The Birth of Sannin

A sudden pang struck Tsunade's heart, as if something precious had been lost. This unexpected feeling unsettled her.

"Water Release: Violent Water Wave!"

Hanzō, keenly sensing Tsunade's momentary lapse in concentration, seized the opportunity and unleashed a ninjutsu. A massive water orb materialized above Tsunade and crashed down upon her.

Caught off guard, Tsunade had no time to react.

"Hidden Needle Jutsu: Senbon Shower!"

Just as danger loomed, Jiraiya's long hair erupted, firing countless needles that shattered the water orb.

"Tsunade, what are you doing? Don't lose focus at a time like this!" Orochimaru roared from nearby.

They were already struggling against the demigods and Hanzō, and Tsunade's distraction was a reckless endangerment.

Shaken by the close call, Tsunade quickly suppressed her unease and regained her focus.

It's fine, it must be the strain of the battle. Nothing could have happened, she reassured herself.

Meanwhile, Aizen observed Kato Dan's body from afar and nodded in satisfaction. He had deliberately made Kato Dan's death appear accidental.

Of course, this was merely a precaution. If Kato Dan's body wasn't discovered by Konoha shinobi, but instead devoured by wild beasts in the forest, it would be even better.

But that wasn't Aizen's concern.

"Tch, what a waste of my precious time," Aizen muttered, annoyed at the time spent dealing with Kato Dan. In his eyes, Kato Dan wasn't even worthy of being killed by him.

Aizen then retrieved over a dozen kunai, each tipped with an explosive tag.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

He flung the kunai into the surrounding area, causing a series of explosions. Surveying the chaotic scene, Aizen nodded in satisfaction. This would further obscure the cause of Kato Dan's death and conceal any traces of their battle.

After all, murdering his teacher's lover would undoubtedly attract Konoha's scrutiny. The cautious Aizen never left any evidence of his killings.

With a leap, Aizen vanished into the forest. Now that everything was settled, he resumed his original plan – hiding in the river until the war concluded.

This time, there were no further complications. Aizen's plan proceeded smoothly.

While Aizen remained submerged in the river, silently recuperating from his earlier exertions, the tide of the battle quietly shifted elsewhere.

On the Sunagakure battlefield against the Konoha First Division.

Thud!

The Third Kazekage's body collapsed onto the battlefield like a discarded rag doll.

Ebizo rushed to his side, barely managing to save the Third Kazekage's life.

"Hatake Sakumo!" Chiyo gritted her teeth, her face contorted with hatred as she glared at the white-haired figure in the distance.

Hatake Sakumo had single-handedly faced off against the Third Kazekage and the Chiyo siblings. The outcome was a severely injured Third Kazekage, and Chiyo and her brother, Ebizō, were also gravely wounded.

Meanwhile, Hatake Sakumo remained composed and seemingly untouched. This demonstrated the fearsome power of Konoha's White Fang.

With the three powerhouses of Sunagakure subdued by Hatake Sakumo, the Konoha First Division, led by Mitarashi Zashi and Yoru, had decimated the Sunagakure forces.

The Sunagakure shinobi had been fighting on sheer willpower alone. But with the Third Kazekage's defeat, the situation on the battlefield had deteriorated beyond imagination. If they continued to fight the Konoha First Division, they would all be slaughtered.

"Ugh!"

Chiyo's vision darkened, and she let out a helpless sigh.

"Relay the order. Except for the injured shinobi, everyone else is to withdraw from the Land of Rain. This war, we have lost."

Chiyo returned to the Sunagakure army and issued the order to a messenger ninja, her face a mask of despair. With the Third Kazekage incapacitated, she was now the supreme commander of the entire army.

"Lady Chiyo!" The Sunagakure shinobi who heard her order stared at her in disbelief.

"Execute the order!"

Observing the expressions of the Sunagakure shinobi, Chiyo's face hardened, and she glared at them fiercely.

"Yes!"

The shinobi quickly snapped out of their stupor and relayed Chiyo's command to the troops.

Soon, the Sunagakure army began to withdraw, retreating towards the Land of Wind.

On the battlefield of the Konoha Second Division.

Heavy rain poured down relentlessly.

At the location where the Sannin clashed with Hanzō, their respective subordinates had all fallen. Only the four of them remained, locked in a fierce struggle. Countless corpses littered the ground around them, a testament to the brutality of the battlefield.

Hanzō had cornered the Sannin, and could end their lives at any moment.

Standing atop Salamander, Hanzō stared coldly at Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade, who were nearing their limits, ready to deliver the final blow.

Suddenly, a message flashed through his mind. It was from his village's intelligence ninja, responsible for communication.

The Sunagakure army has collapsed and is retreating towards the Land of Wind.

This news struck Hanzō like a bolt of lightning, leaving him momentarily stunned. He knew that they had lost the war.

After a few seconds, Hanzō regained his composure and looked down at the three Sannin with a complex expression.

"It seems Konohagakure will win this war. I will spare your lives," Hanzō declared in a low voice.

"We don't need your pity! We can still fight!" Jiraiya roared defiantly.

"Jiraiya, stop!" Tsunade, who was supporting him, exclaimed anxiously.

Do you think Hanzō is suddenly feeling merciful? He's doing this because our First Division has won! The Second Shinobi War is over, and he doesn't dare to completely antagonize Konoha! Why provoke him at this time?

However, Hanzō remained unfazed. He addressed the Sannin in a deep voice, "You are indeed formidable, to have survived this onslaught. From this day forward, I, Hanzō, shall call you the Legendary Sannin of Konoha! As the price for your lives, let us each bear our own honor."