The seemingly decisive punch had embedded Hanzō deep into the earthen wall, but at the final moment, Hayashi pulled back his strength.
If he had not, a strike empowered by Snake Style and Monstrous Strength would not have resulted in just a broken arm. Hanzō would have been torn apart instantly.
That did not mean Hayashi had been holding back throughout the entire fight. Doing so against someone like Hanzō would not be confidence, it would be arrogance.
Hanzō was far from weak. He had survived and fought across the Ninja World for decades, building experience that few could match. The issue was that his greatest strengths had all been countered.
His Body Flicker Technique, his mastery of kenjutsu, and most importantly, his Salamander.
The antidote prepared by Nono had already weakened the Salamander significantly. Combined with Hayashi's Sage Mode perception, its position had been exposed and eliminated in a single decisive strike.
One of Hanzō's strongest advantages had been removed instantly.
As for kenjutsu, Hayashi had sparred with Sakumo countless times. He was already familiar with that style of combat.
With Sage Mode enhancing both perception and power, Hayashi held a clear advantage in both taijutsu and ninjutsu.
When every advantage is stripped away, there is little left to rely on.
For the first time, Hanzō experienced what it meant to be completely suppressed in battle.
Hayashi stepped forward slowly, each step sending ripples across the water's surface.
Without chakra sustaining it, the lake gradually began to recede.
By the time he reached the cliff formed by Earth Release, most of the water had already drained away.
He continued upward along the steep wall at the same calm pace.
From within a hollow in the rock, a faint sound echoed. A thin stream of blood trickled down from the crater above.
Hayashi leapt up and landed inside.
Hanzō was stuck headfirst in the ground, his body twisted awkwardly, completely defenseless.
Raising his hand, Hayashi summoned a python. It shot forward instantly, wrapping around Hanzō's legs before pulling him out of the ground.
Despite his condition, Hanzō still resisted.
Using his uninjured arm, he swung toward Hayashi in a final attempt to fight back.
Hayashi tilted his head slightly, easily avoiding the attack. With a sharp motion, he swung the python, flinging Hanzō out of the crater and onto the muddy ground below.
In the next instant, Hayashi appeared beside him and grabbed him by the neck.
His grip tightened.
For a brief moment, killing intent surfaced.
Then it disappeared.
A living Hanzō was far more valuable than a dead one.
The reasoning was simple.
During the previous war, when the Third Kazekage had been captured, he was kept alive rather than killed. If he had been executed, Sunagakure would have continued fighting without restraint, prolonging the war.
Instead, he became leverage.
The same principle applied here.
The living hold value. The dead do not.
Ninja do not kill simply for the sake of killing. Every action serves a purpose.
Right now, Konoha's greatest priority was ending the war as quickly as possible. The sooner it ended, the fewer lives would be lost.
Before this battle had even begun, orders had already been issued.
Hanzō must not be killed.
The defeat of the Land of Rain was inevitable. The question was what came after.
Hanzō was the pillar holding the country together. Without him, the Land of Rain would collapse into chaos overnight.
No shinobi within the country had the strength or authority to replace him.
Internal conflict would erupt immediately, with factions fighting for control.
That instability would not benefit Konoha.
Their strategy required the Land of Rain to remain intact.
Whether advancing toward the Land of Wind or moving north toward the Land of Earth, the region would serve as a crucial position in the war.
It could become a staging ground, even a supply route.
If Hanzō died and the country fractured, maintaining control of that territory would become nearly impossible.
Additionally, Hanzō commanded deep loyalty. Without him to restrain his followers, resistance against Konoha would only intensify, threatening supply lines and future operations.
Because of this, Hanzō could not die.
At least, not yet.
Of course, if the situation had been different, Hayashi would not have hesitated. If allies had fallen here today, he would have ended Hanzō without a second thought.
Hayashi formed hand seals once more.
Chakra gathered at his fingertips as he pressed his hand against Hanzō's shoulder.
Dark sealing marks spread instantly across his body.
His chakra flow was locked.
Hanzō was completely immobilized.
Hayashi lifted him onto his shoulder, preparing to leave.
Then his gaze shifted.
In the distance lay the charred remains of the Salamander.
Originally, he had not intended to kill it. With enough control, even powerful creatures could be subdued.
But the Salamander's vision had already deteriorated to the point where it relied on other senses. That made control techniques ineffective.
Still, even in death, it had some use.
Hayashi paused, placing a hand over his stomach.
He had not eaten all day.
Hunger was unavoidable.
Rations could sustain him, but they were hardly satisfying.
He glanced at the massive corpse again.
Then he walked over and sealed it into a storage scroll.
He let out a quiet breath.
"I did not plan to eat you, but it is a waste to leave you behind. Maybe you will still be useful someday."
With that, Hayashi picked up Hanzō once more and prepared to depart the battlefield.
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