In Amegakure, the endless raindrops fell upon the restless lake.
Outside the Amegakure tower, Yahiko closed his eyes, extending a hand into the air outside to catch the drizzling raindrops.
"This country is still the same as before."
A voice that surprised him came from behind.
"Oh? What is the Land of Rain like in your memory?"
Yahiko opened his eyes, turned his head, and the look of surprise in his eyes vanished in a flash. He lowered his head.
"Hanzo-sama!"
Hanzo chuckled in a low voice.
"No need to be so formal. I am very happy that you and Konan are willing to come back and help. And from you, I have seen more possibilities…"
"So, would you mind having a chat?"
"Of course I don't mind. But where should we start?"
Yahiko looked down below, thought for a moment, and then spoke. "The rain is determined by the environment, which is difficult for people to change. But war brings endless pain to the people of this country…"
"However, to this day, we still have no way to find a solution."
Yahiko let out a low sigh. Peace was easier said than done. Especially after returning to Amegakure, the affairs of this period had given him a deep sense of powerlessness.
There would inevitably be a terrible war between Sunagakure, Konoha, and Iwagakure, and their Amegakure would inevitably become the center of the war once again. He saw the evolution of the future. But as a high-level figure in Amegakure, neither Hanzo nor he could resolve the contradictions, nor could they find a suitable way for Amegakure to avoid the war.
Upon hearing this, Hanzo was instantly silent. Then, he smiled.
"In the past, Amegakure indeed had no choice, but that may not be the case for your generation."
"You mean Konoha?"
Hanzo certainly knew about their relationship with Ryoho Kyohiko, so Yahiko had no need to hide it and spoke openly.
He thought for a moment. Indeed! If Kyohiko and Konoha could maintain their current status, the shinobi world might see a situation similar to when Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara were alive—the powerful Konoha Village suppressing all other ninja villages, making everyone obediently cooperate with Konoha's rules.
"So, what you value is my relationship with Kyohiko-kun?"
Hanzo shook his head. He said faintly.
"No."
"That is only a small part. What I believe in is your talent."
"Yahiko, you were able to win over a group of people and establish a ninja village of considerable scale in the Land of Birds. This shows that you have extraordinary ability."
"I believe that under your leadership, Amegakakure will gradually become better!"
Hanzo's tone was sincere.
"Hanzo-sama, only after returning to the village did I realize that my own ability is far from sufficient. I have absolutely not reached the height you speak of."
Yahiko's face showed emotion and excitement, but in his heart, he didn't quite believe it.
Perhaps Hanzo truly appreciated him, but the last sentence, how much of it was sincere, was still difficult to discern at the moment.
Hanzo couldn't help but laugh. Then, he looked at Yahiko.
"Your teacher is almost at Amegakure. He's probably worried about your safety."
"Teacher, Jiraiya-sensei?"
A look of astonishment appeared on Yahiko's face, and then a genuine feeling of being moved arose in his heart.
Jiraiya-sensei must have heard about their situation, which was why he had rushed over. It was said to be a visit to Amegakure, but there were also some factors of backing him up. However, he quickly realized that he absolutely could not agree immediately.
Yahiko said.
"Jiraiya-sensei's trip this time should not be for private matters. I should still wait until sensei's official business is concluded before going to meet him…"
Under his mask, Hanzo's expression was difficult to read.
"You think it's about the matter of Takigakure?"
Yahiko nodded.
"Yes, Hanzo-sama. The current relationship between Konoha and the other five great ninja villages is very delicate, especially with the three villages like Iwa."
Speaking of which, he revealed the information about "Zetsu."
"This group of people is said to be affiliated with Madara. According to the intelligence my subordinates have obtained, they not only attacked the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki and took him away, but also attacked Sunagakure's Shukaku."
"Is that so?"
Hanzo raised an eyebrow.
Yahiko nodded.
"Our intelligence network is still being re-established, so the news is a bit delayed. Other ninja villages should have known the situation long ago."
As he spoke, he handed over an intelligence scroll.
Hanzo was silent. In these years, Amegakure's intelligence network was indeed several times weaker than during the Second Great Ninja War. It wasn't that he had become lazy, but… Amegakure had far fewer ninjas than before, and the resources they could provide were also very limited, making it impossible to cultivate so many qualified intelligence ninjas.
He finished reading the scroll and nodded lightly.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Yahiko asked carefully.
"My subordinate was just doing his duty. Also, our ninjas, do we need to increase the intensity of their training to perfect the intelligence network?"
Hanzo was silent for a moment, then said.
"Our resources are limited. If we can cultivate them with limited resources…"
"My subordinate understands."
Yahiko got the hint.
Hanzo quietly let out a breath and smiled.
"Go and meet Jiraiya. Don't let him think our Amegakure has no hospitality."
As he spoke, he threw over a scroll.
"This is his current location."
"Yes!"
***
In a town outside Amegakure, Jiraiya sat flirting with a waitress, while also inquiring about the recent situation in Amegakure.
"Mister, don't just keep asking. Have a drink!"
"Alright, hahaha!"
Jiraiya drank a cup heartily.
The next second, he suddenly looked into the distance, his eyes fixed. Then, he drank another cup heartily.
"Thank you!"
After speaking, Jiraiya walked towards the blonde beauty in the distance. Walking to her side, he chuckled.
"Beauty, if you don't mind…"
Jiraiya came over to strike up a conversation and suddenly felt something was wrong.
"Huh, why does this feel not quite right? It's you, you brat!"
He suddenly slammed the wine cup on the table, his face full of annoyance. The blonde beauty before him instantly changed her appearance back to Yahiko's, and then burst out laughing.
"Sensei, after all these years, you still can't move your feet when you see a blonde!"
Jiraiya cursed angrily.
"Brat, be careful or I'll beat you up!"
Then, a smile instantly appeared on his face.
"Where's Konan?"
Yahiko said in a low voice.
"She's outside. She doesn't like this kind of occasion, and she also has to be on guard against the surrounding situation."
Jiraiya glanced at him.
"And you like it?"
Yahiko answered helplessly.
"I'm just gathering intelligence, so sometimes I have to come to this kind of place. After all, this kind of place has the most news…"
In this special tavern, there were merchants from various countries, and one could hear news from all over. As the head of the ninja village's intelligence, he had to be responsible for this kind of work.
Upon hearing this, Jiraiya winked and chuckled.
"I get it! I get it all!"
Yahiko looked left and right.
"Stop getting it, sensei. Let's go outside and talk."
This place was crowded and mixed, not suitable for exchanging secrets.
Jiraiya nodded. He put down his wine cup and followed him out the door.
Soon, in a proper izakaya at the corner, Konan had already ordered a table of food and sake and had been waiting for a long time.
Konan pouted.
"Sensei, I knew you'd gone to that kind of place again!"
Jiraiya gave a dry laugh, then sat down naturally in his seat and smiled.
"I didn't expect Hanzo to send you. It seems you're doing well in Amegakure. This way, I can also give an account to Nagato."
Yahiko lowered his head in thanks.
"Thank you, sensei."
Jiraiya waved his hand and smiled.
"Just on the way, just on the way!"
An idea moved in Konan's heart.
"Are you here because of the matter of Takigakure?"
Jiraiya drank a mouthful of wine, his meaning self-evident.
"Mm. Although Shukaku was saved, it's beyond doubt that Madara's goal is the Tailed Beasts and unifying the power of the shinobi world. So Amegakure's attitude is very important."
Yahiko and Konan looked at each other and were silent for a moment. Their teacher's intention was within their expectations. What they were thinking about was not how to answer Jiraiya, but how to reply to Hanzo. Besides… what stance should Amegakure take? They were Jiraiya's students, but they were also ninjas of the Land of Rain and Amegakure. They must act from the interests of Amegakure. Is it good or bad for Amegakure to cooperate with Konoha?
***
A few hours later.
"Hanzo, it's been a few years. I didn't expect you to be doing well."
Hanzo chuckled lightly.
"Thanks to your Konoha, I'm doing quite well now."
The current shinobi world landscape had changed from the Five Great Villages to a super-strong Konoha Village, plus four other great ninja villages of varying strength, and numerous small ninja villages. In such a situation, their Amegakure's days were much better than before. Not only did Konoha and Iwagakure want to win them over, but even Madara and Kumogakure wanted to pull him in as an ally. Before, he could never have imagined that he would have such a high status.
Jiraiya sat down, his face serious.
"This is the subtlety of balance. But the helplessness is that such a balance cannot last long. It will be broken one day, and Madara and the others have already started to break it."
"Their target is definitely not just the Tailed Beast Jinchuriki of Sunagakure and Takigakure, but possibly to collect all the Tailed Beasts, and… the entire shinobi world!"
"Collect all the Tailed Beasts?"
Hanzo frowned.
Then, he couldn't help but fall silent. The three great ninja villages, plus the Seven-Tails taken by Kakuzu, that group had already obtained seven Tailed Beasts… only two were left. In other words, once Konoha was defeated, the other side would get all the Tailed Beasts… All the Tailed Beasts.
He took a deep breath. Just as he was pondering, Jiraiya threw out another piece of news.
"Madara's ability is terrifying. He not only controlled the Mizukage, but also controlled the Nine-Tails in the past. And this ability can be passed down. Currently, Uchiha Obito has already mastered the method of controlling the Nine-Tails."
Hanzo sneered, clearly not believing it.
"Do you think you can scare me with such intimidation?"
"The Uchiha caused some chaos and released the Nine-Tails. Fortunately, Kyohiko arrived in time to stop it. It seems your intelligence didn't detect it."
"…"
Hanzo was unwilling to believe it, but Jiraiya didn't seem to be faking it.
If it were true, then once Madara got all the Tailed Beasts, it would be too terrifying. This would be an enemy even more terrifying than Senju Hashirama and Ryoho Kyohiko!
Seeing this, Jiraiya sneered.
"You only consider that Konoha is very strong and terrifying now, but you don't think about what Madara can do after getting so many Tailed Beasts."
Hanzo leaned back in his chair.
"Then what about Kyohiko? Besides Madara, he can almost be said to have no opponents. Without Madara, who can check him? That kid is not a peaceful person."
If it were the old Jiraiya, he might have had nothing to say. After all, Kyohiko's goal was also to unify the shinobi world. But now, he was no longer the old Jiraiya. Dialogue, mutual understanding, such a peace was almost impossible in the shinobi world. Jiraiya didn't know how to achieve complete peace, but he knew—
Jiraiya's tone was calm.
"Continuous chaos and war, is that what you want to see? Do you think Amegakure can be preserved under such pressure, or play both sides and become stronger in the end?"
A full-scale, continuous war was definitely not right!
"If you think such a result is what Amegakure hopes to get, then…"
"Konoha does not desire war, but it will not fear war either!"
He stood up, nodded lightly, and then said, "I will be in Amegakure for these two days. Please consider it carefully, Leader Hanzo," and then bowed and left.
Hanzo was speechless. The current situation of Amegakure, he naturally knew, and he also knew it was impossible to side with Iwagakure.
Originally, he thought Jiraiya leaned towards the dove faction and might be easier to talk to, perhaps he could get more benefits and guarantees from Jiraiya. He hadn't expected Jiraiya to answer like this.
"Hanzo-sama…"
"Heh, Yahiko, I really underestimated your teacher!"
Hanzo lamented.
Yahiko was puzzled—just now, he had not been listening on the side, so he didn't know what the two had said.
Hanzo repeated it once.
Yahiko pondered for a moment.
"For Amegakure, swinging between two sides is indeed not a suitable choice. Either help Onoki's side, or help Konoha."
"Then which choice do you think is better?"
Yahiko lowered his head.
"Konoha. Because we only border Iwagakure on one side, but we border both Sunagakure and Konoha. Once war breaks out, Konoha and Suna will directly wipe us out."
"In my humble opinion, the current Amegakure has no choice."
Hanzo sighed.
"You are right. I am very glad that you can think from the perspective of Amegakure with a rational mind."
Yahiko answered rationally.
"I agree with your opinion. We should strive for benefits in cooperation, because once we side with the alliance of Konoha and Sunagakure, the other side will also target us."
Hanzo's fingers tapped lightly. Then, he suddenly looked up at Yahiko.
"You go to Konoha's side. I believe in your position and thoughts."
If it were before, Hanzo would definitely still have a trace of doubt about Yahiko. But now, he believed that Yahiko would consider for Amegakure. Because—the other party had a heart that loved Amegakure. He believed that Yahiko would not betray the village!
Yahiko's eyes widened, revealing a look of disbelief.
"Let, let me go and negotiate?"
"Yes."
Hanzo nodded, then he sighed. "I know you have doubts about me. This is also normal. After all, you have your own forces. It's hard not to be on guard when you come to my side…"
"But I am old now."
Hanzo leaned back in his chair, his face filled with exhaustion. These years, he had to admit that he had really aged and would only fall further and further behind.