Steel clashed against steel as two Konoha jōnin fought against Uzumaki Mito's Adamantine Sealing Chains.
"…This swordsmanship… Konoha style?"
Mito quickly sensed something was wrong.
From their first meeting, she had already realized Hanzo's sensory ability exceeded her own.
If Hanzo was still in Amegakure, how could Konoha ninja infiltrate so easily?
Was this Hanzo's doing… or had Hanzo been deliberately lured away?
Just as Mito was thinking, the two jōnin also noticed something unusual.
Why hadn't their captain acted yet? Mito's attention had already been drawn to them—there had been several good opportunities.
"Earth Style: Weighted Boulder Jutsu!"
The sudden increase in gravity caught the two Konoha ninja completely off guard.
The ground seemed to pull them downward, as if trying to crush them into the earth. Their bodies became incredibly heavy—so heavy they couldn't even move their fingers.
Two golden chains fell to the ground along with them, but Mito immediately retracted them.
"I thought you were after the Nine-Tails' power and had come to kill me."
"To think someone could bypass your perception… It seems Amegakure isn't as secure as I thought."
Facing Mito's sarcasm, the approaching Hanzo waved his hand dismissively.
"No matter how you think about it, it couldn't have been me. The price I paid to recruit you isn't something I can recover."
"You're just too sensitive about the Nine-Tails and the two Uzumaki descendants—almost paranoid."
"If I really wanted to kill you, would I only send three jōnin? I know your strength."
Mito calmed down and looked at Hanzo again.
"Then how did they enter Amegakure? I don't believe they could bypass your perception."
"They walked in openly."
Hanzo lifted the two ninja pinned to the ground and carved sealing formulas onto their bodies.
"They're Konoha envoys, escorting a confidant of the Fire Daimyō here to discuss cooperation. I had no reason to stop them."
"Their disguise methods were decent—but crude in my eyes. I wanted to see what they were trying so hard to accomplish."
"I didn't expect their target to be you… Looks like Amegakure still has Konoha spies."
At the mention of Konoha, Mito's expression grew cold.
She had already left the Land of Fire—yet Konoha still pursued her.
"Don't overthink it," Hanzo reminded her.
"To Konoha, your existence is an embarrassment. Between the Nine-Tails, your inherited knowledge, and Konoha's secrets—there's no way they'd let you live freely."
"You're also a powerhouse from the Warring States era. But once the Nine-Tails and Uzumaki clan are involved, your judgment falters."
...
Seeing Mito remain silent, Hanzo led the three Konoha ninja toward the interrogation room.
"Oh, right. I'll need your help with something."
Hanzo glanced back.
"The seal on their tongues, you'll need to remove it."
"Tongue Eradication Seal…"
Mito let out a self-mocking laugh.
"This was part of Uzushiogakure's… dowry to Konoha."
"Can you break it?"
"No problem. But it will take time."
Mito followed him.
"You're right. It's been too long since I fought. My strength hasn't declined—but my awareness and instincts have."
"And those three… might be among the last Uzumaki survivors. Of course I'd be cautious."
---
Before they reached the interrogation room...
A distant hurricane-like roar interrupted them.
Mixed within it was scorching, furious chakra—malice so intense any ninja could sense it.
Then came thunderous tremors.
"What trick do those Konoha bastards have now?!"
Hanzo immediately activated Earth Style: Lightened Boulder Jutsu, flying toward the outskirts of Amegakure.
The chakra was terrifying, even from afar, it felt stronger than his own.
Whoever it was—
They clearly came with hostile intent.
The battle could not occur within Amegakure.
Otherwise, all his previous efforts would be destroyed.
—
The entire Rain Village awakened.
Outer perimeter ninja had already seen the white beast with five tails approaching.
Before they could even report—
Hanzo's figure flew overhead.
"…Five-Tails?!"
Seeing Kokuō, Hanzo was stunned.
The overwhelming fury could be sensed from afar.
"Genjutsu? No… it doesn't look like it…"
"Human!"
Seeing Hanzo floating above, Kokuō's rage erupted.
He had trusted a human—
And now that trust had been betrayed.
The deeper the trust—
The deeper the hatred.
"It's a Tailed Beast Bomb!"
Hanzo had just arrived when he saw black and blue chakra gathering in Kokuō's mouth.
A massive black sphere formed.
There wasn't enough time.
"Flying Thunder God to redirect… No. Too large. My proficiency isn't enough."
Kokuō fired the Tailed Beast Bomb.
Hanzo put away the kunai he had drawn and charged directly toward it.
Behind him—
Amegakure.
No mistakes allowed.
Just like Ōnoki resisting Madara's Tengai Shinsei, Hanzo chose to take the attack head-on.
"Earth Style: Super-Lightened Boulder Jutsu!"
The instant his hands touched the Tailed Beast Bomb—
Blazing heat burned into his skin.
Even with chakra coating, the skin on his palms was scorched away.
Hanzo ignored the pain.
His body was pushed backward through the air—
But the Tailed Beast Bomb slowed.
Until—
Hanzo stopped it mid-air.
By now, he had reduced its weight to something as light as an egg.
Yet the danger emanating from it grew even more intense.
Hanzo kicked it upward—
Then instantly used Flying Thunder God to teleport back to Amegakure's gate.
"All units, retreat!"
"Earth Style: Rampart of Flowing Soil!"
Layers of earth walls rose before him, extending outward to shield the village.
But there wasn't enough time.
The white flash and shockwave of the Tailed Beast Bomb slammed into the defenses.
Hanzo's earth walls shattered like paper.
The village walls—
Outer buildings—
Rain ninja stationed nearby—
All were struck.
The shockwave roared across Amegakure.
Everyone woke in terror.
"Damn you, Danzō! I knew nothing good would come from Root!"
"You've truly angered me this time!"
Hanzo's furious roar echoed across the sky.
Rain ninja behind him collapsed, trembling—either from the explosion or Hanzo's terrifying aura.
Construction sites were reduced to rubble.
He had protected the surrounding ninja, but the scale of destruction was enormous.
Amegakure now looked like a mooncake with a chunk bitten off.
The Five-Tails continued charging forward.
Hanzo gripped his sickle.
"I don't know why you're doing this… but even killing you wouldn't ease my anger."
"I'll beat you first, and ask questions while doing it."
Turning to the Rain ninja, Hanzo ordered:
"Rescue the injured. Leave the rest to me."
Using Body Flicker at full speed—
Hanzo collided with the Five-Tails.
Neither intended to talk.
Kokuō's steam-covered hooves slammed down—
Hanzo countered with a Water Dragon biting toward its neck.
Hanzo had many questions—
But now wasn't the time.
He could easily kill a Tailed Beast—
But capturing one alive was far harder.
His abdominal poison sac contracted.
All toxins were extracted.
"Secret Jutsu: Black Salamander Poison!"
Hanzo spat black-purple poison directly onto Kokuō's face.
The Five-Tails' massive size made dodging impossible.
The poison, enhanced by Gelel energy and Sage power, took effect instantly.
Needle-like pain stabbed Kokuō's face.
Dryness. Dizziness.
Then—
Numbness spread throughout its body.
Its movements slowed.
Vision blurred.
It swung its limbs wildly.
Finally, with a thunderous crash...
The Five-Tails collapsed to the ground.