Chapter 33: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada
Uneasy Premonitions
Hanzō rubbed his temples, his right eyelid twitching persistently.
For some inexplicable reason, ever since agreeing to cooperate with Danzō, he'd felt profoundly uneasy.
It was as if an invisible net was quietly ensnaring him—and he was merely an insect trapped within that web, struggling helplessly against invisible threads.
"Hmph. It seems people become more paranoid with age."
Hanzō sighed, pinching his twitching temple. If he were ten years younger, would he even be experiencing these doubts?
"Lord Hanzō, it's time to depart."
Outside his chamber door, his most trusted elite jōnin awaited orders.
Today was the agreed-upon date.
"Let's move out."
Hanzō slowly rose to his feet, his eyes gradually hardening with resolve.
He was still the leader of Amegakure—the legendary shinobi who had once defeated all three of Konoha's Legendary Sannin simultaneously. He was Hanzō of the Salamander!
This was just a simple mission. In his long ninja career, it barely qualified as difficult. The only truly troublesome variable was Tsunade herself.
Soon, Amegakure will see brighter days.
Gazing at the perpetually overcast sky, Hanzō—venturing outside his underground fortress for the first time in months—allowed himself this moment of optimism.
The Rendezvous
Not far from Amegakure's borders, on the village outskirts, Hanzō led a dozen of his most elite jōnin to the designated meeting point.
Tsunade, accompanied by Hikari and Uchiha Kazuki, was already waiting there.
Fully armed and battle-ready, Hanzō showed no trace of his former lethargy. He exuded an overwhelming aura of dominance—as if this were his true self finally revealed.
"Is this the kid?"
Hanzō cautiously and discreetly glanced at the ANBU operative following behind Tsunade.
To avoid detection by the Sharingan's keen perception, he quickly averted his gaze, feigning casual indifference. He addressed Tsunade directly. "To prevent any complications, I've brought Amegakure's finest. We've gone to considerable trouble here—I expect Konoha will offer appropriate compensation afterward. Agreed?"
"I'll report everything truthfully to the Hokage."
Tsunade's tone remained perfectly neutral.
"Excellent."
Hanzō seemed satisfied, his eyes narrowing slightly before he fell silent—no longer looking toward his intended target.
Now I just need to wait for the right opportunity. Once Tsunade is drawn away by Root's operatives, I'll eliminate the target as quickly as possible. Then I can fabricate a reasonable excuse to exonerate myself afterward.
While Hanzō calculated his next moves, he failed to notice that he himself was being observed.
The Observer Sees All
"Hanzō just glanced at me deliberately."
What Hanzō thought he'd concealed perfectly couldn't escape Uchiha Kazuki's perception.
Out of habitual caution, Kazuki frequently used his Spirit Vision to silently observe everyone's astral bodies, body language, and facial micro-expressions from a detached, third-person perspective.
And just moments ago, in that fleeting instant of eye contact, he'd sensed Hanzō's abnormality.
Although the demigod was attempting his best to disguise his intentions, certain extremely subtle body movements and micro-expressions undoubtedly revealed he was concealing something.
Hostility!
Even the most skilled deceiver couldn't hide their true emotions from a Spectator's perception.
Judging from the aura color emanating from Hanzō's astral body, it was undoubtedly filled with hostile killing intent. He intended to attack them!
No—Hanzō's target can't be Tsunade.
Uchiha Kazuki immediately dismissed that possibility.
Given Hanzō's calculating personality, he would never risk such a blatant transgression by harming the last direct bloodline of the Senju Clan. That would be tantamount to spitting directly in the Third Hokage's face.
Beneath his owl mask, Uchiha Kazuki's lips curved into an amused smile.
Since Tsunade is ruled out, that means Hanzō's target is me!
This was peculiar indeed.
He and Hanzō had never met before today's mission, and when they'd encountered each other two days ago, the legendary shinobi hadn't displayed any hostility whatsoever.
Why, after merely two days, would Hanzō suddenly exhibit such deadly intent?
Unless...
Uchiha Kazuki sneered inwardly. Danzō's machinations again, no doubt.
Thinking carefully, aside from that scheming bastard Danzō, there was practically no other logical explanation.
First, Black Zetsu could be ruled out entirely. That "dutiful son" had far more important matters to attend to—neither Hanzō nor himself alone warranted Black Zetsu's personal attention.
"Is this coincidence... or fate?"
Uchiha Kazuki's lips curled into a deeply meaningful smile as he observed Hanzō. "Even destiny seems to favor my plans. I was just looking for a convenient excuse."
Hanzō wants to kill me, but haven't I also been seeking an opportunity to eliminate Hanzō?
The pieces were now positioned perfectly on the board.
The outcome of this deadly game would depend entirely on who possessed superior skill.
What seemed like extended contemplation had actually transpired in mere seconds.
Having grasped the full situation, Uchiha Kazuki remained outwardly silent, quietly awaiting Hanzō's inevitable 'performance.'
Now that he'd deduced Hanzō's intentions, he was genuinely curious about how the demigod planned to separate Tsunade from him.
Each harboring their own hidden agendas, the group silently traversed the rocky canyon terrain.
The Broken Seal
Soon, they arrived at the sealing site.
"This is the location."
Uchiha Kazuki pinpointed the seal's exact position based on the intelligence scroll.
However, the area surrounding the seal was severely damaged—clearly indicating someone had forcibly extracted whatever had been contained there.
"Tsk." Tsunade frowned, immediately recognizing the implications. "Looks like I'll be working overtime again."
"Someone broke through the seal quite recently." Hanzō's eyes narrowed calculatingly. "It seems your mission details have been compromised."
"This is troublesome." Tsunade sighed, feeling an approaching headache. "Mission parameters have changed. We continue tracking."
Because so little time had passed, the perpetrator hadn't properly concealed their tracks.
Continuing their pursuit through the canyon, they soon discovered two identical sets of tracks at a fork—leading toward two different paths.
"Looks like we'll need to split up." Hanzō spoke with calculated calmness.
"The enemy is clever." Tsunade didn't object—dividing forces was tactically sound. "In that case, Hikari and Kazuki will come with me. You and your team take the other path."
"Understood."
Hanzō led his Amegakure forces along the left trail.
Tsunade, accompanied by Hikari and Uchiha Kazuki, continued pursuit along the right path.
The Trap Springs
The surrounding scenery blurred past as they raced forward at high speed.
"I see him!" Tsunade's eyes sharpened with predatory focus. "Target acquired!"
A suspicious figure appeared ahead, carrying something wrapped in black cloth. Upon noticing pursuit, the figure immediately accelerated.
"Trying to run?!" Tsunade sneered, stomping her foot with devastating force.
BOOM!
The ground beneath her foot instantly shattered into fragments.
Using the explosive impact as propulsion, Tsunade launched herself forward like a human cannonball.
"Stop right there!"
Tsunade raised her right leg high overhead, descending from above like a falling battle axe.
KRAKOOM!!!
The ground—solid rock dozens of meters thick—crumbled instantaneously. The shockwave blasted skyward in a visible column of force.
The terrifying destructive power pulverized the surrounding stone as effectively as a meteorite impact, creating a massive crater in the terrain.
The fleeing ninja was thrown backward by the shockwave alone, coughing up blood violently. His chest cavity collapsed inward—clearly beyond any hope of survival.
"Who sent you?" Tsunade stood before him imposingly, hands on her hips, questioning him with absolute authority.
"Hehehehe..."
To everyone's surprise, the dying man showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, he revealed an unsettling, twisted smile.
Tsunade's unease intensified dramatically. Before she could even speak, she caught movement in her peripheral vision—the rocks near Hikari were shifting unnaturally.
"No—it's a trap!"
Tsunade pivoted and rushed toward Hikari. "Get away from there!"
In her aggressive pursuit of the decoy target, she'd inadvertently left Hikari exposed. Uchiha Kazuki had been momentarily separated by the distance.
The next instant, the writhing rocks were violently overturned. Several shadowy figures burst forth from concealment.
"Ah!"
Hikari didn't even have time to scream before being seized by multiple attackers and dragged rapidly toward the dense jungle.
"Damn it!"
Tsunade's pupils dilated with fury. She stomped the ground with such force that it shattered beneath her, leaving only afterimages as she pursued at maximum speed.
Cold Calculation
Watching Hikari being abducted, Uchiha Kazuki muttered quietly to himself, "The method is old-fashioned, but I must admit—it's quite effective."
He approached the dying Root operative calmly, scrutinizing him with clinical detachment.
"Uchiha Kazuki..."
The ninja spoke through bloody lips, his cruel smile never wavering. "Lord Danzō sends his regards."
"I see."
Uchiha Kazuki replied with perfect composure, then stepped firmly on the man's throat.
CRACK!
A sickening sound of vertebrae snapping echoed sharply.
The ninja's eyes widened in shock, a final sliver of survival instinct remaining in his pupils. Blood bubbled from his mouth as life slowly drained from his body.
I certainly don't have the bad habit of chatting with dead men.
Uchiha Kazuki removed his ANBU owl mask and tossed it aside carelessly. He replaced it with his signature black-rimmed glasses, adjusting them with one finger.
"When you see Danzō in the afterlife, remember to give him my regards."
[End of Chapter 33]
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