Uchiha Daigo and Uchiha Shun stood at the highest point of the tree canopy.
Vision was limited by the fog, and the Amegakure Shinobi had taken cover, so they couldn't see the enemy's position.
The two of them hesitated for a moment, looked at each other, and nodded.
They summoned their ninja tools and fired kunai and shuriken wildly toward the area where the Amegakure Shinobi had previously stopped.
Ninja tools shot out from their wrist guards in an endless stream, fired like a machine gun, blanketing the area in a barrage of blind attacks.
---
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" ×3
Uchiha Naraku and the two guards beside him had already completed their ninjutsu. Dozens of small fireballs shot forward.
The impact caused a series of explosions, with the explosion range of the three Fire Style users covering nearly a hundred meters.
After being struck by a Great Fireball earlier, the Amegakure Shinobi hiding in the fog were now struck like targets in a map-wide bombardment, suffering heavy casualties and screaming in agony.
The shuriken flying overhead were like bullets from a machine gun. The Amegakure Shinobi couldn't move or escape.
Those who survived by hiding behind tree trunks or in the canopy were breathing heavily, nervous and frightened.
Just as the surviving Amegakure Shinobi were panicking—
"Water Style: Water Barrier!"
An Amegakure Shinobi shouted as Hanzō of the Salamander could no longer remain idle and used a Water Style jutsu. A massive stream of water appeared from nowhere and spiraled outward.
The flames from the earlier Fire Style were extinguished, and the barrage of tools from Uchiha Daigo and Uchiha Shun were blocked.
"Master Hanzō has taken action!"
Shielded by the water wall, the hidden Amegakure Shinobi began to reveal themselves. In their minds, Hanzō of the Salamander was a god-like figure.
"With a Water Style jutsu of this scale... Could the enemy really be Hanzō of the Salamander? Retreat!"
Upon hearing Naraku's words, Uchiha Renji and Uchiha Kaito supported the incapacitated Arata and Daisuke. Naraku and his team had succeeded in rescuing them and began to retreat.
Hanzō of the Salamander had been at the rear of the Amegakure formation. The continuous explosions earlier made Hanzō keenly aware that this was an elite Konoha force.
The Amegakure Shinobi had suffered heavy casualties under the barrage of Fire Style and ninja tools. Hanzō couldn't sit back and used Water Style Ninjutsu.
After casting Water Barrier, the water didn't dissipate.
Hanzō quickly formed hand seals, his movements swift and precise. Within seconds, he completed his next jutsu.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bomb!"
A hundred-meter-long, ten-meter-thick water dragon formed from the spiraling water.
Hanzō couldn't see the enemy's exact position but aimed the massive water dragon in the direction from which the barrage had originated.
Experts were skilled at predictive attacks.
This water dragon was the largest Uchiha Akagi and Uchiha Bairen had ever seen.
Chihuo and the others didn't dare delay. Upon seeing the water dragon rushing toward them, they immediately began to retreat.
Their judgment was accurate. As they ran, Naraku's voice rang out.
"Withdraw!"
Naraku shouted. If he had any doubts before, he was now certain of the enemy's identity after witnessing the water dragon.
He turned and ran. The water dragon's primary targets were Daigo and Shun, whose ninja tools were nearly exhausted. They vanished from their previous location in a flash.
The Water Dragon Bomb knocked over massive trees, turning the terrain into a swamp, a small pond forming where dry ground had once been.
"Master Hanzō, there were five enemies! They escaped with the two from before!"
After finishing the jutsu, Hanzō stood atop the trees and observed the fleeing enemies. Even without the help of a sensory ninja, he could see their numbers clearly.
"Hmph. Chase them!"
"Yes!"
The Amegakure Shinobi responded in unison.
If Hanzō of the Salamander took action but let several Konoha Shinobi escape, his reputation would take a hit.
"Master Hanzō, another four-man enemy squad has arrived!"
"No problem."
Hanzō frowned. First there were two, then five, and now another four — eleven Konoha shinobi in total. These were three elite teams.
Though he appeared calm, Hanzō had already begun considering retreat. Who knew how many more Konoha shinobi might arrive if the battle continued?
But his pride as the "Demigod of Amegakure" left him no room to retreat in front of his subordinates.
"Master Hanzō, seven more enemies are approaching!"
"Stop the pursuit."
Hanzō gave a soft command and halted atop a tree crown.
The situation had spun out of control. The number of enemies kept increasing. Though confident in his own strength, Hanzō was not willing to gamble his life recklessly. He hadn't earned the title of Demigod by fighting every battle to the death.
---
Uchiha Naraku's team had regrouped. Naraku formed hand seals.
"Summoning Technique!"
"Meow."
"Kozumaru, help me scout the number of enemies behind us."
"Meow!"
The ninja cat Kozumaru saw the injured beside Naraku and knew the situation was urgent. He didn't ask for food and instead began to perform perception ninjutsu.
"Lord Naraku, there are twenty-three ninja in pursuit, nya."
"Good!"
Naraku nodded. With twenty-three enemies behind them, and sixteen healthy shinobi on their side, the odds weren't terrible.
The Water Style user behind them was likely Hanzō of the Salamander. Everyone present could sense the immense chakra and commanding presence from the masked ninja holding the kusarigama.
"Let's head up and take a look."
Still within the forest, Naraku led his team up to the tree canopy, where they stared down at the Amegakure Shinobi in the distance.
Hanzō of the Salamander saw the silhouettes about two hundred meters ahead.
Though he couldn't make out their faces, he sensed the power in their stance — the posture of leaders.
Uchiha Naraku finally caught sight of the Amegakure commander behind them. Though the distance made details fuzzy, Naraku noticed the enemy's long golden hair, the sickle in his hand, and the gas mask on his face.
If the Summoning Beast Salamander appeared as well, there would be no doubt: it was Hanzō of the Salamander himself.
But since the salamander had not been summoned, Naraku couldn't yet be sure of Hanzō's intent.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Naraku created a Shadow Clone and sent it to approach the enemy commander.
The force ahead was clearly made up of sixteen Jōnin — elite troops from Konoha, and from the Uchiha clan, no less. Even Hanzō of the Salamander couldn't guarantee victory in a direct clash.
Valuing his life, Hanzō found himself caught in a dilemma. He couldn't advance, nor could he retreat. But when he saw a ninja approaching, he sighed in relief.
So long as communication was possible, there was hope for negotiation.
What commanders like Hanzō feared most wasn't battle, but a lack of dialogue — where blades answered before words.
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