Renya pulled a pill from his ninja tool pouch and swallowed it without hesitation.
Hanzō of the Salamander narrowed his eyes at the sight. He didn't believe that pill, which looked so ordinary, could possibly neutralize the poison of the salamander.
The venom of the salamander was far more potent than most people could comprehend. In his eyes, Renya was already poisoned. If he didn't take the antidote immediately, his body would soon succumb.
"Poison Master, this is the antidote." Hanzō tossed another pill toward him.
Since Renya had only been exposed to the toxic mist and the poison hadn't yet fully spread throughout his body, taking the antidote now still offered him a chance to survive.
But it was still the same: Uchiha Renya could die, but he must not die in Amegakure.
"Heh, you don't need to worry." Renya sneered. "If your poison is only at this level, then it can't hurt me."
Even before the words had finished leaving his mouth, the purplish tinge of poison on his skin faded away at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"You really neutralized my poison?" Hanzō's expression sank, and his grip on the sickle in his hand tightened instinctively.
He had thought Uchiha Renya was just arrogant and conceited, but it turned out the man really did have a way.
No wonder he had earned the title of "Deadly Poison Master."
For the first time, Hanzō's gaze toward Renya carried a deep and undeniable killing intent.
For the sake of Amegakure's future, he couldn't allow this man to live any longer.
Hanzō intended to use the salamander's poison as a weapon against the great nations, so that the Land of Rain could break free from being bullied and oppressed. Yet even before the war had properly begun, someone had already created an antidote to his poison.
That meant Amegakure had no advantage left against Konoha.
Now there was only one option: kill Uchiha Renya to prevent this disaster.
So what if it meant offending Konoha? Amegakure had already lost too much—what more could they lose?
If worst came to worst, then war with Konoha it would be. Under his command, even if they couldn't defeat Konoha, they would still tear away a piece of flesh from the great nation.
If blame was to be placed, then it would be on Uchiha Renya for inventing an antidote to the salamander's poison.
"You want to kill me?" Renya's Sharingan captured every tiny shift in Hanzō's expression—including the killing intent etched across his face.
He had already guessed what was going through Hanzō's mind.
After all, when your trump card was broken, anyone would feel the urge to kill.
Rain poured down in torrents, washing over broken stone and scorched earth.
Hanzō's eyes turned utterly cold, his murderous aura spreading like a tangible force.
"Tsk, what a hassle." Renya sighed helplessly.
He had only come here to test Hanzō's strength, yet somehow the man had developed a desire to kill him.
What was supposed to be a spar was now turning into a fight to the death. How did that even make sense?
If he had known it would turn out like this, he wouldn't have come over to join in the fun. He would've stayed in the cave, cooking meals for Hashirama and Madara.
"Forgive me, Poison Master. Your existence has become a threat to Amegakure. I cannot allow you to leave alive." Hanzō's muffled voice came through his mask.
He knew his actions were dishonorable, but for Amegakure's sake, it had to be done.
When Uchiha Renya was dead, he would bury him with his own hands.
"You want to kill me?" Renya's expression grew cold. "Then we'll see if Hanzō of the Salamander really has what it takes."
"Whether I do or not—you'll find out soon enough!"
The words had barely left his mouth before Hanzō's figure vanished, his speed greater than before!
"Body Flicker Technique?" Renya's Sharingan spun, tracking Hanzō's afterimage. This time, however, his speed was far faster than earlier.
Clearly, the man had been holding back in their previous exchanges.
"Iai—Instant Slash!"
"Clang—!"
The sickle cut through the rain, aiming directly for Renya's throat! Renya raised his blade in time to block, but Hanzō's strength was greater than before. Sparks erupted as their blades collided.
When the strike failed to land, Hanzō immediately pulled back to widen the distance.
"Has your strength increased?" Hanzō narrowed his eyes. "It seems you weren't fighting seriously just now either."
"If this is the extent of your power, then you'll never kill me." Renya remained calm and composed.
From their exchanges, Renya could tell that Hanzō indeed had strength, but compared to himself, there was still a considerable gap.
From Renya's estimate, without relying on the salamander's poison, Hanzō was only slightly stronger than Uncle Hashirama.
He still didn't know what Uchiha Madara had done, but somehow Senju Hashirama's condition hadn't worsened further. Instead, it had even improved a little…
Hanzō didn't respond. His hands blurred through seals—he was about to get serious.
"Summoning Jutsu: Salamander!"
Boom!
A huge plume of smoke burst forth, and a salamander tens of meters long crashed onto the battlefield, its entire body radiating a thick, poisonous purple mist.
The giant salamander opened its maw and spewed out a dense cloud of violet poison, instantly covering the entire battlefield! Everywhere the mist touched, even the rain turned a dark purple, and the air filled with a suffocating, foul stench.
Renya stood at the center of the battlefield, the poison swirling all around him—yet he remained completely unharmed.
"Your poison is useless against me." A faint smile tugged at the corner of Renya's lips.
The antidote he had developed easily neutralized the salamander's venom, ensuring that he wouldn't be poisoned for a considerable time.
Hanzō's breath hitched, his pupils contracting sharply.
His poison… had truly been completely neutralized?!
"Impossible…!" Hanzō growled, his hands flying through seals as chakra erupted from his body.
Under the influence of the poisonous haze, the rain pouring from the sky turned a deep purple. Every drop carried lethal venom, and the deadly rain cascaded downward.
Renya simply chuckled lightly, standing calmly in place as the poisonous rain soaked his body.
"I told you, your poison is useless against me."
At last, Hanzō realized—this youth wasn't joking. His poison had no effect on him whatsoever.
"In that case…" Hanzō's gaze turned utterly frigid. "Then I'll kill you with pure force!"
No matter what, Uchiha Renya had to die here. He could not be allowed to return alive to Konoha. Otherwise, his poisonous advantage would vanish completely.
Even before this, Amegakure was no match for Konoha. And if his poison was useless, then defeating Konoha was utterly impossible.
Only by killing Uchiha Renya could they hold onto any hope of victory!
"Body Flicker Technique!"
His figure disappeared in an instant, his speed breaking through its limits. The next moment, he reappeared directly before Renya, his sickle already slashing down mercilessly.
If this strike landed, Renya's head and body would be separated!
"Why use the same move twice?" Renya calmly tracked the attack's trajectory with precision, lifting his blade to block the sickle once more.
"Dammit, don't underestimate me!"
Hanzō's assault came like a raging storm, each strike of his sickle carrying the force to split stone and shatter mountains.
Renya was driven backward step by step, yet his gaze remained steady and composed.
"Your speed is good," Renya said suddenly. "But it's still not enough."
With those words, he flung three kunai from his waist. They sliced through the air, aimed at the space where Hanzō was moving.
"Petty tricks!" Hanzō scoffed, easily dodging the kunai.
"Oh? Then you'd better be careful." A sly smile curled at Renya's lips.
At that instant, unease suddenly rose within Hanzō's heart.
Before he could even react, Renya's figure vanished.
"Flying Thunder God!"