The next day, Amegakure.
Inside Hanzo's office.
Under Uchiha Jin's subtle control, Hanzo sat at his desk, flipping through fresh intelligence reports delivered from across the Land of Rain.
Amegakure bordered the Lands of Fire, Earth, and Wind. Strategically, it was invaluable.
Since Jin was waiting for Shimura Danzō to take the bait, gathering intelligence in the meantime was hardly a waste of time. Information was never useless—only unused.
"Hanzo-sama!"
Tenyu's voice sounded from outside the door, carrying a trace of urgency that didn't belong to his usual composure.
"Enter."
Hanzo set down the report.
Tenyu stepped in and dropped to one knee.
"Hanzo-sama, a delegation from Konoha has arrived at the village gate requesting an audience."
"Konoha delegation?"
A faint crimson flicker passed through Hanzo's eyes.
"Who leads them?"
"Konoha Elder, Shimura Danzō."
So. He's finally here.
Hanzo's expression didn't change.
"How many?"
"Three in total—Danzō and two ANBU."
Tenyu paused.
"They're also carrying the corpse of one of our Rain shinobi."
Only three?
The rest of Root must be hidden in the shadows.
It seemed Jin's earlier order to retract Amegakure's forces had produced a chain reaction. Danzō had come cautiously.
Hanzo pondered briefly.
"Bring them to the reception hall."
"Yes."
Tenyu vanished in a flicker.
Hanzo rose and headed toward the hall.
He couldn't make a move within the village—too many eyes.
And his objective wasn't merely Danzō. He intended to wipe out every Root elite Danzō had brought with him.
Now was not the time.
For the moment, he would play along.
After a short wait, footsteps echoed outside.
The doors opened.
Tenyu stepped aside and stood behind Hanzo.
Shimura Danzō entered.
Fully equipped, clad in ANBU-style combat gear, a long blade strapped to his back. His right eye concealed beneath bandages.
The so-called "5.5th Hokage" of Konoha.
One Root operative remained outside. The other followed Danzō in, carrying the corpse of a Rain shinobi.
"An unexpected guest," Hanzo said flatly, glancing at the body before fixing his gaze on Danzō.
"I'd thought men like you no longer led missions personally."
Since the end of the First Shinobi War, Hiruzen Sarutobi—the "Professor"—had rarely set foot on a battlefield. The other elders, Homura and Koharu, were no different.
Danzō had remained active through parts of the Second War, but after Root expanded, he operated from the shadows.
"If the village requires it," Danzō replied evenly, "I can appear anywhere."
"Save your loyalty speeches for Konoha," Hanzo said coolly. "State your purpose."
"I come representing Konoha to pursue peace negotiations with Iwagakure."
He emphasized the word peace.
"We ask Amegakure to mediate."
Hanzo didn't blink.
"And what does Amegakure gain?"
"That," Danzō said calmly, "depends on your choice."
Their gazes locked.
In that silent exchange, a tacit understanding passed between them.
Some matters required no spoken confirmation.
Hanzo's attention shifted to the Rain shinobi's corpse.
"And this?"
Danzō gave a subtle signal. The Root operative stepped forward, placing the body before Hanzo.
"On our way here, we encountered a Rain patrol under attack. The other bodies had been destroyed. We managed to preserve this one."
"They appear to be your clansmen."
Danzō had gone to great lengths to select victims close to Hanzo's bloodline, hoping to provoke anger.
Hanzo's eyes narrowed. His voice hardened.
"Who did it?"
Danzō feigned contemplation.
"At such a delicate time, neither Konoha nor Iwagakure would dare provoke Amegakure."
He lowered his tone.
"The likely culprit is the 'Akatsuki.'"
"Impossible."
Hanzo rejected the accusation immediately.
"The Akatsuki claim to pursue peace. I met their leader only yesterday. Why would they attack Rain shinobi?"
Many knew Yahiko and the others had visited. Hanzo had no reason to conceal it.
Danzō remained unfazed.
"People are not what they appear."
"If their goal is peace for the Land of Rain, then why not join Amegakure directly?"
He let the words hang.
"Their growth has been… rapid."
"Given time, they may replace you."
The tone was calm. The implication poisonous.
Had this been the aging, suspicious Hanzo of canon, doubt might have taken root.
Hanzo's expression shifted subtly.
After a pause, he asked,
"What do you want?"
"I require Amegakure to be led by someone wise."
Danzō's gaze sharpened.
"I can assist you in eliminating the Akatsuki."
"But the bodies of their three leaders must be returned to Konoha."
"Why?"
"They are disciples of Jiraiya of the Sannin."
"There is intelligence within them that must not leak."
The reasoning was airtight.
Hanzo considered.
"I can lure them out."
"But no Rain shinobi will be present besides myself."
"Yesterday, I publicly praised them as the future of this nation."
Danzō nodded immediately.
"Acceptable."
This suited him perfectly.
His true objective had always been Nagato's Rinnegan.
Hanzo was merely the blade he intended to wield.
If too many Rain shinobi were present, Danzō's own opportunity would diminish.
The two continued negotiating finer details.
Time. Location. Signals.
When all was agreed upon, Danzō took his leave.
Outside, unseen and silent—
A vast, invisible net began to tighten.
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