Returning to that familiar conference room, Kazuyama Gekkō casually pulled out a chair and sat down.
Across from him, Mifune shook his head with a helpless smile.
"Young man, you've stayed here for a month—and you've been delivering sake for a month. I have to admit, your perseverance is impressive. But the Land of Iron will never attack Amegakure."
The Land of Iron had its own rules: they never took the initiative in conflicts. If Amegakure hadn't attacked them during the Second Shinobi World War, they wouldn't have joined the fight back then either. The samurai of the Land of Iron only accepted commissions, carrying out tasks as warriors-for-hire. Launching a war themselves was simply impossible.
"I know. I just think the Land of Iron is a great place, and its samurai are great too," Kazuyama replied.
"It's all voluntary, General Mifune—you don't need to overthink it."
That was what he said aloud, but in his heart he was cursing.
This old geezer Mifune was stubborn as a mule. If it were anyone else, they would've given in by now, but this old man just wouldn't budge.
"Heh… whether voluntary or not, your reputation among the samurai here is quite good," Mifune said. "So, I won't trample on your goodwill—or Takigakure's. Taking the initiative is out of the question… but changing the form of involvement is not impossible."
"Even I could take part."
Mifune slowly stood. Though over fifty, his posture was perfectly straight, and his presence was as sharp as a drawn blade.
"If you truly need our strength, assign it as a mission. Let us join that way. When the time comes, I'll take it myself."
"Hanzō of the Salamander… yes, that's a fine reason for this old man to draw his sword again."
With that, Mifune left.
Kazuyama knew exactly what that meant—the old geezer had agreed. He wasn't as unshakable as he pretended; he still cared about the defeat he'd suffered at Hanzō's hands.
After all, Mifune was only fifty now, not the nearly seventy-year-old who fought in the Fourth Shinobi World War. His ambition was still alive.
Seeing that his month of effort had finally paid off, Kazuyama was delighted. He immediately pulled out two scrolls, unsealing them to reveal bottles of fine sake.
"Mifune, catch."
He tossed one bottle over. Mifune caught it effortlessly, twisted the cap off, and took a deep swig.
"Young man, your goal has been achieved. Now, leave the Land of Iron," Mifune said.
"But why is Takigakure targeting Amegakure?"
Kazuyama cracked open a bottle for himself, took a sip, and answered slowly.
"Times are changing. Roadblocks like Hanzō of the Salamander need to be removed. Takigakure may not involve itself in shinobi wars, but we can't allow ourselves to be bullied."
"Hanzō has gone too far. Takigakure must respond."
Mifune nodded. Having lived through that era, he knew all too well what kind of man Hanzō was. The Second Shinobi World War would never have unfolded the way it had if not for him.
"Very well. When the time comes, I'll test Hanzō's kenjutsu once more."
"But remember this, kid—while I can take on a commission, the number of people I can bring is limited. If your goal is to topple all of Amegakure, the Land of Iron won't be able to help you."
"All I can do is deal with Hanzō himself. Nothing more."
That was exactly what Kazuyama wanted to hear.
After all, when Takigakure moved against Amegakure, he himself couldn't take action, and neither could Yugito. One was a representative of Konoha, the other a Jinchūriki—if either of them got involved and word leaked, it would cause serious trouble.
That was why he had gone to all this trouble to pull Mifune into the plan.
Double insurance was always best—Mifune as one option, Orochimaru as another. There was no way Hanzō could escape them both. Add Yahiko, Konan, and the others to the mix, and taking Amegakure wouldn't just be talk.
As for Orochimaru, Kazuyama had already discussed it with his sensei. Orochimaru was currently a free agent—he could act whenever he pleased without political complications.
"That's enough," Kazuyama said. "As long as Hanzō is taken down, Amegakure will collapse on its own. In the future, Takigakure is willing to form an alliance with the Land of Iron. What do you think, General Mifune?"
"Let's talk about that when the time comes. When do you plan to make your move?"
Just the thought of crossing blades with the 'Demi-God of the Shinobi World' again stirred Mifune's fighting spirit. Now that he had agreed, he would prepare to face Hanzō at his strongest.
"Intelligence is still being gathered. It'll take a little time—but not too long."
Mifune nodded, taking another deep swig of sake.
...
The rest was simple.
After delivering another batch of sake to the samurai at the Land of Iron's castle, Kazuyama returned to Takigakure in high spirits.
When Yahiko and Konan heard that he had recruited the general of the Land of Iron to help take down Hanzō of the Salamander, both were stunned.
"It's nothing," Kazuyama said. "Once our intel network is fully in place, it'll be the perfect time to strike Amegakure. Then, those with grudges can settle them, and those with grievances can seek justice."
"You two focus on training and don't drop the ball. Terumi can take part in this fight—Yugito will keep working on the intelligence network. By the way, how are things going in the Land of Grass and the Land of Hot Water?"
He was a bit concerned about the two young operatives. After all, both had a history of… questionable behavior.
"Not bad," Konan replied. "They're using completely different approaches."
"Oh? Let's hear it."
"Yugito's the combative type, so she basically fought her way across the Land of Grass from east to west, recruiting a bunch of people along the way."
"…That brat… I only mentioned it in passing, and she actually went and did it…"
Konan smiled faintly. Yugito's approach didn't surprise her at all—she was the sort to speak with her fists, and if she could fight her way through something, she would.
Terumi's method, however, was much more refined.
"She's doing far better. She used her funds to open a flower shop. I don't know where she found so many errand runners, but while they look like they're just delivering flowers, they're quietly collecting intelligence."
"That girl's got a good head on her shoulders. A flower shop, huh? Fits her well," Kazuyama said, satisfied with both reports.
Next, he decided, he would go take a look in person.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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