Early in the year 37 of Konoha's calendar.
The Land of Rain...
As usual, a light rain was falling.
"Truly worthy of the strongest hidden village." Hanzō of the Salamander wore a wild grin as he looked at the three exhausted ninja supporting each other in front of him...
"I, the leader of Amegakure."
"The Demigod of the Shinobi World."
"Recognize you." Hanzō stood atop his summoned creature, a giant salamander.
Feeling the familiar drizzle of the Land of Rain...
Today, the rain seemed to be growing heavier.
The cold rain made Hanzō sigh inwardly...
It was finally over.
He had spent so much money, bought so many weapons, and mobilized so many civilians, yet...
In the end, he had still failed.
He knew...
Now...
There was no more chance.
If the stalemate continued, Amegakure's losses would only grow worse.
As the leader of Amegakure, he had to make a decision...
Hanzō clenched his fists tightly, revealing his inner turmoil. Looking at the Konoha ninja before him, he finally...
Sighed inwardly...
"I, Hanzō of the Salamander, leader of Amegakure, known as the Demigod of the Shinobi World..."
"From this day forth..."
"Shall bestow upon you..."
"The title of..."
"Konoha's Three Legendary Shinobi!!"
Hanzō gazed at them...
"Live on with the title I have given you."
Though he had admitted defeat, as Hanzō, he would never show weakness.
So...
This title...
Konoha's Three Legendary Shinobi...
You shall bear it forever...
...
In the year 37 of Konoha's calendar, the five-year-long war came to an end.
The Konoha ninja...
Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru fought the Demigod of the Shinobi World for three days and three nights without showing weakness, earning his recognition and being named Konoha's Three Legendary Shinobi.
Perhaps this title was envied and revered by all the shinobi of Konoha and the wider shinobi world, but for Jiraiya and the others, it was a disgrace. After all...
It was a title bestowed upon them by their enemy.
If they could not defeat Hanzō of the Salamander in the future, this title of the Three Legendary Shinobi would be...
A lifelong humiliation!
...
The Land of Whirlpools.
"Even with so many advanced weapons." Uzumaki Jun looked at today's shinobi newspaper and shook his head helplessly. "In the end, this was still the outcome."
As expected...
Uzushiogakure's involvement had been too minimal.
Thinking of this, Uzumaki Jun curled his lips slightly and murmured, "I wonder how long this peace will last this time?"
The Five Great Shinobi Villages...
What would happen to Uzushiogakure next time?
Uzumaki Jun's eyes showed a trace of worry as he sighed and said, "We must still focus on developing technology."
Right now...
Only technology could allow Uzushiogakure's overall strength to catch up to the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
But how easy was it to develop technology?
"Chiro..." Uzumaki Jun frowned slightly and murmured, "It's time to talk to him."
Just as Uzumaki Jun was lost in thought...
"Knock knock."
The office door was knocked.
"Come in." Uzumaki Jun said calmly. He had already sensed someone approaching the office.
Hoshigaki Fuguki...
Why was he here?
Was he dissatisfied with Uzushiogakure's rewards?
"What is it?" Uzumaki Jun smiled as he looked at the conflicted Hoshigaki Fuguki. "Shouldn't you be at work right now?"
In the end, to avoid disappointing a contributor, Uzumaki Jun had assigned him as the captain of the fishing team. Was he unhappy with this position?
Did he want to be a minister?
Thinking this, Uzumaki Jun frowned and said, "If you have any dissatisfaction, speak up."
But...
He wouldn't agree anyway. This traitor was too unreliable!
"Um..." Hoshigaki Fuguki hesitated. He really didn't know how to say it!
After all...
This was all his own request. Uzushiogakure had fulfilled its promise of rewards, yet now he wanted to go back on it. Would the leader of Uzushiogakure think he was being unreasonable?
But remembering the Kiri-nin who were so grateful and even reverent toward him, Hoshigaki Fuguki's eyes showed determination. "Can I... not take those rewards?"
He was still afraid!
"??"
Uzumaki Jun was puzzled by Hoshigaki Fuguki's words. "What did you say?"
"Don't want them?"
What did that mean?
Were the rewards not good enough, so he didn't want them?
Or...
Was there another reason?
"Why?" Uzumaki Jun frowned. "If you're dissatisfied with my decision, you can say it directly."
"Uzushiogakure is a free and harmonious nation. You won't be punished for speaking your mind."
"No, no..." Hoshigaki Fuguki quickly shook his head. "I'm not dissatisfied. I just don't want them."
Uzumaki Jun said nothing, his deep gaze fixed on him, waiting for an explanation.
"Those Kiri-nin now..." Hoshigaki Fuguki said awkwardly. "I'm worried that if they find out what I did, they'll..."
Kill me!!
Uzumaki Jun nodded in understanding. So that was the reason!
Indeed...
A while ago, when the Kiri-nin were secretly brought back, they were utterly shocked, especially when they saw their families in Uzushiogakure. They couldn't believe it.
After asking their families, they learned what had happened.
Then...
The Kiri-nin imagined a loyal and righteous fat man who, faced with the village's decision and the lives of his former comrades' families, couldn't bring himself to act. Tormented by guilt, he chose to betray his principles and reluctantly sought help from the leader of Uzushiogakure, agreeing to serve Uzushiogakure if their families were rescued.
The leader of Uzushiogakure agreed and used space-time ninjutsu to bring them back safely.
The scene...
Uzumaki Jun still couldn't bear to recall it!
The shinobi of this era were so simple-minded. Once they believed someone was good...
They would never doubt him again.
Uzumaki Jun had been too embarrassed to tell them the truth—that they had been sold.
Especially when he saw seven or eight burly men tearfully hugging Hoshigaki Fuguki. That image...
Still made him shudder. If they hadn't all been men, they probably would have offered themselves in gratitude.
"So you..." Uzumaki Jun looked at Hoshigaki Fuguki with amusement. "Want to be a hero?"
"Heh." Hoshigaki Fuguki scratched his head sheepishly. "It feels pretty good. And if they find out, I'll definitely..."
Be chopped into pufferfish paste!!
"Very well." Uzumaki Jun nodded. "I'll take back the house, money, and position."
Hoshigaki Fuguki opened his mouth. Actually, he wouldn't mind keeping the money. He could use it sparingly, and the Kiri-nin wouldn't notice. But...
He decided against it.
Pushing his luck might annoy the leader.
"Thank you, Lord Jun." Hoshigaki Fuguki quickly nodded, his face full of gratitude. "If there's nothing else, I won't disturb you further."
"Mm." Uzumaki Jun smiled and watched Hoshigaki Fuguki leave. "How interesting."
In the original world, Hoshigaki Fuguki had been killed by Kisame for betraying the village. Yet now, his betrayal had made him a hero in the eyes of the Kiri-nin.
Who knew...
How long this lie would last?
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