The next day, inside the Konoha command tent.
"Renya, how do you view the matter of forming an alliance between the leader of Amegakure and Konoha?"
The overall commander, Nara Mikage, asked curiously.
After all, the Hokage had delegated authority to Renya, letting him handle everything.
It could be said that, regarding this matter, Nara Mikage — the battlefield's general commander — had no role at all.
Whether they formed an alliance depended entirely on Renya's choice.
"I don't know. Let's see how Salamander Hanzō performs later."
Renya lazily yawned.
With how overwhelmingly strong Konoha was now, whether they needed an alliance didn't matter anymore.
Whether Amegakure existed or not, he still had full confidence in gaining benefits.
If Salamander Hanzō could move him with sincerity, that would be another matter.
"Time's about up, we can set out now."
Seeing the time, Nara Mikage reminded him.
Naturally, the meeting spot couldn't be inside Konoha's camp.
Otherwise, if Salamander Hanzō used the pretext of alliance talks to launch a surprise attack, wouldn't they be doomed?
Thus, the meeting location was set somewhere between Amegakure and the Konoha encampment.
The other nations naturally learned of this event.
Nara Mikage intentionally brought guards to prevent sabotage by other countries.
On the way, Renya and the others indeed encountered ambushers lying in wait.
But they were all weaklings, cleaned up easily.
Renya glanced at the forehead protectors on their heads—ninjas from Iwagakure.
"That short pumpkin Ōnoki… always looking for trouble with me."
Nara Mikage couldn't help sweating. Was it really okay to insult the Tsuchikage like that?
A Kage was the leader of a shinobi village.
Even ninjas from other villages generally wouldn't insult another village's Kage.
Clearly, Renya had no such concerns.
Forget insulting them—if he got a chance someday, killing one wasn't impossible.
Unfortunately, after the lesson learned from being captured alive in the Land of Whirlpools, the Kage of each village no longer dared appear casually on the battlefield.
They hid inside their camps, terrified of being captured again…
Soon, the group arrived at the appointed location.
Outside the large tent stood several Amegakure shinobi wearing gas masks.
The Konoha ninjas looked at them warily, afraid they would suddenly attack.
Renya swaggered up to enter the tent, but was stopped by the Amegakure ninja guarding the entrance.
"Please wait."
The Ame ninja took out several identical gas masks and patiently explained:
"Our leader's breath is highly poisonous. Before entering, please put on a mask."
Renya raised an eyebrow. That guy Hanzō's poison sac had strengthened again?
Previously, only Hanzō himself needed a mask. He didn't expect even others had to wear one now.
No wonder he could hold off the combined assault of three villages for the time being.
It seemed his poisoning techniques had improved.
"Thanks."
Renya accepted the mask without hesitation and put it on.
Although he possessed detoxification abilities, wasn't there a perfectly good gas mask available?
One should learn to use tools.
Seeing this, Nara Mikage also put on a gas mask.
The two lifted the tent flap and entered.
When Salamander Hanzō saw them, he quickly rose from his chair.
"You've arrived."
When he saw Renya at the front, a flash of shock crossed his eyes.
He never expected Konoha to send the Poison Master to an alliance ceremony.
He had nearly died at Renya's hands back then.
But thanks to that misfortune, he began developing poison non-stop afterward.
Only because of that could he now barely resist the combined assault of three nations.
"Salamander Hanzō, long time no see!"
Renya greeted him enthusiastically, as if meeting an old friend.
Nara Mikage was confused.
When had Renya met the leader of Amegakure?
Why had he never heard of this?
"Poison Master, we meet again," Hanzō said emotionally. "Thank you for sparing me back then."
If Renya hadn't given him the antidote at the last moment—
His grave would probably have weeds three meters tall by now.
"Actually, I never thought you'd survive. Guess your life was just stubborn enough."
When Renya took out the antidote, the poison had already spread through Hanzō's entire body.
Taking the antidote gave only a twenty-percent chance of survival.
Who knew this guy's luck was so absurd that he lived through those odds.
Perhaps fate simply refused to let him die.
Hanzō's mouth twitched beneath the mask.
What could he even say to that?
Fortunately, the socially skilled Nara Mikage sensed the atmosphere turning strange and quickly changed the subject.
"Leader of Amegakure, Renya is fully responsible for this alliance discussion."
Hanzō widened his eyes in disbelief, his mind briefly freezing.
Putting the Poison Master fully in charge of alliance negotiations—did Konoha have no one else?
He didn't understand why they would let a warrior handle this kind of matter.
Unless Konoha didn't intend to cooperate at all, and sent the Poison Master to kill him here.
…It was possible.
No—very possible!
Hanzō's body tensed. If anything felt off, he would break out immediately.
He could not die here.
Amegakure's shinobi and civilians needed him. The countless citizens of the Land of Rain needed him!
...
Renya was unaware of Hanzō's suspicion. He swaggered over, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
Then he put both legs directly on the table.
His attitude was overwhelmingly arrogant.
But Hanzō didn't dare reveal even the slightest displeasure.
He suspected Renya was deliberately provoking him—
Then looking for an excuse to kill him.
Hanzō pretended not to see Renya's arrogance, pulled a scroll from his robes, and placed it before him.
"Poison Master, I hope Amegakure and Konoha can form an alliance to face the other villages together."
Right now, Amegakure desperately needed a thick, sturdy thigh to cling to.
And powerful Konoha was the best choice.
Hanzō understood perfectly well that even without Amegakure's alliance, Konoha could still win the war.
But he wanted to try—what if it worked?
The alliance document on the table was handwritten by him, filled with sincerity.
Amegakure was willing to offer Konoha eighty percent of the enemy nations' war reparations after victory.
The remaining twenty percent wasn't even enough to rebuild the village—
But he was still willing to give up the vast majority of benefits.
Because right now, Amegakure had no choice.
Without an alliance with Konoha, they were absolutely no match for the great nations.
Let alone talking about post-war reparations—
If Amegakure actually lost, they might end up paying the great nations instead.
Renya had no interest in the contents of the alliance document. He didn't even glance at it.
"Tell me… why should we form an alliance with you?"
He lazily dug at his ear and asked with amusement.
Hanzō was stunned for a moment, unable to answer immediately.
"I'll give you one stick of incense. If you can move me, then I might consider forming an alliance with you…"
...
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