"How long was I unconscious?"
As he hurried along the road, Hanzō couldn't help but think of the question.
The stiffness and paralysis he'd felt earlier were no joke.
"I just hope nothing happened back in Amegakure."
"Rikuto and the others should've handled things, but still…"
"It'll take a few more days to return."
"Should I just test this new power on the way?"
A while later, after reaching an uninhabited mountain region, Hanzō clasped his hands together.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
In a place with no water, a surging torrent materialized out of thin air, compressing rapidly into the form of a dragon.
It flew toward a small mountain ahead.
With a thunderous crash, the water dragon slammed into it.
The entire mountainside shattered into rubble, swept away like a massive mudslide.
"…The Water Dragon's size and form haven't changed—but its speed has at least quadrupled."
"And that much water…"
"A normal shinobi could've formed at least three separate dragons."
"I compressed all that volume into one."
"The size didn't grow, but the destructive power jumped to an entirely different level."
The Gelel Vein's influence wasn't just a boost in chakra quantity—his control over it had transformed as well.
"Next… let's try this."
"Guide the natural energy through my body… Merge it into my chakra."
Pale sky-blue chakra flared around him like flames.
His aura rose several levels in an instant.
"Sage Art: Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
From around him, an ocean exploded outward.
Within a radius of a hundred meters, the earth vanished beneath surging waves.
Three massive Water Dragons roared up from the sea.
Hanzō stepped onto the head of the central dragon, lifted high into the air.
These three Water Dragons were colossal—three to four times larger than his previous one.
Nearly thirty meters tall, they hovered above the waves like a menace, lowering their heads in majestic silence.
Standing atop the water dragon, feeling the icy wind howl past, Hanzō couldn't help but feel awe.
"This kind of power… really is exhilarating."
"Madara's Susanoo—second form, not the Perfect form—should be about this tall, right?"
"Release."
He dissolved the technique.
The massive water dragons collapsed into waterfalls, crashing down from the sky.
The accumulated waves lost their control and surged outward in all directions.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Three columns of water smashed into the ground, spraying ten-meter waves and deafening the land.
"I don't even need hand signs anymore. My control over chakra upgraded significantly.
"All I need is the correct flow."
"Next… test my regeneration."
Hanzō picked up his sickle and sliced directly into his own arm.
A sharp flash—and a gash two inches long opened on his forearm.
A tingling numbness spread immediately, overpowering what little pain there was.
The bleeding stopped almost instantly.
Within a minute, the wound vanished without a trace.
"Not bad for natural regeneration. Next, let's see what happens when I speed it up with chakra."
Another slash.
The freshly healed wound reopened.
Hanzō focused chakra into the wound.
White steam rose as cells rapidly regenerated—and in mere seconds, the injury closed completely.
He nodded in satisfaction.
"This recovery rate… surpasses ordinary Medical Ninjutsu."
"And it requires no concentration—as long as I have chakra, I can sustain it indefinitely."
"On the battlefield, this feels like I have my own automatic medical-nin in myself."
"But, just like The Hundred Healings, this kind of accelerated cell division shortens lifespan."
He glanced at his now-twenty-year-old appearance.
"…Considering the circumstances, the cost is nothing."
"My ninjutsu and recovery… both skyrocketed."
"And this absurd sensory range…"
"But this is only the basic capability of Sage Jutsu."
"The three Great Sage Regions—Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest—each developed Sage Arts unique to their modes."
"My 'Sage Mode' doesn't have any specialized techniques yet."
"Right now it only amplifies ninjutsu and taijutsu."
"I should develop original Sage Arts later."
"This must be a Sage Mode unique to humans."
"If I can help others sense natural energy…
could I pass this Sage Mode on to them?"
"I already have an idea how to make others sense natural energy."
"When I get back, I'll test it on Amegakure's shinobi."
"If it works… Amegakure becomes its own 'Sacred Land.'"
"I wonder how the Three Great Sage Regions will react… and what the Five Great Nations will think."
"Amegakure must move forward…"
Suddenly, he thought of a future threat—
The Ten-Tails Jinchūriki.
If that day ever comes, other shinobi will need the power to face him.
With Black Zetsu lurking, any disaster is possible.
"…Enough thinking. Time to return to the village."
He gathered chakra beneath his feet.
When he stepped forward—the ground beneath him split open.
His body shot forward like a cannon shell, wind screaming in his wake as a sonic boom split the air.
"At full power, my speed is close to the Third or Fourth Gate of the Eight Gates."
"One sprint all the way to Amegakure—let's see what my physical limits really are."
---
Two Days Later
Hanzō sat inside Amegakure's office as Rikuto and Kan reported the situation.
"Lord Hanzo, during the month you were gone, all major incidents have been recorded on this scroll."
"And this—the ceasefire proposal from Konoha, delivered two days ago."
"What?"
Hanzō froze for the first time.
"Konoha wants… a ceasefire?"
"Nonsense. They clearly still have the strength to fight."
He knew Konoha's foundations well.
Not to mention Tobirama's forbidden techniques—a single Nine-Tails Jinchūriki could turn the tide.
Uzumaki Mito was still alive—a monster from the Warring States era.
"What is Konoha plotting…?"
"Maybe they couldn't handle our… disruptions," Rikuto said carefully.
"You should also look at the supplies we brought back from the front."
"…What?"
"This."
He handed Hanzō a scroll.
Hanzō unrolled it—
His eyes widened.
"Land of Fire really is obscenely wealthy…"
He counted line after line:
Gold and silver, bedding, grain, fabrics—items large and small, meticulously categorized.
After a long silence, he rubbed his temples.
"This much… was looted in a single month?"
"Yes. I double-checked the warehouse myself—no errors."
"Our warehouses have already been expanded twice."
"We're working on a third expansion.
There's simply too much to store."
"These supplies alone… equal ten years of the Land of Rain's national revenue."
"Now I understand why the Five Great Nations love war so much."
"The risk and the reward… are perfectly matched."
"What do you plan to do with all this?"
"…Aid civilians. Improve shinobi training."
"And continue the orphanage and medical-ninja reforms you initiated."
"Not bad."
"Handle it yourselves."
"I can't plan everything forever—Amegakure must stand on more than just me."
"We'll reserve some funds as backup."
"Soon I'll travel to the Land of Iron and the Land of Snow—there may be… unexpected opportunities."
"Yes, sir."
"Now then—"
"Let's take a good look at Konoha's ceasefire agreement."
"I want to see exactly what they're scheming."
-------------------------///
Thx for the Powerstones.
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