The arrival of the "Three Legendary Sannin" not only greatly boosted the morale of the Konoha ninjas but also decisively changed the course of the battle in the Land of Rain.
Wherever they joined the fight, the conflict reached its most intense peak!
Whether in terms of the number of ninjas involved or their ranks, these battles far surpassed those on other fronts.
Through their seamless teamwork, they consistently led Konoha to victory, forcing the Rain ninja to retreat step by step.
Their remarkable performance finally caught the attention of the Rain Village leader—Hanzo of the Salamander!
Hanzo personally led an elite unit of Rain ninjas to ambush the forces led by the Sannin, sparking an epic and ferocious battle.
The battlefield was engulfed in chaos—enemies everywhere, relentless clashes, and blood spilling in all directions, painting a gruesome picture of war's cruelty.
The cacophony of screams, the clash of kunai, the detonation of explosive tags, and the cries of the wounded merged into a hellish symphony of destruction.
"Kill them!"
"Die... ahh!"
"Boom boom boom!"
Both sides were consumed by bloodlust, unleashing every technique in their arsenal to annihilate their foes.
On the battlefield's periphery, Aburame Shigeo lay bloodied atop a Rain ninja wearing a gas mask, with over ten kunai embedded in his body—even one piercing his forehead. It was clear he had endured a fierce battle, ultimately taking his enemy down with him.
However, a passing Rain ninja noticed something strange and casually flung a kunai at Shigeo's body.
The moment the kunai struck, Shigeo's "corpse" exploded into a swarm of densely packed insects, swarming over the unsuspecting attacker.
Nearby Rain ninjas rushed over to provide aid.
But just as they took a couple of steps, two smoke-emitting insects detonated in front of them.
"Boom! Boom!"
Thick smoke spread instantly, reducing visibility to zero.
The cautious Rain ninjas gripped their kunai tightly, bracing themselves.
Unbeknownst to them, explosive insects had silently approached under the smoke's cover.
"Boom… BOOM!"
A violent explosion dispersed the smoke, and the ensuing fire and debris left only shattered remains.
The Rain ninja initially surrounded by insects was now drained of all chakra, lying lifeless on the ground.
The parasitic insects regrouped on the Rain ninja's gas-masked body, reforming into the appearance of the kunai-riddled Aburame Shigeo, just as before.
Soon, another Rain ninja noticed the anomaly, and the scene repeated itself…
Meanwhile, on the main battlefield, the Sannin faced off against Hanzo, the leader of the Land of Rain, in a climactic showdown.
Hanzo's summoned beast, a giant salamander, spewed clouds of deadly poison gas that incapacitated ordinary ninjas instantly, leaving only the Sannin standing.
Yet, the three refused to back down, fighting fiercely.
Hanzo, standing atop his salamander, hurled kunai laced with explosive tags at the Sannin.
"Watch out!" Jiraiya shouted. "Tsunade! Orochimaru!"
With years of battle-hardened teamwork, the trio leapt in unison, narrowly avoiding the attack.
"Boom boom boom!"
The explosive tags erupted, shrouding the area in thick smoke.
Obscured by the smoke, Tsunade missed the trap and stepped onto a pre-set explosive tag.
"Got you!"
Hanzo formed seals, activating a wave of explosive tags that clung to Tsunade's legs, locking her in place.
Jiraiya immediately sprang to her aid.
"Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!"
His hair extended and wrapped around Tsunade, pulling her to safety and forming a protective barrier.
"BOOM BOOM BOOM!"
The subsequent explosions engulfed them in flames.
When the fire and smoke cleared, the battlefield reeked of scorched hair.
To Hanzo's surprise, Jiraiya and Tsunade emerged unscathed.
"What?!"
Hanzo was briefly stunned, giving Orochimaru the opening to strike.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
White serpents shot through the smoke, binding Hanzo tightly.
"Now, Jiraiya!" Orochimaru yelled.
"On it!"
Jiraiya unleashed another technique.
"Needle Hell!"
Countless strands of hair transformed into sharp senbon and flew toward the immobilized Hanzo.
But Hanzo wasn't about to fall easily.
"Body Flicker Technique!"
He dissolved into a splash of rainwater, dodging the lethal attack.
"What?!" Orochimaru's shock was palpable.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya, drained from the effort, collapsed to one knee.
Tsunade rushed to support him, her face filled with guilt.
"I'm sorry... because of me…"
Before she could finish, Jiraiya interrupted her.
"Don't be ridiculous. This is nothing but a scratch."
Despite his brave words, it was clear he was pushing himself to his limits.
Orochimaru retreated to their side, his expression grave.
"Even our combined efforts failed to land a decisive blow."
His words hung heavy in the air, as Jiraiya clenched his teeth in frustration, thinking, *Is this it?*
With their chakra nearly depleted, any hope of victory—or even escape—seemed slim.
Hanzo, however, lowered his weapon, speaking with a calm, commanding tone.
"You've fought well to make it this far. For ones so young, it's truly impressive."
He paused before continuing, "This war will end in Konoha's favor. I'll spare your lives."
Jiraiya, furious at his condescension, shouted, "We don't need your pity! We can still fight!"
Tsunade quickly restrained him. "Stop it, Jiraiya."
Hanzo remained unfazed, his tone unchanging.
"You three have potential. Survive and grow stronger. Then, come face me again."
His words carried the weight of an undisputed champion. Even Jiraiya found himself unable to respond, swallowing his anger.
As Hanzo turned, he added, "As payment for sparing your lives, tell me your names."
Jiraiya immediately yelled, "Jiraiya!"
Tsunade and Orochimaru followed suit.
"Tsunade!"
"Orochimaru!"
Hanzo nodded.
"Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru—your names are etched into my memory. From this day forth, you shall be known as the 'Legendary Sannin of Konoha.' Carry this title earned through the price of your lives."
(End of Chapter)