Watching Hanzo slice through the Wind Release with a single strike, the three felt a sense of helplessness. Their various coordinated attacks were useless against this man.
"Are you going to give up?" Hanzo asked coldly, his sharp gaze sweeping across the three young shinobi.
For the moment, Hanzo didn't take the initiative to attack. In the past, he would have been focused on quickly eliminating these three and moving to the battlefield.
But that boy with that fast Body Flicker, who even he couldn't keep up, made Hanzo change his mind.
Such a fast Body Flicker, he could have a decisive effect on the battlefield. Even now, Hanzo has to pay attention to his surroundings in case that boy suddenly appeared behind and drove a kunai into his back.
In other words, the situation on the battlefield should already be clear. At this point, it would be pointless for Hanzo to interfere.
Since that was the case, he decided not to enter the battlefield. He never wanted an alliance with Iwagakure and Sunagakure in the first place.
Moreover, there weren't many Ame ninjas present; the main forces from the Sand and Stone villages were nowhere to be seen.
Let them fight each other.
Hanzo had this thought, so he wasn't in a hurry to attack.
But Orochimaru and Jiraiya were still young, barely twenty, full of pride, anger, and fire. Mocked by Hanzo, they didn't waste a second. Their hands flashed, weaving hand seals faster than most eyes could follow.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
The twin jutsu roared to life, two fire dragons twirling together, turning into a blazing inferno that screamed toward Hanzo.
Hanzo's expression didn't change. He calmly formed a single hand seal.
"Water Style: Water Severing Wave!"
The collision of the jutsu created a dense fog that spread across the battlefield. Taking advantage of the concealment, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade immediately assumed a triangular formation.
Suddenly, the sound of projectiles slicing through the air filled their ears.
Hundreds of kunai burst from the fog, leaving them with no room to dodge.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya quickly brandished their own kunai, blocking the incoming weapons with sharp, metallic clashes.
But in that instant, Hanzo emerged from the thick fog, his long-chained sickle swinging straight for Jiraiya's abdomen.
Jiraiya's eyes widened in alarm. He instinctively raised his kunai to block the attack.
A layer of wind chakra coated the sickle, increasing its cutting power to terrifying levels. The weapon moved as fast as lightning.
Orochimaru reacted instantly, delivering a violent kick to Jiraiya.
"Ugh!" Jiraiya was thrown backward just as the sickle slashed through the air where he had been standing.
Even so, it was a moment too late. The sharp edge grazed Jiraiya's side, slicing through his ninja uniform. His kunai, which he had attempted to block with, was severed cleanly in two, the cut unnervingly smooth.
Hanzo didn't stop there. As he passed Jiraiya, he twisted his wrist.
"Chain Sickle Second Stage Slash!"
The sickle, already moving past Jiraiya, suddenly changed direction in midair, curving in a strange arc to attack him from behind.
"Many Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
At the critical moment, a multitude of serpents erupted from Orochimaru's sleeve, coiling around Hanzo's limbs.
Jiraiya desperately tilted his head, and the sickle, meant for his neck, instead grazed his shoulder.
A deep cut appeared, and darkened blood began to seep from the wound. The poison on Hanzo's sickle had already taken effect.
Hanzo glanced at Jiraiya, noting the non-fatal strike, but he wasn't disappointed. He turned and prepared to finish the job.
"Tsunade, take care of Jiraiya!" Orochimaru called, his golden eyes narrowing.
Tsunade was already at Jiraiya's side, channeling medical chakra into his wound, drawing out the venom before it could spread further.
Orochimaru turned back to Hanzo and lunged.
Poisonous snakes burst from his sleeves once more, lunging at Hanzo with open fangs.
Hanzo swung his sickle. The blade cut clean through the mass of serpents. But in the split second his weapon was occupied, Orochimaru's free hand formed another jutsu.
"Many Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Another group of snakes shot out, this time aiming for Hanzo's face. Hanzo had no choice but to lean to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Orochimaru's lips curled into a smirk.
"Snake Swarm Explosion!"
A muffled explosion rang out as the summoned snakes self-detonated, spraying purplish-black venom in all directions.
The poison splattered onto Hanzo's armor and face.
Yet, Hanzo remained completely unaffected.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed. "How...?"
Hanzo calmly wiped his face. "Because of the poison sac of the Salamander, I am immune to all poisons."
"Damn it!" Even Orochimaru couldn't suppress his frustration.
Still, he had no choice but to continue the battle.
But Hanzo was done playing.
He formed one-handed seals.
From underground, the massive Salamander burst forth, its enormous body and flexible tail working in tandem with Hanzo.
Orochimaru struggled to evade. A single misstep gave Hanzo the opening he needed.
Hanzo reappeared behind Tsunade and Jiraiya, unleashing a flurry of kunai before forming more seals.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A roaring water dragon surged forward, empowered by the damp environment.
And then, Hanzo flicked his wrist.
A dozen explosive tags followed the attack.
Tsunade, still tending to Jiraiya, gritted her teeth. She knew what to do.
Jiraiya formed hand seals, his long white hair rising like hardened steel.
"Ninja Art: Needle Hell!"
His hair shot forward, clashing against the airborne kunai.
Jiraiya didn't stop there.
"Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Jutsu!"
A massive fire dragon erupted from his mouth.
However, the moist atmosphere weakened its strength, and Hanzo's Water Dragon was still too powerful.
Tsunade clenched her fists and slammed them into the ground.
A shockwave rippled outward.
Rocks erupted from the earth, forming a makeshift wall.
The fire and water dragons collided, producing a thick mist. The explosion rocked the battlefield, but the stone barrier held firm.
Hanzo expected this.
He smirked and formed several strange hand seals.
Suddenly, the ground beneath Tsunade and Jiraiya turned dark.
It was covered in explosive tags.
"Fire Style: Explosive Tag!"
The ground was densely covered with explosive tags, like a giant vortex about to swallow Tsunade and Jiraiya.
"Heavenly Foot of Pain!"
Tsunade stomped down with force, shattering the explosive tags beneath her feet. However, the remaining tags, like venomous snakes, slithered toward her once more.
"Hiss!"
Hanzo made a hand seal, triggering the detonation.
"Needle Jizo!"
Jiraiya roared, rushing toward Tsunade and embracing her just as the explosion erupted.
A deafening blast shook the battlefield.
Smoke and dust surged into the sky as gravel scattered in all directions. The rock barrier Tsunade had formed was long gone, reduced to nothing but ash.
As the smoke cleared, a strange cocoon-like structure was revealed.
It was Jiraiya's jutsu. In the instant before the explosion, he had wrapped his body and Tsunade within his hardened hair, shielding them from the brunt of the blast.
Hanzo observed this technique with a trace of regret. Another carefully planned attack had failed.
As the cocoon unraveled, revealing its softened strands, Jiraiya emerged, his body riddled with burns and wounds. His legs trembled, barely able to support his weight. Tsunade immediately reached out to hold him steady.
Jiraiya had taken the full impact of the explosion to protect her.
Tsunade's face twisted in concern. Injuries of this severity need immediate medical attention.
But Jiraiya simply grinned through the pain, his eyes never leaving Hanzo, wary of another sudden attack.
"Jiraiya! Tsunade!"
Hearing the explosion, Orochimaru shouted. Without hesitation, he consumed a vast amount of chakra, recklessly forcing his way through the Salamander's defenses. He took injuries in exchange for passage, finally arriving beside them.
The Salamander ceased its attacks, responding to Hanzo's silent command.
"Are you two alright?" Orochimaru asked, his golden eyes scanning Jiraiya's battered form.
"We got caught in Hanzo's trap," Tsunade muttered, irritation lacing her voice. "If Jiraiya hadn't reacted in time, we would've died."
Jiraiya chuckled weakly. "The gap between us… is really overwhelming…"
His body was growing weaker by the second. Blood from his open wounds had mixed with the residual poison in the air. The antidote pills he had taken earlier were no longer effective.
Hanzo leaped high into the air, landing atop the Salamander's massive head. He looked down upon them with an aura of absolute dominance.
"Now that your team is in this state," Hanzo said, his voice cold, "What can you possibly do?"
Yes. What could they do?
They had exhausted every tactic, spent every ounce of energy, yet Hanzo still stood unscathed.
They had reached their limit, while he had yet to show his full strength.
"Life and death are in your hands. Do you still intend to resist?"
"You should know by now… even if the three of you join forces, the gap between us is insurmountable. Surrender, and I will let you live."
Hanzo's tone was not mocking. It was merely stating a fact.
But to Jiraiya, it was unacceptable.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Jiraiya roared, forcing himself upright despite the pain. "Konoha shinobi don't surrender on the battlefield! Even if I die, I'll never admit defeat!"
It wasn't mere stubbornness. He had a reason he could not fail.
Behind them, their comrades, friends, and fellow shinobi were still fighting. Some had already fallen.
If he surrendered now, how could he ever face them again?
Although Orochimaru and Tsunade remained silent, the fire in their eyes spoke volumes.
They would never give up.
The three stood together, battered but unyielding, facing the demigod of the Amegakure without a single step backward.
Hanzo observed them for a long moment.
Then, he closed his eyes. Think for a bit before exhaling slowly. The image of that boy with his powerful Body Flicker flashed through his mind.
There were still both Iwa and Suna facing Konoha, too. Konoha's White Fang has already won multiple battles against the Sunagakure's battlefield; it will only be a matter of time before Sunagakure retreats from the war. And The Blade was sent to the Iwagakure's battlefield, even after so much time passed, there was no sign of any Iwa shinobi.
The war's outcome was already clear to him. Even the Allied Forces would not be able to stop Konoha's advance.
If he killed the Third Hokage's disciples… would the Amegakure even survive the consequences?
His killing intent faded.
"It has been a long time since I've encountered such excellent young shinobi," Hanzo finally said. "Your strength has earned my recognition."
He straightened his stance atop the Salamander's head.
"You three… may go."
"…What?"
Jiraiya and Tsunade froze.
Moments ago, they had been locked in a battle to the death. They were on the verge of losing.
And now, Hanzo was simply letting them leave?
Jiraiya clenched his fists. "No! We can't let you enter the battlefield!"
Hanzo chuckled. "Worry not. Since I am allowing you three to live, I will also withdraw from the war. I will not continue fighting alongside the Sand and Stone ninja, nor will I step foot on the battlefield again."
Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged confused glances.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. "This isn't just because of us, is it?"
Orochimaru did not trust Hanzo. The leader of the Amegakure was not a man to spare lives on a whim. Even if he respected their talent, there had to be another reason.
Hanzo folded his arms.
"It's simple," he said. "Konoha has already won this war. Continuing to fight would be meaningless. Consider this my mercy… a path for you to survive. Does that explanation satisfy you?"
Jiraiya's anger flared. "We don't need your pity! We can still fight!"
"Enough, Jiraiya," Tsunade warned.
Hanzo ignored Jiraiya's frustration and turned to leave.
Then, he paused.
The three immediately tensed, preparing for another attack.
But instead, Hanzo smirked.
"Relax, brats."
He looked down at them, a rare gleam of amusement in his eyes.
"The three of you survived against me. That is no small feat. You should feel honored."He tapped a finger against his chin in thought.
"…Let me think. From now on, I shall call you Konoha Sannin."
Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru froze.
"As the price for your survival, you will carry the title I bestow upon you. Bear it with pride."
Then, with a sharp stomp, Hanzo signaled his Salamander. The massive creature leaped over them, disappearing into the distance.
"…Konoha Sannin? What kind of nonsense is that?" Jiraiya grumbled, crossing his arms. "It doesn't even sound cool. My toads are way better than that!"
Tsunade chuckled. "Alright, Toad Ninja. Whatever the reason, at least we survived."
Jiraiya let out a sigh, then laughed.
The lingering poisonous mist had begun to fade with Hanzo's departure.
"He really left," Orochimaru murmured.
Tsunade nodded. "Then let's go. We still have a war to fight."
"Let's locate the temporary base our Genin is at first." Orochimaru said, and they both agreed.
Without hesitation, the three turned and left the ruined remains of the camp.
"That was... oddly disappointing." Naori murmurs, noticing that the strength of these Sannin is kinda weak, when compared to the Mangekyou users in her Clan.
"Tch! I missed the three massive beasts summoning..." Kadoya clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Before standing up and slicking his hair back, turning his long black hair into short golden blonde, his once black eyes turned crimson red.
"I think it's time to pass by Hanzo's base."
Now, cosplaying as the strongest passerby in history, Kadoya Tsukasa disappeared by walking into a mirror that crumbles the moment he disappear into it.