A month had quietly passed since the last significant events of the Third Ninja World War. This unprecedented conflict had now stretched into its second month, with Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and the Kirigakure launching concerted attacks against Konoha. Yet, despite the initial fervor, the battlefield had settled into an uneasy calm.
Everyone knew the war was far from over. The quiet was unnerving, a prelude to something far worse. Unlike the Cold War periods of the First and Second Ninja World Wars, where sporadic skirmishes were common, this time, there was an eerie absence of movement.
The reasons were clear. Konoha was stretched thin, its forces the most depleted since the village's founding. Defending all fronts had pushed its resources and personnel to the brink. Meanwhile, the other nations hesitated, deterred by the growing legend of the "Yellow Flash," Minato Namikaze. Every attempt to bypass Konoha's defenses had ended in disaster. Eight hundred Rock Ninja perished in a failed surprise attack on the Land of Fire, and the elite strike force of one hundred Cloud Ninja was nearly annihilated.
The balance of power was fragile, held together by Konoha's elite ninjas. Minato's name alone had become a weapon, a deterrent that kept enemy forces at bay. Yet, the tension on the various fronts remained palpable, especially along the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain.
The western sky above the Land of Rain darkened ominously, its perpetual drizzle soaking the barren landscape. Smoke from distant campfires rose into the damp air, adding to the oppressive atmosphere. Nearly a thousand Konoha ninjas were stationed on this battlefield. At their forefront stood a figure with distinctive white eyes and bulging veins at his temples—Hyuga Tenki, the patriarch of the Hyuga clan.
But the scene was grim. Most of the Konoha forces were visibly fatigued, their strength drained. Hyuga Tenki himself crouched low, his breathing uneven. Despite his mastery of the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist and taijutsu, his body trembled, seemingly paralyzed. Around him, his comrades exhibited similar symptoms, their movements sluggish and unsteady.
A faint purple mist lingered in the air, its malevolence unmistakable—Hanzo's poisonous miasma.
Perched atop his salamander, Hanzo gazed down at the struggling Konoha forces with an air of cold detachment. His piercing eyes eventually settled on Hyuga Tenki.
"Your Excellency," Tenki managed through clenched teeth, "why have you attacked Konoha ninjas without provocation? Are you intent on dragging the Land of Rain into this war?"
Hanzo chuckled, a sound devoid of warmth. "Perhaps you should explain why Konoha has stationed nearly a thousand ninjas at my country's border for months. Do you expect me to believe you harbor no ill intentions?"
Tenki's voice wavered, though he tried to maintain his composure. "Konoha's forces have never crossed into Land of Rain territory. This unprovoked attack—"
"I did nothing," Hanzo interrupted, his tone laced with mockery. "It seems my salamander's breath was too much for you to handle. Rest assured, had I unleashed a lethal dose, none of you would be standing here."
The words stung, and Tenki clenched his fists, fury evident in his expression. But there was no rebuttal. Hanzo hadn't even lifted a finger, yet the Konoha forces were utterly overwhelmed.
This was the man revered as the "demigod" of the ninja world, the same individual who once named the legendary Sannin.
"Go back," Hanzo declared, his voice carrying an undeniable finality. "Tell your Hokage that I, Hanzo of the Salamander, will not tolerate Konoha's forces at my borders. If you persist, I assure you the next encounter will not be so merciful."
Without waiting for a response, Hanzo turned his salamander around. The massive creature lumbered away, its form gradually vanishing into the rain-soaked horizon.
In Konoha's war operations room, the Third Hokage sat at the head of the table, his face dark with worry. The news of Hanzo's actions had arrived quickly, and it was precisely the development he had feared most.
"This Hanzo," the Hokage muttered, his hands gripping the edges of the scroll before him. Though anger flickered in his eyes, it was tempered by a profound sense of caution. Hanzo was one of the few individuals in the ninja world who genuinely unsettled him.
The Sannin were among Konoha's greatest assets, yet even they couldn't guarantee victory against the leader of the Rain Village. Hanzo's power was legendary, and the other major nations had clearly persuaded him to act. This single move had shifted the balance of the war, throwing Konoha back into a precarious position.
Utane Koharu and Homura Mitokado, the Hokage's advisors, sat silently beside him. Their grim expressions mirrored his own.
The Third Hokage sighed heavily. Konoha's current situation was dire. Their forces were spread thin, barely holding their ground against the four opposing nations. The few elites capable of matching Hanzo—Hatake Sakumo, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru—were already committed to other fronts. And he himself couldn't move without giving the other Kage a pretext to attack.
That left only one option.
As if on cue, a flicker of light appeared in the room, and a figure materialized before them.
"Hokage-sama," Minato Namikaze greeted respectfully, his golden hair and calm demeanor a reassuring sight. He had been traveling tirelessly between battlefields, ensuring Konoha's defense held strong.
The Third Hokage wasted no time, tossing the scroll across the table. Minato caught it and began reading, his expression turning contemplative.
When he finished, he looked up, a faint smile on his lips. "It seems the demigod of the ninja world wants to test me. I have no choice but to oblige."
The Hokage's eyes narrowed. "Are you certain?"
Minato nodded, his tone confident yet measured. "I've never faced Hanzo directly, but his reputation precedes him. He is the man who named Jiraiya-sensei and the others as the Sannin. I would be a fool to underestimate him. However," he added, his blue eyes glinting with determination, "I believe I'm ready."
The Third Hokage studied him for a moment, then gave a slow nod. "Even so, be cautious. This confrontation is inevitable, but remember—victory here will come at a price. The other nations will not remain idle."
Minato's smile faded into a thoughtful expression. "I understand. And even if I succeed, this temporary peace will not last. The war will undoubtedly escalate once more."
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