Everyone on the field was watching Mutsuki.
The Rain Ninja led by Hanzo hoped that Mutsuki would obediently commit suicide, which would save them a lot of effort.
The Ninja Sect ninja brought by Mutsuki hoped that he would not under any circumstances commit suicide.
The Hidden Rock ninja led by Kitsuchi had no particular thoughts-they were simply curious to see what choice Mutsuki would make.
Danzo didn't care what Mutsuki would do either; he just wanted to see bloodshed, preferably with both the Ninja Sect and Rain Ninja Village suffering heavy losses. If the Land of Rain was too strong, it would not serve Konoha's interests.
"Hanzo-san, at a time like this, you shouldn't be playing these tricks. It only lowers people's opinion of you." Mutsuki took the Kunai from Yahiko, which Hanzo had thrown, and infused it with fire-natured Chakra.
Blazing flames rose on the surface of the Kunai, drying it from the rain.
Whoosh!
Mutsuki aimed ahead of Hanzo and threw the flame-infused Kunai.
Through his actions, Mutsuki made his choice clear to everyone-suicide was out of the question.
If Nagato had not been standing here but Shisui or Obito instead, Mutsuki might have been tempted to play a fake-death trick.
Because in that case, there was a high probability of provoking them to activate the Mangekyo Sharingan, dramatically increasing their power.
Nagato, however, was not at that level yet. Although he could not fully use the Rinnegan at this moment, he already possessed it.
What Nagato needed was not to activate the Rinnegan, but to explore its power. Strong stimulation could accelerate this process, but it was not an absolute necessity like with the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Sosuke, you made the wrong decision." Hanzo looked at Mutsuki with a cold expression.
Boom!!
Hanzo condensed his Chakra and threw a kunai to intercept Mutsuki's flaming Kunai, causing the fire-infused Kunai to explode midair.
The entire valley instantly became tense, and an invisible smoke filled the area.
Kitsuchi immediately became alert-this was going to turn into a fight.
He actually wanted to see a one-on-one battle between Hanzo and Mutsuki, but he doubted Hanzo would give up the numerical advantage of the Rain Ninja.
"Attack!" Hanzo did not immediately strike himself but commanded a hundred elite Rain Ninja to launch an assault.
Upon hearing Hanzo's order, the elite Rain Ninja instantly released Chakra from their hands, throwing the Kunai in their grip.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!
A massive number of black Kunai flew from all directions like a dark net, surrounding Mutsuki and his companions.
This was why Hanzo had chosen this valley for the meeting. The Rain Ninja positioned on the mountains could strike from above, making it extremely difficult for Mutsuki and his team to dodge the dense attack.
Hanzo calmly observed Mutsuki and the others in the valley. With the advantage of terrain and timing, what chance did Mutsuki have to fight him?
Nagato's mind raced, thinking of what Ninjutsu could defend against attacks from all directions and protect all his companions.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
Mutsuki condensed his Chakra and converted it into Wind-natured Chakra. At the moment he clapped his hands, he released a burst of Wind Chakra.
Whooosh!!
A violent wind erupted outward from the center around Mutsuki and his companions, scattering the incoming Kunai in all directions.
Rainwater splashed outward, and the trees rustled violently in the wind.
Although Gale Palm was only a standard C-rank Wind Release Ninjutsu, with Mutsuki's Mastery-level Chakra Nature Transformation-over 7,000 Proficiency in Wind-natured Chakra-it carried significant power, easily blocking the massed Ninja Tool attacks.
Nagato looked at his own hands and then at Mutsuki.
He could use Gale Palm too, but if he did, there was no way he could achieve this level of effect.
He recalled the Water Wall Mutsuki had used at the start, which was different from a normal Water Wall, capable of defending against all attacks without any blind spots.
"Continue the attack," Hanzo said expressionlessly.
He had expected Mutsuki to block some attacks, but he didn't expect him to use a simple C-rank Ninjutsu to stop an attack of this scale.
Still, Hanzo felt confident, because a Ninja's Chakra is limited. The more Chakra Mutsuki expends protecting his comrades, the less he will have left for the upcoming fight.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Sharp black Kunai sliced through the raindrops, forming a deadly net and thrusting toward Mutsuki and his team.
Yet Mutsuki again used Gale Palm to deflect them.
"Sosuke, don't tell me you didn't prepare a backup plan. If you truly didn't expect this, I'll have to reevaluate your abilities," Kakuzu said, mocking on the surface but actually warning Mutsuki not to be drained.
Hanzo's tactic was to wear Mutsuki down, gradually consuming his energy and Chakra.
Before Kakuzu could say another word, Mutsuki's palms struck Kakuzu's chest at incredible speed, dispelling the Sealing Jutsu on him.
It wasn't that Mutsuki fully trusted Kakuzu, but Kakuzu's current combat strength had dropped to that of just one heart. Combined with the Flying Thunder God Seal Mutsuki had left on him, if Kakuzu had any sinister thoughts, Mutsuki could instantly deal with him.
Although not fully trusted, Mutsuki judged from Kakuzu's past behavior that it was highly unlikely he would betray him at such a critical moment; at most, Kakuzu might flee alone.
If Kakuzu could help manage the Ninja Sect's members, it would significantly relieve the pressure on Mutsuki.
Even though his strength had diminished, Kakuzu at his peak was powerful enough that even the power of a single heart was beyond that of an ordinary Ninja.
Feeling an unprecedented sense of freedom in his body, Kakuzu was a little surprised. He had just been about to ask Mutsuki to lift the seal, but Mutsuki anticipated his words.
"Just like that, you lifted the seal on me? Aren't you worried I'll take your corpse for ransom?" Kakuzu said, clenching his fists.
"Your bounty should have doubled by now-maybe even thirty million ryo."
Nagato watched Kakuzu warily; if Kakuzu made any sudden move, he would strike immediately.
"If you really think that way, then it means I made a mistake, and I will personally correct the error I committed," Mutsuki said with a faint smile.
In this ninja world, Mutsuki never relied on luck or placed hope in others. What he relied on was his own strength.
Kakuzu couldn't do anything to Mutsuki, and neither could Hanzo. The worst-case scenario was just Mutsuki fleeing with everyone.
"Tch, that expression like you have everything under control makes me want to punch you," Kakuzu said as he continued to gather Chakra for recovery.
He truly had no intention of betraying Mutsuki.
He thought only a fool would make such a choice. Although he knew he wasn't technically a Ninja Sect ninja, Hanzo might not see it that way- from Hanzo's perspective, they were all Ninja Sect members.
So not only would Kakuzu not betray Mutsuki, he would also provide some help while ensuring his own safety.
"Each of you take a position and protect yourselves," Mutsuki instructed after blocking the fourth wave of Ninja Tool Throwing, and then he launched an attack on Hanzo.
Chakra gathered under Mutsuki's feet as his body flashed through the rain, closing in rapidly on Hanzo's location.
Mutsuki's Chakra was already slightly less than Hanzo's, so over-consuming it would be disadvantageous for the upcoming fight.
When the Rain Ninja noticed Mutsuki's movements, they tried to stop him with their tools, but all were effortlessly blocked by Mutsuki.
Hanzo watched silently as Mutsuki kept closing in, neither attacking to stop him nor retreating.
There was no special reason; Hanzo simply did not think Mutsuki could defeat him in a direct fight.
Everything Hanzo did was not because he lacked confidence in defeating Mutsuki, but because he wanted a victory that was easier and more secure.
If Mutsuki thought these tactics reflected doubt in his own strength, Hanzo was about to show him what it truly meant to be at the pinnacle of the ninja world.
"You disappoint me. Perhaps I should have finished you that day," Hanzo said coldly as he watched Mutsuki approach.
"But you can't," Mutsuki replied calmly.
For Mutsuki, Hanzo's most troublesome weapon was his poison, but that alone was not enough for Hanzo to overcome him.
The two did not engage in battle immediately, instead interacting like old friends catching up after a long time apart.
"Fire Release: Exploding Flame Formation!"
Hanzo suddenly jumped back and formed hand signs. The ground beneath Mutsuki erupted with numerous explosive tags that surged toward his legs.
This was why Hanzo had stood still-he wasn't here because the view was better, but because he had laid explosive tags in advance.
Boom!!
A massive explosion roared, engulfing Mutsuki in an intense blaze. The ground shattered under the force of the numerous explosives.
"No wonder he is called the pinnacle of ninjas," Kitsuchi said, a hint of admiration in his voice.
Hanzo was incredibly strong, but his tactics were absurdly meticulous-he first lured Mutsuki into a trap, then used his subordinates to deplete Mutsuki's Chakra, and when Mutsuki charged, Hanzo manipulated him with words to fall right into the explosives.
"At this distance, unless one mastered extremely strong Earth Release: Hardening, it's impossible to withstand," Kitsuchi said, shaking his head regretfully as he watched Mutsuki being engulfed by flames.
Being bombarded by so many explosive tags at this range would injure even an Earth Release ninja of Kitsuchi's level.
"This ninjutsu is impressive." Danzo admired Hanzo greatly; he felt they were somewhat similar, both willing to use any means to defeat an opponent.
Being bombarded by so many explosive tags at close range, Mutsuki would have been mortally wounded if not dead, completely incapable of fighting Hanzo.
"Uncle Sosuke!" Yahiko noticed what was happening to Mutsuki and his expression became extremely worried.
He never imagined Hanzo could be so ruthless-despite having the numerical advantage, he still used traps against Mutsuki.
Nagato stared at Mutsuki engulfed in flames, momentarily lost in thought.
From initial doubt to recognition, and then trust, memories of meeting and knowing Mutsuki played repeatedly in Nagato's mind.
"You can't lose so recklessly." Kakuzu frowned.
Even with timely use of Earth Spear, Kakuzu might still have taken some damage from an explosion of this magnitude. While such injuries would be negligible for someone trained in Earth Grudge Fear, Mutsuki's vitality was not as strong.
"Resolved?" Hanzo's gaze sharpened as he stared at the smoke from the explosion.
However, Hanzo did not possess Sharingan or Byakugan; he could not see Mutsuki's exact situation through the thick smoke.
But this move was Hanzo's signature ninjutsu, and he knew its power well. Even with defensive ninjutsu, injuries from the explosion were unavoidable.
The dense smoke quickly dissipated in the fierce wind and rain, revealing Mutsuki completely unharmed.
At the moment of the explosion, Mutsuki had used his Perfect-level Armament Haki for defense. Even if Hanzo had doubled the number of explosive tags, Mutsuki could have blocked them all.
Seeing Mutsuki unscathed, Hanzo's expression showed genuine surprise.
If Mutsuki had used a clone tactic, it would have been understandable, but he had withstood the Exploding Flame Formation directly-something Hanzo could not comprehend. He saw no traces of defensive ninjutsu around Mutsuki.
"Could it be ultimate Earth Release: Hardening?" a thought appeared in Hanzo's mind.
Every type of Chakra Nature Transformation has its characteristics: Fire can burn and explode, Lightning can activate cells, and Earth Chakra can harden the body. Simply put, that's Hardening Jutsu; more advanced techniques include Earth Spear.
Even though his killing move was blocked, Hanzo remained unperturbed-he had many techniques, some of which even the toughest Hardening couldn't withstand.
Seeing Mutsuki completely unharmed, the memories in Nagato's mind froze, and his expression turned to delight.
"When fighting me, he even held back," Kakuzu thought, assuming Mutsuki must have extremely high Earth Release: Hardening ability.
The Ninja Sect ninja immediately relaxed when they saw Mutsuki was unharmed.
"As long as we can withstand the pressure here, there's still a chance. Sosuke sensei's strength is no less than Hanzo's," Ike Masaya said, keeping a close eye on the elite Rain Ninja above.
Ike Masaya felt that if he had told his past self about these events with Mutsuki, his past self would never have believed it could be his future.
The idea that Ninja Master Sosuke could stand shoulder to shoulder with Hanzo was just Ike Masaya trying to ride Hanzo's reputation in the Land of Rain; he never imagined Mutsuki and Hanzo were truly on the same level.
Seeing Mutsuki completely unharmed, Kitsuchi's expression turned to shock.
He had casually thought about it, yet Mutsuki really did possess such powerful Earth Release: Hardening.
Kitsuchi was willing to call Mutsuki the strongest Earth Release: Hardening ninja, as even among the Hidden Rock skilled in Earth Release, no one had mastered this level of Hardening.
Swish!
Seizing the moment of Hanzo's surprise, Mutsuki erupted with Chakra and dashed forward, throwing a punch at Hanzo.
Hanzo was confident in his Taijutsu; he could defeat the samurai of the Land of Iron without using ninjutsu. Confident, Hanzo did not retreat.
This was Taijutsu he had trained for most of his life-how could he lose to Mutsuki, a young man under thirty?
Bang!!
A dull impact sounded. The moment Hanzo and Mutsuki made contact, he was thrown back like a kite with broken strings, crashing hard onto the ground.
Mutsuki was not surprised by this; Hanzo had overestimated his Taijutsu ability.
Just now, Mutsuki had not only used Stone Breathing: Total Concentration to enter the Transparent World state, but had also struck first-why would Hanzo dare face him head-on?
"Hanzo-sama!" Some Rain Ninja saw Hanzo being knocked away and couldn't help but shout in astonishment.
In the minds of the Rain Ninja Village's ninjas, Hanzo was undoubtedly the strongest ninja.
Ninja Master Sosuke was said to be on par with Hanzo, but the Rain Ninja Village ninjas didn't truly believe Sosuke had such strength.
Yet reality was right before their eyes-no matter how much they trusted Hanzo, they couldn't change the fact that the strongest ninja in their hearts had just been thrown.
The Rain Ninja quickly launched attacks to stop Mutsuki from pursuing Hanzo.
"To be able to fight like this in this situation..." Danzo's expression darkened.
From Danzo's perspective, Hanzo had prepared thoroughly, yet he still couldn't gain the upper hand against Mutsuki. Mutsuki's displayed power exceeded his expectations.
Theoretically, whether Hanzo or Mutsuki won, Danzo's ultimate goal-weakening the Land of Rain's strength-would be achieved.
But Danzo preferred Hanzo to win. On one hand, he could continue cooperating with Hanzo; on the other, Mutsuki and Nagato's potential posed a greater threat to Konoha.
The Ninja Sect ninjas were completely thrilled and elated. The stronger Mutsuki's display of power, the more advantageous the situation became for them.
Hanzo hadn't even had time to get back up before using one-handed seals with Water Body Flicker Jutsu to create distance from Mutsuki.
Mutsuki's Taijutsu was beyond his imagination-so strong that Hanzo began to doubt whether Mutsuki was as young as his appearance suggested.
In his fight with Kakuzu, Mutsuki had displayed terrifying Fire Release; he had endured Hanzo's Exploding Flame Formation, showing formidable Earth Release; and now he was using Taijutsu far stronger than Hanzo's own.
Hanzo thought that no matter how talented a ninja was, it was impossible to advance so far in so many fields at such a young age.
Having been caught off guard once, Hanzo decided that in the upcoming battle he would no longer engage Mutsuki in Taijutsu; his main strategy now was to avoid head-on confrontation.
After dodging the Rain Ninja's attacks, Mutsuki quickly launched the next wave of attacks against Hanzo.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Dance!"
Mutsuki switched his Breathing Technique to Flame Breathing, pushed his breathing to the extreme, and entered Flame Breathing Chakra Mode, enhancing both his Fire Release abilities and physical strength.
Even though it was raining and Fire Release was normally countered by Water Release, Mutsuki still intended to use Fire Release against Hanzo.
The reason was simple: Mutsuki's Fire Release was strong enough.
To this day, Fire Release remained Mutsuki's most powerful Ninjutsu attack.
With Perfect-level Fire Release Nature Transformation, combined with a large number of Mastery-level proficient Fire Release Ninjutsu, Mutsuki's Fire Release far surpassed all ninjas in the current ninja world except for perhaps Madara.
As for Madara, Mutsuki had never used Identification Jutsu to check his panel, so he couldn't confirm whether Madara's Fire Chakra Nature Transformation had reached Perfect level.
Although he hadn't checked, Mutsuki believed that with sufficient Chakra, his Fire Release was at least not weaker than Madara's, and might even be stronger, because Mutsuki also had Mastery-level Flame Breathing, allowing him to enter Flame Breathing Chakra Mode to further enhance Fire Release.
A massive amount of Chakra gathered in Mutsuki's throat, instantly converted into Fire Chakra, and after pretending to form a hand seal, transformed into scorching flames which he expelled.
The intense heat caused steam to rise from the rain-soaked ground near Mutsuki, gradually drying the surface.
A faint smile appeared on Hanzo's face. In Taijutsu, he was indeed no match, but daring to fight him with Fire Release was suicidal-Hanzo was universally recognized as the strongest Water Release Ninja in the current ninja world.
To use Fire Release to defeat Hanzo's Water Release in a downpour, Hanzo believed only the resurrection of Madara could possibly make it happen-and even then, it was just a possibility.
"Super Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!"
Hanzo formed hand seals with utmost seriousness, gathering massive amounts of Chakra in his body. He not only expelled a huge torrent of water from his mouth but also manipulated the surrounding water.
Under the influence of Hanzo's immense Chakra, a gigantic, thick Water Dragon gradually took shape, its horns alone as tall as Hanzo himself.
The massive Water Dragon, under Hanzo's control, coiled around him, absorbing nearby water and growing even thicker.
Hanzo's Super Water Dragon was imposing, yet the sea of flames expelled by Mutsuki was equally formidable; even the ninjas nearby felt an intense heat.
They had never seen such Fire Release Ninjutsu before; the flames were terrifyingly hot.
"Hanzo-sama will definitely win." Although Mutsuki's Fire Release didn't look ordinary, the Rain Ninja believed that in a Ninjutsu clash, Hanzo would prevail.
It was common ninja knowledge: Water Release counters Fire Release. No matter how strong the Fire Release, it couldn't overwhelm Water Release.
"Ichigo, you've done quite a bit in this battle. This guy actually wants to use Fire Release against Hanzo-sama's Fire Release?" A Rain Ninja Jonin said to the Mutsuki Shadow Clone beside him.
Previously, in the Shadow Clone's fight, Mutsuki had already demonstrated the ability to extinguish fire with fire.
The Mutsuki Shadow Clone smiled quietly, saying nothing.
Of course, he had contributed, but not against Hanzo-his contributions were for the Ninja Sect.
The initial explosive tag trap had been tampered with by him, so Mutsuki and his team only suffered minor residual effects.
Danzo also smiled. Even Hiruzen, extremely skilled in Fire Release, would not have dared to use Fire Release against Hanzo in such weather.
Danzo believed the scales of victory were tipping toward Hanzo.
"These guys absolutely can't imagine just how terrifying this Fire Release is." Seeing Mutsuki use Fire Dragon Dance again, Kakuzu still felt a chill.
Mutsuki's Fire Dragon Dance was the most powerful Fire Release Ninjutsu Kakuzu had ever seen, its power even capable of overwhelming his combination of Intelligent Hard Work and Pressure Damage wind-fire Ninjutsu.
Kakuzu had faced strong opponents before, but this was the first time he had seen a single Ninjutsu defeat four ninjas under his command.
Of course, this was mainly because when he encountered Hashirama, he had not yet mastered Earth Grudge Fear.
Other ninjas using Fire Release against Hanzo in a downpour would have seemed insane to Kakuzu, but he truly believed Mutsuki might actually succeed.
"Uncle Sosuke, go for it!" Yahiko shouted, defending against incoming attacks while cheering Mutsuki on in his heart.
In Yahiko's mind, Hanzo's image had completely shattered; in his view of the Land of Rain, only Mutsuki and Nagato remained worthy.
The sea of fire Mutsuki expelled split into six fire dragons as it advanced, blocking all forward paths of Hanzo's massive Water Dragon.
Though smaller in size compared to Hanzo's Water Dragon, the six fire dragons acting in unison still looked formidable, particularly striking in the gloomy, rainy weather.
Boom!!!
As they clashed, the Water Dragon and Fire Dragons collided, their immense energies erupting. The ground was torn apart and charred black by the heat.
The powerful shockwave toppled nearby trees, and the resulting chaos in the wind sent raindrops scattering wildly in all directions.
Everyone's attention was fixed on the center of the Ninjutsu clash. As leaders of their respective sides, their battle would heavily influence the overall situation.
Danzo's expression shifted slightly. This was not what he had expected; Hanzo's Water Release should have been effortlessly overpowering Mutsuki's Fire Release.
"How is this possible? Could his Fire Release really be stronger than Hiruzen's?" Danzo asked, full of doubt.
Although Danzo believed Hiruzen's personality was not suited to be Hokage, he admitted to Hiruzen's strength.
"This is really outrageous." Kitsuchi said, his face full of shock.
If the course of this battle were told, the ninja world would gain an undisputedly strongest Fire Release Ninja.
To use Fire Release to contend with the ninja world's strongest Water Release-this Fire Release carried an extraordinary weight of skill.
Kakuzu nodded, unsurprised.
Sizzle!
The massive body of the Water Dragon gradually dissipated into mist under the influence of the Fire Dragon's intense heat, while the Fire Dragon, though also being worn down by the Water Dragon, shrank at a much slower rate.
In this clash of water and fire, the Fire Dragon's presence gradually overwhelmed the Water Dragon.
Though the Fire Dragon's size shrank, it appeared even more dazzling in the eyes of the ninjas.
Hanzo's expression shifted from calm and collected to slightly changed, and finally to full-blown shock.
He could no longer remain composed. The information revealed by this Water Release-Fire Release clash was simply too terrifying.
For a ninja trained to Hanzo's level, understanding Chakra Nature Transformation was second nature.
In a downpour, for one ninja's Fire Release to suppress another's Water Release could only mean one thing: that Fire Release Ninja's skill far surpassed the Water Release Ninja's.
Such occurrences happen in the ninja world because each ninja's talent differs; it's normal for a genius Fire Release user to overpower a Water Release user of ordinary skill.
But Hanzo was different-he was recognized as the strongest Water Release ninja in the world. He had never imagined a day when he would be suppressed by Fire Release.
"Could this be that Ninja Sect's inheritance?" Hanzo thought, realizing Mutsuki's Fire Release was unnaturally strong, almost inhumanly so.
If it had anything to do with the legendary Six Paths Sage, Hanzo felt it made sense.
"Water Release: Water Wall!"
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
Some of the Rain Ninja who were closer immediately used Water Release ninjutsu to help Hanzo defend against Mutsuki's Fire Release when they saw him at a disadvantage.
But Mutsuki's full-power Fire Release was no joke. Under his control, the six Fire Dragons, which had already consumed most of their energy, merged into a single massive Fire Dragon that pierced through the Water Dragon and headed straight for Hanzo.
Hanzo was very cautious with his life, so he had trained his Water Body Flicker Jutsu to an extremely proficient level, having once dodged countless ninjutsu using its perfected form.
With the Rain Ninja's Water Release interference, Hanzo narrowly dodged the Fire Dragon's attack without injury.
Hanzo licked his slightly dry lips, and his gaze toward Mutsuki grew extremely serious. The scorched marks on the ground and the heat of his body spoke volumes about the terrifying power of Mutsuki's Fire Release.
In a one-on-one fight, even with his speed using Water Body Flicker, it would likely be impossible to completely evade Mutsuki's attacks under such conditions.
Mutsuki exhaled deeply and immediately exited Flame Breathing Chakra Mode.
His full-power Fire Release was extremely strong, but it consumed a large amount of chakra.
Before becoming a chakra prodigy like Nagato, Mutsuki's full-power Fire Release could only be used as a finisher-one or two times per battle at most.
"If this Sosuke can survive, then the Land of Rain is about to change," Kitsuchi thought. He felt coming to the Land of Rain was worth it, even just for the intelligence gained on Mutsuki's ninjutsu.
If Mutsuki defeated Hanzo and replaced his position in the Land of Rain, then Mutsuki would become a figure that Hidden Rock needed to take seriously.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Seeing that Mutsuki could use Fire Release to suppress his Water Release, Hanzo decided to play his final card-poison.
His Summon Beast could emit an incredibly poisonous Poison Mist, so even Tsunade would have difficulty neutralizing Hanzo's Salamander poison.
A white mist erupted, and a massive salamander appeared at Hanzo's feet.
"All Ninja, attack the Ninja Sect Ninja with full force, at any cost!" After summoning the beast, Hanzo immediately gave orders to the Rain Ninja.
Although Mutsuki's power was immense, the other Ninja Sect Ninja did not match his strength. Under the relentless charge of a hundred elite Rain Ninja, those Ninja Sect Ninja would inevitably get injured, which could distract Mutsuki during the battle.
Hanzo initially intended to defeat Mutsuki and eliminate the Ninja Sect at minimal cost, but Mutsuki's demonstrated strength was too great. Now Hanzo simply wanted to completely annihilate Mutsuki, even if it meant heavy casualties among the Rain Ninja.
Following Hanzo's orders, the Rain Ninja stopped throwing weapons or using ranged ninjutsu and charged directly at Nagato and the others.
"If you want to survive, you better fight hard. Hanzo is treating our side as the breakthrough point," Kakuzu thought and immediately understood Hanzo's intention.
Hanzo's specialty was Water Release ninjutsu, but even his strongest Water Release could not surpass Mutsuki's Fire Release. Defeating Mutsuki would undoubtedly be extremely difficult for Hanzo.
But Mutsuki was not alone-he had brought the Ninja Sect Ninja with him.
If Mutsuki cared about his comrades, these Ninja Sect Ninja would become his weak point.
Kakuzu, who had observed Mutsuki closely for some time, knew exactly what kind of person he was. Mutsuki deeply cared about the Ninja Sect's members, so if anything happened to them, it would affect his battle.
Ike Masaya took a deep breath and prepared several Kunai fitted with explosive tags.
It was his first time participating in a battle of this scale; previously, he had only fought wandering ninjas.
This time, his opponents were Hanzo, the Demigod of the Land of Rain, and hundreds of elite Rain Ninja.
"We absolutely will not let his scheme succeed," Yahiko said, clenching his fists and ready to fight with full strength.
Just as Yahiko once admired Hanzo, now Yahiko despised him just as intensely.
Nagato quickly condensed his Chakra, his gaze unwavering and resolute.
He would protect Yahiko, protect Konan, protect everyone in the Ninja Sect, and absolutely would not let anything on their side interfere with Mutsuki's battle.
Konan took out specially prepared Paper Shuriken for her Paper Secret Jutsu, while Yahiko and Nagato quickly formed hand seals.
"Keep an eye on that Ninja with the Rinnegan. If necessary, be ready to move and seize the Rinnegan at any time," Danzo instructed the Root Ninja beside him.
With a hundred elite Rain Ninja moving out together, the battlefield became chaotic. Danzo worried that the Rinnegan might be damaged.
Whether or not it could be transplanted, obtaining it first was never wrong.
"Are we going to help Hanzo?" asked the Hidden Rock Jonin beside Kitsuchi.
"Let's wait and see," Kitsuchi replied, shaking his head after thinking for a moment.
---
Don't forget to check out my patreon where you can read up to 50 advanced chapters https://www.patreon.com/CrazyNinja