Chapter 7 — The First Demon's Embrace
Tsunade narrowed her eyes and immediately hurled the kunai in her hand toward the chained hammerhead, intending to pin it to the wall.
Hanzo of the Salamander merely sneered and flicked his wrist.
The chain moved like a whip under his control, the hammerhead shifting at a tricky angle and suddenly redirecting toward Tsunade.
So the earlier strike had only been a feint—this ambush was the real killing blow. If it landed, severe injury would be the least of it. Most likely, she would lose all combat capability on the spot.
"No wonder that lecherous brat Ryusuke said the three of us together wouldn't be Hanzo's match. His combat experience is truly seasoned."
Chakra gathered in Tsunade's hands as she crossed her arms before her chest, preparing to take the hit head-on.
At the critical moment, a greatsword intercepted in front of her.
Clang!
The hammerhead collided with the blade, producing a resonant hum.
Ryusuke's hand trembled, and the greatsword nearly slipped from his grasp.
"The old man's strength is insane!"
He didn't linger. Tossing out several kunai, he grabbed Tsunade and retreated swiftly.
Hanzo did not pursue. The kunai were tied with several burning explosive tags.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
His hands flashed through seals, and a stone wall rose from the ground before him. A thunderous explosion followed.
Taking advantage of the moment, Ryusuke and Tsunade burst out of the Amegakure Tower.
Outside, Ryusuke's four teammates were already surrounded.
The Rain ninja had complete confidence in Hanzo's strength. Since Ryusuke and Tsunade had been tightly encircled inside, no traps had been set at the entrance. Seeing the two charge out, they were stunned.
Tsunade had been suppressed inside the tower and had a bellyful of frustration.
She kicked at the stone steps in front of her, sending up a slab as large as a round table.
Channeling chakra into her fist, she shouted and smashed it forward.
Just short of yelling "Ora ora ora."
The massive stone shattered instantly, turning into a barrage like shotgun pellets that blasted outward in all directions.
Rain ninja fell like harvested wheat. The quicker jonin hastily performed ninjutsu to defend themselves.
Ryusuke swallowed. "What terrifying strength. I've provoked her so many times… she wouldn't settle the score afterward and just smash me to pieces, would she?"
Screams erupted among the Rain ninja. The encirclement around the four Konoha ninja was torn open.
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
"Water Release: Water Fang Bullet!"
"Lightning Release: Earth Walk!"
"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"
The four shouted in unison, hands flashing through seals. The Rain ninja were caught completely off guard.
The six of them broke through and raced toward the village gates.
At that moment, Hanzo emerged from the tower. Seeing his fallen subordinates, his face darkened.
These were ninja he had cultivated with vast resources—yet so many had been cut down so easily.
"I'm sorry, Lord Hanzo. That woman's strength is terrifying," a jonin hurried forward to explain.
"After them," Hanzo said coldly.
The six sprinted across rooftops. No. 2 was already wounded in several places. He glanced nervously at the dark mass of pursuing Rain ninja behind them.
"I'm really sorry. If we'd listened to you earlier and investigated more carefully, we might not have fallen into that trap."
He spoke to Ryusuke with clear guilt.
"Let's talk about that after we get out alive."
There was no hint of relief on Ryusuke's face.
"Right, that makes—"
Before No. 2 could finish, a sickle curved around his head from behind.
The connected chain snapped tight.
His headless body fell from the air.
"You bastards! After wrecking Amegakure like this, you think you'll leave so easily?!" Hanzo roared from behind.
Tsunade's eyes widened in fury, but as captain, this wasn't the time to lose control.
After witnessing Hanzo's strength, she knew that without Ryusuke's earlier preparations, they would never have escaped the encirclement.
"Split up!"
She shouted the order—but her own speed slowed.
"Hey, you tigress, what are you doing?"
Noticing her deceleration, Ryusuke demanded urgently.
"I said split up! That's an order!"
Tsunade didn't explain further, shouting again to the remaining four.
She had led them here. The infiltration order had been hers. She would take responsibility.
Watching the four disappear into the distance, Tsunade finally relaxed.
She cracked her knuckles.
"Come on!"
Spinning around, she kicked backward at the rooftop beneath her feet. The circular dome shattered, sending debris flying toward Hanzo in pursuit.
"The same trick won't work on me."
Hanzo formed seals. "Water Body Flicker Technique!"
The debris passed through his body as it dissolved into water, and he vanished.
Tsunade's amber eyes narrowed as she scanned her surroundings.
Suddenly, a sickle slashed from her blind spot. A surge of danger made her hair stand on end.
She dodged, but the tip still carved a wound along her arm.
Clutching it, she channeled chakra to heal, hopping back to widen the distance.
"Impressive resolve. Choosing to sacrifice yourself so your comrades can escape."
"A woman like you is rare among ninja."
Hanzo's muffled voice echoed from behind his respirator.
"Heh. They were my team."
There was a carefree tone in Tsunade's voice. If he wanted to talk, let him. Every second bought Ryusuke and the others more time.
"What is your name? A woman like you deserves to die by my blade," Hanzo said from above.
"Hanzo, aren't you being overconfident? You think with Amegakure alone you can truly—"
Before she could finish, a wave of weakness crashed over her. Her legs buckled. The arm he had cut, along with half her body, went numb.
"Oh? You've noticed? But it's too late."
Hanzo hurled the hammerhead straight at her remaining good arm.
He intended to take her alive.
"You despicable bastard—using poison!"
Tsunade tried to dodge again, but the toxin was too potent. Her body felt like it was filled with lead, her eyelids growing unbearably heavy.
The sound of rain and shouting faded. The world grew quiet. Only the incoming hammerhead loomed larger and larger in her vision.
"So this is it…"
"At least those guys can escape."
"I wonder if that lecherous brat will remember me."
"I'm sorry, First Grandfather… Second Grandfather… I did my best."
…
The poison was overwhelming. She was standing purely on willpower now.
Just as the hammerhead was about to strike, a greatsword crossed before her.
Clang!
For a fleeting moment, all sound returned to her world.
Stiffly, she turned her head and saw the man before her.
"Didn't I tell you to—"
"I guess I just can't let a woman face this alone."
The familiar voice reached her ears. The arm supporting her body brought a trace of warmth back to her rain-soaked frame.
"You really are a contradictory idiot. Scared to death earlier, and now you dare to come back."
A faint smile curved across Tsunade's pale face.
"Wrong," Ryusuke replied evenly. "That's called being cautious."
He didn't look at her again. His eyes were fixed forward.
On Hanzō.
"Hey, Hanzō. Let's make a deal."
The sickle's chain clinked softly as Hanzō tilted his head.
"You give me the antidote," Ryusuke continued, "l and I'll let you go save Amegakure's ninja forces."
"You don't want the army you painstakingly built to be swallowed up on the way to ambush the Land of Iron, do you?"
The air shifted, Hanzō's gaze sharpened.
"How do you know that?"
"…No matter."
The chain began to rotate slowly around his wrist, humming through the rain.
"Whether you know or not is irrelevant. Do you believe you have the strength to stop me?"
His killing intent thickened, pressing against the air like a physical weight.
"I can kill you both—"
The sickle's blade glinted.
"—and still make it in time."
"Heh."
"Guess we'll find out."
He exhaled.
"INCURSIO!!"