The news of Hanzō of the Salamander's death could not be hidden for long.
Leaderless, Amegakure's shinobi were incapable of enforcing strict information control, and so the neighboring nations—Fire, Earth, and Wind—received word almost immediately. Each responded in their own way.
Konoha chose to stand aside.
Their reasoning was simple: the war with Kirigakure in the east was still ongoing, and they were not about to take the chestnuts out of the fire for Iwagakure. Thus, they decided to continue their policy of watching the struggle between Iwa-nin and the Koeda Clan from the sidelines.
As for Amegakure, now bereft of Hanzō—direct annexation of the Land of Rain was out of the question. Such a move would provoke both Iwa and Suna into fighting to the death. Besides, the Land of Rain possessed little in the way of valuable resources.
Konoha's goal was simply to sway Amegakure into becoming a vassal state, similar to Yugakure. And if that proved impossible, then at the very least Ame should remain independent—like Kusagakure, a fence-sitter blown by the wind—not a forward base for Iwa or Suna to launch invasions into the Land of Fire.
For this purpose, under the Third Hokage's command, Konoha's Anbu were dispatched to carry out covert operations.
Suna's choice was not much different.
The newly installed Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, had no interest in interfering in the struggle between the Koeda Clan and Iwa-nin. Having only just secured his position, he was preoccupied with consolidating his power. Sunagakure had already suffered enormous losses in the war—they had neither the strength nor the will to open another front with Iwagakure. Better, then, to watch from the sidelines.
As for Ame without Hanzō, Rasa did send envoys. Though he knew the chances of Amegakure submitting to Suna were slim, it was still worth trying. One could not say they had done nothing. Still, the real focus of Suna, without question, was domestic recovery.
Iwa, however…
As the principal party—indeed, the very instigators—things were different. After a small, high-level meeting, the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, dispatched two separate forces southward from Iwagakure at full speed.
One was to continue the hunt for the Koeda Clan, replacing Akaishi and the others who had fallen. Too much had already been lost—there was no possibility of abandoning the pursuit now.
The other force marched to Amegakure. Their objective: to bring Ame into Iwa's sphere as a vassal, to serve as a southern forward base for future campaigns against Fire or Wind. And if Ame's new leadership proved uncooperative, then force would remain an option.
For a time, then, the eyes of many turned toward the Land of Rain—ironically, a nation that had not truly participated in the Third Great Ninja War.
What was curious, though, was that Konoha, Iwa, and Suna all fixed their gaze on Amegakure… but none spared a thought for Akatsuki, that obscure little group within Ame with no reputation beyond its borders.
The intelligence reports were clear: it was Koeda Kyoichi who had slain Hanzō of the Salamander.
Though the reports did mention Akatsuki's involvement, almost no one believed that this small group had played any decisive role.
In short—
the Land of Rain was about to be swept once again into a storm of blood.
---
Deep beneath a forest in the eastern Land of Fire lay a vast underground chamber, as wide and grand as a palace.
Dim lamps burned steadily, casting their glow upon the emaciated figure of an old man seated on a stone chair. His long, white hair, like the feathers of a crane, hung down his back. His face was lined with the deep scars of age, his frame reduced to little more than skin stretched thin over brittle bones.
If not for the faint, rhythmic rise and fall of his chest, one might have taken him for a corpse.
"Madara-sama."
The voice came from the side.
A strange half-black, half-white figure, like a giant pitcher plant, emerged through the stone wall. The white half of its face babbled incessantly:
"Madara-sama, something's happened—something big!"
"What is it?"
The old man on the stone chair slowly raised his lids, cold eyes glancing sidelong at the dual-colored visage.
"It's the Land of Rain," White Zetsu blurted breathlessly. "Something's happened—Hanzō of the Salamander is dead! The entire situation in the Land of Rain has been overturned, and that Akatsuki group, the one Nagato's part of, has been drawn into the vortex."
"…Hanzō of the Salamander?"
The old man arched what little remained of his sparse brows.
"That brat from Amegakure? So he's dead. Another short-lived one."
"Eh? He was over sixty, wasn't he? Doesn't sound short-lived to me…" White Zetsu muttered.
Madara ignored the remark. His brows furrowed, and after a moment's thought he ordered:
"With that brat from Ame dead, the Land of Rain is now unstable. Black Zetsu—send a few of the stronger White Zetsu to keep close watch over Nagato. Do not interfere, but under no circumstances can the Rinnegan be allowed to come to harm."
"I understand," replied the black half of the face.
"Oh, and since you're here—what of our candidates? How are they progressing?"
"They're still in the adaptation phase," Black Zetsu answered, "but… it doesn't look good. They may not survive it."
"If not… have new candidates been chosen?"
"Yes. Uchiha Hatoha and Uchiha Shinichiro. The two are currently fighting Kirigakure forces along the eastern coast of the Land of Fire. I've arranged for White Zetsu to shadow them. When the opportunity arises, we'll bring them to the base."
"…And what of Uchiha Obito? No chance to bring him in?"
"You still remember that candidate?"
"He's the finest uncut gem of them all."
"…That boy's talent is indeed exceptional. His very first awakening was already a double tomoe. But… no, there's been no chance. Since opening his eyes, his strength has advanced at incredible speed, and these past months he's remained in Konoha. No opportunity has presented itself."
"…A pity."
The old man sighed lightly.
Of all the candidates, that boy, Uchiha Obito, was undoubtedly the most outstanding in his eyes. But the White Zetsu were useless—they had failed to bring him here as he wished. Instead, they dragged in one candidate after another, only to carry out corpse after corpse.
"Black Zetsu—act quickly. These lingering days… cannot last forever."
"I understand," Black Zetsu replied.
In the next moment, the pitcher-plant-like form sank into the earth, leaving the vast chamber silent once more.
Alone, the old man sat slumped upon his stone chair.
His eyes slid closed, as if falling into sleep.