Thirteen's body froze! Not moving at all!
He hadn't died instantly because his eyes still held their light! It was just that the Dimensional Reaper was "too fast," causing his body not to separate immediately...
A single breath later!
A golden explosion burst from Thirteen's body, and hundreds of dropped items flew out!
At the same time, the scythe in Thirteen's hand snapped in two, and his body split apart... Cleaved straight down the middle with an incredibly smooth cut!
Thirteen was dead!
Haruto Saito maintained his stance after swinging the Dimensional Blade, panting heavily. He was exhausted, completely drained!
"That guy is dead!!" Tsunade's loud voice suddenly rang out!
She was the only one paying attention to this side of the battle. She deliberately shouted not just as an exclamation but to alert Hattori Ryuya, Jiraiya, and the others—and to provoke Hanzo!
Hanzo whipped his head around, eyes bloodshot!
Just in time to see Thirteen split in two, blood spurting wildly as his body sank into the water!
"Thirteen!!!" Hanzo roared.
"Kid, get over here and help!" Tsunade shouted!
The five-man team had initially held the advantage against Hanzo, but with the giant salamander in play, they had fallen into a disadvantageous position—even though the salamander was still preparing a big move.
Thirteen was dead!
They needed Haruto Saito to turn the tide!
But Haruto didn't move to assist!
He disappeared into thin air!
...
Underwater!
Haruto Saito appeared beside Thirteen's corpse, grabbing both halves before swiftly surfacing and vanishing once again!
No one knew why he wasn't aiding the battle, but Hanzo was already going berserk!
Given the current balance of power, even if Haruto joined the fight, Hanzo wouldn't be defeated instantly—just pushed into a disadvantage.
But now, with Haruto absent, the enraged Hanzo launched a ferocious assault on Tsunade. He had to kill one of them—eliminate one first! That was his only chance at victory when Haruto eventually rejoined the fight!
He never considered running!
He was a demigod!
Fleeing was not an option!
...
Deep in the nearby forest, Haruto Saito reappeared, tossing Thirteen's corpse onto the ground. He quickly pulled out a thick stack of cards from his inventory space and frantically searched through them!
He was in a hurry!
Thankfully, puppet cards were unique, though there were just too many—over 500!
Compared to Hattori Ryuya's drop, Thirteen's loot was significantly less!
Because Hattori Ryuya was proficient in all chakra attributes, mastering all five elements, whereas Thirteen was not!
One minute later.
Haruto found it! He immediately shoved the card into his mouth and bit down!
A radiant light burst forth, swirling rapidly before condensing into a resurrection seal in his palm!
Haruto crouched down... and then hesitated!
Damn it! Thirteen had been split straight down the middle—his head was cut in two!
This was the first time Haruto had seen Thirteen's face!
Previously, Thirteen had always worn a mask, hiding his features. But now, with the mask shattered, his face was fully revealed! As Haruto had suspected, his face was covered in scars. His facial structure wasn't bad, but the scars made him look terrifying!
Haruto thought for a moment, then forcibly pieced Thirteen's corpse back together, binding it with chakra threads before placing his hand on Thirteen's forehead.
Resurrection!!!
*Buzz!* *Boom!*
Golden light exploded from Thirteen's body, shooting skyward!
A miraculous sight unfolded!
Thirteen's split body began to merge, his tissues writhing as they "glued" back together. The wounds rapidly disappeared!
It took a full thirty seconds before Thirteen was fully restored, standing upright, a black glow shimmering on his forehead!
Just like Hattori Ryuya, a resurrection seal now adorned Thirteen's forehead!
Thirteen's eyes suddenly snapped open, glowing with black light.
"Master!" Thirteen lowered his head and knelt on one knee.
"Get dressed... Here's your weapon..." Haruto quickly pulled out a black robe from his inventory and tossed it to Thirteen, then handed him the Dimensional Blade. "Come with me!"
Thirteen donned the black robe, gripping his scythe as he followed Haruto at a brisk pace!
...
On the battlefield, Hanzo's frenzied assault on Tsunade was met with fierce resistance from Hattori Ryuya, who caused him significant trouble! However, due to excessive use of samurai techniques and instant steps, Hattori had sustained severe injuries!
Hattori had already been injured before!
His strength had decreased significantly, but he remained formidable!
The battle had shifted to a high ground near the summoning site of the giant salamander!
The salamander had submerged once again, diving underground in preparation for a sneak attack!
Hanzo darted around, suddenly teleporting onto the high ground! Hattori Ryuya, still following Haruto's earlier orders, pursued him relentlessly, slashing with his blade!
Hanzo suddenly crouched, dodging the strike before slamming his palm into the ground!
"Fire Release: Explosive Flame Formation!"
Countless explosive tags burst from Hanzo's sleeves, spreading rapidly along the ground, snaking toward Hattori Ryuya's legs…
This was one of Hanzo's most infamous jutsu, a terrifying A-rank technique similar to an endless summoning of explosive tags!
Hattori Ryuya was too close!
He had to dodge!
But Hanzo was even faster—his body blurred, splitting into five identical copies, surrounding Hattori in an instant!
No one could tell which was the real one—the time was too short!
"Watch out!!" Tsunade shouted.
Hattori Ryuya tried to leap away!
All five Hanzos attacked simultaneously, striking from multiple directions!
The connected explosive tags coiled like ropes, almost entangling Hattori's legs!
Suddenly!
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
The ground erupted as three massive pythons burst forth, triggering the Explosive Flame Formation!
*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*
The high ground was engulfed in a fiery inferno!
Orochimaru's secret technique had come to Hattori Ryuya's aid!
Though Hattori wasn't directly caught in the explosion, the blast was dangerously close! But so was Hanzo—forced to retreat, giving Hattori the chance to execute an instant step!
Flames roared skyward, towering tens of meters high!
Hattori Ryuya reappeared on the water's surface, looking utterly disheveled—his face was covered in soot, and the straps of his mask had burned away!
The mask fell!
*Swoosh!*
Like a ghost, Hanzo appeared behind Hattori Ryuya, his eyes locking onto him!
The scythe slashed down!
Hattori Ryuya whirled around, raising his blade...
"It's you?!!" Hanzo gasped in shock!
Until now, he had never directly clashed with Hattori Ryuya. The latter had used minimal ninjutsu, never revealing his full elemental mastery!
Only now did Hanzo realize the truth about this troublesome opponent!
Hanzo had assumed he was just a powerful swordsman with some ninja skills!
*Swoosh!*
A figure suddenly appeared beside Hanzo—Haruto Saito had arrived!
*Swoosh!*
Another figure appeared right behind him—Thirteen!
"Kill him!" Haruto commanded!
This was an order!