The chase was still on. Transformed into the Titan Python, Kazuyama relentlessly pursued Hanzō. No matter how Hanzō tried to maneuver Ibuse, he couldn't shake him off.
"What a persistent brat."
"Ibuse, go underground."
Irritated by the pursuit, Hanzō issued the command, forming several rapid hand seals, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Ibuse obeyed without hesitation, drilling straight into the earth.
Kazuyama scoffed at the sight.
"Running again, old geezer? I heard your Ibuse's venom is deadly—let's see if I can eat it without getting the runs!"
The Titan Python didn't slow for a second, jaws wide as it lunged toward Ibuse.
"Hmph."
Hanzō snorted and suddenly opened his eyes wide. Kazuyama felt a flicker of unease.
"Kazuyama, the area's rigged with explosive tags!"
Tagorihime's warning made him blink. Explosive tags?
Unlike ninja with chakra signatures, explosive tags are just paper before activation—completely undetectable, even to natural energy. If not for Tagorihime's sharp eyes, they would've never noticed.
The Titan Python was moving too fast. There was no time to stop or coil defensively.
"Sharp eyes... too bad you're too late!"
"Fire Release: Explosive Flame Formation!"
Countless tags floated up from the ground—laid perfectly during the chase, with Hanzō even directing Ibuse in a circle to ensure coverage.
"Damn, I got played. Figures... crafty as ever, old geezer!"
Kazuyama spat as the tags latched onto the Titan Python's body. He knew this technique well. If Tsunade and Jiraiya were here, they'd recognize it instantly.
Back during the Second Great Ninja War—when the Three Sannin earned their names—Hanzō nearly crippled Tsunade with this trap. If not for Jiraiya using Needle Jizō to save her, she might've died or been maimed.
Even Jiraiya, despite defending with Needle Jizō, still took damage from the blast.
These weren't ordinary explosive tags. Infused with Hanzō's chakra, their destructive power was drastically enhanced. In the original story, even Nagato's injuries were a result of this very technique.
"It's just a chakra-formed snake—blow it up!"
Boom!
Explosions erupted in waves. With no other option, Kazuyama continued releasing chakra to brace against the impact.
"This old geezer's got skills. Don't worry, Kazuyama, I've got your back. Get ready to strike."
"Sage Art: Serpent Shedding Technique!"
The explosions struck too quickly to react. Passive defense was all that was possible—until Ichikishimahime suddenly appeared in human form before Kazuyama, her hands clasped, snake eyes gleaming.
Chakra surged around him. Amid the shockwave, Kazuyama was enveloped by natural energy and sank beneath the ground, slipping out from the Titan Python's body. Yet, his serpent form remained intact.
A full-fledged body double.
"The one in the serpent now is just a Genjutsu illusion I left behind. Since your serpent body is formed from natural energy, it was easy to create the illusion on the spot."
"And with my Snake Shedding Technique, your connection to the serpent body remains—you can still control it."
Ichikishimahime remained in position, hands clasped, continuing to channel the jutsu.
"Nicely done, Ichikishimahime! Hold it steady—I'm going after that old geezer!"
Having dodged the explosion, Kazuyama was thrilled. Unleashing his wild side, he immediately started hunting down Hanzō's location.
At the same time, he asked Tagitsuhime to help locate the toxic Ibuse.
"Found it, Kazuyama. Directly below you, about fifty meters down."
Hearing that, Kazuyama grinned.
"Perfect. Tagitsuhime, Tagorihime—let's give this big salamander a lesson. I'll make him regret running!"
Wrapped in chakra, Kazuyama dove into the earth, moving freely underground. He was closing in fast.
Tagitsuhime and Tagorihime sprang into action. Two serpents burst from Kazuyama's sides and shot downward.
Formed entirely from chakra, they burrowed through the earth unhindered.
In seconds, they reached Ibuse, who was still resting. The serpents bared their fangs and lunged—one from each side.
Just a big lizard after all. He may be immune to poison, but those fangs were very real.
Above ground, explosions continued. Below, Ibuse thrashed in agony from the bites, rolling wildly.
Boom!
Snapped out of rest, Ibuse barreled upward, trying to burst through the ground with brute force.
"Hmph! Still trying to run?"
"Get back down!"
Tagitsuhime wasn't about to let him escape. As her snakes sank their teeth in, she clapped her hands.
Natural energy surged, transforming into countless snakes that swarmed Ibuse's body, drowning him in a living tide.
Roar!
A piercing scream tore from Ibuse's mouth.
Though his body was riddled with venom, Tagitsuhime's Senjutsu wasn't poisonous. Her specialty was binding. Anything she bit became paralyzed and fell into a Genjutsu.
Now Ibuse was dazed, stunned by paralysis and illusions—on the verge of collapse.
"You're not going anywhere!"
"You're Hanzō's greatest weapon. Once you're dead, he loses his sharpest fang."
Kazuyama thrust out his left hand—Many Hidden Shadow Snake Hands burst forth, sending another wave of serpents at Hanzō.
His right hand reached for his waist, pulling out a scroll. With a puff, it unfurled—and out came a sword.
The Kusanagi Sword.
"You're finished!"
"Ittō-ryū: Cowardly Lion!"
He drew the blade in one motion, chakra flooding into it.
Roar!
A lion's roar erupted, but Kazuyama—mid-strike and full of momentum—nearly broke composure.
That roar? Anything but fierce. More like a baby lion's mewl.
It sounded like a house cat doing a dragon impression! Worse, it was soft and cutesy—not fierce at all.
Damn system... what a scam!
Still, under the power of his chakra, the Kusanagi Sword gleamed—its blade extending with a flash of cold light, slicing the underground terrain clean in half.
...
Above, the Titan Python—without Kazuyama's control—was already badly damaged from the explosive tags.
But suddenly, the ground trembled.