Hanzō of the Salamander was naturally well aware of the significance of the name Uzumaki. The Uzumaki Clan was renowned for their unparalleled mastery of fūinjutsu (sealing techniques), and their deep ties to the Senju Clan made them a formidable force in the ninja world. Even after the destruction of Uzushiogakure, remnants of the clan still existed, scattered across different lands.
As mentioned earlier, Tsunade had faced little to no resistance along her path, advancing effortlessly as though cutting through paper. Given her legendary prowess as a Sannin and her status as the granddaughter of Senju Hashirama, the God of Shinobi, few would dare to stand in her way.
Seeing Ryosuke's dismissive response, a glint of intrigue flickered in Hanzō's sharp eyes.
Ryosuke merely smiled and nodded. Though his face remained impassive, a subtle gleam passed through his gaze, betraying the thoughts running through his mind.
At that moment, a loud noise from within the mansion drew the attention of the three standing there.
"Thank you."
As one of the three great dōjutsu of legend, Rinnegan was a name that carried weight throughout the ninja world. However, most shinobi—including Hanzō—had only heard the legends and had never actually seen its power firsthand.
"There are a few exiled Uzumaki currently living in the Land of Rain."
Tsunade's expression hardened at these words. She had already surmised that Hanzō's main base was likely deserted at the moment, a mere illusion of strength masking its true vulnerability.
Yet she couldn't quite understand why Ryosuke was bringing up the Uzumaki at this moment. Hanzō didn't answer right away but instead observed Ryosuke carefully, waiting for further elaboration.
A single name surfaced in Mizuki Ryosuke's mind immediately—Uzumaki Nagato.
The truth was simple: if a shinobi possessed both power and status, they would never choose to live in a war-ravaged land like the Ame no Kuni (Land of Rain). Any daimyo or Kage would eagerly welcome an Uzumaki into their ranks, knowing that even a single skilled fūinjutsu user could change the tides of battle.
That was why Ryosuke had little concern about Rain Shinobi recognizing Nagato's eyes as the mythical Rinnegan—even if they did, they wouldn't fully comprehend its significance.
Of course, Ryosuke was careful to avoid mentioning Rinnegan outright. He only spoke of the Uzumaki bloodline, leaving certain implications unspoken.
If Mizuki Ryosuke's intelligence was accurate, then what position could these wandering Uzumaki possibly hold among their own people? After all, the real powerhouses of the Uzumaki had been either eliminated or absorbed into Konoha following the fall of Uzushiogakure.
In the shinobi world, the Uzumaki name was synonymous with fūinjutsu. Their expertise in sealing techniques made them invaluable assets, and the close alliance between Uzushio and Konoha had once ensured their safety. However, after their village's destruction, the smaller nations had hesitated to take them in, fearing retaliation from the Great Shinobi Villages.
Unbeknownst to her, more than twenty elite Rain Shinobi had already positioned themselves in the shadows, waiting for the moment to strike. As soon as she entered the center of their formation, they would not hesitate to act.
"Bang!!!"
Mizuki Ryosuke turned to Hanzō, who was already on high alert, and asked with a neutral expression:
"You wouldn't refuse me such a small favor, would you?"
In the original Naruto timeline, only Jiraiya—one of the Legendary Sannin—had recognized Nagato's eyes as the Rinnegan, owing to the knowledge passed down from Mount Myōboku.
Tsunade, on the other hand, was a central figure in the events of the ninja world. Without her presence, many future developments would be thrown into chaos, causing ripple effects that could even interfere with Ryosuke's own plans.
With this thought in mind, he noted that most of his objectives in Rain Shinobi had already been accomplished.
No matter where one stood in the ninja world, high-level abilities and secret techniques were always reserved for the elite—those who had proven their worth through power and influence.
The three of them had keen senses, and they immediately realized that someone had infiltrated the mansion.
Only one person would dare to launch such an assault on Rain Shinobi's stronghold at this moment.
There was no doubt about it.
Senju Tsunade had reached the heart of Rain Shinobi territory.
Hanzō hesitated for only a moment, his mind calculating the deeper implications of Ryosuke's words.
Outside of his own residence, the core administrative structures of Amegakure lay precisely where Tsunade was now. If she continued down that path, she would inevitably reach his private chambers.
If Hanzō had truly understood Rinnegan's power, he would never have suffered such a crushing defeat at Nagato's hands in the original timeline.
As Ryosuke had pointed out, locating a handful of wandering Uzumaki within the Land of Rain was an insignificant matter for an organization as formidable as Amegakure.
"I didn't expect her to be this reckless in her youth…"
With this in mind, Ryosuke could not allow anything to happen to her in Rain Shinobi's territory.
"Can you do it?"
Hanzō of the Salamander cast a sidelong glance at Mizuki Ryosuke. Ryosuke simply shook his head.
Major ninja villages coveted advanced fūinjutsu techniques, yet over time, only basic and intermediate-level techniques had trickled down into common use.
At this moment, Hanzō—despite his battle-hardened instincts—was incapable of recognizing the significance of Nagato's eyes.
To those unfamiliar with the legend, a casual observer might only see Uzumaki Nagato and think to themselves: "What a strange-looking boy. Why does he have cataracts at such a young age?"
The idea that someone would willingly challenge the might of Rain Shinobi's core stronghold at this moment was unthinkable.
And yet, here Tsunade was.
Was it really worth angering the Yondaime Mizukage for a handful of scattered Uzumaki refugees?
"Of course."
Hanzō hesitated briefly before nodding. The greed that had momentarily flickered in his heart was quickly snuffed out.
After all, offending Kirigakure over a few refugees was simply not worth the risk.
Because of his ignorance regarding Rinnegan's true potential, Hanzō had mistakenly believed Nagato to be a mere prodigy—a child of destiny, but nothing more.
Had he known the truth, history would have unfolded quite differently.
For now, he could only focus on the more immediate issue at hand.
"If it's not too much trouble, may I observe?"
Ryosuke's request was met with a confident smirk from Hanzō. Clearly, he saw this as an opportunity to showcase the strength of his forces—to demonstrate Rain Shinobi's true power in front of Ryosuke.
At that moment, the legendary Salamander Hanzō made his decision.
Tsunade had finally stepped into the lion's den.
Would she survive?
Only time would tell.
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