"Summoning Jutsu!"
A massive Giant Salamander appeared in the underground space, with Hanzo standing atop it, looking down at the group.
"State your purpose, intruders."
In the past, Hanzo would have attacked without hesitation. But now, with three neighboring villages eyeing the Land of Rain, these four had clearly come prepared.
He didn't believe they were strong enough to challenge him, but ninjutsu was unpredictable. Who knew if they had some trick to harm him? If he were weakened, the other villages would undoubtedly seize the chance to eliminate him and take control of the Land of Rain's strategic terrain.
Sandwiched between three nations, the Land of Rain was in a precarious position.
He had to be cautious.
"Our purpose?" Kin rubbed his chin, choosing his words carefully.
"What if I said I'm here to invest in the Land of Rain?"
After all, he planned to take over the place—in a way, that counted as an investment. Building and developing the land required resources, so it fit the definition.
Hanzo froze.
All this fanfare… just to say you're here to invest?
Not to weaken him or test his strength?
Was this for real?
"What do you really mean?" Hanzo demanded, his voice low.
If the other party genuinely intended to invest, cooperation in exchange for benefits was possible. The Land of Rain desperately needed funds for reconstruction.
That damned daimyo of the Land of Rain had already fled to become a noble in the Land of Fire, taking most of the nation's wealth with him.
"I just want to develop the Land of Rain, that's all."
Kin shrugged.
This would be his future stronghold, so it needed proper development.
"Then what do you want in return?"
Hanzo pressed further. He didn't believe Kin was here out of charity—there had to be a demand. Right now, the Land of Rain had nothing left to lose.
"I want you to become my partner!"
Kin gave Hanzo a thumbs-up.
The next "Pokémon" was decided: the "Demigod" Hanzo.
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
Hanzo's face darkened. Was this some naive fool, or was he being mocked?
"What I mean is—" Kin looked at him with an innocent expression, "—you'll be under my control. The entire Land of Rain will submit to my rule."
"If I let you live, you won't die. If I want you dead, you won't survive."
His tone was cheerful, but the words were tyrannical.
"You're looking for death!!"
Hanzo's anger flared. The Giant Salamander beneath him sensed his intent and opened its maw, spewing a torrent of purple mist.
"Poison Mist Spray!"
Facing the incoming toxic cloud, Kin raised his hands.
"Thousand Spider Poison Hand: Tsunade Edition!"
The poison mist was rapidly absorbed by Kin's palms, but the sheer volume overwhelmed the absorption rate. Still, it created a safe zone for the four of them—a clear oval space amidst the purple haze.
"Tsunade's technique?!"
Hanzo narrowed his eyes. This jutsu was a direct counter to his own.
Kin turned to the others, one hand still absorbing poison while the other pulled three antidotes from his sleeve and tossed them over.
"These will neutralize his poison."
"Go play with him."
The three quickly injected the antidotes.
Hyuga Kiyoshi nodded. "Understood, Lord Kin!"
"I'd like to see if this so-called 'Demigod' can compare to the 'God of Shinobi,' Hashirama Senju."
Kakuzu didn't hesitate, stepping into the poison mist.
"Hmph." Hizure snorted and charged in as well.
Facing a shinobi dubbed "Demigod," he wanted to measure the gap between himself and that level.
Kin used Shunpo to land on a high ledge, sitting on the railing to watch the battle below.
Hyuga Kiyoshi struck first, appearing before Hanzo in an instant with Shave.
"Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms!"
A massive trigram diagram seemed to materialize on the ground as Kiyoshi lunged forward, his hands becoming blurs as he struck sixty-four vital points on Hanzo's body.
But in the next moment—
Poof!
The "Hanzo" he hit dissolved into water. The real Hanzo appeared diagonally above him, hurling a kunai.
"Kid, the Hyuga's blind spot is your fatal weakness."
The moment Kiyoshi moved, Hanzo had recognized him as a Hyuga. He'd fought these Byakugan users many times—their blind spots were no secret to him.
Yet, Kiyoshi turned and caught the kunai mid-air.
"A Hyuga main branch member?" Hanzo's eyes narrowed.
Before he could ponder further, two flying fists shot toward him.
He swung his sickle, slicing at the black threads behind the fists—sparks flew as metal clashed.
His gaze shifted to the masked shinobi with green pupils.
Ducking low, Hanzo slipped between the fists and retreated. Hizure seized the opening, engaging Hanzo in close combat with a kunai.
Sparks flew as kunai and sickle clashed, their limbs a blur of rapid strikes.
"Not bad taijutsu," Hanzo remarked.
"But against me? Not enough!"
He kicked Hizure square in the chest, sending him flying.
Kiyoshi attacked again, this time with Kakuzu joining in. The latter's flying fists weaved seamlessly into Kiyoshi's assault, forcing Hanzo into retreat.
Hanzo's focus locked onto Kakuzu. The Hyuga was no threat, and the white-haired shinobi was mediocre at best.
But this one—his attacks always struck where Hanzo had to defend.
This wasn't just taijutsu; it required vast combat experience.
Hizure rejoined the fray, and under the trio's coordinated assault, Hanzo was pushed further back.
Then, the Giant Salamander suddenly flipped over, slamming its back toward the ground—taking Hanzo with it.
BOOM!
The salamander righted itself, but the shinobi on its back had vanished.
Kin looked up at the ceiling.
All four were now fighting upside down, their feet planted on the stone above.
Kiyoshi launched an Empty Palm at Hanzo's chest—a direct hit would be fatal, or at least crippling. Kakuzu and Hizure sealed off his escape routes.
But the Empty Palm struck only water, the force dispersing the liquid and leaving a palm-shaped crater on the far wall.
Hanzo, now back on the salamander's back, finished his hand seals.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Tilting his head back, Hanzo spewed a colossal surge of water, rapidly filling the underground chamber.
The water merged with the lingering poison mist, turning a deep, ominous purple.
...
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(End of Chapter)