Chapter 6 — Infiltrating the Amegakure Tower
Tsunade let out a long breath, making her decision. Her expression gradually turned firm.
She continued sending coded signals into Ryusuke's palm: Let's regroup with the other four first.
Ryusuke understood what she was thinking. He didn't argue further, only sighed and followed behind her.
After locating the first tavern they had agreed upon as a resting point, Tsunade quickly stepped out to deliver the intelligence.
Meanwhile, Ryusuke ordered a few snacks and ate as he pondered their next move.
"Tsunade's made up her mind to act. The worst-case scenario is that Hanzo of the Salamander hasn't left for the Land of Iron yet."
"To clash head-on with that 'demigod'… clearly not a wise decision."
"Perhaps…"
His expression wavered as he struggled with a difficult choice.
Less than an hour later, Tsunade returned through the wind and rain. She looked slightly exhausted as she sat down across from Ryusuke and picked up the teacup before her, taking a sip.
"It's cold outside, isn't it?"
Ryusuke asked gently, reaching out to hold her other icy hand.
To outsiders, they looked like a loving couple.
Ryusuke: How did it go?
Tsunade: The information has been delivered. We've agreed to move at two in the morning.
She took another sip of tea and looked at the man before her with a soft expression.
Tsunade: I got word from them—Hanzo of the Salamander isn't in Amegakure. No one knows where he went.
Upon hearing this, the weight hanging over Ryusuke's heart finally lifted. Even the atmosphere around him seemed to ease.
Other than Hanzo, Amegakure had no ninja worth mentioning.
Since this future warlord who would become famous for his poison, the Second Great Ninja War boss who fought and defeated the Three Sannin, wasn't present, this mission should proceed without major issues.
Time passed slowly until night fell and it was time to act.
Six hooded, masked figures darted swiftly between the rooftops of Amegakure, closing in on a central structure within the village.
Security around the Amegakure Tower was unusually lax. It seemed that with Hanzo gone, even the guards had grown complacent, chatting idly and yawning.
The six hid in a tree, carefully observing the patrol routes.
"Captain, let's move," No. 2 urged impatiently.
He hadn't performed particularly well during this mission. Returning to the village with little merit would reflect poorly on him, which made him anxious.
Just as Tsunade was about to give the order, a voice interrupted them.
"Wait. Something doesn't feel right."
No. 2 was also a sensory-type ninja. He had long since sensed that Ryusuke's strength was merely that of a chunin.
"No. 6, it's normal for a chunin like you to be scared. But you can't let your cowardice affect the entire mission."
Although No. 6 was the captain's partner, he couldn't help but retort.
Tsunade frowned and motioned for No. 2 to stop. She asked in a low voice, "What did you sense?"
Ryusuke frowned. Through his sensory technique, he had roughly gauged the situation inside the tower.
There were only two patrol teams—ten ninja in total. Everything appeared perfectly normal.
Yet an inexplicable sense of danger lingered in his heart, refusing to fade.
"I didn't detect anything specific," Ryusuke admitted helplessly. "It just feels wrong."
No. 2 curled his lips but didn't start a foolish argument like the stereotypical reckless teammate in novels.
In a dangerous mission environment like this, anyone who exposed themselves carelessly would be an idiot.
"Captain, perhaps No. 6 has just been too tense these past few days and misjudged his senses. Opportunities like this are rare. Let's move."
Thunder rumbled overhead as the rain gradually intensified.
Tsunade exhaled slowly. "No. 2 and No. 5, take out the guards on the left. No. 3 and No. 4, handle the right. After completing your tasks, stay on lookout."
"I'll infiltrate the tower with No. 6. Move out."
The six figures vanished swiftly into the grass. Using the rain to mask their movements, they reached their designated positions in no time.
The other four were all jonin, while the patrolling ninja were at most chunin. They dealt with them effortlessly, taking them down in just a few moves.
Tsunade and Ryusuke quickly slipped into the Amegakure Tower.
Inside, the building was dark, no lamps lit—like a beast with its jaws open, waiting for prey to enter.
They moved swiftly through the first-floor hall, eyes scanning the nameplates on each door.
Unlike Tsunade, who was searching for the scroll archive, Ryusuke's hands brushed quickly across doorways.
Tsunade noticed his movements and the paper talismans appearing in his hands but did not stop him.
After searching the first floor, they prepared to head upstairs. Thanks to his sharp reflexes, a flash of lightning illuminated a strip of white paper beneath the staircase. Ryusuke's alarm bells rang instantly.
"Watch out!" he shouted, tackling Tsunade to the ground.
A deafening explosion erupted. The staircase was blown apart, splinters of wood scattering everywhere.
Had Ryusuke not reacted in time, the two of them would have been reduced to dust.
"Very impressive reaction speed. But that's all it amounts to."
A deep, muffled voice echoed, as if filtered through a mask.
Chakra surged outward with his voice, cracking the surrounding walls.
Tsunade and Ryusuke immediately felt an overwhelming pressure descend upon them.
Thunder roared again, and the lightning illuminated the figure leaping down from the second floor.
The two quickly rose and distanced themselves.
"Hanzo of the Salamander!"
Ryusuke immediately called out the man's name.
"Interesting. But don't bother struggling. You're already surrounded."
"Cooperate obediently, and I might grant you a swift death."
As Hanzo's words fell, numerous ninja burst out from the rooms on the first floor. Tsunade and Ryusuke stood like filling trapped inside a dumpling.
Back to back, they guarded against the enemies around them. Yet the hand hidden behind their backs moved rapidly, flashing coded signals.
"So it was a chakra-suppressing sealing tag that concealed their presence. No wonder I couldn't sense them."
Ryusuke's expression remained calm.
"Stubborn fools!"
Such childish stalling tactics meant nothing in the eyes of an old veteran like Hanzo. He had lost his patience.
Just as he prepared to step forward and eliminate them, Ryusuke suddenly shouted, "Now!"
The talismans he had placed upon entering the building ignited instantly.
A ninja in the corridor sensed something was wrong. "Explosive tags! Get away!" he roared.
Boom!
The explosion this time was even louder than before—after all, those explosive tags accounted for most of Ryusuke's savings.
"Go!"
Ryusuke growled. Seizing the aftermath of the blast, the two rushed toward the entrance.
Hanzo's eyes widened in fury. A lifetime of hunting hawks, only to be pecked blind by a sparrow in his old age.
"Where do you think you're going?!" he roared, using the Body Flicker Technique to chase after them.
Tsunade glanced back. His speed was astonishing.
With a shout, she tore down a wooden door in front of her and hurled it backward with all her strength.
A clear blade's hum rang out as Hanzo split the incoming door cleanly in two with his sickle.
Then he swung the weighted end of his chain straight toward Ryusuke's back.