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Chapter 415 - Chapter 415: Disaster Day at the Castle

Tatsuma Aburame said nothing, simply following Hanzō of the Salamander out of the room.

The moment he stepped outside, he froze in shock. Even with his training in the Root Division, his heart skipped a beat.

Instantly, he elevated Kazuyama Gekkō's threat level to the maximum.

Snakes—everywhere. A tangled mess of vivid, multicolored serpents slithered across the castle grounds, making his scalp crawl.

"Damn it... This guy really is worthy of being Orochimaru's student..."

"To think he could summon this many snakes just to launch an assault on a fortress?"

Recalling Kazuyama's earlier battlefield feats—transforming into a serpent himself and rampaging alongside four giant snakes—Tatsuma suddenly understood why his superior harbored such a bitter grudge.

Danzō Shimura: Hmph. If I can't have him, then I'll destroy him! Even though I want him badly! A talent like that belongs in Root!

"You little bastard! How dare you flood my castle with snakes!"

"All units! Clear these venomous snakes immediately!"

"And you! What the hell are you doing with that torch?! Trying to burn the castle down?!"

Hanzō was absolutely livid. His entire face twisted in fury as he barked orders.

...

Meanwhile, Kazuyama Gekkō emerged from the bathhouse, a small green snake coiled lazily on his shoulder.

The next instant, he vanished from the street and reappeared in midair. Gazing down at the serpent-infested castle, a cold smirk crept across his lips.

"Tagorihime, using this many snakes... are you sure it won't cause problems?"

"These ones might not make it out of here alive."

"Hanzō won't let his castle be desecrated like this."

Tagorihime, still in her small green snake form, gave him a sideways glare with her sharp vertical pupils and replied calmly.

"Haven't you been to the outer rim of Ryūchi Cave?"

"These snakes? They're not even a thousandth of what Ryūchi Cave holds. Just common venomous snakes that haven't entered the true path."

"Snakes are cold-blooded. You think I care? You think they care?"

"Kazuyama, since when did you start worrying about that? That's not like you."

Kazuyama rolled his eyes at her remark.

"Well, I am technically a disciple of the Snake Sages now. Gotta show a little concern for the snakes that look out for me, right?"

"But if you say it's fine, then I'm not worried."

He flashed that familiar, wicked grin.

Then he formed a hand seal, and instantly the serpents began to go wild—as if they had all received a direct command.

What had been a full-scale encirclement moments ago now erupted into a full-blown assault.

...

Hanzō slashed down several charging snakes with a single swing, but his rage only grew hotter.

"Sound the alarm! I want every single snake purged from the castle!"

"And keep your guard up—I want that brat dead!"

Tatsuma glanced at him, then at the swarming snakes slithering in chaos across the floors. With a sigh, he raised both hands.

A swarm of kikaichū erupted from his sleeves, forming a dense cloud of insects that began clearing the serpents around him.

...

At that moment, Tagorihime let out a soft hum, catching Kazuyama's attention.

"Tagorihime, what's wrong?"

"Nothing major. I just sensed a different chakra signature inside the castle... one I don't like."

"If I had to guess, it belongs to a clan from your Konoha."

Kazuyama's brows knit together.

He trusted Tagorihime's instincts—natural energy gave her an exceptional sense for chakra.

If someone from Konoha was here, it didn't take a genius to know who. It had to be someone from Root.

So Danzō had indeed made a deal with Hanzō. Except now, the target wasn't Nagato—it was him.

How amusing.

If Danzō wanted to play, then let's play.

Kazuyama's face twisted into a taunting smirk.

Even if Danzō himself were here in person, he wouldn't be fazed. Worst case? He'd pull out.

What was there to be afraid of?

Kazuyama Gekkō's tone was full of disdain.

"Whoever it is, if they dare show up—I'll take them all down."

"After all, we left the village and came to Amegakure. Accidents can happen here at any time."

"And besides..."

Before he could finish, Kazuyama dropped down onto an open patch of ground. As soon as he landed, Tagorihime instinctively activated her Senjutsu invisibility, cloaking him from view.

Kazuyama crouched, placing his index finger against the ground, and began drawing a circle.

"Kazuyama, what are you doing?"

"Nothing. Just a little pre-battle prayer ritual."

He didn't say another word, fully focused on what he called his curse-circle ritual.

And his target? None other than Danzō.

...

Inside the castle, the battle had intensified. The swarm of snakes relentlessly pushed against the guards' defenses.

Even with a force of elite shinobi, the sheer number of venomous serpents was overwhelming—especially within the castle's cramped walls. Despite their best efforts, many ninja were bitten and killed.

"Useless trash!"

Hanzō of the Salamander was furious that his men couldn't even handle a horde of snakes.

"Water Release: Thousand Rain Senbon!"

Unable to restrain himself, he finally made his move. A wave of water chakra surged out, saturating the entire castle in moisture.

Droplets of water transformed into thousands of senbon, raining down like a storm and ruthlessly reaping anything that moved.

The Amegakure ninja, familiar with Hanzō's techniques, immediately scrambled into defensive positions. They had no desire to die alongside the snakes—especially not as pincushions.

...

Enraged, Hanzō unleashed his full might. Every single senbon was aimed at the invading snakes, sending their souls back to Ryūchi Cave.

...

"Oh? So he's making his move already?"

"This old man has no patience, hahahaha."

Watching the mass slaughter of his snake army, Kazuyama chuckled. It was all going exactly as planned—though he hadn't expected Hanzō to crack so soon.

He thought he'd hold out a little longer.

"Well, that's enough for today. I've got plenty of time to keep playing."

"Hahaha, Kazuyama, you're really something else—but I like it."

Kazuyama continued his curse ritual, dead set on making Danzō pay for everything.

He wasn't the least bit worried about a full-scale search from Amegakure's forces. Not when the castle was now buried under a mountain of snake corpses. That alone would keep them busy till sunrise.

There wouldn't be a sliver of energy left for tracking him down.

...

Just as Kazuyama predicted, when Hanzō's technique finally ended, all the snakes were exterminated—but they left behind an ocean of bodies.

"Everyone move! I don't want a single one of these long-bodied freaks still in my castle by morning!"

Duang!

With the slam of a heavy wooden door, the exhausted Amegakure ninja exchanged bitter looks.

But in the end, they said nothing—and quietly got to work.

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