Outside the gates of Amegakure, the massive body of Ibuse loomed overhead.
Standing at the front were Hanzo—his face pale, one arm gone—and Kizaru beside him, relaxed as ever. Behind them, Tsunade and the others remained on guard.
Moments ago, Hanzo had gathered every shinobi of Amegakure…
…and personally announced their surrender.
The reaction was immediate.
Shock.
Rage.
Despair.
All kinds of emotions erupted among the Rain shinobi.
They had already been pushed back by Konoha's forces, barely holding on. The only pillar they could rely on was Hanzo.
And now—
That same Hanzo had been defeated.
Not just defeated… but crushed to the point of losing an arm.
That was Hanzo of the Salamander—the man they revered as a god.
A legend at the peak of the ninja world.
…And yet, even he had fallen.
Then just how powerful were Konoha's shinobi?
"Hanzo-sama! We can't surrender! We haven't lost yet!"
A jōnin from Amegakure suddenly rushed forward, unable to accept reality. His voice trembled with emotion as he stood before the giant summon.
Hanzo's expression stiffened.
Is this idiot trying to get himself killed?
At that moment, Hanzo genuinely wished he could just bury him under the Sanshōuo.
You might not care about dying… but I do!
"We… surrender. Amegakure surrenders." Hanzo spoke in a low, controlled voice, his gaze flicking briefly toward Kizaru beside him.
"Yare yare… how troublesome."
Kizaru let out a light chuckle, hands in his pockets as he glanced down at the agitated jōnin.
"Well then, I'll leave the rest to you, Hanzo-san."
Hanzo gave a slight nod, then vanished in a flicker.
He reappeared directly in front of his subordinate.
"Think about the village. Think about the Land of Rain. Calm yourself… Hiroyuki."
Before the man could respond—
Smack!
A sharp slap echoed through the area.
The entire scene fell silent.
The jōnin froze, stunned.
Around them, many Amegakure shinobi lowered their heads. Some clenched their fists. Others couldn't hold back their tears.
"Live."
Hanzo's voice carried across the battlefield.
"This country still needs us."
He stood tall, forcing himself into the role of a leader bearing humiliation for the sake of his people.
"Hanzo-sama…"
Another jōnin, Terada Yuyuki, called out hoarsely.
Tears streamed down his face as he suddenly dropped to his knees, fists slamming repeatedly into the muddy ground.
"I… refuse to accept this…!"
His voice broke.
For the first time in his life…
He felt true despair.
A few hundred meters away—
A mass of black, viscous substance slowly emerged from the earth.
Black Zetsu.
"…Shimura Kizaru."
His tone was calm, almost indifferent.
"A powerful kekkei genkai… or perhaps an unknown ninjutsu. Either way, it's something that's never appeared in this world before… how interesting."
As the will of Kaguya and the mastermind lurking behind the shadows of history, Black Zetsu had witnessed countless powerful shinobi rise and fall.
But Kizaru…
…was different.
Watching him from afar, only one thought crossed his mind—
Will this man interfere with the plan?
He had come to the Land of Rain to confirm the situation of Nagato, the wielder of the Rinnegan.
Instead…
He had witnessed Hanzo's complete defeat.
"And now, Konoha has produced another monster… one who may stand alongside Senju Hashirama."
A faint glint appeared in his eyes.
Should I inform Madara?
After all, someone like this…
…could become an obstacle when the time came to gather the tailed beasts.
"…Better to let Madara handle it."
With that decision made, Black Zetsu sank silently back into the ground.
Not far away—
Kizaru tilted his head slightly.
A faint, almost imperceptible presence had just brushed against his senses.
"…Ara~"
His lips curved faintly.
Tsunade immediately noticed the subtle change in his expression and stepped forward.
"Kizaru, what is it?"
"Hmm… it felt like a little mouse was watching us."
His tone remained as lazy as ever, as if it barely concerned him.
"A spy? From Sunagakure?" Tsunade frowned, recalling the earlier conflict.
Kizaru shrugged lightly.
"Who knows~"
Then he smiled.
"But it's already run away."
Tsunade's gaze sharpened as she looked toward the direction he had sensed.
But she could sense nothing.
No chakra traces at all.
After a moment, she let out a quiet breath.
"…We'll stay alert."
Kizaru stretched lazily.
"Rather than that, Tsunade-neechan… shouldn't we finish dealing with this place first?"
"…You're right."
She nodded, her attention returning to Amegakure.
By now, Hanzo had forced the situation under control.
The Rain shinobi stood on both sides of the village gate.
Some wept silently.
Some stared at the ground.
Others looked up at Kizaru and the Konoha forces—
With unwillingness…
With bitterness…
With helplessness.
Konoha's strength was overwhelming.
So dazzling it inspired envy.
So powerful it brought despair.
Meanwhile—
At the border of the Land of Wind—
Inside a command tent, Chiyo sat before a sand table, studying the battlefield layout.
"Sister."
Ebizo's voice came from the entrance.
"Konoha… has clashed with Hanzo."
There was a trace of excitement in his tone.
Chiyo's eyes lit up.
For years, Sunagakure had struggled under harsh conditions.
The Land of Wind was poor in resources. Its daimyo cared more about luxury than expansion. To him, it was enough that Sunagakure could defend itself.
But the shinobi of Sunagakure thought differently.
They lived in a land of endless sand and wind.
Hardship had carved ambition into their bones.
To surpass Konoha.
To seize the fertile lands of the Land of Fire.
To change their fate.
This had been their goal for generations.
From the Second Kazekage developing jinchūriki and puppet techniques…
To the Third Kazekage mastering Magnet Release and becoming the strongest in the village's history…
Sunagakure had been preparing.
And now—
An opportunity had appeared.
Hanzo was holding Konoha back.
If Sunagakure moved now…
They could strike Konoha from another front.
"Send word to the Kazekage immediately."
Chiyo stood up decisively.
"We cannot miss this chance."
Ebizo nodded.
"I've already dispatched a messenger."
Chiyo stepped forward, eyes fixed on the sand table.
"Prepare the troops. Once the Kazekage arrives…"
"We move on Konoha."
Ebizo's expression grew serious as he followed her gaze.
"…There's one concern."
He spoke slowly.
"Konoha's rising genius… Shimura Kizaru."
"He defeated Kumogakure's forces alone… and even captured the Third Raikage."
Chiyo didn't hesitate.
"Then we leave him to the Kazekage."
Her tone was firm, filled with confidence.
"The Third Kazekage… is the strongest in our history."
Against someone like Shimura Kizaru—
Even if he couldn't win outright…
A stalemate would be guaranteed.
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