Chapter 58: Minato, Kushina, Nawaki

Given the capabilities of the Minato squad, equipped with Kagura's Mind Eye and the Flying Thunder God technique, performing high-difficulty tasks like "X-ray vision" and "teleportation" was easy, rendering the defenses of Amegakure nothing more than a paper barrier in their eyes.

"Nawaki, it's up to you now. Remember, set it to explode in five minutes."

"Got it!"

After pasting over four hundred explosive tags that Nawaki carried, the three began to prepare their final move. They first planned to lure Hanzō back to the village with significant casualties and then give him a tremendous surprise with a mutual explosion trap. This was Minato's strategy to rescue Orochimaru and others.

If they directly used the mutual explosion tags, Amegakure would be reduced to ashes in an instant, and Hanzō might go all out and do something crazy. Although Nawaki's face showed a trace of tension, his hands were exceptionally steady, meticulously setting up the trap. Having thoroughly studied Hanzō's book, "How to Use Explosive Tags", he could set up this delayed explosive trap with his eyes closed. In a sense, this was also fulfilling the Ninja World's tradition of "returning the favor to one's teacher."

"All done, Minato-kun!"

Minato nodded, and the three of them formed seals simultaneously, detonating the more than four hundred explosive tags previously set up. Suddenly, Amegakure turned into a sea of fire, filled with the sounds of explosions, wailing, and roaring.

Gathering chakra rarely used since the war began over two years ago, Nawaki amplified his voice and shouted out of the window:

"Not good, not good!"

"Uchiha Hanma has breached the village! Go notify Lord Hanzō!!!"

"Hurry!!!"

Nawaki's piercing scream caused even more panic among the Amegakure ninjas, with some even fleeing the village. The scene became extremely chaotic. The three exchanged smiles, and with a flash of yellow light, they disappeared from their spots. On the ground, a mutual explosion tag quietly awaited its real target—Hanzō.

Orochimaru, holding a mutual explosion tag in his hand, stood in a standoff with Hanzō, both of them glaring at each other. Jiraiya and Tsunade were already covered in wounds, lying powerless on the side. Only Orochimaru, relying on his snake-replacement technique, held on until now. The situation was critically dangerous.

Orochimaru maintained a smile on his face as he raised the tag in his hand and looked at Hanzō, speaking each word clearly:

"Hanzō-senpai, have you ever heard of the Mutual Explosion Tag technique developed by our Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama?"

"Sequential fixed-point explosions, focusing on the enemy until they turn to ashes."

"So, would you like to try it?"

Hanzō was no longer as composed. In front of Senju Tobirama, he was merely a junior in the ninja world. As a child, he had heard his father talk about this extremely malicious technique developed by Tobirama.

Hanzō's face darkened, his voice somber:

"So what? Do you think you can hit me with your speed?"

Hanzō kept his eyes fixed on Orochimaru, ready to dash forward and cut off Orochimaru's arm at the slightest sign of hesitation. Orochimaru, though cold sweat covered his back, maintained a carefree expression, forming seals with his pale, slender fingers, as if he was ready to take Hanzō down with him.

A silent yet intense psychological battle unfolded between Hanzō and Orochimaru. A long chain of suspicion had formed, with both Orochimaru and Hanzō fiercely evaluating each other's mental states, waiting for the optimal moment to strike.

The sound of explosions, dense like firecrackers, echoed from the direction of Amegakure. Although confused by the intense flames he saw from afar, Orochimaru put on a confident face.

Hanzō, taking large steps back, gave a quick glance, instantly feeling a turmoil of emotions. Nearby Amegakure was engulfed in flames, thick black smoke billowing out, accompanied by the faint cries of the Amegakure ninjas. 

Hanzō glared angrily at Orochimaru, a touch of madness in his heart. This village, which he had fought for nearly fifty years to build, was his everything.

Orochimaru smiled, even comforting Hanzō:

"Hanzō-senpai, doesn't your jutsu make the sky rain?"

"Hurry back and put out the fire, maybe you'll still make it in time."

Violent killing intent flashed in Hanzō's eyes as he raised his blade. But at the sight of Orochimaru's mutual explosion tag and thinking of the wailing Amegakure, he forcibly calmed down. Amegakure still needed him; things hadn't yet reached a point of no return.

"We'll meet again, Konoha ninjas!"

Leaving a harsh parting line, Hanzō instantly vanished towards Amegakure. Orochimaru remained making seals, staring in the direction Hanzō had departed, contemplating his next move.

"Hurry, Orochimaru-sensei!"

After a long pause, a familiar voice broke Orochimaru's thoughts. Minato's group, always monitoring Hanzō from afar, quickly came to support Orochimaru after confirming Hanzō's departure.

Before Orochimaru could ask anything, Nawaki anxiously helped Tsunade up and called to Jiraiya:

"Perverted uncle, you too, get up and put your hand on Minato!"

Jiraiya blushed unusually. Nawaki often called him that due to catching him multiple times during his data collection escapades.

Five hands were simultaneously placed on Minato's shoulders as he concentrated on gathering chakra, sensing the pre-set Flying Thunder God coordinates. Transporting so many people via the Flying Thunder God technique was still challenging for Minato.

Space rippled, and the group teleported to a distant plain. Minato panted from exhaustion, while Kushina ran over to whisper in his ear, helping him restore chakra.

Tsunade, delightedly, hugged Nawaki, exclaiming:

"You've grown into a proper ninja now!"

Feeling proud, Tsunade admired Nawaki: "He's grown so much he can even cover a retreat for me."

Nawaki, feeling equally proud, called out loudly:

"Wait a bit, we've prepared a huge surprise for Hanzō. Something big is about to happen!"

Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya were all stunned.

Something big? What else could these kids have done?

At that moment, the ground violently shook, a deafening roar echoed, and a fierce shockwave swept over them. A gigantic mushroom cloud appeared in the direction of Amegakure. Minato looked at his handiwork and smiled, silently bidding farewell:

"I guess this is goodbye for now, Hanzō-senpai."

(End of Chapter)