"You killed Shen Da?"
Hanzō's gaze turned sharp. Shen Da was his most capable specialist; otherwise, he would not have become Hanzō's "right-hand man."
"So his name was Shen Da."
"If you go there now, you can still see his corpse."
Kawaze stood there with his long sword in hand. After rescuing Tsunade, he had calmed down. He answered Hanzō's question casually, almost indifferently.
"Then you'll be buried with Shen Da."
"Sword Style: Chain-Sickle Dual Strike."
Hanzō leapt down from the top of the salamander. The chain had already swung forward, striking toward Kawaze's blade.
The salamander remained motionless, continuing to gather its poisonous mist.
Tsunade had already activated Byakugō, the seal dispersed, and she was now using medical ninjutsu to treat Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
"You're not worried?"
Jiraiya still looked puzzled. Kawaze was fighting Hanzō alone, yet Tsunade had the composure to heal both him and Orochimaru at the same time.
"He hasn't even activated Sage Mode yet. He'll be fine."
Tsunade did not pause her actions. She was one of only two people who had witnessed Kawaze's full power after entering Sage Mode.
The other, Mitsuo, had already passed away.
Her palms glowed—one hand treating Orochimaru, the other treating Jiraiya.
"Please admire the technique of the Shikkotsu Forest."
At some point, a Slug Sage had crawled onto Tsunade's shoulder, speaking with haughty pride.
"We'll see."
Orochimaru's eyes were locked on the duel between Hanzō and Kawaze.
Kawaze instantly entered his Lightning Cloak state, dodged the incoming chain, and engaged Hanzō in close-range sword combat.
He raised his sword to block Hanzō's downward strike, then sidestepped and sliced toward his neck.
A blade is always deadly.
"Impressive swordsmanship."
Hanzō still had the strength to speak. He gripped the chains in both hands, managing to block Kawaze's sword.
"Your swordsmanship is mediocre."
Kawaze smirked faintly, his blade continuously striking Hanzō's vital points.
For a moment, Hanzō could only defend himself, having no time to spout nonsense.
Kawaze glanced at the salamander—its poisonous mist had fully gathered. By now, he had a clear understanding of Hanzō's abilities.
"Immortal Magic."
"Thunderclap."
Kawaze activated Sage Mode. The lightning around him intensified, and his speed dramatically soared.
Sensing danger, Hanzō immediately used Water Instant Technique, narrowly avoiding the blow that would have pierced his chest.
By the time he reappeared, he was far away from Kawaze.
But this time, Kawaze wasn't aiming for him—and he wasn't chasing either.
"Immortal Art: Bright Red Torii Gates."
Six crimson torii gates fell from the sky, targeting the salamander.
They struck perfectly, pinning the beast that was just about to spew its toxic mist.
A burst of dust filled the air, accompanied by a shrill shriek from the salamander.
When the smoke cleared, the six torii gates had completely restrained its limbs, head, and tail.
Its chakra was sealed. The poison still leaked from its mouth, but it no longer had the strength to unleash it.
"Sword Style—Flame and Thunder God."
Kawaze charged at incredible speed, so fast that friction with the air burst into flames.
From afar, he resembled a blazing thunder dragon.
In an instant, he cut clean through the salamander's neck.
The beast didn't even have time to dissipate into smoke—it was beheaded outright.
Its massive head slumped to the ground, blood flowing like a river.
It happened so suddenly that Hanzō couldn't even attempt to save it.
"Ibuse!"
Hanzō cried out in agony. The salamander wasn't just a summon—it had been his partner through most of his life.
With death so close, Hanzō began to lose control of his emotions.
He charged at Kawaze like a madman.
"Thunderclap: Ninefold Strike."
Kawaze transformed into lightning again, scorching the ground wherever he passed.
Hanzō couldn't keep up at all and was forced to use Water Instant Technique again just to survive.
But Kawaze had anticipated this. Passing through the water surface, his next strike cut Hanzō cleanly into two.
Hanzō stared in disbelief.
His death was far more horrific than Shen Da's—his wounds were burnt black, not a drop of blood left.
The "Demi-God of the Ninja World" fell in the northwest.
After releasing Sage Mode and sheathing his Eight-Facet Cold Blade, Kawaze returned to Tsunade and the others.
"It's over."
"Yeah… finally over."
Jiraiya's voice carried the relief of someone who had survived disaster.
"This is only the end of one chapter."
Orochimaru watched the scattering Rain ninja. He had no intention of pursuing.
An even crueler war awaited—this was merely the beginning.
"You're not injured."
Tsunade withdrew her hands from Jiraiya and Orochimaru, stood up, and held onto Kawaze's arm.
After examining him, she realized he had only lost some chakra, and she finally relaxed.
"My Shikkotsu Forest Sage Arts are unmatched."
The Slug Sage puffed itself up proudly.
"Looks like I should visit Ryūchi Cave too."
At this time, Orochimaru hadn't yet begun his immortality experiments. Seeing the power of Sage Mode firsthand left him deeply fascinated.
"Be careful…"
The Slug Sage originally wanted to mock him, but after seeing Orochimaru's snake-like eyes, it swallowed its words.
It feared this man would embrace the serpentine traits of Sage Mode without hesitation.
"Whatever comes next, we should return first."
Kawaze knew the next step was war with the Land of Wind.
The faction of Fire Country aiming to dominate had never targeted the small Land of Rain.
"Then let's go."
Tsunade was the first to leave the valley.
Konoha's ninjas began regrouping. The Slug Sage handed the antidote taken from Hanzō to Tsunade, then returned to the Shikkotsu Forest.
As always, the slugs were meticulous—and experts at handling corpses.
There was no need to chase the Rain ninja fleeing after Hanzō's death.
In the original story, Hanzō defeated Tsunade and the others and signed a ceasefire with Konoha, after which Konoha invaded the Land of Wind.
Now, the ceasefire would never be signed, and the road through the Land of Rain was completely open.
The coming civil war in the Land of Rain would be a bloody mess.
A nation without leadership can only birth a new one through war—or be swallowed by another.
Yet, located between three great nations, none of them was foolish enough to occupy it outright.
Doing so would trigger the other two to attack.
The Land of Rain served as a buffer between the three. With Hanzō's death, that balance might collapse.
A land drenched in rain could never stop the wars of three great powers.
Kawaze and his men led the remaining troops out of the valley. On the way, they met Shuo Mao and Dai, who had rushed over after hearing Konoha's victory.
"Hanzō is dead?"
After the battle, Shuo Mao realized the body Kawaze killed wasn't Hanzō and had suspected it was a trap.
He immediately mobilized support.
"He won't be dying again."
Kawaze answered definitively.
"Kawaze-kun defeated the Salamander Hanzō alone. His strength is unfathomable."
Orochimaru rarely praised anyone, but for the first time, he realized there truly existed a power he could trust.
A faint smile appeared on his face—strangely enchanting.
"Well done."
Dai didn't say anything more. His bright white teeth and raised thumbs expressed everything.
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All the fanfiction is 30-chapter ahead but this "Naruto: Tsunade the Fugitive Healer" is 30 chapters ahead there