There were no issues with Hanzo on the way back to Konoha; they weren't far from Konoha anyway, and with Uchiha Rei present, Hanzo couldn't cause any trouble.
"Konoha, ah, I haven't been here in decades. It's much more prosperous than it was twenty years ago."
Standing outside Konoha's main gate, Hanzo sighed with emotion. Konoha was getting better and better, while his Amegakure was in decline, and two more people wanted to seize control of the Amegakure from him.
"Oh? Hanzo-sama has been to Konoha? When?"
Second Body was still curious. Generally, no Village head would go to an enemy Ninja Village. If they gave the signal, everyone would respond, and it would be over immediately.
"At that time, it was still during the Second Hokage's reign. I led a team to Konoha to participate in the Chunin Exams."
Hanzo felt a bit nostalgic for his lost youth. It was a run at sunset. Uh, he was getting sidetracked. Hanzo hadn't expected to have the chance to enter Konoha in this life.
Second Body did not enter Konoha rashly, but instead had the gatekeepers report her arrival. After all, Old Man Third Generation said he would personally lead people to welcome her back.
However, Second Body knew in her heart that the Third Hokage was merely putting on a show. Uchiha Rei's return with Kitsuchi, Five-Tails Jinchuriki Han, and Pakura could be arranged as an event to boost morale.
Second Body naturally didn't care about such minor tricks. Letting others witness her heroic presence and know of her achievements was only beneficial and harmless.
"Hanzo-sama, why did you think of declaring war on the Five Great Ninja Villages simultaneously back then? If you had only fought one, you might have had a chance to win, right? That way, you could have replaced one of the great Ninja Villages outside of Konoha."
Second Body couldn't understand the purpose of Hanzo's high-profile initiation of the Five Great Nations War. It was even more exaggerated than the Old Buddha.
"Uh, well, at that time, the Five Great Ninja Villages were already rife with contradictions, causing bloodshed in the Land of Rain. I was young and idealistic back then, which is why I did it."
Hanzo's face under his mask was also a little flushed. The main reason was that at that time, he both supported the Amegakure and buried its rise.
"I see. It seems one still can't be too arrogant. If it were me, I would first take Takigakure Village. Not only could I destroy a small country and increase war potential, but I could also acquire the Seven-Tails and possess greater deterrence."
"That way, the Five Great Nations wouldn't dare to act presumptuously in the Land of Rain. After that, I would gradually invade the surrounding small countries, gather resources, and subdue Ninjas. Then, no matter which country I attacked, I would have the upper hand."
Second Body felt that Ninjas lacked political acumen and were prone to making foolish decisions when their heads were hot. Whether the Amegakure possessed the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki or Hanzo became a Jinchuriki, the deterrent power would be off the charts.
The Seven-Tails Jinchuriki is the only Tailed Beast that can fly. It can directly air-drop into a Ninja Village, first using a Tailed Beast Ball to blast open the barrier, and then summoning the Salamander to release poison and the Seven-Tails' highly toxic scales.
Fighting within the enemy Village, using attacks on the enemy Village to pin down the enemy Village's Kage, and using Deidara's fighting style, one could quickly kill a Kage and then destroy a great Ninja Village.
Hanzo was a little sad. If Uchiha Rei had been born in the Amegakure back then, perhaps the Amegakure would have already dominated the Ninja World. He really needed such intelligent talents.
Konoha's actions were swift. They immediately arranged for a large number of villagers and Ninjas, led by the Third Hokage, to go out and welcome Uchiha Rei's return.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in formal attire, holding his pipe, led the crowd out of the gate, he was stunned. Didn't they only capture three Kage-level individuals? How was Hanzo here too?
"Old Man Third Generation, that Hanzo's Chakra isn't sealed. You should be careful."
Kushina was in a very good mood, as it was her first official time stepping out of Konoha's main gate, so she kindly reminded Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Third Hokage looked at Uchiha Rei, then at Hanzo, and finally decided to step forward. What did he, a Kage, have to fear?
"Second Body, welcome back! You are truly a hero of our Konoha!"
The Third Hokage first took a puff from his pipe, and a smile finally formed on his gaunt face. He hadn't expected his disciple to grow so quickly.
"Teacher, I have brought the prisoners as ordered and successfully completed the mission assigned to me by the Village."
Second Body also replied with a rather formal pretense, as so many people were watching, and some were even taking pictures with cameras.
"Very good. You rest for three days. You will be assigned a new mission then. But what's the deal with Hanzo?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the expressionless Hanzo and his group, somewhat puzzled as to why this fellow had come to Konoha.
"Teacher, Hanzo-sama came to Konoha to release a mission. We met him halfway."
Second Body didn't explain much, leaving it all to Hanzo to make up a story. This guy bothered others and didn't even think to give them some benefits to smooth things over, so she wasn't going to speak for him.
Hanzo saw that Second Body didn't want to say more and immediately felt that this brat was unreliable, completely unaware that there was anything wrong with him not bribing Uchiha Rei.
The main reason was that as a Village head, he had never done anything like bribing others. He hadn't learned any of these so-called intricacies of human relationships.
"Third Hokage, long time no see…"
Letting the two negotiate, Second Body naturally handed Kitsuchi and the others over to Morino Ida. As for Pakura, she didn't intend to hand her over to the Interrogation Department.
"Rin-sama, aren't you sending Pakura to the Interrogation Department?" Morino Ida looked at Pakura with some confusion, but didn't dare to question it, mainly because Second Body also had a prominent reputation in Konoha.
Not to mention the things she did on the front lines, just by relying on schemes and overt actions, she forced Danzo to defect, which made everyone realize that she was a ruthless person, someone not to be provoked if there was no hatred.
"Pakura knows what Ebizo knows, and what Pakura doesn't know, Ebizo also knows. What? You don't have the confidence to extract all the information from Ebizo alone?"
Although Rin-sama was short, her glance at Morino Ida made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. He, a Special Jonin skilled in interrogation Ninjutsu, couldn't even withstand a single glance from Uchiha Rei.
Morino Ida was Morino Ibiki's father. Second Body didn't know when this guy died, perhaps during the Nine-Tailed's attack?
"Yes, it will just take a little more effort. So, where do you plan to send Pakura?"
Morino Ida dared not defy Uchiha Rei's will. He merely took out a notebook to record Pakura's information, and he would report to the Third Hokage later.
"I want to research Bloodline Limit and need Pakura to assist me in my research. Is that acceptable?"
Second Body knew Morino Ida's little thoughts, and it was still the same old saying: she didn't care. The Third Hokage wouldn't fall out with her over a single Pakura.
"Yes, yes, of course, it's acceptable." Morino Ida felt Rin-sama's fleeting aura for a moment and almost peed himself.
"What 'assisting in research on Bloodline Limit'? Isn't it just being researched?" Morino Ida only dared to complain about Uchiha Rei inwardly.
The Third Hokage and Hanzo had a pleasant negotiation, but the Third Hokage did not intend to invite Hanzo into Konoha, mainly because most people simply couldn't keep an eye on Hanzo.
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