Naruto Card King

There were many reasons for Hanzo's excitement. Whether it was Tsunade or Jiraiya, both were the top prodigies of the younger generation in the Hidden Leaf Village. As direct disciples of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had trained them for over a decade, their deaths or capture would deal a devastating blow to the Hidden Leaf Village, causing an uproar across the ninja world.

And then there was Orochimaru!

Although Orochimaru hadn't revealed himself, Hanzo suspected that he was present, merely hiding in the shadows.

But the most important reason for Hanzo's excitement was the Black Samurai and the Black Armor!

After hearing the report, Danzo immediately understood that the Black Samurai who had recently appeared was not inherently stronger than Inoi. The only reason he had managed to kill Inoi was because of the power of the Black Armor.

What a waste! How could such a powerful Black Armor be worn by a weakling like that?

Hanzo believed that only he was truly worthy of the Black Armor! Only he could fully comprehend its true potential.

He had deliberately spread news of the Black Armor's appearance, hoping to draw all the factions within the Land of Rain into a struggle for it. His greatest concern was that the Black Samurai would escape the Land of Rain. Since he had arrived with Tsunade and Jiraiya, he would likely flee to the Hidden Leaf Village.

If the Black Armor were taken back to the Hidden Leaf, it would become nearly impossible for Hanzo to obtain it.

That was why he spread the news—so that no matter which faction in the Land of Rain seized the Black Armor, as long as it remained within the country, Hanzo was confident he could claim it for himself!

That night, due to the urgent movements and arrangements within Amegakure, the strategic situation of the Land of Rain shifted dramatically. With Amegakure's powerful intelligence network, news of the Black Samurai's emergence spread rapidly in all directions.

As the night faded, the horizon gradually brightened.

Deep in the southeastern mountains of the Land of Rain, within a dense forest of low-lying shrubs, Tsunade carried Haruto Saito as she moved at high speed, with Jiraiya following closely behind. Their expressions remained tense, unchanged for hours.

Tsunade's endurance was terrifying. Born into the Senju Clan, she possessed an enormous natural chakra reserve. Even while maintaining high-speed movement while carrying another person, she could sustain a stable pace for a long time.

"You can put me down now. We've already covered hundreds of kilometers. They won't be able to catch up," Haruto Saito said.

"Just a little farther. The trees here are too short; it's not safe," Tsunade replied quickly.

Another half hour passed.

Still within the mountains, the group reached a dark, shaded cliff sheltered from the wind and sun. The massive trees here intertwined their canopies, forming a thick cover that made it seem as if the sky was blocked out. It was an ideal place to hide.

Tsunade finally stopped and set Haruto Saito down.

Jiraiya immediately leaped into the treetops and pulled out a telescope to scan the surroundings.

"You're being really cautious. There didn't seem to be any ninja in that camp strong enough to make you this wary," Haruto Saito remarked as he stretched his limbs. Having been carried for hours, his body felt stiff even though he hadn't exerted himself.

"Hanzo… Hanzo already knows about us… He will come after us… He definitely will!" Tsunade said between breaths, hands on her hips, exhausted. Running alone was one thing, but carrying someone at high speed significantly increased the strain on her.

"Hanzo?" Haruto Saito blinked in surprise. The mere mention of Hanzo made the situation drastically more dire.

The formidable Hanzo of the Salamander, in his prime, was regarded as a demi-god of the ninja world, on par with Hiruzen Sarutobi. If he were to pursue them, it would be a nightmare. No one could withstand such a force!

In the original timeline, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru were only able to earn the title of the Legendary Sannin because they had battled Hanzo during the Second Shinobi War. Hanzo's words alone had established their reputation, highlighting his prominence during the war.

However, the final phase of the Second Shinobi War took place around the 36th to 37th year of the Hidden Leaf's calendar.

Right now, it was only the 32nd year.

Tsunade and her comrades would not reach the level of being able to confront Hanzo head-on for another four to five years, and even then, it would require all three of them working together. At this point, in the 32nd year, they were still in their early twenties, growing rapidly in power, but significantly weaker than their future selves.

Even if Orochimaru were present, the three of them combined would stand no chance against Hanzo.

The title of "demi-god" was not given lightly.

If they couldn't handle him, Haruto Saito certainly had no hope.

"How do you know that Hanzo already knows about us? That he'll definitely come after us?" Haruto Saito asked. The situation was escalating to an absurd level of danger.

"I fought publicly alongside Jiraiya at the White Rock Camp. That place isn't far from Amegakure, so someone was bound to report back. At first, I assumed Hanzo wouldn't learn about us too quickly, but…" Tsunade finally caught her breath, her face dark with frustration. "The Rain Hawk… That damned Rain Hawk never left. It spotted us and immediately flew toward Amegakure to report. The situation is worse than I anticipated!"

"Uh…" Haruto Saito was momentarily dazed.

From what Tsunade said, she and Jiraiya had already predicted this outcome before attacking the camp. Yet, they still chose to rescue him instead of retreating.

"So you knew that Hanzo would discover your presence, and you still chose to save me?" Haruto Saito asked.

"What else were we supposed to do?" Tsunade shot him a sideways glance, then jabbed him on the forehead, clearly annoyed. "It's all your fault! I teased you a little, and you actually went for it! Did you really think you were that capable? You almost gave me a heart attack!"

Haruto Saito was deeply moved.

Tsunade, despite her usual reckless and shameless attitude, her violent temper, and her tendency to start fights over nothing, was incredibly reliable when it truly mattered.

Knowing that rescuing him would expose them and put them on Hanzo's radar, she had still chosen to save him. What a genuinely good person!

"I'm a little touched. Give me a hug," Haruto Saito said, stepping forward.

Tsunade immediately shoved him away with a hand to his forehead, looking utterly disgusted.

"Get lost, you little brat!"