"Why aren't we attacking Amegakure directly?"
In a valley not far from the village, Tsunade glanced questioningly at Senju Yukika.
They had broken through three lines in a single night!
A historic moment for Konoha. The troops were still riding high from the victory—but Yukika knew the real trial was only beginning.
"No," he said, shaking his head as he stood with hands behind his back. "That's too risky.
Besides, the combat orders are already given—there's no need to gamble."
"But what if Hanzo can't resist and makes a move?"
Tsunade frowned.
Yukika's strategy was simple: draw the enemy's attention with a frontal assault, while Konoha's flanking forces launched a pincer attack on Amegakure.
But it had one flaw.
What if the enemy didn't take the bait?
What if Hanzo simply held position?
Yukika had said before: this war had to end quickly.
If it dragged on, the other major shinobi villages would react—and pressure Konoha.
That was inevitable.
In the Land of Rain, everyone was an invader.
If Konoha alone conquered Amegakure, the balance would be broken. The other villages wouldn't accept that.
If Hanzo held out long enough, the other great villages would intervene, and Konoha would be surrounded.
That's real war.
Enemies don't talk about humanity or morals.
Neither do shinobi.
"He'll come," Yukika said calmly.
That was his read on Hanzo the Salamander.
It was also Yukika's biggest advantage—he knew the original story.
He understood every major character, their habits, their decisions.
In his youth, Hanzo operated Amegakure as a personal military base to compete with other villages.
But he also had a habit of evaluating younger generations, seeing himself as a respected elder.
That's where the name "Sannin" came from.
Hanzo coined it himself.
But… did he deserve that title?
Yukika sneered.
Did Hanzo really think of himself as a noble elder?
He knew this type of man well.
Once things spiraled out of their control—especially if dismissed by the younger generation—they'd get agitated. Very agitated.
Right now, Hanzo was surely burning with questions—how had Konoha broken through so easily?
That curiosity was part of why Yukika had Orochimaru leak intel.
Hanzo was no god—but he had pride.
He'd come in person.
To "mentor" Yukika as a senior ninja.
To pass judgment on him.
Maybe even… propose a "Four Sannin" title.
Frankly, Yukika couldn't care less.
A self-proclaimed "Demigod" who handed out the title "Legendary Sannin" to the granddaughter of the real Shinobi God, only for it to circle back to his mother—what a joke.
"They're coming!"
Suddenly, Yukika turned sharply.
He could feel a mass of chakra signatures approaching—Amegakure's forces.
One presence stood out—it was… corrupted, almost as if infected.
Then it clicked.
Hanzo had long since implanted poison sacs from a salamander into his body.
That eerie chakra signature made sense.
"Yamanaka Kaiichi."
"Yes!"
Thud!
As always, using his mental technique had left Kaiichi with a nosebleed—but he wore it like a badge of honor.
After all, he had played a major role in breaking those three defensive lines.
The pride of the Yamanaka Clan.
"Tell the ambush squad leaders—when we draw their attention, strike Amegakure directly. Move fast!"
"To everyone else—follow me!"
With a glint in his eye, Yukika darted forward.
His role was to draw Amegakure's attention—to absorb the full force of their main defense.
And with him were Konoha's elite:
The Sannin, Ino-Shika-Cho, and the Senju.
Meanwhile, Sakumo Hatake led the other clans in a flanking assault.
Yukika didn't underestimate Amegakure.
In the original story, Konoha threw everything they had at the village.
The Sannin gave their all.
Countless comrades died.
And they still didn't win.
Yukika knew why.
Hanzo's poison.
His breath was toxic.
His summoned salamander emitted a variety of poisonous gases.
The entire battle would come down to one thing:
Could Yukika withstand that poison and win?
If Hanzo fell—so would Amegakure.
And with that, Senju Yukika would carry the name of the Senju across the entire ninja world.
This was the moment of the Senju clan's true resurgence.
The moment when everyone in the shinobi world would know—the Senju still lived.
When Hanzo and his forces appeared before Yukika, the atmosphere around Amegakure changed completely.
War is always stained with blood and death.
This wasn't just a ninja skirmish.
It was a warrior's duel.
To protect the flanking assault, Yukika and his team had to hold their ground in open terrain.
Hanzo made no attempt to hide his intentions.
He was a veteran.
He was powerful.
He was a Demigod.
"And you must be the new head of the Senju clan," Hanzo said, his breath emitting a noxious mist.
"I admit, you've caught my attention."
His aura surged like a true powerhouse.
"But do you really think I haven't noticed your people trying to sneak attack Amegakure?"
The next words made the expressions of the young Sannin change.
Had Yukika's plan been discovered?
"Want to know how?"
Hanzo smiled coolly at Tsunade's reaction.
"Your setup is decent—but I saw through it immediately.
You can't possibly breach my three-layer defense."
"So you're trying to distract me and send others in during our fight?"
"That's not very honorable," he said, shaking his head.
"Reminds me of your grandfather, Hashirama.
Now he had a real sense of warrior's pride.
Just like me."
Yukika chuckled.
He knew his read on Hanzo was spot on.
Warrior's pride?
You're talking about Hashirama?
I'm just trying to stand at the same height as him.
You think calling yourself a Demigod puts you on his level?
Keep dreaming.
That Hanzo saw through his plan was unexpected, but his reasoning was flimsy.
Even if Yukika only had the Senju left, he'd still press the attack.
Losses or not.
So what if he saw through it?
Yukika stepped forward, giving Tsunade a glance.
"He called me out. As clan leader of the Senju, I have to answer."
"Yukika…"
Tsunade seemed ready to object, but Yukika simply shook his head.
"I know about his poison.
It's not a problem.
Besides, having you around would just mess with my rhythm.
This stance... I haven't even shown Master yet."
He drew the Sword of Raijin, pointing it directly at Hanzo.
"You call yourself a Demigod and talk about warrior's pride?"
"Then let me defeat you—honorably.
You're a Demigod.
I'm the grandson of the God of Shinobi's brother."
"Fight me!"
"…What did you just say?"
Hanzo seemed stunned.
Did he hear right?
A teenager… challenging him to a duel?
A warrior's duel?
"Afraid?"
"Afraid? Hardly!"
"Then stop talking nonsense!"
Suddenly, Yukika's entire presence shifted.
The sky turned darker, the pure rain stained black.
"To be honest…"
"I've never used this form before."
He raised his head—and transformed.
Enormous black wings spread wide.
The true Black-Winged Demon revealed itself.
Horns protruded from his head.
Claws glinted.
His wild black hair whipped through the air.
And a terrifying, surging power enveloped him.
"RAAAHH!"
"Stop him—!!"
Black-Winged Demon!!
A roar not of this world erupted from Yukika—and in the blink of an eye, he vanished.
When he reappeared…
He was gripping Hanzo's head.
And with one mighty push—
BOOM!!
The ground exploded.
Power—unleashed.