4 Chapter 4: Sage of Six Path Asahi

"Sure enough, I knew this task wouldn't be so simple!"

The moment he heard the system's voice, Asahi had this thought in his mind.

Can he participate in the battle between the Sannin and Hanzo?

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After three clear sounds, three clouds of smoke scattered.

Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru's summoned creatures, their summoning time had ended, and they had returned to their respective summoning realms.

Watching this situation from the sidelines, Asahi couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency.

Seeing the three of them stumbling in the poison mist, Asahi, who was a bit further away and still unaffected by the poison mist, knew he couldn't wait any longer.

"System, accept the task, and use the Sage of Six Paths Experience Card at the same time!"

[Ding, the host has accepted the task, and the Sage of Six Paths Experience Card has been successfully used.]

Hmm!!

The moment the system's voice sounded, an immense chakra suddenly erupted from Asahi's body.

At the same time, Asahi's clothes, which had been soaked by the rain, were instantly dried in this moment.

A supreme pressure swept over the area, and the four people who were in the midst of battle suddenly felt an indescribable sense of oppression. Looking in the direction of the pressure, they discovered that it was the unremarkable wandering ninja who had sneaked in earlier.

Behind Asahi, nine Truth-Seeking Balls quickly appeared, and Asahi himself seemed to float in the air as if defying gravity. The natural chakra that should have been invisible was now condensed around Asahi like a tangible substance.

This surprised Jiraiya, who had experienced Sage Jutsu. He knew how terrifying natural energy could be, and even a slight misstep could lead to death!

But the man in front of him seemed to be bathing in a spring of natural energy.

"Be careful, I underestimated this guy earlier!"

Jiraiya spoke in a low voice to Tsunade and Orochimaru beside him.

"Well, not only did we run into Hanzo earlier, but now there's another strange powerful guy. It seems our luck is running out. Sheesh..."

Tsunade's voice held a tinge of regret, but there wasn't much fear. As a ninja, she had long prepared herself for the moment she might die on the battlefield.

As for the idea that Asahi was helping them, Tsunade had long passed the stage of naivety. Why would a powerful stranger help them just because of some misplaced sense of justice?

But was she really just in her ways?

"Don't worry, Tsunade. I won't let anything happen to you until I'm dead!" Upon hearing Tsunade's words, Jiraiya turned to her with a big smile, brimming with confidence.

Tsunade felt a touch of warmth in her heart at his words.

However, immediately after, "Right, Orochimaru?"

Well, Jiraiya successfully dug a hole for himself there.

"Idiot!" Tsunade muttered under her breath, but her voice was too low for anyone to hear except Asahi.

As for Orochimaru, he remained silent, but the resolve in his eyes was evident to anyone who looked.

Feeling the surging chakra within him, Asahi felt himself rising to the occasion!

The Sannin, the semi-god, apologies, but Asahi couldn't care less.

With a wave of his hand, chakra erupted, forcefully neutralizing Hanzo's poison.

"That's enough. Stop it. I'll vouch for these three young ones!" Asahi's words easily reached the ears of the four, leaving the Sannin momentarily baffled.

"Do you know him?" Jiraiya and Tsunade both turned to Orochimaru, given that he had been suspiciously quiet, making him the prime suspect.

Orochimaru glanced at the two with indifference. "Imbeciles."

"You!!"

Unlike Sannin, who was still in a playful mood, Hanzo felt a cold sweat on his forehead the moment he sensed Asahi's outburst.

When Asahi forcibly neutralized his poison, his guard shot up. No one had ever managed to neutralize his poison, especially not in such a brute manner.

Indeed, Asahi spoke up and vouched for the newly named Leaf Sannin he had just witnessed.

However, while Hanzo wanted to retreat in his heart, he forcibly suppressed his fear to maintain his status as a demi-god and to preserve the Hidden Rain Village. He questioned, "I don't know who you are. What kind of ninja are you? Why are you meddling in the affairs of the Hidden Rain Village?"

Hearing Hanzo's inquiry, the Sannin also looked at Asahi curiously, wondering about this question.

Shaking his head, Asahi spoke, "I'm not a ninja from a village. I am the current head of the Tazuna Clan. You can think of me as a wandering ninja."

Wandering ninja?

At this moment, whether it was Hanzo or the Sannin, they were all filled with question marks and felt deeply insulted. Not in terms of strength, but in terms of intelligence.

'You, with your strength, calling yourself a wandering ninja? Are you referring to those mediocre chunin-level ninjas?'

Regardless of the mental processes of the four, Asahi continued speaking.

"As for why I spared them, I feel they have a connection with me, and their talents are quite good. We should give young people more opportunities, right?"

Asahi's nonchalant tone reached the ears of the four, leaving them with a strange feeling.

Since when had the Leaf Sannin become junior ninja in need of guidance from their seniors? This feeling had not occurred to them since their promotion to jounin.

Hanzo now found himself in a dilemma. If he agreed, he would lose any remaining prestige he had in the ninja world, and the Hidden Rain Village would inevitably become a target once again. Who would respect someone who had escaped at the mere words of another, even if that person was undeniably strong but unheard of in the ninja world?

As for refusing, he couldn't bring himself to entertain that idea. Asahi was strong at this moment, and not confronting him face-to-face made it impossible for Hanzo to understand the depth of his power.

Asahi also sensed Hanzo's dilemma and, being well-versed in the politics of the ninja world, understood that Hanzo couldn't make a decision based on his words alone. He decided to offer Hanzo a way out and test his newly acquired reward.

"How about this? I intervened without reason, and if you can withstand one of my attacks, I'll leave, and my interference will cease. Of course, if you can't handle it, then there's no need for me to say more, right?"

Upon hearing this, Hanzo's spirit was immediately lifted. A way out was all he needed.

As for the outcome, he wasn't concerned. After all, he didn't want the lives of the Sannins, and they couldn't afford to provoke the leaders of the other ninja villages. Fighting the Sannin was simply a way to display his strength and deter those who had designs on the Hidden Rain Village.

So, winning or losing didn't matter to Hanzo.

"Very well, I appreciate your understanding of my predicament. I, Hanzo of the Salamander, hereby swear that if I cannot withstand your attack, I will immediately withdraw, without a word."

"Furthermore, in the future, anyone under the banner of the Hidden Rain Village will show you the utmost respect!"

Seeing that his objective was achieved, Asahi let out a hearty laugh. "Good, are you ready? I'm going to make my move!"

Hanzo's expression turned serious. "Please, enlighten me!"

"Fire Release: Soaring Dragon Flame Art!"