost."
Orochimaru and Jiraiya immediately tensed up, while Gojo Yoru looked towards the source of the voice.
In the rain curtain, countless water droplets suddenly condensed into a figure, Hanzo the Salamander.
This Demigod of the Ninja World no longer appeared in a high-profile manner, nor stood on top of a rock looking down at the three with a condescending posture. Instead, he looked at Gojo Yoru at eye level, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Unwillingness, loneliness, appreciation, and relief...
Then he looked at Orochimaru and the others, saying in a deep voice: "Konoha and the Land of Fire won this war. As the loser, this old man promises you that as long as I live, Amegakure and the Land of Rain will not declare war on the Land of Fire again, nor ally with the Land of Wind and Land of Earth."
"If your Konoha is willing to put aside hatred, this old man looks forward to your invitation to the Chunin Exams."
"If you want revenge, this old man is ready anytime."
Gaze falling on Gojo Yoru, Hanzo the Salamander, having lost his spirit, praised generously: "Black Flash, it seems this old man didn't name you wrong. Gojo Yoru, you are the only existence to injure me and my partner in decades, and the most amazing assassin this old man has ever seen. Even the Second Hokage who invented the Flying Thunder God Technique is far inferior to you."
"This old man admits defeat wholeheartedly. Your name will be forever carved in my heart, and I look forward to your future performance."
"As the existence who defeated this old man, I hope you don't lose to others."
After speaking, Hanzo the Salamander's body turned into a puddle of water.
Water Release Shadow Clone.
Gojo Yoru discovered it at first glance.
Seeing Hanzo the Salamander came to deliver a withdrawal speech, his eyes and momentum completely different from before, obviously hit hard by him, Gojo Yoru was relieved.
Without a super large-scale killing move or developing space-time teleportation without Flying Thunder God formulas, wanting to kill an existence standing at the pinnacle of the Ninja World required using intelligence advantage; otherwise, defeating and repelling was possible, but killing wasn't easy.
Space-Time Release: Laser Beam was Gojo Yoru's new intelligence advantage.
This move was a derivative of the "Space-Time Bomb," based on the principle of Chakra control + Lightning Release: Rasengan + Space-Time Chakra + shape transformation + Chakra Burst.
Gojo Yoru had been training hard in Lightning Release during this time not to develop Chidori and Chidori Sharp Spear, but to develop this laser beam.
Chidori, Chidori Sharp Spear, and Chidori Current were just practiced along the way to improve nature transformation and shape transformation.
The laser beam failed to take the opportunity to kill Hanzo the Salamander. To kill this Demigod of the Ninja World later, he would need to seize the opportunity again or develop new space-time moves to continue occupying the intelligence advantage.
Before his Sensing Technique reached another dimension to easily find the enemy's main body, and his Body Flicker speed could crush the opponent, Gojo Yoru's most hated opponent was an assassin of the same type and level as him.
Playing basic extension techniques to perfection, one second the main body, the next maybe a Shadow Clone, or Replacement and Body Flicker. Every time a killing move was used, it might be wasting Space-Time Chakra.
Compared to a sinister schemer like Hanzo the Salamander, Gojo Yoru preferred reckless men like the Third Raikage.
"...Finally over."
Orochimaru and Jiraiya breathed a heavy sigh of relief, feeling relieved.
There were gaps between ace combatants too. Let alone comparing with Sarutobi Hiruzen, Orochimaru and Jiraiya couldn't even compare with Hatake Sakumo.
They hadn't reached the pinnacle in any field yet, but they had to lead ninja troops to fight against the Demigod of the Ninja World, who was most skilled in Water Release and Fire Release, with the number one poison skill in the Ninja World, and his subordinate Rain ninjas, one of the most outstanding assassination legions in the Ninja World.
No one knew how much pressure Orochimaru and Jiraiya were under.
If not for Tsunade developing the antidote formula and Gojo Yoru assisting and relieving sieges, they would have been killed countless times.
Now their battle line finally didn't have to face Hanzo the Salamander and his assassination legion.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya's moods instantly became incredibly relaxed.
Then smiles appeared on their faces.
Jiraiya patted Gojo Yoru heavily on the shoulder, sighing sincerely: "Gojo kid, you're going to enter the history books. When this war completely ends, your name and great achievements will be recorded in the history books of various countries and passed down to future generations."
"In the future, every child entering the Ninja Academy will know your name before becoming a ninja, as well as your record of killing Sunagakure's King of Intelligence and defeating the Demigod of the Ninja World."
Orochimaru also smiled sincerely: "Yoru, you have surpassed me, in both strength and prestige."
"Combat power doesn't represent experience, Orochimaru-sensei. Kushina and I still have many things to learn from you." Gojo Yoru smiled humbly. "Even if entering the history books, it's the three of us together. Especially you, Orochimaru-sensei, you are the Black Flash's teacher."
Hearing this, Orochimaru's eyes were full of pride.
He couldn't be more satisfied with this disciple.
From the moment he discovered Gojo Yoru possessed the Space-Time Kekkei Genkai, Orochimaru's dream had actually changed.
His goal was no longer to become Hokage but to guide Gojo Yoru to become the new generation God of Shinobi.
As long as Gojo Yoru became the new God of Shinobi, there would be no war in the Ninja World in his lifetime.
This time was enough for him to reform this world so that situations like their parents' and Nawaki's wouldn't happen again.
Just as he thought, Gojo Yoru, possessing the Space-Time Kekkei Genkai, had the potential and combat power to break the rules.
At the age of twelve, others had just graduated from the Ninja Academy.
But Gojo Yoru had already defeated the Demigod of the Ninja World.
When he became an adult, or perhaps even before that, the Ninja World would be his era.
Looking at Gojo Yoru, who defeated Hanzo the Salamander yet remained so humble and respectful to his teacher, Jiraiya rarely felt jealous.
Orochimaru, this guy, really had dog shit luck to accept such a good disciple.
At the same time, Jiraiya became more determined to exchange for the independent scroll of the Flying Thunder God Technique from Sarutobi-sensei when he returned to Konoha next time.
During the swordsmanship duel between Gojo Yoru and Hanzo the Salamander just now, Jiraiya saw a familiar reflection in him.
When Team Jiraiya was established, Jiraiya also conducted a bell snatching test with Namikaze Minato and the other two disciples like Sarutobi Hiruzen, witnessing Namikaze Minato's extraordinary neural reaction speed.
If neural reaction speed was the core of cultivating the Flying Thunder God Technique, perhaps... his disciple could also cultivate this technique.
At least the chance of success was greater than his and Orochimaru's.
...
"Cough, cough..."
The scene switched to Hanzo the Salamander's main body.
At this moment, Hanzo the Salamander's state was completely opposite to the Water Release Shadow Clone that just delivered the withdrawal speech.
His wound and mouth were bleeding, his Body Flicker speed was getting slower, and his life aura was weakening.
Continuing like this, he might die on the road before returning to Amegakure.
Don't be fooled by the thumb-sized hole in his right chest.
Just like one shouldn't pull out an arrow after being shot before medical personnel arrive.
A penetrating wound, even just a small hole, is very fatal.
Moreover, the hole in Hanzo the Salamander's right chest went through front and back.
And not knowing if Gojo Yoru would chase him, he dared not treat himself on the spot, nor summon his partner, fearing that the laser beam as fast as a flash would shoot again.
With his partner's size, it couldn't dodge at all.
If that laser beam hit his partner, it wouldn't pass through but explode on the spot.
With that terrifying destructive power, his partner would definitely die.
And his partner was his strongest confidence in deterring various countries.
Hanzo the Salamander, as cautious as Gojo Yoru, was equally suspicious.
Using Body Flicker to escape an unknown distance, until he could no longer hold on, Hanzo the Salamander randomly found a cave to enter for healing.
"Han... Hanzo-sama!"
Coincidentally, the cave Hanzo the Salamander chose happened to be inhabited.
Looking at the orange-haired boy in front of him, Hanzo the Salamander instinctively felt killing intent.
At this moment, he couldn't let any accidents happen.
But hearing the address and seeing the excited look after the shock, Hanzo the Salamander raised an eyebrow: "Are you a resident of the Land of Rain?"
"Hanzo-sama, my name is Yahiko, born in Amegakure. My parents died in the raid last year." Yahiko replied hurriedly, his eyes shining, unabashedly showing his admiration for Hanzo the Salamander.
Seeing Hanzo the Salamander clutching his right chest, his palm covered in green light stained with blood, Yahiko immediately looked worried: "Hanzo-sama, are you injured?"
"Mhm, I need you to do me a favor."
Hanzo the Salamander didn't waste any words, directly taking out a signal flare and a scroll, handing them to Yahiko, and instructing: "Take this signal flare, go to the outskirts of Amegakure to fire it, then hide this scroll somewhere random, and you can leave. After the matter is done, I will reward you well."
"Yes, Hanzo-sama."
Yahiko's eyes lit up immediately. Taking the items, he ran out immediately.
The cautious Hanzo the Salamander didn't stay in this cave but hid in a cave on another mountain, creating a Shadow Clone to hide the entrance and set up a barrier.
The main body underwent emergency treatment.
Unfortunately, too much time was wasted. Even though he used Medical Ninjutsu along the way to prevent severe bleeding from the wound, the medical tools stored in the portable storage scroll only managed to stop the bleeding before he fainted without putting on a blood bag.
The main body fell, causing the Shadow Clone to dispel automatically.
Hanzo the Salamander's life aura was fading.
At this moment, a white figure emerged from the ground, ignoring the barrier.
"Lucky guy, be glad you still have value." The White Zetsu clone complained slightly, then took over Hanzo the Salamander's unfinished treatment work.
Just like when Gojo Yoru and the Sannin fought Hanzo the Salamander back then, it seemed there were only five of them on that battlefield, but in reality, unknown spectators were watching from a distance and in the dark.
Uchiha Madara, interested in Gojo Yoru, naturally knew the result immediately.
Just like Orochimaru and Jiraiya stopped Gojo Yoru.
Even if they didn't stop him, Uchiha Madara would have sent Tobi to relieve the siege.
If Hanzo the Salamander died, the entire Ninja World would be in chaos, possibly escaping his control.
This was unfavorable for Nagato's growth.
Even if the Ninja World was in chaos, it had to wait until Nagato possessed the ability to protect himself.
So, Uchiha Madara prepared to save Hanzo the Salamander.
The White Zetsu clone's treatment method was simple and crude.
Using the Spore Technique to turn into a swelling mass wrapping Hanzo the Salamander, then transferring Chakra into Hanzo the Salamander's body, like Heal Bite, rapidly healing his fatal injury.
However, he didn't give Hanzo the Salamander a blood transfusion but used Mayfly to hide in the dark, continuing to observe the situation.
In less than two hours, the barrier was cracked from the outside. Sakawa walked in from outside, then left with Hanzo the Salamander.
The White Zetsu clone followed all the way.
...
A piece of news quietly spread on the border defense line between Amegakure and the Land of Fire.
Then in less than a day, it spread throughout the four-nation battlefield and quickly diffused to the entire Ninja World.
The Land of Rain, which actively started the campaign, announced its withdrawal.
Not because supplies ran out, nor because the city walls were breached by Konoha ninjas.
But because Hanzo the Salamander, possessing strategic deterrence superior to Jinchuriki, regarded by all ninjas as the pinnacle of the Ninja World, and known as the Demigod, was defeated head-on by Konoha's Black Flash.
Yes, not defeated by the three commanders of the border defense line joining forces, but defeated one-on-one by Konoha's Black Flash.
Before those people could doubt, Amegakure admitted this to the outside world, simultaneously announcing Hanzo the Salamander's loser promise.
Just like sacrificing his reputation last year to lift Gojo Yoru onto the grand stage of the Ninja World, making him an instant new star.
Hanzo the Salamander, who had lost his spirit and no longer had thoughts of expanding territory, sacrificed his reputation again, letting Gojo Yoru step on him to reach the highest peak of the Ninja World, becoming the most eye-catching existence.
This was the only thing Hanzo the Salamander could do for his "ally" and also his "revenge" on Konoha.
Defeating the Demigod of the Ninja World head-on at twelve—if you don't want to live in his shadow in the future, then kill him by any means necessary.
Hanzo the Salamander spent decades climbing from a ninja of a small village to the pinnacle of the Ninja World.
Now he ignited himself to illuminate Gojo Yoru.
Regardless of Hanzo the Salamander's purpose, his admission and Amegakure's withdrawal caused Gojo Yoru's fame, already known to everyone in the Ninja World, to skyrocket again.
The war had broken out for less than two years, and Konoha's three-front war had only lasted less than a year and two months.
In this year, except for Ebizo, the King of Intelligence of Sunagakure, no famous big shots in the Ninja World had died.
For example, Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law hadn't been killed by Hatake Sakumo yet, spreading his name as Konoha's White Fang throughout the Ninja World, even overshadowing the Sannin, the losers in the original work, and the Hokage's Assistant Shimura Danzo.
Kato Dan, the Yin Release assassin mastering the Super S-rank Spirit Transformation Technique, hadn't been beaten by Iwa ninjas until his kidneys flew out either.
Gojo Yoru, creating amazing records successively, had become the most dazzling existence in this war, bar none.
His might quickly affected the other two battle lines, making Sand ninjas and Iwa ninjas suddenly quiet.
After all, after Amegakure withdrew, although the border defense line couldn't split troops to support two ways, it still had to guard the forest area to prevent foreign enemies from bypassing to invade the Land of Fire.
But this didn't include ace combatants like Gojo Yoru who mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Moreover, with the help of the Flying Thunder God Technique, he could even bring other ace combatants to support. Once a problem occurred on the border defense line, he could immediately bring the ace combatants back.
What was certain was that the defense and combat power of these two battle lines would skyrocket.
The intelligence collected in this year might be disrupted.
Unless the Land of Wind and Land of Earth also chose to withdraw, they would have to collect new intelligence before deciding whether to invade on a large scale.
This was destined to be a long tug-of-war.
Before friendly forces needed support, Gojo Yoru and the other two responsible for guarding the western border entered a vacation state.
Jiraiya, who commanded combat and support units to collect the bodies of sacrificed companions and happened to want to go back, personally escorted these bodies back to Konoha.
Orochimaru led the remaining ninja army to rebuild the border base using Ninjutsu.
As for Gojo Yoru...
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~ Evey 150 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~ ush the Story forward with your [Power Stones]