Tenzo and Kakashi were still hesitant. Neither of them knew Hanzo's true nature. If he impulsively poisoned Satoshi, it would be troublesome.
Seemingly noticing their doubts, Satoshi pulled out several vials of reagents from his pocket and handed them to them.
"When I was in Sunagakure, Chiyo voluntarily gave me the antidote formula."
Voluntarily gave it?
If the two of them hadn't known Satoshi's way of doing things, they might have actually believed him.
He probably stole it again, right?
"Let's go."
The entrance to this base was extremely well hidden. Without extremely precise intel, it would be almost impossible to discover.
Most of the time, Hanzo would hide here. Elite personal ninjas guarded every key point, preventing enemies from coming to kill him.
In the deepest main room, the light was dim.
Hanzo, the demigod who once made the entire Ninja World tremble, was currently sitting on a large chair. He had aged considerably now, and there was no trace of his former killing intent in his eyes.
Yesterday, he had a dream, dreaming of the red-haired boy with the Rinnegan. He roared and charged forward, using the Gedo Statue to kill him.
After waking up in a fright, he couldn't sleep anymore.
Hanzo once again recalled the events of that year. Many years ago, the dirty deal with Danzo, the leader of Konoha's Root, was the source of his lifelong nightmare.
They ambushed the un-darkened Akatsuki, which was then led by Yahiko. Not only did they force Yahiko to commit suicide, but they also crippled Nagato's legs with an explosion. Konan was also affected.
Under the influence of their bonds, Nagato used the power of the Rinnegan for the first time. He summoned the enormous Gedo Statue. He even almost killed the two old men who ambushed him.
It was precisely for this reason that Hanzo lived in fear every day. He was afraid that one day he would be found and killed by Nagato using the Gedo Statue.
So, Hanzo moved out of Amegakure and moved into this secret base. No one could enter except his personal guards. Only in such an environment could he feel a little at ease.
Outside the base, behind a broken wall, three faces peered out.
"According to the plan, I'll go meet Hanzo myself, and the two senpais will wait for me here."
"Don't worry about escaping. I've already placed a large number of Flying Thunder God markers, so taking the two of you is very easy."
They both nodded.
"Be careful."
"Got it."
...
Knock. Knock.
There was a knock at the door.
Hanzo instinctively gripped his scythe and asked, "Who is it?"
Outside the door, Satoshi, who had used a disguise jutsu, said, "Hanzō-sama, I have important intel."
Hanzo slightly relaxed his grip on the blade. "Come in."
The door was pushed open, and a masked ninja walked in.
Hanzo's pupils constricted.
That's not right. He didn't have a subordinate like this. Had Akatsuki already found this place?
Was he here to kill him, to avenge those fallen comrades?
Hanzo was a little nervous. Being able to sneak in silently meant that his personal guards had already been dealt with.
He asked, "Who are you?"
Satoshi said softly, "Hanzō-sama, have you forgotten your ally from Konoha?"
"Konoha? Ally?"
Hanzo felt a bit strange.
What kind of friends could a person like him have?
Satoshi sighed, "Danzo-sama would surely be very sad if he knew that his former partner had forgotten his words, wouldn't he?"
Hanzo's voice suddenly rose. "You are Danzo's subordinate!"
How could Hanzo forget Danzo?
Speaking of allies, Hanzo still felt that he had been tricked by Danzo. He had fallen for his trick back then.
Danzo said that Akatsuki would affect his rule. For a better future, let us eliminate them together. Konoha can provide full support. But in return, after the matter is settled, the Land of Rain must pledge allegiance to Konoha.
Of course, Danzo was right about one thing.
Akatsuki grew larger and larger, becoming the largest civilian organization in the Land of Rain. This affected his rule.
Moreover, Hanzo didn't trust that despicable fellow, Danzo.
The so-called pledge of allegiance from the Land of Rain was never mentioned again later. This was a mutual deception.
Hanzo still held his sharp scythe firmly. "You say you're Danzo's man, what's your proof?"
Satoshi took off his mask, revealing a disguised face.
Then, he showed the forged Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal on his tongue. Only then did Hanzo relax.
Apart from the deranged Danzo, ordinary people wouldn't come up with such a secretive method.
He asked, "What did Danzo send you here for? If he wants me to pledge allegiance, he should at least come in person, right?"
"No." Satoshi shook his head.
"Akatsuki has not only affected your Excellency, but it has also caused harm to Konoha now."
"We need to dispatch elites to eradicate this organization."
Hanzo's eyes flickered slightly. Had Akatsuki grown to the point where it could threaten Konoha's safety?
Then wouldn't he be in danger of being killed at any time?
The old man, who had lost his fighting spirit, felt an uncontrollable panic in his heart.
Satoshi accurately captured the change in Hanzo's eyes.
He continued, "In the matter of capturing Akatsuki members, we have a common goal. Danzo-sama says that we might be able to cooperate again."
Hanzo didn't speak. He was a bit reluctant to cooperate with that despicable old man again.
But Satoshi's next sentence made Hanzo change his mind.
"Hanzō-sama, how long do you intend to endure this life? Every rustle of leaves or blade of grass makes you jump, and you don't even dare to return to your own village."
Hanzo put down the scythe in his hand, and before his eyes, the grotesque gaping maw and endless aura of death of the Gedo Statue seemed to reappear.
"Speak, how do we cooperate?"
"We need all the information of Akatsuki members."
Hanzo found some yellowed portraits from a cabinet.
"The current leader is called Pain, no one knows what he looks like."
"The internal members include Sasori, a rogue ninja from Sunagakure."
"That yellow-haired Yahiko is already dead. The blue-haired girl is Konan."
"The red-haired one is Nagato, he has a pair of terrifying eyes. I almost died at his hands back then."
At this point, Hanzo couldn't help but complain about Danzo again.
"Originally, I wanted to recruit them. If it weren't for your Danzo-sama's coercion and temptation, forcing me to ambush them, it wouldn't have come to this now..."
Satoshi scratched his head.
Hanzo was truly old. The demigod who once dominated the Ninja World was now just a grumbling old man.
After venting, Hanzo asked again, "Since you're going to encircle and annihilate Akatsuki, when will Konoha's main force arrive?"
"Akatsuki's strength is constantly increasing now, a few ordinary ninja like you can't deal with them."
"Last time, ninjas from Sunagakure entered the Land of Rain, and not one of them returned alive."
Satoshi timely made a surprised expression. "You didn't kill the Kazekage and the others?"
Hanzo shook his head. "It is said that the leader of Akatsuki personally took action, but no one knows his appearance."
Satoshi stroked his chin and spoke offhand, "In that case, how about you use the pretext of negotiations to lure out their leader, and then we all rush in?"
"Negotiations?"
Hanzō now had a psychological shadow regarding negotiations.
He said, "Until I personally see enough weighty Konoha ninjas, especially that old scoundrel Danzo himself, appear in the Land of Rain, I will absolutely not take any action for you."
"Understood."
Satoshi put away the Akatsuki member portraits.
"Thank you, Hanzō-sama, and please rest assured, your good days are still ahead of you."