A water curtain dozens of meters in diameter exploded deep within the canyon, and Senju Tobirama stood at its center, his silver hair fluttering.
On the opposite rock wall, the Second Raikage's body was covered in wounds of varying depths, and blood stained his clothes red.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
The high-pressure water blade cut through the air, but the Second Raikage dodged it with even greater speed. The severed rock behind him slowly tilted, crashing to the ground with a roar and kicking up several meters of dust.
"Lightning Release: Lariat!"
...
Renye only glanced at the two fighting and concluded that the leading Cloud Ninja was no match for Senju Tobirama.
Since the Old Man was not in danger, he could safely go and support his comrades.
On the other side, Homura Mitokado's monocle was half shattered, and he was suppressed by the Hidden Cloud Jonin's attacks, unable to retaliate.
"Konoha Ninja, nothing more than this!" The Hidden Cloud Jonin waved the kunai in his hand, thrusting it straight at his heart.
Seeing this, Homura Mitokado could only raise his arm to block.
"Pfft!"
The sharp kunai directly pierced into his right arm, and blood flowed freely.
"Don't struggle needlessly, just die obediently!" The Hidden Cloud Jonin abruptly pulled out the kunai, and the blood-stained kunai thrust directly at his heart.
If the attack landed successfully, death was certain.
Homura Mitokado was already too weak to dodge, and he had prepared himself for death.
However, the anticipated pain did not arrive; a black-haired young man holding a Tachi suddenly appeared before him.
"Clang!"
Renye's blade severed the incoming kunai, and his left hand simultaneously formed a hand sign: "Fire Release: Phoenix Immortal Fire Technique!"
The Hidden Cloud Jonin didn't even see when the young man appeared before him, and caught off guard, he was directly hit by the fireball, his clothes instantly covered by the scorching flames.
"Ahhh—"
A heart-wrenching scream echoed.
Renye didn't let the scream linger; his blade flashed, and the Hidden Cloud Jonin fell straight to the ground.
After doing all this, he then looked at the injured Homura Mitokado, "Homura, are you alright?"
Homura Mitokado clutched his injured right arm, shaking his head with a smile, "It's not a big deal, just some minor injuries."
A roar from afar interrupted their conversation; Senju Tobirama was locked in fierce combat with the Second Raikage in the distance.
"Renye, don't worry about me, quickly go support the teacher!" Homura Mitokado urged.
Renye nodded and left using the Body Flicker Technique.
Although he didn't think the Old Man would be in danger, just in case, he still had to go and check.
...
Senju Tobirama formed hand signs in front of his chest, and the moment the final "Tiger" sign was completed, the water vapor in the entire canyon suddenly condensed.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
The ground trembled, and a giant water dragon, over ten meters in diameter, shot into the sky, its head ferocious, its scales distinct, every water droplet reflecting dazzling light in the sun.
The water dragon let out a silent roar, crashing towards the Raikage with the might to shatter mountains and rocks.
The Raikage's fist was covered in blinding lightning, and he roared as he swung his fist to meet it.
"Lightning Release: Lariat!"
The moment the fist collided with the dragon's head, a terrifying impact exploded in a ring, instantly sending the surrounding rocks flying.
Water and lightning intertwined into a blue and white storm, the Raikage's muscle fibers twisted and deformed in the high-pressure water flow, and his feet plowed two deep furrows in the ground, yet he still couldn't stop his retreat.
"Crack—smash!"
The Lightning Release attached to his fist cracked.
The water dragon seized this fleeting opening, its head suddenly rearing up, sending the Raikage flying high into the air!
He tumbled in the air, trying to adjust his posture, but the next second—
"Boom!"
The dragon's head, with immense force, slammed him hard into the rock wall.
The rock peak collapsed, and boulders rained down. The Raikage's figure, like a cannonball, pierced through three layers of rock wall before finally stopping.
The countless falling debris covered his body.
The entire canyon fell into a deathly silence, save for the sounds of Hiruzen Sarutobi and others fighting in the distance, and the dripping of water from the broken rock piles.
"Drip. Drip. Drip."
Senju Tobirama walked over the accumulated water, his red pupils fixed on the ruins.
Suddenly, he turned his head as if sensing something, Renye's figure reflected in his pupils.
"Uncle, is the battle over?"
He had just arrived and saw this scene; it was clear the Old Man had won.
Senju Tobirama gently nodded: "It's over."
Before his words finished—
"Rumble!"
A blood-soaked arm suddenly broke through.
Renye looked over, gripping his sword hilt vigilantly, ready to attack immediately if anything seemed amiss.
The Raikage crawled out of the pile of rubble, supporting his body with difficulty, blood trickling down his forehead and finally dripping onto the ground.
He gasped heavily, covered in blood.
Senju Tobirama pressed down on Renye's attacking motion, saying softly, "He has already lost his ability to fight."
Renye released his grip on the sword hilt upon hearing this, but his gaze remained vigilant.
The heavily wounded Raikage stumbled closer, saying with difficulty, "Second Hokage, I lost. Do as you please, kill me or torture me."
With that, he closed his eyes, calmly preparing for death.
In truth, he was unwilling; he was about to die just two days after becoming Raikage, and no one would be content with that.
But there was nothing he could do; he was simply inferior.
Since the assassination failed, he could only be prepared to be counter-killed.
If it weren't for the Daimyo's foolishness, things wouldn't have come to this...
Just as he was internally cursing the Daimyo's ancestors, Senju Tobirama suddenly spoke.
"You are the Second Raikage of Hidden Cloud Village, aren't you?"
He had no intention of attacking, merely looking calmly at the strong man before him, as if he had already seen through everything.
The Raikage's eyes snapped open, a hint of astonishment flashing through them, which then turned into bitterness. He hadn't expected his identity to be revealed so easily.
Although he didn't know how the Hokage knew, he still answered honestly.
...Yes.
Renye raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, his gaze sweeping over the strong man. This guy was the newly appointed Second Raikage of Hidden Cloud Village?
Indeed, his physique was quite imposing.
He wondered what this guy was thinking, leading a team to intercept Konoha's envoy mission right after taking office.
Was he tired of the war ending too quickly?!
Senju Tobirama didn't rush to act, instead continuing to ask, "The Land of Lightning Daimyo sent you?"
The Raikage was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"Your actions angered the Daimyo; he doesn't want you to set foot in the Land of Lightning alive..." He whispered, "He threatened Hidden Cloud Village that if you weren't killed, he would cut military expenses by thirty percent."
Renye: "???"
The Land of Lightning Daimyo was the real fool!
It seemed he had lived too comfortably these past years, daring to threaten Hidden Cloud Village with such a matter.
If it were him, the Daimyo would have been dead long ago.
The Daimyo was just a wealthy ordinary person; if they really angered a Ninja Village, they could immediately send people to purge the Daimyo's Mansion.
In the Ninja World, Daimyo used wealth to build the country, and Ninja used their strength to maintain national security.
Daimyo gave money to Ninja, and Ninja worked for Daimyo; the two tacitly reached a balance.
After all, Ninja hardly engaged in production; such things were done by ordinary people.
So Ninja wouldn't kill the Daimyo; that would only be draining the pond to catch all the fish. A steady stream is the real principle.
But that wasn't a reason for the Daimyo to ride roughshod over the Ninja!
If the Ninja were truly angered, who could ensure what they would do?
Clearly, the Land of Lightning's Daimyo hadn't yet realized the seriousness of the situation...
Senju Tobirama gently closed his eyes, seemingly deep in thought.
A moment later, he opened his eyes, his gaze sharp.
"So, you agreed?"