Ending this civil war as soon as possible is a consensus among everyone.
This is also why the Ninjas of the Hidden Rain Village are willing to set aside their dissatisfaction with Salamander Hanzo's rule and continue to follow this Ninja Demigod.
"I understand."
Jiraiya's expression suddenly became heavy.
Salamander Hanzo was indeed offering him a chance for a peaceful resolution, and he certainly could not betray the trust of this Ninja Demigod.
"Kagura, let's set off immediately."
Jiraiya looked at his disciple, Akihara Kagura.
"Yes, teacher."
Akihara Kagura nodded and agreed.
Just as Jiraiya believed that Salamander Hanzo meant for him to scout the Akatsuki Organization's intelligence, thinking the matter could be resolved peacefully… inside the Hidden Rain Village, Salamander Hanzo was conducting the final war mobilization.
The Hidden Rain Village.
The heavy rain continued to pour.
Upon a tall tower, Salamander Hanzo stood there.
A group of Hidden Rain Ninjas stood under the tower, ignoring the torrential rain soaking their clothes, still listening intently to Salamander Hanzo's speech in the rain.
"This war must come to an end."
"Perhaps this war should never have started in the first place."
"The root of this war traces back to the Ninja World Great War..."
"Many know that the Akatsuki Organization was born in the Land of Rain during the Ninja World Great War, gathering many ninjas yearning for peace and once considering integrating into our Hidden Rain Village..."
"However, Konoha Village feared that our Hidden Rain Village would thus grow strong, threatening its great power status. On one hand, it sent Shimura Danzo to force us, who lost in the Ninja World Great War, to declare war on the Akatsuki; on the other hand, it incited the Akatsuki to seize power over the Hidden Rain Village..."
"It is precisely because of this that the current chaos in the Land of Rain occurred."
"Perhaps I shouldn't have longed for power in the first place and should have handed over power to the Akatsuki..."
"However, discussing these things is meaningless; I am the leader of the Hidden Rain Village, and it is due to my inadequate strength that I cannot protect this country. No matter how many mistakes this country has made, they should all be blamed on me."
"During this time, I've been seeking a chance to peacefully resolve the civil war, even at the cost of lowering my head to Konoha and inviting my former defeated opponent, Jiraiya of the Sannin, as an intermediary to mediate..."
"This is only because Jiraiya is closely connected to the Akatsuki, and I am willing to put aside my dignity to win over that young Konoha challenger who once lost to me, just hoping he could help us reach a peace agreement with the Akatsuki..."
"Even if it means ceding power over the Hidden Rain Village..."
"However..."
"I've received news."
"The Akatsuki rejected Jiraiya."
"The Akatsuki refused my peace offer."
"The leader of the Akatsuki claimed that the Hidden Rain Village should have been theirs long ago, demanding that everyone in the Hidden Rain Village must unconditionally surrender to them, accept the rule of those Traitorous Ninja, and that all who once pledged allegiance to me should commit suicide; this is something I absolutely cannot accept."
"It's time to end this civil war."
"I will not place the future of the Hidden Rain Village in the hands of the enemy; I will only hold the future of destiny in our own hands."
"We may fail..."
Salamander Hanzo stood atop the tower, allowing the rain to wash over his body, loudly declaring, "If I fall in this war, then cover my body with your old Ninja Headbands!"
"And then!"
"Forget that I was ever the leader of the Hidden Rain Village!"
"Forget that you were ever my subordinates! Forget my name!"
"Choose a new leader for the Hidden Rain Village; this country needs a peaceful Hidden Rain Village, not Salamander Hanzo's Hidden Rain Village!"
"Perhaps this way..."
"Those who were loyal to me might avoid his purge..."
"If we win, I will pardon all those who once held grudges against me, allowing them to become Hidden Rain Ninjas again, to wear the Ninja Headband of the Hidden Rain Village again, to reclaim the name of Rain Ninja, to act in my name again!"
Salamander Hanzo looked at the crowd of ninjas below, whose morale gradually rose, and loudly continued, "This is not a gift, this is simply the mistake I should rectify. I should never have feared Konoha's threat and yielded. Now, I want to solemnly tell everyone in this world that the Hidden Rain Village has always belonged to all Rain Ninjas, and it's up to us to decide the future of the Land of Rain!"
"Lord Hanzo!"
"Lord Hanzo, this isn't your fault!"
"Lord Hanzo, we certainly won't lose!"
"Destroy the Akatsuki!"
"End the civil war! Attack Konoha!"
A group of Hidden Rain Ninjas loudly roared in the rain with fury.
Although they might once have harbored dissatisfaction towards Salamander Hanzo, at this moment, hearing Salamander Hanzo willingly admit fault in public, even for mistakes he didn't need to acknowledge, they immediately forgave this former superior in their hearts.
He was the Ninja Demigod who once made the Hidden Rain Village famous in the Ninja World!
It was precisely because of this Ninja Demigod's reputation that the Hidden Rain Village was able to survive between three great nations!
After all, Salamander Hanzo had truly done a lot for this country, and they had even once witnessed the arrival of one of Konoha's Sannin, Jiraiya, and seen the exchanges between Salamander Hanzo and Jiraiya with their own eyes.
Obviously.
What Salamander Hanzo said was the truth.
This Ninja Demigod sacrificed his dignity to end the civil war!