Hayashi would never allow the massive Salamander to escape.
Without hesitation, he slammed his palm against the ground. The earth trembled violently as chakra surged outward.
Sage Art, Earth Release, Moving Earth Core.
The terrain shifted instantly. The ground rose into a towering, smooth cliff dozens of meters high, forcing everything in the area upward.
The Salamander clung to the cliffside, letting out a furious roar. Its long tongue lashed out again, shooting straight toward Hayashi's chest with terrifying speed.
Hayashi moved only slightly, stepping aside with precise timing. The attack missed him completely, crashing into the ground and blasting a massive crater.
His expression remained calm.
He reached out and grabbed the creature's tongue. Lightning flickered in his palm, crackling softly.
This was not meant to kill. The Lightning Release was controlled, just enough to paralyze the Salamander and strip it of movement.
He released the limp tongue, then gathered chakra again.
This time, he intended to end it.
Sage Art, Lightning Release, Chidori Sharp Spear.
The spear shot forward in complete silence. There was no sound, no warning, only a streak of deadly lightning.
In the next instant, the Salamander was pinned to the cliff like an insect. Its massive body twitched once, then went completely still.
Everything had happened in the blink of an eye.
The Moving Earth Core had not only exposed the Salamander, it had also cut Hanzō off from assisting it. There had been no time to react.
Impossible.
Hanzō felt it immediately through their contract. His Summoned Beast was gone.
Dead.
Not injured, not struggling, but completely erased in a single exchange.
The bond they shared was not something ordinary people could understand. The Salamander had been his most trusted companion for years.
And now it was gone.
Hanzō's expression darkened, his eyes turning cold with a hint of madness. His hands moved rapidly through hand seals.
Water Release, Exploding Water Colliding Wave.
He inhaled deeply, then expelled an enormous volume of water. It surged forward like a flood, cascading down the cliff and spreading outward until a lake formed beneath them.
Hayashi lightly stepped forward, landing on the water's surface with ease.
Hanzō was not limited to poison or summoning. In the Land of Rain, Water Release was naturally advantageous, and he had clearly mastered it.
Hayashi was not surprised.
So he is trying to suppress my Fire Release and fight on his terms.
Unfortunately for Hanzō, Hayashi had no such weakness.
He was proficient in all five chakra natures.
Hanzō leapt down from the elevated terrain, gripping his chained scythe. He dashed across the water, his weapon swinging outward in a wide arc like a scorpion's tail.
Wind Release chakra extended from the blade, forming a massive cutting edge that distorted the air.
Hayashi jumped upward and slid backward across the surface.
The scythe struck the water with explosive force, splitting it apart as if dividing north from south.
Hayashi narrowed his eyes slightly.
He had seen a similar level of cutting power from Sakumo. A direct hit would be fatal, even with his recovery ability.
Hanzō pressed forward relentlessly. His speed increased, giving Hayashi no time to counter.
The scythe swept again.
The assault was sharp, continuous, and merciless.
Hayashi retreated step by step as the water beneath them exploded into waves. Hanzō's weapon control was flawless, using the chain to restrict movement while the blade struck with lethal precision.
For dozens of seconds, the battlefield shifted across the lake.
Water sprayed into the air like heavy rain.
Finally, Hayashi reached the edge of the lake.
There was nowhere left to retreat.
He clenched his fist and struck forward.
Sage Art, Snake Style.
A deep impact echoed across the water.
Hanzō's attack stopped abruptly, just centimeters away from Hayashi's arm, blocked by an invisible force.
Before Hanzō could react, Hayashi threw another punch.
This time, the scythe visibly bent under the pressure.
Hanzō stared at the distorted weapon, then back at Hayashi. Fear began to surface in his eyes.
What kind of power was this?
Hayashi did not answer.
He reached forward with his left hand and grabbed the chain.
Hanzō pulled back but refused to release it.
For a moment, both of them held opposite ends.
Then Hayashi struck again, drawing in natural energy for a heavier blow.
Sage Art, Snake Style, Monstrous Strength.
The chain snapped instantly.
Hanzō's eyes widened in shock. He had not expected his weapon to break so easily.
Still holding the broken end, he swung the weighted section toward Hayashi.
Hayashi released the chain. A swirling blue sphere formed in his palm, blocking the strike effortlessly.
Then it grew.
In an instant, the Rasengan expanded into a massive sphere as large as a two story structure.
Sage Art, Big Ball Rasengan.
With overwhelming force, Hayashi drove it downward.
The impact was explosive.
Hanzō was slammed straight into the water, his body disappearing beneath the surface as a massive wave erupted outward.
Water surged high into the air before crashing back down.
Without waiting, Hayashi formed hand seals the moment his feet touched the water.
Chakra surged outward.
A water dragon rose from the surface, coiling in the air.
Then another.
And another.
Soon, six massive water dragons hovered above the lake, roaring with power.
Sage Art, Water Release, Multiple Water Dragon Bullets.
All six dragons plunged downward at once.
The water exploded with a series of heavy, muffled impacts.
Moments later, Hanzō resurfaced.
Blood trailed from the corner of his mouth. His gray armor was cracked in multiple places, barely holding together.
For the first time in his life, fear truly took hold.
He could feel death approaching.
Without hesitation, he turned and attempted to retreat.
But he was too slow.
Hayashi moved faster.
As Hayashi threw a punch, the surrounding natural energy gathered around his fist.
Hanzō raised an arm across his chest in defense.
A sharp cracking sound echoed.
Then a powerful impact followed.
Hanzō's body was launched backward, flying across the lake before crashing violently into the cliff created earlier.
The rock shattered on impact, leaving a massive indentation.
His body hung there, embedded deep within the stone.
Like a grave waiting to be sealed.