At that moment, Sanshōuo Mio activated the Body Flicker Technique at full strength, lunging toward Mizuki Ryosuke with a kunai aimed directly at his throat.
His strategy was simple capture Mizuki Ryosuke, whom he perceived as a defenseless "young master," and force Hoshigaki Kisame into surrendering without a fight. If successful, this maneuver would turn the tide of battle in Rain Shinobi's favor.
As he closed in on Ryosuke, a twisted grin spread across his face. In his mind, victory was already assured. The moment Ryosuke became his hostage, Kisame would be forced to submit.
However, Ryosuke had already seen through Mio's intentions the moment he made his move.
Sanshōuo Mio hadn't witnessed Ryosuke's brief contest of strength with Tsunade earlier. Thus, he naively assumed that since Ryosuke had remained passive throughout the battle, he must be the weak link.
His logic wasn't entirely flawed under normal circumstances, someone who avoids combat is usually weak.
Unfortunately, he had chosen the wrong opponent.
The next second, just as Mio thought his kunai would meet flesh, Ryosuke casually extended a single hand, catching Mio by the throat with precise ease. With minimal effort, he lifted the struggling Rain Shinobi off the ground, his grip firm yet devoid of emotion.
"So fast!"
Mio's eyes widened in disbelief. He hadn't even seen Ryosuke move. One moment he was attacking, and the next, he was dangling helplessly in the air.
His limbs flailed uselessly as his kunai slipped from his grasp and clattered to the ground. His face turned red, veins bulging as he struggled for air.
The sheer ease with which Ryosuke subdued him sent a chilling realization through the remaining Rain Shinobi.
Their leader had been taken down in an instant.
A ripple of hesitation spread through their ranks. Already demoralized by Kisame's slaughter, none of them dared to step forward.
Still gripping Mio's throat, Ryosuke strode forward indifferently, his steps unhurried.
"Step aside," he commanded, his tone calm but laced with authority.
Faced with overwhelming strength, the Rain Shinobi hesitated for only a second before stepping back, parting like a tide before him.
Killing them would be pointless; they posed no real threat. The unexpected stupidity of their leader had already given Ryosuke an easy way out. With their commander captured, the Rain Shinobi lost all will to fight.
Slowly, Ryosuke and Kisame exited the battlefield, their path cleared by the terrified Rain Shinobi.
Meanwhile, Tsunade had already left, using her raw strength to carve a path out of the chaos.
As for the Iwagakure and Sunagakure shinobi, Ryosuke spared them no thought. Unlike Tsunade, they lacked the strength to escape on their own. Against Rain Shinobi's overwhelming numbers, their fates were likely sealed.
But none of that mattered to Ryosuke.
Rain Shinobi had never expected to catch such powerful individuals in their net.
They had set a trap for rogue shinobi from the Great Nations low-ranking outcasts and wandering mercenaries.
Instead, they had unwittingly ensnared Senju Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin, and Mizuki Ryosuke, the Fourth Mizukage.
Had Ryosuke not been present, Tsunade alone would have been enough to turn Rain Shinobi Village upside down.
Simply put, Sanshōuo Mio had picked the worst possible day to stage an ambush.
After the Battle
Now free from the immediate danger, Ryosuke stood in a secluded corner of Amegakure, staring down at the barely conscious Sanshōuo Mio with mild disinterest.
Truthfully, he had never intended to stir up trouble in Rain Shinobi Village.
Yet Mio's reckless attack had left him no choice.
Killing Mio would be the simplest option, but unnecessary deaths often led to unintended consequences.
After all, Mio was "Hanzo's right hand." Even if his abilities were unimpressive, his position carried weight.
"Beat the dog, but look at the owner."
Out of respect for Hanzō of the Salamander, Ryosuke decided to spare Mio's life.
Besides, he knew Mio still had a role to play in the future.
Mio's Fate in the Original Timeline
In the original timeline, Hanzō's reign weakened significantly after the Second Shinobi War. Following his defeat, he retreated into the isolation of Rain Shinobi Village, allowing its decline.
However, the rise of the Akatsuki founded by Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato posed a direct threat to his rule.
Paranoid and desperate to maintain power, Hanzō orchestrated a ruthless betrayal, luring Nagato's group into an ambush.
The plan led to Yahiko's death and Nagato's descent into madness.
Fueled by vengeance, Nagato unleashed the terrifying power of the Rinnegan, wiping out Hanzō's forces and executing every remaining Rain Shinobi loyalist.
Amegakure fell under the complete control of Pain, ushering in the era of Akatsuki's dominance.
Among the survivors who fled Rain Shinobi's purge was Sanshōuo Mio.
Without Hanzō's protection, Mio was reduced to nothing more than a minor thug, engaging in petty crimes to survive.
Years later, he resurfaced briefly only to be effortlessly defeated by Naruto Uzumaki, serving as little more than a stepping stone in the young shinobi's journey.
Because of this, Ryosuke recognized him instantly.
Decision
Since Mio still had a "role" to fulfill in the future, Ryosuke decided to let him live.
With that thought, he casually tossed Mio's unconscious body into a dark alley.
"My lord, please punish me."
Kisame's voice broke the silence.
Despite his typically relaxed demeanor, a rare hint of shame flickered in his shark-like eyes.
This mission had been a disaster. Instead of gathering intelligence, they had stumbled into an unnecessary battle, attracting unwanted attention from Rain Shinobi.
Kisame, who had always prided himself on efficiency, felt responsible.
"It's not your fault."
Ryosuke shook his head dismissively.
"These circumstances were beyond your control."
Indeed, even Kisame couldn't have predicted that Rain Shinobi would launch a purge on this very night, or that they would mistake Ryosuke for a helpless bystander.
"Besides, I've gained something valuable from this."
Kisame blinked, then exhaled deeply. Seeing that Ryosuke truly wasn't upset, his tension eased.
"My lord, what are your orders?"
Despite his usual bloodlust, Kisame understood their precarious position.
The battle had drawn too much attention.
Soon, Rain Shinobi's forces would regroup, and if things escalated further, Hanzō himself might intervene.
Even Kisame, with all his strength, had no illusions about surviving a battle against an entire village especially one led by the infamous "Ninja Demigod."
Their best course of action was to leave Rain Shinobi Village immediately, before the situation spiraled out of control.
Ryosuke, of course, had already considered this.
Standing in the shadows of Amegakure, he narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
It was time to disappear.
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