Within the Rain Curtain Barrier—
Uchiha Akihito and Hanzo of the Salamander faced one another across the battlefield.
The skeletal Susanoo shielded Akihito from the falling rain, dispersing part of the surrounding mist.
With a single thought, Akihito advanced Susanoo into its Crow Tengu form.
A spiritual blade manifested in its hand.
One sweeping slash—
A violent gust tore through the battlefield, instantly scattering the dense fog within the barrier.
The Hidden Mist Technique was broken.
Yet Hanzo showed no panic.
Dark clouds still churned overhead.
Rain continued to fall.
Even without the mist, terrain still favored him.
Just as Suigetsu of the Hōzuki clan could be crushed on land yet contend with a perfect Eight-Tails in water, environment dramatically shifted combat balance.
And Hanzo was no ordinary fighter—he was the man who once suppressed the young Sannin.
Akihito's reputation might shake the current generation—
But to Hanzo, those achievements were merely ripples.
The Poison of the Salamander
"Come forth… Ibuse!"
Hanzo formed seals.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A massive salamander emerged in a plume of smoke.
Hanzo stood atop its head, gazing down.
"My salamander's poison is not something you can simply ignore."
He wasn't wrong.
Akihito could nullify most ninjutsu, taijutsu, even genjutsu—
But poison was a different matter.
Only masters like Tsunade or Chiyo could reliably counter Hanzo's toxins.
Purple-brown miasma erupted from Ibuse's jaws, flooding the battlefield.
"Die beneath my poison," Hanzo declared calmly.
Akihito responded without emotion.
Susanoo sealed off outside air, isolating him from the toxic gas.
It could not last forever—
But it was enough.
He had no intention of dragging this out.
Full Power Unleashed
Flames surged violently around the Crow Tengu armor.
"One-Sword Style — Flame Demon!"
The Susanoo transformed into a blazing inferno titan.
Hanzo narrowed his eyes.
"So you want to end this quickly?"
"Good."
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
In rain-enhanced conditions, Hanzo's water techniques were monstrously powerful.
The rotating water barrier clashed against the blazing Susanoo strike—
And held.
Even Akihito felt a flicker of respect.
That defensive output rivals Tobirama…
The Turning Point
Time was running short.
Poison filled the air.
Rain empowered Hanzo.
Akihito's gaze turned cold.
No more restraint.
His right Mangekyō spun.
"Time Ocular Art—"
"Epitaph."
His consciousness plunged into the river of time.
Seconds into the future unfolded before him.
He saw Hanzo's next movements.
He saw the opening.
In the present—
Akihito vanished.
Appearing behind Hanzo in an instant.
His blade pierced straight through Hanzo's heart.
"Pfft—!"
Hanzo dropped to his knees atop Ibuse.
"How… did you…"
Akihito replied calmly,
"Just a bit of space-time ninjutsu."
Hanzo's pupils contracted.
"Like the Fourth Hokage…?"
He understood.
But too late.
Or so it seemed.
A Veteran's Counter
The body dissolved.
Water.
Water Clone.
Even before the Sharingan, Hanzo had slipped free.
He reappeared behind Akihito instantly.
"Impressive power."
"But it ends here."
"Iai Slash!"
The blade descended—
Unavoidable.
Except—
Epitaph activated instinctively.
Akihito had already foreseen it.
The strike cut nothing but afterimage.
Hanzo froze.
For the first time—
True fear flickered in his eyes.
This wasn't mere speed.
This wasn't teleportation.
This was inevitability denied.
No matter what he chose—
Akihito had already seen it.
The Demigod Retreats
Hanzo assessed instantly.
Victory probability?
Dropping.
Casualty risk?
Severe.
Danzo's reward meant nothing if he died here.
"…This ends here."
He made the decision.
Retreat.
Akihito sneered faintly.
"Leaving now?"
"Isn't that a little late?"
Several flying slashes chased him.
Hanzo evaded desperately, blood spraying as cuts opened across his body.
But he did not hesitate.
Body Flicker.
Escape.
No pride.
No theatrics.
Only survival.
Aftermath
The rain continued for several seconds—
Then gradually stopped.
The Rain Curtain Barrier dissolved.
The Root operatives watching from afar stood frozen in disbelief.
Hanzo…
Retreated?
The legendary Demigod—
Forced into withdrawal?
Akihito exhaled slowly.
A trace of fatigue tugged at his body.
Mangekyō strain.
Sustained Susanoo.
Time-based ocular ability.
Chasing Hanzo further was possible—
But unnecessary.
He will fall to Pain eventually.
No need to waste strength.
Akihito turned his gaze toward the distant high ground—
Where Root members stood trembling.
The true hunt…
Wasn't over yet.
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