"How is it?"
"Can you tell what they're saying?"
On Konoha's side, while the discussion with the Hidden Rain shinobi was still going on, dozens of figures had gathered on a hill about a hundred meters off to the left.
They were the original Akatsuki.
"I can't make it out clearly. The rain's too heavy."
Nagato narrowed his Rinnegan as he stared at both the Hidden Rain forces and Konoha for a long moment before answering helplessly.
Even though the Rinnegan gave him vision far sharper than an ordinary person's, it wasn't the Byakugan. It didn't grant that kind of long-distance clarity.
At best, he could only make out their blurred silhouettes through the curtain of rain.
"I just hope they don't end up fighting."
Yahiko tilted his head back and looked up at the dark sky, his voice full of concern.
In his eyes, this country had already suffered enough from constant conflict. It couldn't withstand another unnecessary war.
"Don't worry. The Hidden Rain will get better someday."
Konan turned toward Yahiko and tried to reassure him.
She wasn't even sure why she believed that so strongly, but she did.
"Yeah. We founded this organization for peace."
"But Yahiko, as Akatsuki's leader, you're way too soft. If that's how it is, why not let me take over instead?"
Hearing Konan speak, Hatosuke grinned and immediately jumped in to tease Yahiko.
Ever since joining Akatsuki, this guy had clearly had a thing for Konan.
So whenever she spoke, he always found a way to insert himself into the conversation.
"Hahaha!"
"If you want to be the next leader, you'll have to wait until I'm dead first."
"And with how healthy I am, that probably won't be for another eighty years."
Hearing Hatosuke's teasing, Yahiko laughed and fired right back.
As soon as he said that, the rest of the Akatsuki members burst into laughter as well.
In truth, both the Hidden Rain and Konoha had already noticed their group a long time ago, but neither side paid them any attention.
And in this war, Konoha had never truly been pushed into a real crisis.
So Konoha had not sent its intelligence chief, Danzō, to the front lines.
Precisely because of that, Hanzō had never come into contact with Danzō, nor had he been influenced by him.
Which meant that, at least for now, Hanzō did not see Akatsuki as a thorn in his side.
After hearing Hanzō's excuse that he needed to discuss things with his commanders, Nara Shikaku smiled and nodded.
Then he turned and retreated back toward Konoha's side.
"Well? How did it go?"
Before Yagami could say anything, the assembled jōnin commanders hurriedly asked Shikaku the moment he returned.
The rain was coming down too heavily, and none of them had heard what had been said during the negotiation.
"Hanzō is willing to let us pass. But he has one condition."
Shikaku said it with a smile.
Then, on purpose, he paused.
Instantly, all the jōnin commanders grew restless.
"What condition? Just spit it out already!"
"Yeah, don't leave us hanging at a time like this!"
Seeing Shikaku deliberately dragging it out, the jōnin commanders were practically fuming.
"Hahaha, alright, alright, I'm getting to it."
"He said our commander only needs to survive twenty moves against him."
Shikaku said it with a grin, amusement clear in his voice.
The moment his words fell, the entire area went strangely silent.
All that remained was the relentless sound of rain crashing down.
A moment later, everyone turned to look at Yagami with odd expressions.
They knew Yagami's strength better than anyone.
He was absolutely at Kage level, and not just barely. He was a genuinely powerful Kage-level shinobi.
And yet now—
The condition was only that he survive twenty exchanges against the other side?
They didn't know exactly how powerful Hanzō of the Salamander really was, even if they knew his title as a demigod wasn't for show.
But even so… wasn't this looking down on them a little too much?
"Hahaha… looks like I got underestimated."
Yagami scratched his head and laughed.
He could more or less guess what Hanzō meant.
But for some reason, the feeling still left him a little annoyed.
"Hahaha… Lord Yagami!"
"For the sake of Konoha, you'd better survive all twenty moves!"
At that moment, Kushina suddenly called out to Yagami with a laugh.
The others immediately broke into laughter too.
"Alright."
"I'll make sure Konoha doesn't lose face."
Playing along with Kushina, Yagami deliberately put on a pitiful expression.
That only made everyone laugh even harder.
Then, after the laughter settled down, Yagami turned and started walking forward.
If Hanzō wanted him to last twenty moves, then fine.
He'd give him twenty moves.
The thought made Yagami chuckle inwardly.
"You're Konoha's commander?"
When Yagami approached, Hanzō frowned, clear confusion in his voice.
Earlier, the two of them had been separated by dozens of meters, and with the rain pouring so heavily, Hanzō had only been able to make out Yagami's general appearance.
He hadn't been able to judge his age at all.
But now, with only ten meters between them, Yagami's face was clearly visible.
And that made Hanzō's expression shift.
Because for someone leading Konoha's forces… Yagami looked far too young.
"Come on."
"I'll take your twenty moves."
Yagami glanced at Hanzō, who stood atop the head of the giant salamander, and didn't bother answering the question.
After all, now that he was standing right in front of him, was there really any point in explaining?
"Excellent!"
Seeing how direct Yagami was, Hanzō kicked off with both legs and jumped down from the salamander's head in one clean motion.
To him, this was just a formality—
A small process to satisfy appearances before allowing Konoha's forces to pass.
So naturally, he didn't think too much of it.
Tap.
Landing on the soaked ground, Hanzō drew the kusarigama from behind his back, then curled one finger toward Yagami in challenge.
"Come."
"Show me what Konoha's commander can do."
Ama no Murakumo!
Seeing Hanzō take his stance, Yagami didn't hold back either.
With a quiet snort, he swept both hands out in front of him.
In an instant, a dazzling blade of light condensed into existence before him, and he seized it in his hand.
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