Protecting the now temporarily incapacitated Mikoto behind him, Aoshi stood fearlessly, facing Hanzo head-on.
Unfortunately, without Mikoto's assistance, Aoshi was no match for Hanzo.
The moment they clashed, Aoshi was struck and forced backward. Even though Mikoto managed to catch him, the sheer force still pushed her several steps back before they came to a stop.
Hanzo, no longer intent on giving them any more chances, moved swiftly and resumed his assault.
Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!
Forming a one-handed seal, Aoshi, unbothered by chakra consumption, spat out a violent gust of wind that sent Hanzo flying backward, crashing into a hillside before coming to a stop.
But what happened next made Aoshi's pupils contract sharply.
The Hanzo who had slammed into the hillside suddenly transformed into a puddle of water—unharmed—and immediately launched himself forward again at shocking speed.
Water Body Flicker Jutsu!
In the original story, Hanzo had used this very technique to evade the chakra dragon unleashed by Nagato's Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
This was an advanced version of the standard Body Flicker Technique, and in Hanzo's hands, its speed was pushed to the extreme.
Before Aoshi could even react, Hanzo had already closed the distance.
Just as Aoshi prepared to risk everything and activate his Rinnegan, a shadow suddenly appeared in front of him and took the full force of Hanzo's deadly strike.
In the next instant, that figure vanished in a puff of white smoke.
It was Aoshi's shadow clone.
Hanzo's subordinates had all been eliminated by that clone, but the price was that the clone had nearly exhausted its chakra.
Using the last of its strength, it chose to defend the original Aoshi in this final way.
Aoshi did not let the opportunity go to waste. In a flash of white light, he drove his blade directly toward Hanzo's abdomen.
If memory served correctly, when Hanzo was younger, he had implanted a dead salamander's poison sac into his abdomen, granting him resistance to toxins.
But salamander venom was extremely deadly.
If that poison sac were ruptured, not even someone with an enhanced immunity like Hanzo could withstand the venom's full force.
However, a seasoned veteran like Hanzo wasn't going to fall so easily. He instantly pulled back and dodged Aoshi's thrust, widening the distance between them.
This was the first time Hanzo had voluntarily pulled away from Aoshi in their battle.
Mikoto could hardly believe her eyes. Aoshi… actually forced back the so-called "Demi-God" Hanzo?!
"So your weakness is your abdomen." Aoshi didn't get cocky; he calmly stated his deduction.
At those words, Hanzo's expression subtly changed. "You even figured that out… in such a short time?"
That alone confirmed Aoshi's theory. Mikoto's eyes lit up in realization and silently marveled. As expected of Aoshi, he deduced Hanzo's weakness from a single evasive maneuver.
"Konoha really is a land of hidden talent. One genius after another," Hanzo praised as he slowly removed his face mask.
Aoshi's expression changed drastically.
Hanzo's mask wasn't like Kakashi's, meant to hide his face. Without the mask, even Hanzo's breath was poisonous—capable of paralyzing others and even harming his own allies.
This toxic aura came directly from the poison sac embedded in his body.
Without hesitation, Aoshi took out two pills. He swallowed one himself and handed the other to Mikoto. "These are antidote pills. Hurry and take it."
These antidote pills weren't Aoshi's own creation—they were developed by Tsunade during the Second Great Ninja War specifically to counter Hanzo's poison.
Mikoto, who trusted Aoshi completely, swallowed the pill without hesitation.
Hanzo noticed, but didn't seem concerned. After all, antidote pills weren't omnipotent—they had a time limit.
Once that wore off, the poison would resume its effects.
"Let's see whether you die by my scythe... or by my poison." Before his words even finished, Hanzo charged again.
Having taken the antidote, Aoshi felt no fear and went head-to-head with him once more.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
In mere seconds, they had exchanged several blows.
Aoshi unleashed all his techniques, but none could trouble Hanzo—they were effortlessly countered.
Suddenly, Hanzo opened his mouth and spewed water, forming a crashing wave toward Aoshi.
Water Release: Wild Water Wave!
Though a basic Water Release jutsu, in Hanzo's hands—given his mastery—it flowed as naturally as breathing.
Caught off guard, Aoshi was struck by the wave and momentarily staggered.
Hanzo seized the opening and slashed down with his poisoned scythe. If struck, Aoshi would either be seriously injured or killed instantly.
Boom!
At the critical moment, Jiraiya finally arrived!
With a single Body Flicker, he appeared in front of Aoshi and kicked Hanzo away.
Though caught off guard, Hanzo still reacted swiftly—crossing his arms to block the kick and being sent skidding back more than ten meters before regaining balance.
Seeing that Aoshi and Mikoto were mostly unharmed, Jiraiya let out a relieved sigh. At least I wasn't too late.
Then, turning to Hanzo, Jiraiya frowned and asked: "Hanzo, why are you attacking Konoha's shinobi?"
"Hmph, that's what I should be asking you—why did you kill my subordinate, Kinosuke?!" Hanzo's voice was sharp with anger, staring at Jiraiya like the victim.
"When did I kill anyone named Kinosuke? I've never even met the guy!" Jiraiya was completely bewildered. He was certain he hadn't lost any memories.
"So you deny it?" Hanzo thought Jiraiya was just being stubborn. He had personally seen Kinosuke's corpse.
"But I really don't know any Kinosuke. You know I've been quiet ever since I entered the Land of Rain."
Seeing that Jiraiya didn't seem to be lying, Hanzo began to calm down slightly. Jiraiya, after all, was a ninja he respected—it was unlikely he'd deny something he'd actually done.
"Earlier, as we were leaving the Land of Rain, we were suddenly ambushed by Rain ninja. No warning, no questions—they just tried to kill us. We had no choice but to fight back."
"I interrogated the Jonin leading them. He confessed they were acting on Kinosuke's orders, ordered to kill us at all costs! But just as I was about to learn more, someone assassinated that Jonin and silenced him!" Mikoto quickly spoke up with the information she had.
Hearing this, Hanzo's brow furrowed deeply. He now realized something was definitely off.
If Jiraiya and Mikoto were telling the truth, then Konoha wasn't behind this, but rather Kinosuke.
But why was Kinosuke then murdered?
Could someone else be orchestrating things behind the scenes? Could there be a hidden hand trying to reignite conflict between Amegakure and Konoha?
After thinking it over, Hanzo formed a seal and used Summoning Jutsu to call forth a giant salamander.
He couldn't just trust Jiraiya and the others' words alone. "There's definitely something suspicious about all this. Once I capture you all, I'll personally investigate and uncover the truth!"
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