What…?
He'd fought with Ibuse for decades. Never—never—had a target scared it off with a look.
"A tip, Hanzo." Sogetsu lifted a finger to his lips and smiled. "Beware the Spectator."
"???" The line made Hanzo blink—then grit his teeth. "Whatever trick that was, don't think losing Ibuse makes me prey. You're naïve, brat."
He was more than a summoner. He was the Water Release master of his age.
"Water Release: Water Shockwave!"
Cracks spidered open before his feet. Surging swells erupted through them, layering into a wall like a low tsunami.
"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
Sogetsu's answer churned the gorge.
Boom—!
Flame smashed the wave; heat rippled the air until vision wavered.
"You're furious," Sogetsu's voice slid through steam and spray. "And afraid. Age drains body, chakra, and grip. More and more, Ame resists your rule, doesn't it?"
"Silence!" Hanzo snarled, jaw creaking.
Every sentence was a pin driven where it hurt most. He had given everything to Amegakure. He wouldn't permit anyone to spit on that.
"You'll regret stepping into my rain." His signs blurred; water roared. "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A cyclone twisted up and then crashed down in dragon form, wave on wave rearing to crush.
"Oh? Touched a nerve." Sogetsu didn't stop. "You rule Ame by iron—no dissent, no variance. Is that truly the best path? Has Ame improved under you?"
Hanzo's blade work turned savage, wind keening off the scythe. He bled defense for pure offense, all to drown the boy and his damned tongue.
"You were a guardian once," Sogetsu went on, sliding past arcs of steel by a whisper. Those faint eddies in his Sharingan deepened—suggestion and hypnosis teasing at the edges of thought. "Now you're the obstacle in your own village."
"Shut up!" Something snapped. A long-pinned cord inside Hanzo's skull recoiled and broke. Rage detonated; reason fell through the floor.
"What frightens you, Hanzo?" Sogetsu's tone gentled, a velvet hook. "That new group? Yahiko? Why fear them? You share a wish—for Ame to be better."
"Only I have the right answer!"
Hanzo panted, eyes blood-shot, veins corded dark beneath creased skin. He was a cornered beast, claws out. "They understand nothing! I do this for Ame!"
"Look at you, Hanzo—old." Sogetsu lowered his voice, warm as a devil's whisper. "Soon they'll realize the invincible Salamander isn't what he was. When that day comes… what do you think will happen?"
"Kill! I'll kill you all!"
Killing intent geysered; the world tinted red.
"Yes. They'll kill you."
In his mind's eye, Hanzo saw Ame shinobi sneer, taunt, and trample him—an aging lion with ragged hide and blunted claws, keeping a restless pride in line on reputation alone.
One day the mask would rip. A young lion with bright fangs would bite his throat and parade the head.
"Hanzo! Look into my eyes!"
Sogetsu's bark cracked like thunder. Half-lost already, Hanzo's head snapped up on reflex.
Three tomoe spun.
Genjutsu — Hypnosis.
Sharingan's illusion braided with battle trance. The last wall in Hanzo's psyche fell.
Hum—
Hanzo's gaze went glassy. He stood, still as a statue.
"Told you to be careful of the Spectator," Sogetsu said, pushing his frames up. The red dimmed from his eyes. "You didn't listen."
Yes, there was a line between tactics and cruelty when you talk an old man into a spiral.
Sorry. This is how Spectators fight.
Sogetsu paused, a strange look tugging at his mouth. At this rate I'm going to turn into one of those 'talk-no-jutsu' shinobi, aren't I?
…So be it. The path's weak in straight fights early on.
He shook it off and faced Hanzo, sliding a suggestion deep into the man's subconscious.
"Roundabout as this was, don't disappoint me now, Salamander," he murmured, eyes glinting toward a certain direction. "Timing's perfect. Right on schedule. I'll leave the next beat to you."
Razor focus snapped back into Hanzo's eyes. Killing intent flared like a blade drawn.
"Leaf brat," he said, voice low and cold, "let me send you on."
A silver arc—
—opened Sogetsu's throat.
Ssshhhk!
Blood geysered.
Sogetsu clutched at his neck, eyes wide with mortal terror, words drowning in a wet gurgle.
"Don't blame me," Hanzo said, scythe dripping. "Blame Danzo. He's the one who wanted your life."
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