According to Mizuki Ryosuke's intelligence, the leader of Amegakure, Hanzō of the Salamander, is a figure of contradiction.
On one hand, he pursues power relentlessly, and with his overwhelming strength, Amegakure has become an extension of his will. His ambition is vast—he seeks to make the Land of Rain independent from the influence of the Five Great Nations. This level of confidence borders on arrogance, as he believes in his own supremacy.
Yet, on the other hand, Hanzō is also notoriously cautious, even paranoid. He trusts few, even among his closest subordinates, ensuring that no single individual gains too much influence within his ranks. His rule is one of iron control, and betrayal is met with swift execution.
Above all, Hanzō prioritizes his own safety. He keeps Amegakure's most elite shinobi close at all times, forming the Ame Guard—an elite unit tasked solely with his protection. Every movement within his mansion is meticulously monitored, ensuring that any intrusion is dealt with immediately.
Through careful reconnaissance, Ryosuke has detected a significant number of heat signatures within Hanzō's estate. This confirms what he already suspected—Hanzō has chosen to remain within his stronghold, surrounded by his elite warriors. The shadows within Amegakure are thick with his presence, and his fortress is a web of death for any would-be intruder.
Standing before the darkened mansion, Mizuki Ryosuke couldn't help but acknowledge Hanzō's strategic brilliance.
The strength displayed by Tsunade and Hoshigaki Kisame is enough to shake Amegakure's foundation. Any hidden village would be alarmed if two such formidable shinobi infiltrated its borders.
The recent unrest in Amegakure, particularly the unknown fate of Sanjūgo-gyō Mio, would not have escaped Hanzō's notice. Yet, despite the chaos, Hanzō remains in his fortress, unmoved, maintaining control over Amegakure's core.
Perspective shapes reality.
To Ryosuke, this was an intelligence-gathering operation that had spiraled into an unexpected situation.
To Amegakure's shinobi, however, this was an entirely different scenario.
They had set out merely to "fish," expecting to root out spies and minor infiltrators. Instead, they found themselves face-to-face with two "great white sharks"—Tsunade and Kisame.
Previously, Amegakure had anticipated that once their internal purges were complete, spies from the Five Great Nations would probe their defenses. But such probes would typically consist of reconnaissance teams—small, efficient, and avoiding direct confrontation.
So why had Kage-level combatants infiltrated Amegakure?
Why would such powerful figures take the risk of entering enemy territory unless they had a far more dangerous objective in mind?
Hanzō understood the implications immediately.
His instincts told him that this was more than a simple infiltration.
If the enemy's true objective was to escape, then there was little Amegakure could do to stop them. With shinobi of such caliber, an outright retreat was always an option.
But what if they weren't trying to escape?
That was Hanzō's greatest concern.
If he rashly left his fortress to hunt down Tsunade and Ryosuke, he would be acting blindly, like a cat chasing a mouse into the darkness.
If the enemy was truly determined to hide, even Hanzō's elite would struggle to locate them.
More importantly, Hanzō's estate was not just his residence—it was the heart of Amegakure's power structure.
Due to his authoritarian rule, all of Amegakure's critical intelligence, military planning, and infrastructure were centered around his command post. If he vacated the premises, he would be exposing Amegakure's beating heart to the enemy.
If this entire infiltration was nothing but a ruse to draw him away, then Amegakure could suffer devastating losses.
However, while hunting the infiltrators might be difficult, it was far from impossible.
Given enough time, even the most skilled shinobi would be forced to reveal themselves. It was only a matter of patience.
Hanzō had already anticipated this.
From the moment the unrest began, he had considered the possibility of a "diversionary tactic."
The real target could be his estate.
Thus, he enacted a masterful deception.
He ensured that his mansion appeared deserted, while in reality, he and his elite guards lay in wait.
At the same time, he spread false intelligence, making it seem as if he had left the fortress, hoping to lure the enemy into making a fatal mistake.
If the infiltrators truly dared to strike at his mansion, they would be walking into a carefully constructed trap.
This was how Hanzō turned the situation to his advantage.
Even without direct confrontation, Ryosuke could recognize Hanzō's brilliance.
In the grand scheme of the shinobi world, most of the top-tier warriors were born within the Five Great Nations.
Smaller nations like the Land of Rain were often nothing more than battlegrounds, unable to produce shinobi capable of standing against the great powers.
Hanzō, however, was an exception.
He was not just a strong shinobi—he was a legend.
A man known as the "Demi-God of the Shinobi World."
A man who once fought against the combined might of the future Sannin—Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade—and emerged victorious.
Had he been born in a great nation, he might have rivaled the Third Raikage in sheer might.
Because of this, Ryosuke held a deep respect for Hanzō.
In the original course of history, Hanzō's downfall was not due to incompetence—it was due to fate.
If the heavens decree your end, then no amount of skill can change it.
This fulfilled an old saying:
"Heaven and earth move with the same force, yet even the strongest heroes are bound by fate."
Hoshigaki Kisame had no way of knowing what Mizuki Ryosuke was thinking.
To Kisame, Ryosuke had merely paused outside Hanzō's estate, silently assessing the situation.
Despite his skill, Kisame was a warrior, not a strategist.
True tacticians were rare in the shinobi world.
Most of them belonged to the Uchiha Clan, the same clan that would come to shape history itself.
Perhaps that was why later generations referred to the story of the Hokage as "the legend of the eyes."
"Let's go, Kisame."
After a moment's thought, Mizuki Ryosuke spoke.
"Sir, are we really going inside?"
Kisame looked at Ryosuke in disbelief. He had already known Ryosuke intended to enter Hanzō's fortress, and he had confidence in Ryosuke's abilities. Yet, the idea of walking directly into the lair of the Demi-God of the Shinobi World made even him hesitate.
"Don't worry."
With just those two words, Ryosuke stepped forward, walking directly toward Hanzō's mansion.
Seeing that Ryosuke's decision was final, Kisame, as his most trusted subordinate, could only follow.
The mansion loomed over them, a sprawling compound covering ten acres.
Due to the perpetual downpour of the Land of Rain, the buildings bore a distinct architectural style, reinforced with steel drainage pipes along their rooftops.
Raindrops drummed against the metal pipes, creating a rhythmic tick, tick, tick.
The sound echoed through the empty courtyard.
Inside the estate, all was darkness.
No lights, no movement—only the ceaseless patter of rain against steel.
At a glance, it seemed less like the home of a ruler and more like a mausoleum.
And yet, somewhere within those walls, Hanzō of the Salamander waited.
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