Akio and the Akatsuki had a long history of grudges between them.
Back then, after Madara's Rinnegan was taken, Pain's Six Paths attacked Konoha, then attacked Uzumaki Country. Akio pursued them
and in the end… lost the trail.
Later, when he learned Obito had joined Akatsuki, Akio gave chase again. He found the Hidan cult's base
and once more… lost the trail.
When the Third Mizukage, under genjutsu control, attacked Konoha and triggered the Third Great Ninja War, Akio pursued the culprit...
and still… lost the trail.
That was his entire "feud" with Akatsuki.
Five years of seclusion passed, and Akatsuki hadn't caused any incidents. Akio found that surprising.
Hearing now that Hanzō had gone missing, Akio figured he was most likely "killed" and definitely by Akatsuki.
To avoid losing the trail yet again, Akio decided to think first and act second, sending Haku to continue tending to Zabuza while Kimimaro and Karin trained on their own. After asking Kushina to keep an eye on them, he left Uzumaki Country and headed straight for the Land of Rain.
Traveling at full speed, he reached Rain Country in less than half an hour.
Of course, he couldn't use his real appearance, otherwise Akatsuki might run too fast. Akio disguised himself.
At the moment, he had long white hair draped over his shoulders, wore Rain Country armor, his wrists wrapped in layered bandages, a chain-scythe slung at his waist, and a toxin-filter mask covering his face…
In short, he looked exactly like:
Hanzō of the Salamander.
"Hanzō's disappearance means Akatsuki likely took his body before anyone else found it. If I disguise myself as Hanzō and take control of Rain Country, Akatsuki will definitely send someone to investigate. If I can catch even one of them, that's enough."
This was Akio's carefully planned strategy.
"I'm a genius."
The "Hanzō" impostor entered from the border of Rain Country without hiding his presence, heading straight toward the center.
He needed everyone to know...
Hanzō was alive, and had returned.
Rain Country had been in turmoil these past days. After Hanzō vanished following a battle with unknown shinobi, the ongoing conflicts paused.
Though Hanzō was past sixty, with declining stamina and strength, he was still a ninja hailed as a "demigod." In the current shinobi world, only a handful could defeat him, and the only one capable of killing him outright was probably Akio.
Thus, Iwagakure, Konoha, and the shinobi of Rain Country were all watching in silence. Recon squads roamed everywhere, but no one clashed.
Konoha had suspected Obito and Rin due to the traces of battle, but the idea made no sense in terms of strength. No one could imagine Obito awakening a Mangekyō Sharingan, much less one with such a broken space–time ability.
Akio-as-Hanzō kept walking. He was spotted by countless scouts. Based on their fluctuating chakra signatures, they were all extremely agitated. Most fled immediately, undoubtedly to report.
But a few continued trailing him. Akio briefly considered this, then waved a hand toward that direction, rasping:
"Come out."
Moments later, three armored Rain shinobi appeared beside him.
The man in the center looked thrilled.
"It's really you? Leader!"
"Who would dare impersonate me?!"
"N-no, of course not! Thank goodness you're unharmed!"
Akio paused. Remembering the "less talk, fewer mistakes" rule he learned in Kirigakure, he simply… nodded.
But that wasn't enough. He squeezed out one more sound through his mask:
"Mm."
The three didn't find this strange. Hanzō had always been taciturn and cautious.
The atmosphere quieted. Akio thought for a moment, then asked:
"I've been recovering these past two days. What's the situation in Rain Country?"
"You were injured?! Who could injure you?"
"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask."
The lead ninja froze, trembling. "My apologies, Leader. I spoke out of turn."
Akio smirked inwardly.
Seems the real Hanzō was strict with subordinates, good for maintaining the disguise.
Seeing Akio wasn't pursuing the matter, the three relaxed slightly.
"These past days we haven't fought Konoha. Everyone has been… searching for your whereabouts."
"Searching for me? Hoping I was dead?"
The man jolted. Confused, he quickly said, "How could that be? We survive only because you lead us. Without you, we"
Akio waved a hand. "You're competent. Follow me. You'll serve as my guard."
"Yes!"
Akio silently exhaled.
Less talk, fewer mistakes.
He had gotten ahead of himself earlier, thinking Rain's jōnin might fight overpower after Hanzō's disappearance. He'd forgotten Rain Country's fragile position. That slip had almost exposed him.
From then on, Akio said nothing. The shinobi following him didn't dare speak either, and the group walked in silence toward central Rain Country.
…
Konoha's camp.
Several squad leaders exchanged a long, heavy silence.
Eventually, Jiraiya broke it.
"I told you that old man Hanzō wouldn't die so easily!"
He still remembered the Sannin battle vividly.
"Not dead…" Kagami muttered with a deep frown.
Nara Shikaku sighed, discarding the strategies they'd drafted.
"If he's alive, we observe for now. The unknown shinobi who fought him may act again."
The others nodded. "Agreed."
…
Iwagakure's camp.
Ōnoki let out a long breath of relief.
"Good. If he died, we'd be forced to 'seek peace' again."
"Ōnoki, send someone to contact him and ask who his opponent was.
He lost even his salamander in that fight, his strength must have declined."
"Yes, Father."
…
Elsewhere in Rain Country
Yahiko, Obito, and their group stared blankly at one another.
After a long time, Ringo Ameyuri finally spoke:
"So the one we killed… was a fake Hanzō?"
Obito paused. The space before them twisted, and Hanzō's corpse appeared.
"This one's real. There can't be two Hanzōs… twins?"
Rin hesitated.
"This one should be real. He was too strong. Maybe… maybe the one we fought was just a special clone? And he escaped?"
"No," Obito said slowly. "I was watching him the whole time."
"Impossible." Yahiko cut them off.
"We definitely killed the real Hanzō.
The one appearing now is a fake."
"Fake? What's the point of impersonating Hanzō?" Obito asked, baffled.
Yahiko glanced at him.
"Hanzō controls Rain Country. Someone waited for us to recover, then appeared pretending to be him. They're trying to seize the Rain shinobi forces. Who knows what they plan afterward."
"Hmph. Overestimating themselves," Ringo snorted.
Yahiko nodded. "If we could kill the real Hanzō, we won't fear a fake.
We'll go again. Kill him
and see who dares lay a hand on Rain Country."
The four set off once more.
---
[Every 50 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
For early access to advanced chapters visit my P@treon:
P@treon/ Dexy3
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!