The rain, at this moment, seemed to grow even heavier.
It no longer fell like ordinary rainfall. Instead, it felt dense, oppressive, as if the sky itself were pressing down upon the Land of Rain.
Hanzo stood motionless at the center of the ruined square.
He had already delivered his message to the ninjas of the Hidden Rain Village. Now, his role was clear.
He would stay here.
He would buy time.
Time for his subordinates to retreat.Time for them to escape.Time for the remnants of Amegakure to survive.
The Hidden Rain Village was, in truth, already a village in name only.
Without him—
No one could resist Ōnoki.No one could stand against Hiruzen Sarutobi.And certainly, no one could oppose the Third Kazekage.
He was the final pillar.
And now… even that pillar was cracking.
The poison within Hanzo's body was taking effect.
The wound on his abdomen was not large, but it was fatal in another way. The implanted poison sac had ruptured, and the most potent paralytic toxins were continuously leaking into his bloodstream.
His limbs felt heavier with every passing second.His chakra circulation became sluggish, uneven, unresponsive.
He knew it.
Escape was no longer possible.
In the most open square of the Hidden Rain Village, Hanzo finally stopped.
Around him stood the last line of defense—a small group of Amegakure jonin.
There were not many.
Barely more than a dozen.
This was the entirety of the Hidden Rain Village's high-end combat force.
"Masayuki… Masanari…"
Hanzo called out in a low voice.
Two figures instantly emerged from the rain, appearing at his left and right. They were the same two Amegakure jonin who had previously confronted Orochimaru.
Hanzo did not turn his head.
His gaze pierced through the curtain of rain and locked onto the approaching figures ahead.
The Konoha ninja had already caught up.
They surrounded him in a crescent formation.
At the front—
The Konoha Sannin.
And behind them—
That white-haired assassination ninja who had appeared at the last moment.
Each of them—
—would likely become a legendary figure recorded in the history of the ninja world.
Yet Hanzo's eyes did not linger on them.
Instead, his gaze passed over everyone and finally stopped—
On a seemingly inconspicuous boy standing in the center.
Subtly protected by those around him.
"Kid."
Hanzo spoke.
"What's your name?"
His muffled voice passed through the respirator, calm yet imposing.
"In such a fierce battle… you found the timing to launch a fatal attack on me."
"I've already remembered you."
"You are an extraordinary ninja."
He paused.
"Leave your name."
"If my subordinates survive—your fame will spread."
"The next era will belong to you."
"Don't listen to him!" Jiraiya suddenly shouted.
"Ninjas are nameless! We fight based on information!"
"Once you expose your name and abilities, you'll never know what kind of terrifying techniques your enemies will use against you!"
"You're still young!""You don't need fame yet!""Grow stronger first!"
Hiroki nodded slightly.
He still didn't know how Hanzo had broken free from his ability.
There was no way he would voluntarily reveal information now.
"Hanzou, surrender!" Jiraiya stepped forward, entering a battle stance."You have nowhere left to run!"
Hanzo sneered.
His hands formed seals instantly.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
The rain clouds above violently surged.
An enormous amount of water poured down in an instant.
It was as if the Milky Way itself had collapsed from the heavens!
So much water!
"He didn't use Body Flicker!""He's buying time for his subordinates to retreat!"
The Inuzuka jonin immediately understood Hanzo's intent.
"He's paralyzed!" Tsunade said coldly after one glance."The wound color is abnormal—poison!"
"Hanzou's poison!"
Her judgment carried unquestionable authority.
From the sky, a surging torrent of water gathered out of nowhere.
It transformed into a massive wave, towering like a mountain, crashing down toward the Konoha forces!
"Jiraiya!" Orochimaru shouted.
"I know!"
Both of them formed seals at the same time!
Summoning: Rashomon!
A gigantic gate erupted from the ground.
"Earth Release: Earth Wall!"
A towering earthen wall rose behind the Rashomon, reinforcing it!
"It's not over yet."
Hanzo's voice echoed from behind the raging water.
"Fire Release: Exploding Flame Array!"
BOOM!
Flames burst from beneath the ground!
Explosive tags!
When had he planted them!?
Jiraiya's eyes widened in shock.
But at that moment—
Other Konoha ninja stepped forward.
The Akimichi ninja expanded once more, swinging massive staves and carving a deep trench into the earth, forcibly diverting the flood away from the main force.
Hanzo watched this resistance.
His brows furrowed.
Instinctively, he wanted to move—
But his body stiffened.
He could not.
A cold laugh escaped his lips.
"So this is Konoha?"
"So these are Konoha ninja?"
"Is this what you call the Will of Fire!?"
"You great nation—trampling on the survival space of small countries at will!"
"You occupy endless fertile land!"
"Yet you refuse to let us—people living in the rainforest—find a place to live!"
"Konoha brats!"
"Open your eyes and look!"
"Your so-called great village—uses your comrades as sacrifices!"
"All just to eliminate me!"
"Don't you feel pathetic!?"
"This is not a conflict between nations!"
"This is a conflict between people!"
"No matter how you decorate your excuses—"
"This war was started by the Land of Rain!"
"And the one who made that decision—"
"Was me!"
A clear, calm voice cut through the roaring waves.
Hanzo's movements paused slightly.
It was the boy.
Sawada Hiroki.
Hanzo turned his head and looked at him, as if he had just heard a joke.
"You?" he scoffed.
"I admit it."
"You're talented."
"At your age, even I was inferior."
"But you're still just a brat."
"What do you know about governing a nation?"
"What's your dream?"
"Becoming Hokage?"
"Still hypnotized by Konoha's slogans?"
"Don't you hate this war-filled ninja world!?"
"Go back to Konoha!"
"Share your fertile land with those starving people!"
Hiroki stood quietly.
The waves were nearly as tall as him.
Yet he stood calmly on the water, staring straight into Hanzo's eyes.
Around him—
Tsunade.Orochimaru.Jiraiya.Sakumo Hatake.
Every Konoha ninja.
Even the Amegakure ninja.
All eyes were on him.
Because—
"You're dreaming."
Hiroki's voice was clear.
Mocking.
Sharp.
Hanzo did not reply.
Instead—
At his signal—
Three Amegakure ninja burst out from beneath the water!
They charged straight toward Hiroki!
This child—
With his intelligence.With his potential.With his terrifying ability—
He absolutely could not be allowed to leave alive.
Otherwise—
The Hidden Rain Village—
No.
The entire Land of Rain—
Would never rise again.