Chapter 38: The Daimyō's Reprimand
At the border of the Land of Rain, a decaying shrine was half‑submerged in thick, clinging night fog. The wind chimes hanging from the eaves trembled and rang without any wind at all, at the very instant Ebizō removed his cloak.
"As expected of Sunagakure's famed strategist."
From within the darkness stepped a man wearing a respirator mask. The chain‑scythe in his hand glimmered faintly with a blue‑violet sheen beneath the moonlight.
"To dare infiltrate the Land of Rain with merely ten elites—do you intend to declare war... or are you here to beg for peace?"
Ebizō gestured to his subordinates to lower their weapons.
"Hanzō-sama jests. What we have brought—" he clapped his hands lightly, and two Sunagakure shinobi came forward carrying a heavy chest, "—is sincerity."
The moment the lid of the chest was opened, every shinobi of Amegakure inside the shrine instinctively held their breath. Stacked neatly within were layers of explosive tags, each one bearing the unmistakable crest of Konohagakure.
"Interesting."
Hanzō lifted one of the tags with the tip of his scythe, studying the seal.
"How does Konoha's military stockpile end up in your hands?"
"Last month, we intercepted one of Konoha's supply convoys," Ebizō replied, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"Such resources, Sunagakure can supply indefinitely to Amegakure—so long as Hanzō-sama is willing, at the proper moment, to have Rain-nin 'patrolling' along the border of the Land of Fire."
A muffled laugh echoed from behind Hanzō's respirator.
"I desire more than mere armaments."
In the next instant, his chain‑scythe snapped out. The blade struck the wall beside Ebizō's ear with a sharp crack, lodging deeply into the wood.
"The three frontier towns of the Land of Fire—once this war ends, they shall belong to the Land of Rain."
Ebizō's expression remained utterly calm, though within his heart he sneered coldly: A greedy jackal. Let us see whether you choke on such a feast.
He calmly pulled the embedded scythe free and returned it to Hanzō.
"Kazekage-sama has granted me full authority in these negotiations," he said, drawing a scroll map from his robes.
"As for the specific operational plan..."
Their hushed voices were soon swallowed by the suffocating fog of the night.
By the time the first pale light of dawn pierced through the clouds, the shrine was already empty. Only scattered footprints remained on the ground, proof of two separate factions converging in this place—and even these traces were swiftly erased by the steady drizzle.
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Uzuki Town – Border of the Land of Fire
A young flower girl counted the coins she had just earned, her face alight with innocent joy. Suddenly, she noticed a strange dark cloud drifting overhead. Curious, she rose on tiptoe to see more clearly.
The first thing that fell was not raindrops—but kunai wrapped in explosive tags.
By the time the explosion thundered through the air, the Konoha sentries stationed at the town gate were still half‑asleep. As they scrambled to seize their weapons, dozens of shinobi wearing the flak jackets of Sunagakure were already charging into the bustling marketplace. Worse still, shinobi bearing the forehead protectors of Amegakure erupted from underground tunnels, unleashing massive torrents of Water Release that instantly swept away every route of escape.
"Mama!"
The flower girl was hurled to the ground by the blast wave, her wide eyes watching helplessly as her mother was severed at the waist by a wind blade from a Suna-nin. She tried to scream, but only a hoarse hiss escaped her throat—for at some point, a dense purple poison mist had already enveloped the entire town.
Identical tragedies unfolded simultaneously across three border towns. By the time Konoha's reinforcement forces arrived, all they found were burning granaries and streets carpeted with corpses.
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Sunagakure Frontline Encampment
In the flickering candlelight, Orochimaru's golden, slit‑pupiled eyes narrowed to thin lines. The urgent report in his hand crumpled audibly under the pressure of his grasp. Opposite him, veins stood out around Hyūga Hizashi's eyes—not from activating the Byakugan, but from sheer fury.
"Three border towns assaulted... civilian casualties exceeding a thousand..." Hizashi's voice trembled with anger. "Amegakure dares..."
Orochimaru's pale fingers tapped rhythmically against the table. The candlelight danced in his golden eyes, casting a cold, serpentine gleam.
"How amusing..."
His hoarse voice slithered through the tent like a serpent's hiss.
"That old dog Hanzō dares bite the hand that once fed him."
During the Second Shinobi World War, even the combined might of the youthful "Three Legendary Sannin" had been no match for Hanzō; the title "Sannin" had been bestowed upon them almost as an afterthought, a condescending gesture of respect from the victor. Yet now, in his prime, Orochimaru held not the slightest reverence for an aged Hanzō who had grown senile.
Veins bulged further on Hizashi's forehead; his clenched fists cracked audibly.
"Amegakure intends to wage total war against us! Orochimaru-sama, permit me to lead a strike force immediately—"
"Patience, Hizashi‑kun."
Orochimaru's icy hand descended suddenly onto his shoulder. The cold touch sent an involuntary shiver through Hizashi's body.
"Sunagakure's move was brilliant... They have cast Amegakure as the sacrificial pawn."
Indeed, it was remarkable how they had persuaded the notoriously cautious Hanzō to act at all. Yet the reasoning was simple: Konohagakure was currently fighting on four fronts, its forces stretched dangerously thin. Hanzō was certain they would not dare provoke him—the so‑called "Demi‑God of the Shinobi World"—under such unfavorable conditions. In his delusion, he even fantasized that after this war, Konoha would be too weakened to interfere in the Land of Rain ever again. Temptation took root in his heart, and he saw in this campaign a chance to declare to the entire shinobi world: Though I lost the Second War, I am no coward!
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Hokage's Office – Konohagakure
The tea set before the Third Hokage had long since gone cold. Across from him, the envoy from the Daimyō's court slammed his palms on the desk, his gilded folding fan striking the wood in sharp, grating rhythm.
"Three towns lost overnight! Is this the border defense Konoha promised?" Spittle flew with every shouted word.
"Daimyō-sama demands the immediate reclamation of this lost territory—or this year's military funding shall be halved!"
"Convey this to Daimyō-sama."
Sarutobi Hiruzen abruptly raised his head, the piercing light in his eyes so sharp that the envoy involuntarily stepped back.
"Within three days, the heads of the invading forces will hang along our borders."
He gestured once, and ANBU operatives appeared in silence, taking the scroll and vanishing in the blink of an eye.
When the envoy had departed, the sound of a cane tapping echoed from the shadowed corner of the office. Shimura Danzō emerged slowly, the bandages covering his right eye starkly white in the lamplight.
"Hiruzen, it is time to let Root act. Allow me to lead the Root and the Shimura clan. I will personally bring you Hanzō's head."
Hiruzen's fingers drummed lightly upon the desk.
"With the Third War raging, even the Uchiha have already been deployed. To mobilize Root now is far too great a risk."
"Foolish!"
Danzō's cane slammed heavily upon the floor.
"Sunagakure and Amegakure have already torn open our defenses. This is no longer conventional warfare! If we show weakness now, what is to stop every minor nation from imitating them? Shall we wait until they are hammering on Konoha's gates?"
Koharu Utatane spoke up nervously, her expression deeply troubled.
"But Root is our final... safeguard..."
"Final safeguard? Final safeguard?!"
Danzō's voice rose, harsh and cutting.
"If they believe Konoha weak, they will all rush in to strike! Have you considered the consequences?!"
His tirade left both Koharu and Homura silent and pale.
"Enough."
Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly stood, the Hokage's robes billowing without a breeze.
"Danzō, you will say no more. I will have each clan dispatch additional forces to reinforce the Rain Country front. As for Root—Root is the very foundation of Konoha. It must never be moved lightly. This is my decision. You are forbidden to act independently. Do not forget—I am the Hokage!"
"Hiruzen... you will regret this!"
Danzō's cold snort echoed as he turned sharply on his heel. The door slammed behind him with a resounding bang, the tap of his cane gradually fading into the corridor.
Mitokado Homura exhaled a weary sigh.
"He grows more aggressive with each passing day..."
"When has he ever not been aggressive?"
Hiruzen sighed as well, his voice tinged with old sorrow.
As one who had known Danzō for many years, he understood his old comrade's thoughts better than anyone. Yet, since Danzō had chosen to become the darkness upholding Konoha, he could never again be allowed to surface into the light.
Danzō... remain in the shadows, and continue to support the growth of this village's great tree...
Meanwhile, as Danzō stalked away, fury seethed within his heart. Inwardly, he cursed again and again:
Hokage! Hokage! Always Hokage! If only I were Hokage...
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