The two looked at each other in silence, and at the same time began to form hand seals. Chishuu's hand seal speed was very fast. He took a deep breath and shouted, "Wind Release: Violent Wind Slash!"
It was in the midst of a storm, and the blowing wind would aid the ninjutsu. A large number of invisible wind blades swept towards Hanzo, not far away. The falling rain lines were cut open with a clear gap, allowing one to anticipate the scale of this Wind Release.
However, Hanzo simply formed a single hand seal and spoke a single sentence: "Water Release: Water Wall."
In such an environment, not only Wind Release, but also Water Release would receive an unprecedented amplification. A wall of water condensed in front of Hanzo, blocking the incoming wind blades. Even the sharpest Wind Release failed to penetrate it instantly, instead exploding into countless water droplets on its surface.
After a while, the water wall seemed to be unable to withstand it any longer and suddenly shattered. However, Chishuu couldn't locate Hanzo's figure.
As an experienced Jonin, he naturally understood that Hanzo had used the moment the Water Wall obscured his vision to change his position. This was a method every seasoned ninja knew; only inexperienced ninjas would foolishly stand behind a Water Wall.
Chishuu quickly scanned every corner of the surroundings but didn't see Hanzo's figure, meaning there was only one predictable place left. He leaped backward without hesitation.
Almost at the same time, Hanzo's figure shot out from the muddy ground, raising his scythe and swinging it.
Chishuu raised his kunai and thrust it forward, colliding with the scythe. The scythe didn't directly touch the sharp edge of the kunai but pressed against its surface, pushing it towards Chishuu.
At the same time, the chain connected to the scythe coiled towards Chishuu's body. Hanzo wielded this scythe as if it were an extension of his own body.
Chishuu immediately moved his body to avoid the area encircled by the chain. Hanzo didn't let go of the moment his opponent lost balance, kicking out and sending Chishuu flying far away.
Chishuu slid a long way on the muddy ground, feeling a metallic taste of blood in his throat. Although he quickly adjusted his posture and returned to a fighting stance, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
The leader of Amegakure (Hidden Rain Village) was not highly regarded in Sunagakure (Hidden Sand Village). Although there were records of him dueling a Sunagakure Jonin during the First Great Ninja War, that Jonin's strength was only ranked lower.
It was said that Hanzo didn't even gain a significant advantage in that battle. Therefore, Sunagakure believed that Hanzo was at most a decent Jonin. While it was rare for a small ninja village to produce such a powerful expert, he was not considered a major threat.
However, from Chishuu's brief exchange with Hanzo just now, Chishuu concluded a terrifying fact: the village's assessment of Hanzo's strength was wrong.
He absolutely could not be simply evaluated as a Jonin. Hanzo's strength had undoubtedly reached a level comparable to the Kage—the leaders of the Five Great Ninja Villages.
Just as Chishuu thought of this, he saw several Water Dragon Bullets condense in mid-air and rush towards him. He quickly got up to dodge, and with multiple impacts, Chishuu felt as if he was thrown far away, then fell into a muddy patch, covered in mud, feeling so cold that his body was stiff.
When he climbed up, he saw Hanzo sliding rapidly across the ground like a fish in the sea. When he looked up, Hanzo's figure was still far away, but in just two blinks of an eye, the opponent was already very close.
Chishuu had seen this technique during the First Great Ninja War, in the battle between the Second Hokage of Konohagakure, Tobirama Senju, and the Second Kazekage. He never expected Hanzo to also use it.
In other words, Hanzo's mastery of Water Release might be close to that of Tobirama Senju. Even if he hadn't reached it yet, in such a stormy weather, he could likely exert power no less than Tobirama Senju.
Chishuu immediately felt a chill of horror.
Although he realized that Hanzo's strength might have surpassed his own, as a Jonin of the village, Chishuu would never retreat here.
Chishuu was fiercely loyal to Sunagakure. He had grown up in this village since childhood, received the village's teachings, had the honor of fighting in the team led by the Second Kazekage, and was entrusted with the important task of vanguard by the Third Kazekage.
Having received so many favors, how could he retreat now?
"Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!" Along with Chishuu's words, a large number of wind spheres were spewed from his mouth.
They were densely packed and, unlike the previous wind blades, the wind spheres were smaller in size and not very conspicuous even in such heavy rain. The light was dim at the moment, and it was not easy to judge the direction of the wind spheres by his mouth.
However, Hanzo didn't even use ninjutsu. He simply avoided all of the Vacuum Spheres by moving his body, which surprised Chishuu and gave him a deeper understanding of an expert of Hanzo's caliber.
He only had time for a quick thought in his mind before Hanzo was already close to him, swinging his scythe.
At this moment, a flash of light flickered in the sky, followed by a rumbling thunder. Their figures crossed paths. When they landed, Hanzo's body was unharmed, while Chishuu knelt on one knee on the ground, pressing his hand against his abdomen, blood slowly seeping through his clothes.
"You've lost. Surrender, and you might save your life," Hanzo said, looking back at him.
"Surrender? Do you think I would choose such a humiliating end?" Although Chishuu was severely wounded at this point, he had not given up fighting. Even if he truly couldn't win, he wouldn't allow himself to become a prisoner.
"Why bother? Since you survived the First Great Ninja War, you should know Konohagakure's attitude towards prisoners, right? Frankly, they are quite magnanimous. You should consider yourselves lucky to have such an option."
Hanzo probably felt that victory was assured, so he started chatting with his opponent here. At this moment, no one came to disturb them; everyone was fighting their own battles. Because Hanzo was absent, Amegakure's advantage had been regained.
"Do you still have the mood to chat here? Your subordinates are being defeated by mine, step by step." Chishuu stared intently at Hanzo, not missing any of his movements. If there was any slight change, he would take his final measure.
Hanzo shrugged and said, "I wish, but as a Jonin of Sunagakure, you also have high value. I believe they will carefully consider the consequences of losing a Jonin.
Besides, even if I'm not here, there are others. You wouldn't think I'm the only expert here, would you?"
At this moment, Chishuu noticed the battlefield on the other side vaguely stirring. That was not the direction from which Hanzo had previously led his army. Even if they were Hanzo's troops, it was impossible for them to reach there so quickly and cause a disturbance.
Therefore, Chishuu quickly understood the reason, gnashing his teeth, and said, "Is there another unit?"
"Yes, they are also very trustworthy people, so you might want to consider it," Hanzo said.
"I'm afraid I don't have that option." Chishuu, of course, would not choose to become a prisoner. Not to mention he had no such intention himself, even if he did, for the sake of his family in the village, he absolutely could not surrender.
Once he surrendered, according to the village's current orders, he would be a traitor to the village, and his family would also be shamed. If he died honorably, at least his family would receive compensation from the village.
"Is that so? Then there's nothing to be done." Hanzo could see the resolve in the other's eyes. He sighed slightly, abandoning the idea of persuading him to surrender, and instead raised his scythe.
"Then this is the final round. Your chakra should be mostly condensed, right?"
Chishuu gave a bitter laugh; he didn't think he could hide it from his opponent. As soon as the other's voice fell, he released all the chakra he had condensed within his body in one breath, shouting his last words in life: "Wind Release: Wind Blade!"
A clear flash of blade light swept past. Hanzo moved past Chishuu's body. The opponent suddenly fell to the ground, and the seeping blood was washed away by the rain.
Looking at the wound on his shoulder, Hanzo clicked his tongue, expressing admiration for Chishuu's resolve. It was a pity that their positions were different, and he was unwilling to surrender.
Otherwise, Hanzo truly wished he could have spared this man's life.
"Don't think you're the only ones with reinforcements," Chishuu, lying on the ground in his final moments, murmured to himself. Hanzo heard it and smiled slightly.
He didn't think the opponent's entire unit would be so easily devoured. After all, this was a vanguard unit. No matter how delayed the news from the subsequent units, they should have sensed the problem and started to act.