Hanzo passed away, smiling at the end.
The time was the second night after Katsura's return.
By his deathbed stood many—loyal subordinates who had followed him for years, Katsura and Elizabeth, as well as the three 'grand children' he had only just met.
Many wept uncontrollably during Hanzo's final moments, and it was only then, in the last moments of his life, that Hanzo finally found what was most precious to him in this lifetime.
At that moment, gazing at Katsura who sat quietly nearby with his hands tucked in his sleeves, Hanzo began what is called the final flashback of his life.
The village where he was born had a highly poisonous salamander.
After its death, its poison sac was implanted into his body, granting him resistance to poisons.
But because everyone around him would inhale poison whenever he breathed, they feared and even isolated him.
To avoid affecting others, he wore a mask and switched to breathing through his mouth—a habit that lasted half his life...
The pinnacle of shinobi, the "Demigod"—those were titles that came later.
With the rise of his strength and status, perhaps he had long forgotten his original aspirations.
To bring peace to the Shinobi World with his own power?
Perhaps that was part of it, but it was definitely not the reason he first strove to become stronger.
That scrawny figure, isolated by the village because of the poison sac in his body, gritted his teeth and trained alone in an empty field—his reason was never this.
What was it for, again?
In his final moments, Hanzo stood beside that little boy, training desperately alone in the rain.
"I'll... I'll definitely become strong enough to make everyone acknowledge my existence!"
Only now did Hanzo finally rediscover the origin of the man called Hanzo the Salamander—simply the loneliness of being shunned by his village, simply the desire to be recognized.
In a final surge of clarity, Hanzo opened his aged dim eyes and looked at the subordinates who had followed him for years, now weeping by his side.
Then he turned to Katsura, sitting quietly with his sleeves tucked in.
And of course, behind Katsura sat Elizabeth and his three 'grandchild' , their faces filled with sorrow.
"It seems... the heart of the Demigod wasn't so grand after all..."
Hanzo's eyes curved slightly, his faint smile revealing contentment and peace.
"Indeed..." Katsura sighed softly before raising his head and speaking calmly.
"But at least being able to reclaim that first, original dream at the very end... is already a great fortune."
"Even now, who can say the path of the Shinobi Demigod wasn't straight? To me, it was an unwavering road that never ceased, ultimately piercing through the mist to reach its end."
"A straight path, huh..."
Hanzo repeated Katsura's words, murmuring one last phrase before closing his eyes.
"...Thank you."
...
Hanzo's funeral was not grand, and the attendees were few—only his loyal guards and the Akatsuki led by Katsura and Yahiko.
Did Hanzo have any glaring flaw in his life?
No.
This man had grown from a frail, ostracized figure into the "Demigod of Shinobi world."
Though his later years were marked by excessive wariness that made him susceptible to manipulation, he had no major stains on his record.
He dedicated his life to peace in the Shinobi World, never tasted defeat and even spared the lives of the Sannin of Konoha and the samurai Mifune of the Land of Iron.
At the very least, looking back at Hanzo's legacy, it was a life that any shinobi of Amegakure—no, the entire Shinobi World—would admire and revere.
For Hanzo himself, being stopped by his disciple before he could tarnish his reputation in his twilight years, ending his illustrious life without a single blemish, was something he felt profoundly grateful for in his final moments.
At least his name would forever stand just below the God of Shinobi in the annals of history.
As for the rest, he could entrust it to his exceptionally talented disciple.
Hanzo had never doubted Katsura's abilities and had always believed that if anyone could change not just this country but the entire Shinobi World, it was him.
At the very end of the funeral, Konoha's delegation of condolences arrived.
The moment the Rain Ninja spotted them, they immediately drew their weapons.
Faced with the hostile Rain Ninja, Minato's squad—dispatched by the Third Hokage to pay respects to the Demigod of Shinobi, Hanzo—was utterly bewildered.
Why were they being treated like enemies?
"Young Master Katsura, it's Konoha's shinobi!"
"If you wish to stain Hanzo-sama's grave with an unforgettable disgrace, then go ahead and strike," Katsura said calmly.
Hearing this, the Rain Ninja hesitated, then sheathed their kunai and stepped aside, clearing a path for Minato's squad.
The tense Konoha representatives also lowered their weapons.
After giving Katsura a slight nod, they stepped forward to pay their respects to the legendary shinobi who had reached the pinnacle of the ninja path.
...
As the successor appointed by Hanzo before his death, Katsura held a small meeting with Minato, Konoha's representative, after the funeral.
Also present were the three senior members of Akatsuki, who had suddenly become official Rain Ninja (a formalized force).
Truth be told, the Akatsuki members were still in shock.
Just days ago, their leader had gone to meet with Hanzo, only to return the next day announcing that they were now officially part of Amegakure's forces!
Then, Hanzo passed away.
Next, their leader brought them to the funeral.
And now, they were attending a meeting with Konoha alongside what appeared to be Hanzo's chosen successor!
This kind of rapid promotion wasn't even possible in dreams!
Many Akatsuki members still felt like they were dreaming.
And to think, Hanzo's successor was actually the very man who had once hidden his identity to teach their leader!
So... they were all family from the start!
...
"I understand. Upon my return, I will report this to the Hokage. Konoha will surely give Amegakure a proper explanation!"
Outside the gates, Minato bid farewell to Katsura and the others, his expression solemn as he made his promise.
This incident was far too disgraceful!
To think there were ninjas using transformation jutsu to impersonate the village's senior advisor (Danzo), falsely accusing the peace-loving Akatsuki of Amegakure, and deceiving the demigod of the Hidden Rain Village!
They deserve straight execution!
Speaking of which, Elder Danzo has been away for so long without any news.
Could it be that he was ambushed by those ninjas disguised as Hidden Leaf Anbu...?
Minato didn't dare to dwell on the thought.
He had to return to the village immediately and report this to the Third Hokage!
At this critical juncture when the Hidden Leaf and Hidden Stone were about to mediate a ceasefire, those who would do such a thing—they deserve execution!
"When we meet again, I believe you and I will become the leader of Konoha and Amegakure. When the time comes, let us have a proper discussion."
Minato continued, feeling an inexplicable kinship with the long-haired, handsome man named Katsura, whom he had just met for the first time during their talks.
Minato could sense the man's extraordinary talent for benefiting the world and sincerely looked forward to discussing and working together for the peace of the Shinobi World in the future!