Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

Hanzō observed Tsunade and the others chasing the Amegakure ninja master off the battlefield, a sly smirk forming beneath his mask.

"I'm over here, kid," he called out.

Kawakaze turned toward the voice and saw Hanzō perched on a large tree near the battlefield, casually twirling his kusarigama as if it were a child's toy.

"I'd like to see how many clones you have," Kawakaze muttered, narrowing his eyes. He wasn't certain if this Hanzō was real, but he knew the clones couldn't stray far from their origin.

Reaching into his ninja tool pouch, Kawakaze pulled out a specially crafted senbon, the handiwork of Rōtetsu. It was far superior to an ordinary senbon, traveling at more than twice the speed.

With a flick of his wrist, the senbon zipped through the air, closing the distance in an instant.

Hanzō dodged effortlessly, but before he could react further, Kawakaze was already at his side.

The Eight-Sided Han Sword struck true, piercing Hanzō's chest without hesitation.

"You're strong," Hanzō said evenly, his form wavering, "but unfortunately, this is still a clone."

The figure dissolved into water, and Kawakaze frowned, his mind racing.

How could someone like Hanzō, called Demi-god, have his clone defeated so easily?

Before he could fully analyze the situation, Hanzō's voice rang out again from another direction.

"Didn't you want to see how many clones I have?"

Kawakaze glanced back at the battlefield. Duy and Sakumo were still cutting down Amegakure ninja alongside the Konoha forces. Tsunade and the others were no longer in sight, likely still pursuing the Amegakure leader. The battlefield was secure, leaving Kawakaze to focus entirely on Hanzō.

This ends now, he decided, charging once more toward Hanzō.

The Thunder attribute chakra surged into his sword, extending its tip outward in a brilliant arc of lightning. With one sweeping motion, Kawakaze leveled a swath of trees, leaving a wide clearing in his wake.

"Found you," Kawakaze said, spotting the real Hanzō behind a tree nearby.

"Damn it," Hanzō cursed, forming hand seals rapidly.

"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"

A torrent of water surged forth, creating a small lake that flooded the forest around them.

"Too slow," Kawakaze said coldly, dodging the attack in a flash of lightning. His speed was overwhelming, and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of Hanzō once more.

With the Eight-Sided Han Sword raised high, charged with crackling chakra, Kawakaze prepared to strike with all his might, determined to end the fight here and now.

"Summoning Technique."

Hanzō executed the jutsu in quick succession, knowing he couldn't keep up with Kawakaze's speed.

With a burst of smoke, Kawakaze's blade collided with a hard object. Before him stood a massive conch shell, its body adorned with barnacles and two prominent horns jutting from the front. Kawakaze's sword left a deep cut on its surface, but the immense rebound force sent him hurtling backward into the water, halting his advance.

"You're not Hanzō."

Fear gripped Kawakaze as he realized the truth. Tsunade and the others were in grave danger.

"It's too late for that now."

In another burst of smoke, Hanzō transformed into Kandachi.

"Ninja Art: Conch Whip."

From the conch's body, multiple flesh-colored whips shot toward Kawakaze.

"I don't have time for this. I'll finish you here and now."

Kawakaze swung his blade, severing the incoming whips, and continued his charge across the lake's surface toward Kandachi.

"Ninja Art: Conch Cannon."

The barnacles covering the massive shell fired black spears directly at Kawakaze.

"Thunderclap and Flash: One Flash of Lightning."

In a flash, Kawakaze's quick-draw slash shattered the spears, and he reached the conch's front in an instant.

The next moment, he could have severed Kandachi's neck.

But Kandachi was prepared. The conch's shell opened slowly.

"Water Release Genjutsu: Demonic Phantom Fog Prison."

Snowflake-like mist spilled from the conch, enveloping Kawakaze. His movements became sluggish as if he were being buried in snow, the cold seeping into his limbs and gradually paralyzing him.

Kawakaze had fallen victim to Kandachi's Genjutsu.

"So what? You're nothing more than a swordsman."

A smile spread across Kandachi's face as he drew a kunai, ready to deliver the finishing blow.

"Sage Art."

Kawakaze remained still, but a red seal appeared around his eyes, and his pupils turned golden. The surge of Senjutsu Chakra shattered the Genjutsu instantly.

"Thunderclap and Flash."

Kawakaze thrust his blade, piercing through Kandachi. The Eight-Sided Han Sword disappeared from his grasp as Kandachi collapsed.

"Tsunade, wait for me."

Not sensing the Flying Thunder God mark nearby, Kawakaze leapt away, chasing in the direction Tsunade had gone. He didn't even have enough time to warn Sakumo or Duy.

Kandachi's lifeless body hit the ground, his smiling face frozen, kunai still in hand. Though his form appeared untouched, his body split in two as blood spilled onto the lake's surface, spreading outward in crimson circles.

...

Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya pursued the Amegakure Ninja Master into a valley enclosed by towering mountains, with only a single narrow exit.

"You won't escape," Orochimaru declared, noticing the ninja master had slowed. Seizing the opportunity, he dashed forward, his blade slicing through the air as several giant snakes shot from his left sleeve.

"Why would I run?"

The masked ninja's voice carried a tone of smugness, echoing through the valley. Orochimaru froze. The voice sounded eerily familiar.

"The same trick won't work on me."

In a burst of smoke, the Amegakure Ninja Master transformed into Hanzō. Orochimaru's snake was severed in one clean strike, and his sword was ensnared by a chain. Sensing imminent danger, he released the blade just in time to avoid a potentially fatal blow.

"Hanzō of the Salamander," Tsunade muttered, her sharp gaze taking in the scene.

It was clear—they had been deceived. This was a trap set by Hanzō.

Orochimaru retreated to regroup with Tsunade and Jiraiya. The Konoha ninja clashed with the Amegakure forces, and chaos erupted throughout the valley.

"Ibuse!" Hanzō shouted.

A rumble shook the ground as Ibuse, his giant salamander, emerged from beneath the battlefield. Without warning, it unleashed a cloud of toxic gas over the area.

Though the Konoha ninja had taken Tsunade's antidote pills, the poison still weakened them. Their movements slowed, and their Chakra flows became erratic. The tide of battle began shifting in favor of the Amegakure forces, and Tsunade could only watch helplessly as their forces faltered.

"You'll stay here for the night," Hanzō declared, standing atop Ibuse's head. His shuriken were aimed squarely at Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru.

"We'll finish this here. Kawakaze will come."

"Summoning Technique!"

Tsunade acted swiftly, summoning Lady Katsuyu.

"Katsuyu, assist the Konoha ninja!"

"Yes, Tsunade."

Lady Katsuyu began splitting into smaller clones, spreading across the battlefield and shielding the Konoha forces from further decline.

"Summoning Technique!"

Simultaneously, Jiraiya and Orochimaru summoned Gamabunta and Manda.

"It's that salamander again," Manda hissed, visibly annoyed. "This one's not an easy opponent."

"Jiraiya, did you summon me to fight this oversized fish?" Gamabunta asked, puffing on his pipe as he unsheathed his so-called short sword—though it was anything but short. Despite Ibuse's size, Gamabunta showed no fear.

"Yes, and don't underestimate it," Jiraiya warned gravely. "Hanzō is far more dangerous than he seems."

"Attack!" Tsunade commanded, activating the Strength of a Hundred Technique. The cursed seal marks spread across her face as she launched herself at Ibuse, leaving trails of debris in her wake.

"Heavenly Foot of Pain!"

Leaping high into the air, Tsunade brought her foot crashing down onto Ibuse's head with tremendous force, shattering the ground beneath the salamander.