The surrounding air was extremely cold, with the sound of rain pattering in their ears.
The panicked screams around did not stir even the slightest ripple in Hanzou's heart.
The scythe gripped in his hand cut through the enemy's bodies, seemingly tireless.
The Hidden Sand Ninja felt fear deep within, a chill rising from behind, creeping into their spines, making them shiver uncontrollably.
They swallowed, eyes seriously scanning the surroundings, trying to find the silhouette of Hanzou, yet often, as they heard the approaching wind, their lives would be ended without them realizing it.
Footsteps on the water's surface created ripples, then disappeared instantly.
Weaving through the rain of kunai and shuriken, dodging, spinning, the scythe spattered blood.
This was merely swordsmanship, Instantaneous Body Jutsu, and the pure domination of experience.
Every second that passed, another Hidden Sand Ninja fell, staining the earth's channels red.
They couldn't see the trajectory of the opponent's movement at all.
Even if they saw it, their bodies might not be able to react in time.
By the time they reacted, the scythe, signifying death, had already swung down mercilessly.
At this moment, Hanzou was more like a cold-blooded machine that only knew combat and understood slaughter than a ninja.
From him, there wasn't a trace of human scent.
He was an evil demon that crawled up from the depths of hell.
Ninjas targeted by him were all paralyzed, subdued by his aura, showing horror on their faces.
Neither one person nor ten, nor a hundred, could possibly stop the man before them.
The Hidden Sand Ninjas understood this very well.
Yet they still fearlessly stood up, building a wall of flesh and blood for their comrades, just to create space for attacking the enemy.
Because there weren't just a hundred ninjas here, but at least three thousand ninjas.
Using a thousand ninjas to pin down a thousand Hidden Rain Ninjas, then besieging the heavily injured Hanzou with two thousand ninjas.
This was the highest respect they could express to the opponent.
Taijutsu and swordsmanship ninjas in the front, long-range ninja techniques ninjas in the back.
Unknowingly, the Hidden Sand Ninjas formed such an offensive and defensive posture.
Ninjas proficient in taijutsu and swordsmanship could pin down Hanzou in close combat, while the long-range ninja techniques ninjas in the back would have to seize the opportunity to release ninja techniques and hit Hanzou.
Even if the opponent was a demigod, in the end, he was an old man who could already retire.
He had been stabbed earlier, fighting in an overloaded state, one could say.
The current fierce and brave posture was nothing more than a desperate beast, essentially already quite weak.
So although the Hidden Sand Ninjas feared Hanzou's strength, they fought bravely, knowing that once the opponent weakened, they could seize victory.
"Lightning Style: Pseudo-Dark!"
A true ninja should remain unnoticeable and not draw attention.
To deliver a fatal blow to the enemy at the most opportune moment.
This was a principle Kakuzu had understood all his life and should be understood by every ninja.
The more famous one becomes, the more it becomes a burden and a hindrance.
The God of Ninja was like this back then.
Now the Ninja Demigod was the same.
Titles bring trouble and endless assassinations.
But sometimes, one must also do something attention-grabbing.
After all, this is a corpse worth a hundred million, and successfully obtaining this corpse could somewhat fill the void in his heart.
Kakuzu was full of thirst for money and greedy desire.
Seen flying in the sky was a completely black alien creature, which to others, appeared to be a kind of special summoning beast.
Wearing a mask engraved with lightning patterns on its face, it spat out a sharp thunderbolt from its mouth, swiftly piercing through the air, striking Hanzou with impeccable accuracy.
The battling Hanzou against the Hidden Sand Ninja suddenly stiffened, letting out a muffled groan of pain, as his clothes on the back ripped by the lightning, exposing scar-laden back muscles.
Hanzou rolled awkwardly on the ground, unable to react to Kakuzu's sudden attack.
The opponent targeted his blind spot.
The strike was decisive and ruthless, without the slightest hesitation.
Kunai and shuriken rained down from the sky.
Hanzou slapped the ground with his palm.
A wall of water rose before him, instantly deflecting all the kunai and shuriken.
Hanzou leaped backward, his pants stained red, as two shuriken that the wall of water couldn't block lodged into the flesh of his thigh.
"Reaction and resilience have declined, this old thing is much weaker than before…"
Kakuzu murmured softly.
Had it been Hanzou from ten years ago, he wouldn't dare provoke him.
But no matter how powerful a ninja, they cannot resist the erosion of time.
Especially ninjas like Hanzou, who spent the first half of their lives in bloody battles, fighting numerous times in youth and middle age, leaving countless hidden injuries on the body, with their strength declining in old age, naturally stronger than ordinary ninjas.
Thus, it was necessary for Kakuzu to dispose of Hanzou's body before it devalued.
However, this was the home ground of the Hidden Sand, and while assisting, he couldn't reveal too much of his abilities.
Now in a cooperative relationship, once Hanzou was dead, when it came to dividing the body, they might no longer be on the same boat.
He had to ensure the Hidden Sand's victory but also make it not so easy, ideally with heavy casualties being the best kind of victory.
"That guy should be careful too."