Chapter 170: Hanzo: "I'm Sorry I Couldn't Let Hiruzen Fight to His Heart's Content..." (10k Chapter!)
Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed with extreme readiness.
This left both Tsunade and Hanzo somewhat astonished.
Logically speaking, proposing a martial duel just as cooperation was about to be reached was slightly offensive behavior.
Its essence was still comparing whose fist was bigger, revealing the murderous intent and backstabbing nature inherent to shinobi.
And... was Hiruzen Sarutobi really that confident he wouldn't lose?
"It's the shinobi world, after all."
"In the past, everyone always thought about winner-takes-all. Mutually beneficial matters aren't common, so I think using the old rules to transition into our new cooperation is very appropriate."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said smilingly, "Moreover, rather than a sparring match, this is more like Your Excellency Hanzo volunteering to help Konoha verify the efficacy of the medical chakra scrolls."
Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't surprised that Hanzo wanted a fight.
Old-school shinobi always thought of solving problems with their fists. Otherwise, Hanzo couldn't possibly have started the Second Great Ninja War in his bid to become the shot-caller.
For military groups to cooperate without harboring ulterior motives, displaying martial might was absolutely necessary.
This wasn't just true in the shinobi world; it was a universal principle.
If Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't fight Hanzo, there would be trouble unfolding the subsequent cooperation.
Given Hanzo's immense reputation in Amegakure, the Amegakure shinobi practically worshipped him.
If a clear hierarchy wasn't established, the Amegakure shinobi would inevitably feel that their cooperation with Konoha was brought about by Hanzo's solo expedition to Konoha, achieved entirely through his strength.
And if Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't beat Hanzo into submission...
With Hanzo's rejuvenated pride, it would also be very difficult for him to explain in detail to the Amegakure shinobi...
That in cooperating with Konoha, they were the ones receiving the favor.
Sometimes, taking a beating is a stepping stone that benefits both sides.
"Lord Hokage is truly generous!" Hanzo sighed sincerely.
In Hanzo's view, given Hiruzen Sarutobi's readiness, he clearly had ample confidence in defeating him.
And framing this martial negotiation as 'testing the medical scrolls' left him with plenty of face.
Although Hanzo didn't know why Hiruzen Sarutobi was so confident...
He still had to accept this favor.
As a seasoned veteran, Hanzo could read between the lines when others spoke.
"How about this..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a moment: "Tsunade, bring the extra-capacity medical scrolls and observe. Have the Anbu clear out that training ground in the Forest of Death."
"Your Excellency Hanzo excels in poison jutsu; he won't be able to unleash his full power in the village's training grounds."
Tsunade grew even more confused. What was wrong with Sensei?
Why was he creating an advantageous environment for the enemy!
Tsunade couldn't hold back and said, "Sensei, that training ground in the Forest of Death has a lake."
In an environment with water, the power of Water Release jutsu would skyrocket, their chakra consumption would drop, and their execution speed would increase.
This was also why, despite the Third Mizukage's cruel suppression of Kirigakure, the majority of Kirigakure shinobi never thought to rebel immediately.
Just as the desert is the Third Kazekage's home turf, the ocean is the Third Mizukage's home turf.
And Hanzo was universally recognized in the shinobi world as a Water Release master inferior to none but the Mizukage!
Choosing that place to spar with Hanzo?
Wasn't that just senselessly increasing the difficulty!
One must know that on the continent where Konoha and Amegakure existed, large bodies of water were actually scarce. It was only Amegakure that had exaggerated rainfall due to its special topography.
"If there were no lake, why would I choose that place?"
"Your Excellency Hanzo came to Konoha alone, showing utmost sincerity. Our sparring isn't to determine who is superior, but to experience each other's will and conviction through combat."
"If I cannot allow Your Excellency Hanzo to use his full strength, it will be the greatest regret of my life!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a deep voice.
Tsunade froze, thinking to herself: "Sensei's posture and words are becoming more and more like Grandfather's, exactly like the Grandfather in Grandmother Mito's stories!"
In that moment, Tsunade couldn't help but feel a sense of doubt, feeling as if her memories were jumbled.
Tsunade had previously thought that Hiruzen Sarutobi constantly mentioning her Grandfather Hashirama was for reasons like rallying the people, using his reputation to push Konoha's new policies.
But her Second Grandfather, Tobirama, was Hiruzen Sarutobi's true master.
"Have I misunderstood all these years? Sensei is actually Grandfather's direct disciple, and Second Grandfather was just one in name..."
"It really seems that way. Sensei and Second Grandfather aren't alike at all..." Thinking this, Tsunade felt a deep sense of shame.
And she called herself Sensei's disciple!
She was also Hashirama and Tobirama's relative...
Yet after all these years, she hadn't even figured out her own Sensei's true lineage!
"I'm sorry, Sensei," Tsunade sighed and said softly.
"What are you apologizing for?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Tsunade in confusion. Why was she being so sensible today?
It didn't fit her personality.
"Are you talking about choosing the sparring venue? It's fine, Your Excellency Hanzo won't mind. You were just worried that I, your master, didn't know the specific intelligence. You did what you were supposed to do."
Hiruzen Sarutobi comforted her.
Tsunade's mouth twitched. She didn't care what Hanzo thought!
Meanwhile, Hanzo, standing to the side, felt his heart surge upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's sonorous words.
Going all out in a clash?
Even though it was on the other party's home turf, the Hokage still picked the best possible terrain for him.
This kind of magnanimity...
"Even in my prime, my bearing was slightly inferior compared to Hiruzen's..."
"No wonder Hiruzen has developed Konoha so well!"
Hanzo spoke in a deep voice: "Lord Hokage, I will definitely go all out! I also request that you do not hold back!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled slightly.
That was exactly what he wanted to hear!
He had been looking for a sparring partner for a long time. Recently, he had wanted to test his own progress and had been pondering over the last two days who would be suitable.
He didn't expect Hanzo to bump right into him.
As for the lake environment in the Forest of Death that Tsunade mentioned, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't care.
It was only interesting if he added some difficulty for himself.
Besides, Hanzo knew Water Release, but so did he.
Especially against Water Release, Hiruzen Sarutobi possessed two counter-methods: Lightning Release and Ice Release.
He wasn't concerned.
As for Hanzo's venom, Hiruzen Sarutobi also had a unique solution.
Tsunade quickly went to relay Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders.
On the way, she ran into Orochimaru.
"Where are you going?" Orochimaru, who had just gotten up from an all-night research session, greeted Tsunade: "In such a hurry..."
"Hanzo is visiting Konoha! He's going to fight Sensei!"
Tsunade stopped and said quickly, "Right now I have to go get the Anbu to clear the area! The location is the Forest of Death."
"Hanzo? Fighting Sensei?"
Orochimaru frowned tightly, the last remnants of sleepiness vanishing instantly.
Hanzo...
The man who had dealt him a massive blow during the peak of his youthful confidence!
As an undisputed genius from childhood, Orochimaru's shinobi career had been incredibly smooth.
But Hanzo had told him...
That even if the three of them attacked together with all their might, they still couldn't defeat him.
On the contrary, if he hadn't been wary of Konoha backing them, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade would have lost their lives.
"I'll go with you!" Orochimaru said decisively. "Hanzo came to negotiate peace and yet he wants to fight? He isn't worthy of Sensei acting personally!"
"No," Tsunade shook her head. "Sensei said I'm only allowed to tag along as a first responder. No one else is permitted to come. He also ordered the Anbu to clear the training ground in the Forest of Death to serve as the venue for their clash."
Orochimaru froze.
In his view, Hiruzen Sarutobi's strength was naturally immense, but whether he could defeat Hanzo was hard to say.
It wasn't Orochimaru's fault for thinking this way, because Hiruzen Sarutobi rarely used his full strength in daily sparring. His only real combat experience with Orochimaru was that one time shortly after he arrived in the shinobi world.
Although his performance then proved his might was undiminished, the problem was that Hanzo was a shinobi with an incredibly treacherous fighting style.
Body Flicker Technique, Hydrification Technique, venom mist, swordsmanship, Water Release.
These five combined...
Not only could they quickly break through an enemy's defenses, but his own mobility and defense were maxed out.
In the shinobi world, determining victory or defeat between shinobi never relied on paper stats.
Knowing a lot of ninjutsu was meaningless; what mattered was whether you could assemble a system on the battlefield that the enemy couldn't counter.
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Professor of Ninjutsu, in Orochimaru's eyes, the jutsu he used were too orthodox and balanced.
Even if he possessed forbidden jutsu, he didn't have the temperament to use them in a sparring match.
"Clearing out others... Is Sensei worried he might accidentally fall for one of Hanzo's dirty tricks?"
Orochimaru pondered, "A Hokage losing in a sparring match would indeed be a very ugly sight."
"I don't think so."
Tsunade chuckled. "You're overthinking it. I think Sensei and Hanzo share a mutual respect. The two of them want to fight without holding back, so the scene will be exceptionally intense."
"You probably don't know, but Hanzo and Sensei have been strolling around Konoha all morning. They're practically calling each other brothers by now."
"He's probably just worried about causing the shinobi to misunderstand the cooperative relationship between Amegakure and Konoha."
Orochimaru's face darkened.
Tsunade came right out of the gate saying they were fighting, then mentioned preparing for first aid...
It sounded like Sensei and Hanzo were going to have a death match!
Then she turned around and said he was overthinking it.
"You really need to learn how to speak, Tsunade."
"Otherwise, with that mouth of yours, you could escalate a conflict out of thin air. If you really become Hokage one day, I fear you'll bring enemies to Konoha who weren't enemies to begin with."
Orochimaru complained.
"How is that possible?" Tsunade said, sounding slightly guilty.
Was she really that bad at speaking?
That couldn't be. She was Sensei's disciple, too.
Both Second Grandfather and Grandfather were quite good at speaking.
"I'll go notify the Anbu. I'll follow along afterward. Sensei won't forbid me from coming."
"I am also one of those damn 'Sannin'!"
Orochimaru waved his hand, "You go prepare the first aid! Whether Sensei gets injured or Hanzo gets critically injured in Konoha and is hard to save, both would be troublesome matters causing serious problems."
Tsunade nodded and turned to leave in a rush again: "Right!"
Orochimaru watched Tsunade's back, shaking his head and laughing.
And she said she wanted to compete for Hokage with this?
It was too comical.
She'd be better off focusing on her medical research!
...
Forest of Death.
The Anbu dismissed the scattered few shinobi here and stationed themselves at the four corners, forming a tight quarantine perimeter.
Several Hyuga Anbu activated their Byakugan, continuously scanning the surroundings.
A battle between shinobi was, after all, a battle of intelligence.
Unless the Hokage explicitly stated he didn't care, their job was to ensure as much as possible that no one saw Hiruzen Sarutobi fighting, to prevent intelligence leaks.
But in reality, Hiruzen Sarutobi truly didn't care that much.
Because compared to shinobi who had their own unique, esoteric systems, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't have any particular "specialties." His advantage primarily manifested in raw stats.
There was nothing to study about stats; what you see is what you get.
And the jutsu he excelled in, just as Orochimaru thought, were all orthodox, standard ninjutsu, he just knew a bit more of them.
The main reason Hiruzen Sarutobi kept this duel secret was actually to save Hanzo's face.
He was worried Hanzo might also be one of the shinobi world's psychopaths.
He had finally regained some spirit. If he lost too ugly a match during their spar, and in front of so many Konoha shinobi to boot, Hiruzen worried he might go crazy from the humiliation.
But in a private environment, without too many spectators, losing was something acceptable.
Not only that, with such an arrangement, the harder Hiruzen Sarutobi beat Hanzo, the more Hanzo would feel that the Hokage was truly a rare, generous man.
Clearly so strong, yet he didn't try to use him as a stepping stone to establish dominance and fame.
It was purely a sparring match between brothers!
Wouldn't the bond be formed just like that?
The current Hiruzen Sarutobi no longer needed to establish authority in front of Konoha shinobi through such methods.
But he desperately needed a Land of Rain molded into the shape of Konoha.
Furthermore...
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Tsunade, whose face was full of anticipation, and smiled slightly.
Wasn't she here?
With such an uninhibited megaphone around, it was only a matter of time before the Konoha shinobi learned about this, and Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't going to instruct Tsunade to keep quiet.
"Long time no see, Mr. Hanzo."
Orochimaru stood beside Tsunade, speaking quietly.
"Oh, it's Orochimaru." Hanzo glanced at Orochimaru and nodded.
Just a junior!
"Hmph." Orochimaru snorted coldly, whispering to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Sensei, may I take your place?"
"You, ah, you. I told you there was no need to come." Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and waved his hand, "Look, Your Excellency Hanzo isn't here in Konoha to issue a challenge. He's verifying the conviction within our power with me. What sense would it make for you to replace me?"
"Konoha and Amegakure will become blood brothers in the future. You must remember this and take a broader perspective. After all, you will have to view problems this way sooner or later."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said softly.
Orochimaru froze. Sensei was hinting at him becoming Hokage again.
Danger!
Hanzo, on the other hand, looked at Orochimaru with considerable surprise.
So he had already chosen his successor.
"Lord Hokage, even so, I still ask you to fight with all your might."
Hanzo said in a deep voice, "I ask Lord Hokage to correct my slackness over these past years!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart stirred.
This was exactly what he wanted to hear.
What was the point of stopping at mere taps?
"Alright, you two step aside!"
"Ready to begin?" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Hanzo.
Hanzo nodded, and the two stood facing each other.
The dense canopy of the Forest of Death was impenetrable to the wind.
Stout ancient trees connected into a vast expanse, their gnarled branches crisscrossing into a net above them. Only a central area had been artificially cleared, forming a massive circular training ground.
Sunlight filtered through the forest, scattering fragmented dapples of light onto the deep lake to the side.
No one spoke, and no one moved. Only the intermittent chirping of cicadas could be heard, but the atmosphere grew chillingly lethal.
Tsunade and Orochimaru silently watched this scene.
Even having grown for several years, the two of them still couldn't be considered the absolute top tier of the shinobi world.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi and Hanzo were two highly revered powerhouses in the shinobi world.
Watching them fight seriously, even just from the sidelines, would be immensely beneficial for their training and experience.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Hanzo locked eyes.
They slowly raised their hands and formed the Seal of Confrontation.
This was the sign of a friendly spar.
And the moment the seal was formed...
Hanzo suddenly moved!
Chakra exploded within his body, gathering in his legs and the soles of his feet as he rapidly approached Hiruzen Sarutobi along a bizarre trajectory.
The sharp chain sickle was gripped in Hanzo's hand, the blade silently angled towards Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Orochimaru and Tsunade's eyes narrowed simultaneously.
It was this very bizarre footwork and speed that had caused them endless suffering back then.
What did it matter if a ninjutsu's power was great, or a Chakra Enhanced Punch was heavy?
If it doesn't hit, it's meaningless.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood tall and unmoving, undisturbed by Hanzo. He leisurely drew a kunai.
Clang!
The kunai and the chain clashed, sending out sparks of fire.
Hanzo's heart stalled.
He was shocked that Hiruzen Sarutobi could catch his attack so easily!
One must know, his swordsmanship was capable of severing a shinobi's hand seals!
"His speed is faster than Minato's, but not by too much. Minato is still young, after all." Hiruzen Sarutobi continuously clashed his kunai against Hanzo's chain.
The movements of the two men blurred into afterimages, the sparks from their collisions scattering like a blacksmith at work!
Orochimaru and Tsunade watched this scene, taking a small breath of cold air.
Sensei was still Sensei.
And Hanzo was still Hanzo.
The intensity of their close-quarters combat was still incredibly perilous!
"What's going on? Is he not afraid of my chain sickle? Why is he so relaxed?" Hanzo's heart stirred. He flicked his wrist, and the chain sickle suddenly changed direction at a bizarre angle.
Logically speaking, the enemies Hanzo usually faced, even if they could keep up with his reaction speed, would find it hard to parry due to the unpredictable attack angles of the chain sickle.
Empowered by chakra and exquisite swordsmanship, with just a slight misstep, the chain sickle could easily slice open an enemy's skin, causing them to bleed profusely in an instant.
As the chain sickle constantly changed attack directions, Hanzo would also constantly vary his tempo, making the enemy unable to gauge his speed and strength, thus applying pressure.
This pressure would gradually accumulate, and upon reaching a certain point, it would deform their movements, creating an opportunity to wound them.
Hiruzen Sarutobi continued to raise his kunai, blocking the chain sickle without blinking an eye.
There was no fear in his eyes, only appreciation for his opponent.
"This swordsmanship, these neural reaction speeds, and this seasoned experience..."
"Setting aside the enhancement from the Flying Thunder God, he indeed stimulates my combat nerves even more than Minato," Hiruzen Sarutobi thought to himself.
But Hanzo felt it was getting stranger and stranger.
Kunai against chain sickle—the kunai was definitely at a disadvantage.
Because the kunai's contact area and attack range were far inferior to the chain sickle. It wasn't a melee weapon, and a single mistake during contact would leave a wound.
"No..."
"Hiruzen isn't taking any of my pressure at all!"
"It's as if he's not afraid of getting hurt at all? Not being afraid leads to an absence of fear, and the absence of fear allows him to block my chain sickle with just a kunai!"
Hanzo never expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to literally trade blows with him using just a kunai.
Where is your ninjutsu!
He originally just wanted to test the waters. How did Hiruzen end up following his rhythm without losing any ground?
How bizarre.
It felt like Hiruzen was treating him like a junior, sparring with him just to accompany his specialized training.
And actually, Hanzo's thought wasn't entirely wrong.
Because Hiruzen Sarutobi was a jack-of-all-trades. The Hokage couldn't immediately pinpoint exactly where his strength could truly undergo a qualitative transformation, so he just advanced steadily in all aspects.
The talent Konoha bestowed upon him also didn't allow him to have any glaring weaknesses; he had to develop comprehensively.
Therefore, Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't constrained by the format of a spar. As long as the opponent's level was high enough to hone his skills, it was always a good thing.
As for why Hanzo felt he wasn't taking any pressure...
It was because Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that even if the chain sickle hit him, it might only leave a scratch.
Worst-case scenario, he would just activate the Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
With confidence in his heart, his hands naturally wouldn't panic.
The two struck each other heavily.
Hanzo took the initiative to retreat to a distance.
"Back then, Jiraiya was worn down by Hanzo like this until he lost his patience, and got slashed in the abdomen."
"Orochimaru, you remember, right?" Tsunade exhaled a long breath and said in a low voice.
"Of course I remember. Not just Jiraiya, didn't your shoulder get slashed like that too? Which caused a delay in your subsequent medical ninjutsu, making the situation worse and worse..."
Orochimaru's expression was complex.
Back then, when the three of them fought Hanzo during a torrential downpour, they were played like fools by Hanzo's bizarre Body Flicker Technique and Water Release, barely touching even the hem of his clothes.
"Do you feel it? It's like watching Sensei give us a demonstration class."
Orochimaru said softly, "Teaching us, his two disciples, how to handle an enemy like Hanzo..."
Tsunade nodded gently.
Hanzo, the man who defeated Team Hiruzen and bestowed upon them the title of "Sannin."
Was fighting Hiruzen Sarutobi himself!
The disciples lost, so the master came to win back face for Team Hiruzen.
The scene truly gave off that vibe.
Even though nearly a decade had passed.
Although Orochimaru and Tsunade's voices weren't loud, they were quite distinct in the quiet Forest of Death.
But Hanzo paid them no mind.
All his attention was now focused on Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Lord Hokage, against a powerhouse like you, I shouldn't be engaging in these meaningless probes."
Hanzo's bones and muscles popped and cracked, clearly executing some sort of jutsu to activate his flesh with chakra.
"Next, it's time for us to show our true skills!"
"Please, do not hold back." Hanzo felt his current condition was excellent.
This feeling of fighting with his whole heart and soul was something he hadn't experienced since before the Second Great Ninja War.
Fighting a powerhouse, colliding with an opponent using power and will.
After returning defeated to Amegakure, Hanzo had immersed himself in so-called political balancing and scheming. Although it seemed like he was consolidating his power, the sense of panic in the deepest part of his heart had only deepened.
After all, deceiving oneself is the hardest deception of all.
"Please dance to your heart's content, Your Excellency Hanzo."
Hiruzen Sarutobi also felt in a great mood.
The duel with Hanzo, while called a spar, was essentially fighting to secure and determine the authority in their cooperation.
He could hit a bit harder. As long as he left him with a breath, Tsunade could save him anyway.
When he usually sparred with shinobi in the village, like Danzo or Minato, it was always specialized, modular refinement, not true combat to the death.
After all, as Hokage, beating his own people until they couldn't get up would be inappropriate.
But Hanzo was different.
He asked for the beating himself; in fact, not beating him would be considered disrespectful!
Hiruzen Sarutobi very much liked this kind of request.
"Water Release: Raining Tiger at Will Technique!"
Hanzo quickly formed hand seals, drawing upon the water from the nearby lake.
In an instant, the lake water seemed to be manipulated by giant hands. But it didn't form an attack; instead, it surged up and rapidly spread across the ground, like a massive barrier.
The depth reached about a person's knees.
Orochimaru and Tsunade's expressions quickly turned ugly.
Hanzo was relying on his Water Release mastery to utilize the terrain advantage, turning the battlefield into the environment most suited for him, simulating Amegakure's perennial flooded conditions.
As long as there was ample water, Hanzo's Water Body Flicker combined with the Hydrification Technique would make it seem as if he could constantly teleport.
Even if he occasionally exposed a flaw, he would still possess extremely high margin for error.
Watching this scene, Orochimaru's thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the battlefield in Amegakure.
"Even now, it seems I still don't have any means to defeat Hanzo. But I wouldn't lose, either," Orochimaru thought to himself.
His Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique actually drew part of its inspiration from Hanzo's Hydrification Technique.
"I don't need to rush; time is on my side."
"My scientific research makes the village stronger, so my research environment will be more stable, and the iteration of technology will accelerate."
"Whether it's the Curse Mark or Hashirama's cells, I can wait for the final finished product and custom-make a special version for myself. That is the way to reach my highest potential limit."
Thinking this, Orochimaru smiled faintly, his gaze toward Hanzo surprisingly carrying a hint of superiority.
Pitiful Hanzo...
Since childhood, to gain power, he risked implanting a salamander's venom sac into his body. Throughout his youth and middle age, he fought relentlessly without knowing how to maintain himself.
He merely relied on his talent and will to bulldoze through, only capable of displaying immediate combat strength, not knowing how to seek his own limits.
"Lament your tragic fate of not being born in Konoha..."
"I hope you can earn Sensei's acknowledgment."
"As the one who defeated me, you are also quite a good experimental subject," Orochimaru placed his gaze on his beloved Sensei, Hiruzen, feeling a surge of anticipation.
He really wanted to know, how would Sensei break through Hanzo's Water Release system?
"Hiruzen!"
Hanzo roared angrily.
Hiruzen Sarutobi froze. Why was he warning him before attacking?
In all these years, Hiruzen Sarutobi had only met one person who did this: Danzo, who yelled his name at the top of his lungs like he was on steroids before every spar.
"Hanzo!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi had no choice but to yell back cooperatively, otherwise it would feel very impolite.
Hanzo's eyes narrowed. Sharp chakra entwined around the chain sickle, covered in Water Release. The originally pliant water rapidly began to spin at this moment.
"A shape transformation similar to the Hard Whirlpool Water Blade?"
"He and Tobirama-sensei would probably have a lot in common." Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes, watching Hanzo's chain sickle shoot straight towards him from a distance.
This time, he couldn't block it with a kunai.
Hiruzen Sarutobi formed hand seals.
The surface of his body turned pitch black as he protected himself with Earth Release: Earth Spear.
"A hardening jutsu? The same jutsu as that Kakuzu," the thought flashed through Hanzo's mind. "As expected of the Professor of Ninjutsu—master of all five natures!"
"But no matter how strong the defense, if you only take hits and don't fight back, it will eventually be broken!"
Just as the water blade chain sickle was about to whip in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his hand, but Hanzo, along with the chain sickle, suddenly turned into water and scattered.
In the next moment, using the standing water on the ground as a medium, he instantly appeared behind Hiruzen Sarutobi!
Clearly, he had mastered Water Release and the Hydrification Technique to perfection.
In Hanzo's hands, the combination of these two could hardly be described as a Body Flicker Technique anymore; it was more like spatial displacement.
But to Hanzo's astonishment, Hiruzen Sarutobi actually managed to react.
The hardened black hand grabbed the chain sickle, ignoring the teeth-setting screech of the water blade grinding against his palm, and slammed a punch into Hanzo's abdomen!
Hanzo shattered upon impact, turning into a puddle of water before reforming in the distance.
Hiruzen Sarutobi cast an approving glance at Hanzo.
The combination of two secret Water Release techniques, in this specific terrain, actually allowed Hanzo to achieve an effect comparable to the Flying Thunder God Technique.
In some situations, it was even more advantageous than the Flying Thunder God, because the Flying Thunder God kunai medium was still too conspicuous, whereas Hanzo only needed water.
"No wonder Orochimaru and the others couldn't handle it..."
"Without breaking this Water Release terrain, Hanzo will ultimately maintain the initiative."
A bizarre feeling welled up in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart.
It really wasn't that he was targeting Hanzo...
But why did it feel like his skillset countered the other party so perfectly?
Whether it was the Lightning Release Chakra Mode or Ice Release, even Boil Release had a specialized attack effect against Hanzo.
As for his teleportation assault, Hiruzen Sarutobi handled it fairly easily.
Because Hiruzen Sarutobi frequently sparred with Minato Namikaze to mutually improve their neural reaction speeds. He was already used to seeing the real Flying Thunder God, let alone a "Water Flying Thunder God."
"Is it just that I accidentally counter Hanzo..."
"Or is it that with my slight improvements, the situations I can handle have increased?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. Regardless, he still had to progress steadily, step by step.
The encounter with the unknown powerhouse, Yashiro Uchiha, had served as a wake-up call for Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The shinobi world was vast, hiding crouching tigers and hidden dragons.
The players on the chessboard might not just be the Five Great Hidden Villages!
"Why isn't Sensei using that move?" Tsunade whispered to Orochimaru.
She meant Ice Release.
"When experts clash, it's about mutually verifying each other's skills, not a life-and-death struggle."
Orochimaru glanced at Tsunade. "Besides delving into techniques, you should also learn some combat skills. Always thinking of using brute force to clash head-on is efficient, to be sure."
"But if you encounter an enemy that brute force can't solve, your methods will be severely lacking."
"Watch Sensei's responses. Being Hokage isn't that easy."
Silently and formlessly, Orochimaru was suppressing Tsunade's desire to become Hokage.
This was partly out of selfishness; after all, if Tsunade really ran for the position one day, it would be quite troublesome.
But it was also for the benefit of the village.
Because Orochimaru knew Tsunade very well; she truly wasn't suited to be Hokage.
"Hmph." Tsunade snorted coldly. "Why are you just like Sensei used to be? You love preaching!"
But Orochimaru's words did make sense.
The "brute force" fighting style was exceptionally effective against enemies physically inferior to oneself.
But if the "brute force" couldn't break through, it would become incredibly awkward, making even fighting back difficult.
Hanzo exhaled softly.
He saw it.
Although the Earth Spear Technique temporarily blocked his water blade chain sickle, there was no elemental counter between the chakra natures.
As long as he seized the opportunity for a pinpoint attack, he could break through Hiruzen Sarutobi's defense!
And once the first wound was made, the second and third would quickly follow.
Not only that, while constantly teleporting, Hanzo was also secretly laying down array patterns on the ground in his hydrified form.
Waiting for the right moment to activate them.
This was one of his killer moves: Fire Release: Exploding Flame Formation!
"I can't let Hiruzen relax. Against a powerhouse like him, his stamina and chakra are abundant."
"I must continuously bite at him to find a weak point!"
Hanzo was also somewhat puzzled. Why had Hiruzen Sarutobi only defended and not attacked up until now?
But he quickly understood.
His combat system was difficult for a single person to crack.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have briefly stood at the pinnacle of the shinobi world and been praised by so many.
Under this interlocking system, if the strengths of multiple people were combined, it might be possible to break Hanzo's system.
But one-on-one was practically impossible.
No one could master that many ninjutsu.
But this was also the reason why Hanzo had grown somewhat disheartened after the Second Great Ninja War.
The great hidden villages were full of talent, but he had no companions by his side to assist him.
"Hiruzen, feel my resolve and my will!"
Hanzo merged with the water once again, calculating his next decisive offensive step.
Gradually tearing at him with water sickles was step one.
The Exploding Flame Formation was step two, and summoning the salamander was step three!
His combat relied on brains.
"Water Release Secret Technique: Great Water Arm Technique!"
Hanzo's arm seemed to fill with water, muscles bulging.
Combined with the mobility of the Water Body Flicker, the sluggishness normally associated with the jutsu used by the Hozuki clan was entirely negated.
Hiruzen Sarutobi calmly met Hanzo's attacks.
At this point, using only the Earth Spear to counter Hanzo had reached its limit.
And this was exactly what Hiruzen Sarutobi intended.
He wanted Hanzo to apply pressure on him, forging the potential limit gained from growing alongside Konoha into reality!
The two exchanged blows for another dozen or so rounds.
Orochimaru and Tsunade watched with slight anxiety.
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi defended well, only defending and not attacking was still worrying, and it was inevitable that he would eventually take a hit.
The water sickle slashed across Hiruzen Sarutobi's arm, breaking through the Earth Spear and leaving several marks.
"That's about enough..."
"I can see it more clearly than before." Hiruzen Sarutobi felt his neural reactions smoothing out, his dynamic vision gradually locking onto Hanzo's movements better.
Today's training ends here!
Next, it was time to display the Hokage's martial might!
Hanzo attacked once again. After being counterattacked by Hiruzen Sarutobi, he still used the Hydrification Technique to evade physical damage, continuing the cycle of his cheap tactic.
A sudden change occurred!
Hiruzen Sarutobi grabbed Hanzo's arm, and in that instant, dazzling lightning erupted from his body!
Hanzo's small eyes suddenly widened.
His first reaction was genjutsu.
Wasn't the flavor of this Lightning Release Chakra Mode a bit too authentic?
It might not match the Third Raikage, but placed in Kumogakure, it would absolutely be second to none.
"Crap!"
Hanzo's heart trembled.
Lightning nature chakra was highly superior; it countered two types of jutsu.
It countered Earth Release elementally, and it countered Water Release physically.
A massive amount of Lightning Release chakra was conducted into Hanzo's body through the water flow, destroying the structure of the Hydrification Technique and preventing him from escaping again.
Hanzo gritted his teeth. Pushing the Great Water Arm Technique to its absolute limit in that instant, he withstood the numbing sensation in his body and used the teleporting chain sickle to tear his own arm off, spilling a massive amount of blood.
Then, he grabbed the splattering blood and summoned out of thin air: "Summoning Jutsu!"
But at this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi also gathered his strength, the muscles of his hammer-like arm bulging.
He threw a full-force punch at Hanzo's chest!
The salamander, Ibuse, appeared.
But before it could block for Hanzo, the punch landed solidly on Hanzo's chest. Lightning flashed, and Hanzo was sent flying like a rubber ball at terrifying speed, crashing into the lake and kicking up massive waves!
A look of human-like terror and confusion appeared in the salamander Ibuse's eyes.
Although it wasn't a top-tier summoning beast like those from the Three Great Sage Regions or Monkey King Enma, capable of human communication, its intelligence was not low.
It couldn't speak, but it had the ability to think and judge a situation.
Why did Lord Hanzo go flying the moment it appeared?
He looked a little dead...
"You must be Hanzo's right-hand man, Ibuse, right? Don't move. I am Hanzo's brother."
"We are sparring. I won't do anything to you."
It wouldn't be difficult to finish off the salamander Ibuse from this distance, but this was Hanzo's vital summoning beast. Losing this King of Salamanders would drastically reduce his combat power.
He still needed Amegakure as Konoha's northern shield; reducing Hanzo's combat power did Konoha no good.
Hiruzen Sarutobi leaped up and stood atop the salamander's head, curiously bending down to stroke the bizarre creature's skin, finding it quite slippery to the touch.
He wasn't worried about the salamander's venom; Hiruzen Sarutobi already knew how to cure it.
Feeling the tingling lightning on its head, the salamander Ibuse froze.
"Go on, go on. See how your master is doing."
Hiruzen Sarutobi patted Ibuse's head.
Orochimaru and Tsunade exchanged a look, both of them stunned.
It wasn't that they didn't know Hiruzen Sarutobi practiced the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. But they all thought he only dabbled in it to strengthen his body. No one expected him to reach this level.
Only Danzo and Minato had experienced it firsthand.
But the problem was, Danzo would absolutely never casually tell others how he got beaten up by Hiruzen.
And Minato's thought was: he wouldn't tell either!
First, to protect the Hokage's intelligence from leaking. Second, he figured his master wouldn't only spar with him. It was best for others to experience the oppressive feeling of that information gap.
He wasn't being maliciously cunning; it was to better simulate combat environments for his comrades!
In the lake.
Hanzo coughed up large mouthfuls of blood, dyeing the water around him red deep beneath the surface.
That punch almost burst the venom sac inside his body!
"Huff, huff." Hanzo absorbed the surrounding water.
When the Hydrification Technique was mastered to a profound degree, it was very versatile.
In a watery environment, it could replenish water to alleviate injuries.
The drawback was that it would fail if it encountered Lightning Release or jutsu capable of interfering with chakra flow.
"Ibuse..."
The salamander Ibuse swam around Hanzo, the worry evident on its face.
Ever since the Great Ninja War ended, it hadn't seen Hanzo in a long time, and it missed its master very much.
"Hiruzen is truly righteous, he didn't attack you..."
"Go, hide underground, and be ready to act on my command."
Hanzo took a deep breath.
In his view, Hiruzen Sarutobi leaving his summoning beast alone meant the battle could continue!
Pain circulated through Hanzo's body, but it also ignited his fighting spirit.
Hanzo leaped out from the surface of the lake.
"Hiruzen! Continue!"
This time, Hanzo no longer easily engaged in close combat. Instead, he used mid-to-long-range Water Release combined with Water Body Flicker, attempting to force Hiruzen Sarutobi to deactivate the Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
Lightning countered Water offensively, but conversely, Water also countered Lightning offensively.
It all came down to who hit who first.
"Hiruzen only learned the Lightning Release Chakra Mode halfway through his life, after all."
"The chakra consumption of this jutsu is extremely high. Only a monster like the Third Raikage can keep it active for a long time."
"While I, relying on the terrain, have extremely low Water Release consumption."
Hanzo analyzed the current situation.
His logic was naturally flawless, but that was analyzing things based on normal logic.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was clearly not that normal.
"He wants me to deactivate the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, huh?"
"Fine." Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled inwardly.
Since they were fighting, he had to make full use of it and beat Hanzo into submission.
There was no need to let him keep some tricks hidden, making him think he just didn't perform well when he went back.
Hiruzen Sarutobi dodged the Water Release, cooperating with Hanzo's intentions, and retracted his Lightning Release armor.
At this moment, a glint flashed in Hanzo's eyes.
He suddenly formed a hand seal, and a hidden mark triggered right beneath Hiruzen Sarutobi's feet!
Dozens of explosive tags tightly wrapped around Hiruzen Sarutobi's lower body.
This move first had the effect of physical sealing, while also precisely targeting the enemy's body for a strike.
One of Hanzo's signature ninjutsu: Fire Release: Exploding Flame Formation!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart stirred.
A sealing jutsu of this level naturally couldn't trap his chakra flow.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't reactivate the Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
Showing margin for error!
Margin for error brings the most helpless, oppressive feeling to an opponent.
The primary damage source of explosive tags was compressed Fire nature chakra.
Putting aside Hiruzen Sarutobi's fire resistance, the instantaneous absorption effect provided by the Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration Mark was enough for him to use it as a medium to instantly absorb a massive amount of Fire Release chakra.
"This move again!" Tsunade gritted her teeth; she had been caught by Hanzo's dirty trick before.
Orochimaru's expression was also grim. This move was like burying invisible landmines; it was impossible to defend against.
The explosive tags detonated!
And behind Hiruzen Sarutobi, the salamander Ibuse burst from the ground, spewing a massive amount of venom mist from its mouth!
"Hiruzen, this is my strongest combination attack!"
"Feel my will!"
Hanzo roared, "I can still fight against a powerhouse like you! I can still dance!"
"Sensei!" Tsunade cried out instinctively.
Orochimaru frowned deeply, feeling that Hanzo seemed even more tenacious than before.
After taking such a heavy hit from Sensei, he was still unyieldingly thinking of ways to win?
But the scene unfolded differently than they expected.
First, the explosive tags didn't detonate.
The moment the Fire nature chakra erupted, it seemed to wither, flowing calmly into Hiruzen Sarutobi's body.
Hanzo, Orochimaru, and Tsunade all froze simultaneously.
What a bizarre scene...
What kind of jutsu was this?
But the salamander Ibuse didn't care about any of that. Its small fish brain couldn't comprehend overly complex ninjutsu gambits. Following Hanzo's command, it spewed out the most virulent venom mist.
However, there was some confusion in its eyes:
"Didn't this human and Lord Hanzo both say they were brothers? Why are they hitting each other so hard?"
"Humans are truly strange creatures!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's figure was enveloped in purplish-black mist.
Hanzo, Orochimaru, and Tsunade waited for Hiruzen Sarutobi's move.
Logically, one should flee immediately upon being poisoned.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't react.
"Could he have been knocked out by the poison instantly? Impossible." Hanzo rejected his own thought.
Although not every powerhouse had poison resistance...
Hanzo didn't believe Hiruzen Sarutobi was incapable of the basic operation of using chakra to resist toxicity.
"What's going on..." Hanzo was still pondering when his gaze suddenly sharpened.
An even more bizarre scene occurred.
The originally sticky, stagnant purplish-black venom mist, as if neutralized by a reagent, faded from deep black-purple at a visible rate, coagulating into fine, grayish-white flocculent material.
Like burnt paper ash, it fell down in sheets.
Centering on Hiruzen Sarutobi, Boil Release acid mist forcefully pushed back the venom mist. The boiling acid made contact with the water's surface, erupting in a series of harsh, crackling pops.
"You can do that?"
Tsunade muttered to herself, "I was just wondering if Sensei used an antidote..."
"This looks like a deactivation reaction of a toxic substance!" Orochimaru's eyes widened. "Yes!"
"The salamander's venom is a biological toxin. Its active components will rapidly denature and deactivate in a high-temperature, highly acidic environment. This perfectly corresponds to the Boil Release acid mist Sensei developed!"
Orochimaru's gaze couldn't help but carry genuine reverence.
Not just a disciple's admiration for his master, but the recognition of a kindred spirit.
What is a research shinobi?
It's not just developing new ninjutsu that counts as research. Applying scientific principles in combat, in Orochimaru's view, also fell into this category!
"Sensei, you truly acknowledge my ninja way." A warm current surged in Orochimaru's heart.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's attitude towards research, his support for him...
He didn't just support him with words; he invested funds, and even personally applied it in actual combat!
Hiruzen Sarutobi did indeed acknowledge science, even in a shinobi world possessing supernatural forces like chakra.
Because the essence of science is the method and attitude of constantly approaching the truth, which applies universally.
Hanzo's face was full of disbelief.
Clearly, Hanzo had never seen his venom mist in a coagulated state before.
In the past, even if it failed, it was because the enemy forcefully endured it with antidotes.
"Have you never fought a Boil Release shinobi from Kirigakure?"
"I suppose not, given the distance."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled inwardly. He wanted an unforgettable way to end this spar for Hanzo.
Suddenly, Hiruzen Sarutobi moved!
The Lightning Release armor draped over his body once again, turning defense into offense. He closed in on Hanzo's area at extreme speed, dodging the layers of the salamander's venom mist.
Hiruzen Sarutobi leaped high into the air, descending from the sky, slamming his leg down like an axe towards Hanzo!
"What incredible speed..."
Hanzo instantly felt the pressure. At this point, his only option left was to stall using the Hydrification Technique and Water Body Flicker.
Clearly, the speed of his Water Release could not hit Hiruzen Sarutobi.
To win, he could only look for an opportunity to get close and strike Hiruzen Sarutobi with a chain sickle enhanced by Water Release, causing the lightning and Water nature chakra to react...
"I can't approach recklessly yet. The lightning interferes with my Hydrification Technique."
Hanzo's mind worked like lightning, teleporting away once again using Water Body Flicker.
But at this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to predict this. He retracted his Lightning Release nintaijutsu mid-air, the furious lightning fading in an instant.
Upon landing, Hiruzen Sarutobi dropped to one knee, slamming his palm straight into the still-bubbling water.
"Ice Release: Ice Age!"
Piercingly cold Ice Release chakra surged violently into the water through his palm!
Harsh, extreme cold spread madly across the water's surface.
The venomous water and acid that had just been sizzling were instantly frozen solid.
The dark purple scum, the surging bubbles, even the patterns of the gravel beneath the water were rigidly fixed in the solid ice.
And the same went for Hanzo. His liquid body had just gathered back into a complete human form...
His limbs and torso were welded together with the surrounding solid ice, the fluidity of his hydrification completely locked down, and even the flow of his chakra was rendered sluggish by the ice.
He looked like a specimen encased in an ice coffin, unable to move an inch.
Fighting spirit surfaced in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes as he formed another hand seal.
"Earth Release: Moving Earth Core!"
The earth beneath the solid ice instantly heaved and bulged, shooting upwards with a boom.
Hanzo, like a boulder hurled by a catapult, was thrown straight up dozens of meters into the air, wrapped in shattered ice.
Almost at the exact moment Hanzo ascended, steam rose from Hiruzen Sarutobi's body. Using the brute force of the steam, he forced his body straight into the sky, catching up to the weightless Hanzo in an instant.
Mid-air, Hiruzen Sarutobi's arms tightened fiercely, wrapping around the frozen Hanzo and locking him in a bear hug.
Simultaneously, dazzling lightning erupted from his body once again, piercing into Hanzo!
In that moment, the muscles in Hanzo's limbs spasmed violently uncontrollably. His entire body fell into complete paralysis, stripping away any possibility of escaping with the Hydrification Technique.
"Hanzo, experience my resolve and will to pursue peace through my power!"
"Use your chakra to protect your internal organs and venom sac as much as possible; don't die on me!"
Hugging the Hanzo ice sculpture, Hiruzen Sarutobi used the momentum of their fall and roared: "Lightning Release: Liger Bomb!"
A deafening roar exploded!
The two bodies smashed violently against the solid ice.
Terrifying impact force burst forth instantly. The originally thick, flat ice layer shattered explosively, centering on the point of impact!
Countless chunks of ice the size of washbasins, along with fine ice shards, carried raging lightning as they splashed in all directions.
The earth beneath the ice layer shuddered violently, spider-web-like cracks spreading for dozens of meters!
The gale whipped up by the impact made countless thick tree trunks in the forest sway, their branches rustling loudly.
Orochimaru and Tsunade raised their hands to block the fierce wind, forced to squint their eyes.
The two exchanged a look, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.
First, he used a strange ninjutsu to crack the Exploding Flame Formation. Then he used the acid mist of Boil Release to neutralize the salamander's venom mist, shaking Hanzo's mind with an impeccable posture.
Next, he used Lightning Release to close the distance to Hanzo, used the previously hidden Ice Release to control the Hydrification Technique, displayed another form and nature transformation of Boil Release chakra, and finally struck the decisive blow!
Reflecting on the logic and thought process behind this battle left Tsunade and Orochimaru endlessly fascinated.
This was the best practical combat lesson!
It was just that the jutsu required... were a bit too numerous.
Multiple Kekkei Genkai, secret techniques, and close-quarters combat skills.
It was a bit hard to replicate.
They could only learn from the thought process.
"Tsunade, get over here and save him!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's shout carried over from afar.
Tsunade snapped out of it and quickly hurried over with the enhanced medical chakra.
Hanzo lay in a crater in the ground, his face covered in blood, seemingly completely unable to move.
But his eyes remained locked onto Hiruzen Sarutobi, unblinking.
His voice sounded like a broken gong: "Hiruzen, Hiruzen..."
"I have experienced your conviction and power in pursuing peace! It is so resolute..." Hanzo said while coughing up blood. "Hiruzen has conveyed all his will to me, yet I, because of my slackness these past years, failed to convey my portion to him."
"I am truly sorry I couldn't let Hiruzen fight to his heart's content and use his full strength!"
Hanzo revealed a look of deep regret.
These words were not just because of Hiruzen Sarutobi's martial might.
It was because he knew profoundly how spirit-crushing it was when someone fell from a state of complacency, forced to face the massive gap between reality and dreams.
Both were participants in the Second Great Ninja War, and both were losers.
One believed he could mediate the shinobi world, and the other believed he could surpass the previous Hokage.
So in Hanzo's eyes...
While Hiruzen Sarutobi's power was certainly formidable, the willpower he showed in enduring the torment of a major setback, cultivating step by step to reach this point, was even more astounding to him!
Only someone with immense perseverance towards their ideals could achieve this.
As for what that ideal was...
Hanzo, who had deeply visited Konoha, understood: it was peace, it was the Will of Fire!
"Let me just treat your injuries directly! Don't use this medical scroll."
Tsunade stared at Hanzo. Seeing her former old rival beaten like this by her Sensei, she felt a complex mix of emotions.
What was even more bizarre was that Hanzo had actually felt the so-called "will within power" from her Sensei's violence, looking utterly willing and even apologetic!
Tsunade could vaguely understand a little, gaining a more profound understanding of conceptual terms like carrying the weight of a village and conviction.
It wasn't a joke.
"No."
"I know my own condition. The venom sac hasn't ruptured."
"Just use that scroll. I told Hiruzen, this spar was primarily to verify its practicality in actual combat."
Hanzo raised his head slightly, looked at his limbs covered in wounds, and actually laughed.
Although he had lost the ability to move, his injuries weren't fatal.
The Ice Release sealing him was partly to immobilize him, but partly also to protect him. Hiruzen Sarutobi had even specifically warned him to use chakra to protect his internal organs.
Simply put, the hit was hard enough to clear his head, but it didn't damage his foundation!
The enhanced special medical chakra scroll was unrolled.
Deep green fluorescence adhered to Hanzo's skin, penetrating deep into the tissues, rapidly alleviating pain, stopping bleeding, repairing the wounds, and replenishing a certain amount of chakra.
Hanzo's expression turned to one of astonishment, and his breathing gradually became even.
Without the precise control of a medical shinobi, the effect was naturally far from perfect.
But as a battlefield emergency measure, it was already an epoch-making piece of combat equipment!
"Truly remarkable."
"If such medical scrolls can be mass-produced, it will be enough to reverse the tide of a battle! This is practically a second life for shinobi on the battlefield."
"Did you develop this?" Hanzo looked at Tsunade.
Tsunade nodded, then shook her head: "Yes and no."
Hanzo looked at her in confusion.
"It is the result of my efforts, but also Sensei's, Orochimaru's, and the combined efforts of all Konoha shinobi."
"I could never have done this alone."
"The technology, the funding, the early preparation, the mid-stage regulation, and the unachieved future mass production—all rely on everyone contributing."
Tsunade said seriously.
Orochimaru couldn't help but glance at Tsunade, looking surprised.
What's going on?
Didn't Sensei slam Hanzo?
Why does it seem like he slammed some sense into Tsunade's brain too!
Hanzo stared at Tsunade for a long time, then looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi. He exhaled a breath of stale air and said in a low voice, "Konoha truly is an incredible village."
He shifted his body, attempting to stand up.
Tsunade's eyes also watched Hanzo, but not to meet his gaze; she was recording the effects of the medical chakra scroll.
"Welcome to the Will of Fire family, my brother."
Hiruzen Sarutobi extended his hand to Hanzo.
Hanzo froze, laughed, and reached out to grasp Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand: "Alright! Konoha and Amegakure will be brothers forever! I swear to the Sage of Six Paths: if I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand, "Is there a need for this?"
He had never believed in oaths.
Setting aside whether the Sage of Six Paths even existed, even if he did, he might not hear it.
Hanzo stood up shakily, "Let's discuss the cooperation between our two villages, Hiruzen."
"No rush."
"Tsunade, Orochimaru, you two take Your Excellency Hanzo to Konoha Hospital first to receive comprehensive treatment. Be sure to help him recover from his injuries."
"If he has any old wounds, help treat those as well. Do not be stingy with resources."
Hiruzen Sarutobi instructed.
"Yes, Sensei!" Orochimaru and Tsunade said with heartfelt conviction.
"Hiruzen..."
"If we truly are brothers, please don't call me 'Your Excellency Hanzo' anymore."
"If possible, may I presumptuously call you 'Big Brother'?" Hanzo stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said deeply.
"Perhaps you are older than me?" Hiruzen Sarutobi joked.
Hanzo shook his head: "Age doesn't matter; the accomplished comes first!"
"Good brother, focus on recovering. When you are well, we will sit down and talk things over slowly."
"Send someone to notify Amegakure first, so the shinobi there don't worry." Hiruzen Sarutobi patted Hanzo's shoulder gently.
"Alright!" Hanzo froze. His Big Brother had even thought of this?
Orochimaru looked at his Sensei quietly.
Well, well.
Not only does the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, Motohito Kujo, call Sensei 'Big Brother,' but now even Hanzo of Amegakure is calling him that.
"If things keep developing like this..."
"There might be many 'Big Brothers' in the shinobi world, but they'll all have to call Sensei 'Big Brother'."
Orochimaru sighed inwardly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched their retreating backs, pondering what he had gained from this battle.
And the specific details of the upcoming cooperation with Amegakure.
Hanzo clearly had sincerity.
Since they were going to cooperate, they would wait until their minds were calm to sign an agreement acceptable to both sides for the long term.
Logically speaking, negotiating while riding this wave of dominance would yield a higher ROI.
He could drive a hard bargain.
But what Hiruzen Sarutobi was scheming for was much larger.
So he didn't mind putting on a good show and giving up some benefits.
Just cooperation between Amegakure and Konoha wasn't enough.
He had to make them profoundly experience the Will of Fire, generating the desire to join Konoha and making it their dream.
Of course, before that, they had to pay their dues in sweat and blood tax.
As for how the Amegakure shinobi would completely overcome their inevitable awkward feelings, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already thought of an unprecedented stepping stone for them.
Amegakure consisted of shinobi from the Land of Rain.
So if the Land of Rain was incorporated into the Land of Fire, Amegakure would naturally become a part of the Land of Fire as well, subordinated to Konoha, and subjected to him as Hokage and Grand General.
This was a very interesting phenomenon.
The invisible opposition between shinobi and nobility throughout history was largely due to the small number of shinobi, forcing them to rely on a large number of nobles and their grassroots management organizations.
A hidden village was merely a special military force of a country, essentially a group of mercenaries earning commissions.
The legal sovereignty of the Land of Rain belonged to the Daimyo and nobility of the Land of Rain.
The nobles of the Land of Rain, who were desperately thirsting for a safe, stable environment and the "Sovereign Sage Pill," were clearly not a difficult target to conquer.
"I can walk on two legs."
"I hold the legal authority for both the shinobi and the nobility."
Truly incorporating Amegakure into Konoha would be an achievement of expanding the territory.
This would clearly vastly boost Hiruzen Sarutobi's prestige and also redefine the map of "Konoha."
"It just takes time."
"Haste makes waste; I must take it slow and plan carefully."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled.
Even though no one was around, his smile was still as warm as the sun.
...
While Hiruzen Sarutobi was pondering over Amegakure.
Madara Uchiha was also working very intently in Kirigakure, finding one opponent after another for Konoha.
To prove that the chain of hatred could not be severed, he naturally had to make enemies attack continuously.
Soragakure was just an appetizer.
Even Soragakure daring to attack Konoha would prove Konoha's weakness to the isolated Kirigakure, wouldn't it?
Playing with a major hidden village, although still somewhat beneath Madara Uchiha's dignity...
It was barely worth his time to personally intervene!
"A-Huo!"
Madara Uchiha waved his hand grandly: "Let's get to work!"
☆☆☆
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