Seeing this, Hanzō of the Salamander frowned, unable to discern what trick Mizuki Ryosuke was playing. However, when his gaze fell upon Hoshigaki Kisame standing beside Ryosuke, a realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.
Given the intensity of their recent clash, Kisame's body should still be showing signs of strain—minor tremors, sluggish recovery, and lingering muscle fatigue. Yet, at this moment, Kisame's arms rested at his sides, steady and composed, as if he had never fought at all.
For a shinobi of Hanzō's caliber, even the slightest detail could alter the course of judgment.
"Something's not right!"
Without hesitation, Hanzō flooded his nervous system with chakra, forcefully disrupting his own senses to break free from any potential illusions. As the world around him spun and stabilized, the figures of Mizuki Ryosuke and Hoshigaki Kisame vanished into thin air.
Shaking off the residual dizziness, Hanzō turned his head sharply—only to find that the two men he had just been facing were now seated comfortably within the room.
Ryosuke, with an air of absolute nonchalance, occupied the very seat where he had previously knelt. Meeting Hanzō's stunned gaze, Ryosuke merely raised a hand and gestured to the seat opposite him with a casual "please" motion.
At that moment, a cold sweat ran down Hanzō's back.
He had fallen into Ryosuke's genjutsu without even realizing when.
The sheer subtlety and precision of the technique were on par with that of the fabled Uchiha Clan of Konohagakure. Yet Ryosuke wielded no Sharingan—meaning he had achieved such mastery through sheer talent and expertise alone.
Had Ryosuke chosen to strike while he was trapped in the illusion, the consequences would have been catastrophic.
Hanzō's lapse lasted but a fleeting moment. As the renowned "Ninja Demigod," he swiftly regained his composure. The fact that Ryosuke had refrained from exploiting the situation suggested he harbored no immediate hostility.
Taking a deep breath, Hanzō's gaze flickered to the main seat, now occupied by Ryosuke. He said nothing—only nodded slightly before stepping forward and seating himself opposite his unexpected guest.
The room fell into silence.
Both men sat cross-legged on the tatami floor, locking eyes in an unspoken contest of wills.
On the other side, Hoshigaki Kisame remained standing. His still-trembling arms betrayed the lingering effects of the battle, a silent testament to Hanzō's overwhelming prowess.
Despite his immense strength, Kisame understood the hierarchy at play here. At this level, he had no place at the negotiating table. This was a battlefield of words and strategy—one where only the highest echelons of power could participate.
Mizuki Ryosuke's earlier words echoed in his mind: "Mist and Rain are not sworn enemies. There is no blood feud between us."
This truth underpinned the potential for negotiations between the two villages.
Yet, Hanzō's initial attack had a clear purpose. Before alliances are forged, power must be measured.
For a man who once held the Three Legendary Sannin at his mercy, discussing cooperation with an envoy of the Five Great Nations was not a privilege to be granted lightly.
The previous skirmish had not been about victory or defeat—it had been a test. Had Ryosuke and Kisame fallen short, Hanzō would not have hesitated to summon his hidden forces within the mansion and eliminate them.
But the fight had proven Ryosuke's strength. More importantly, it had confirmed his status as the Fourth Mizukage of the Mist.
It was only when Hanzō attempted to disengage that he realized he had been ensnared in Ryosuke's genjutsu all along.
A complete and undeniable checkmate.
Yet, despite this, Hanzō was neither angered nor humiliated.
Firstly, he was a man who could acknowledge a superior move.
Secondly, in terms of rank and status, Mizuki Ryosuke—one of the Five Kage—outranked him.
Neither spoke. Yet both were engaged in silent deliberation.
Ryosuke, for his part, was assessing the true worth of Hanzō of the Salamander.
During Kisame's battle earlier, Ryosuke had already measured Hanzō's combat strength.
While he paled in comparison to titans like Hashirama Senju or Uchiha Madara, there was no denying that in the current shinobi world, Hanzō stood among its greatest warriors.
His speed, strength, and technique were refined to near perfection, making him an unstoppable force in close-quarters combat.
Moreover, his summon—Ibuse, the Giant Salamander— added another deadly layer to his arsenal, capable of unleashing powerful poison mist jutsu that could incapacitate even elite ninja.
Few shinobi in the world could claim to have such an impeccable blend of power and lethality.
Additionally, Ryosuke was aware of Hanzō's proficiency in Water Release techniques. Though not as versatile as the elite Mist shinobi, it complemented his already formidable skillset.
His only apparent weakness was his lack of genjutsu resistance.
But beyond his personal strength, Hanzō alone held value.
The Hidden Rain Village itself was merely an extension of his influence.
From Ryosuke's perspective, he was not negotiating with a nation, but with a man.
For years, Ryosuke had pondered what role Hanzō would play in the grand scheme of the shinobi world. Now, faced with the man himself, those long-buried thoughts began to surface.
Meanwhile, across from him, Hanzō's mind was far less composed.
He was at the precipice of war.
Within days, he planned to declare hostilities against the three major villages—Konoha, Iwa, and Suna.
The sudden arrival of the Mizukage at such a crucial juncture left him on edge.
Had Ryosuke merely stumbled upon this moment by coincidence?
Or had Mist already caught wind of his plans?
If so, what was the Mizukage's stance?
Rain had neither the resources nor the manpower to wage war against Mist.
Should Mist join his enemies, all his ambitions would collapse overnight.
Yet, conversely, there was a glimmer of hope.
Mist had no longstanding animosity with Rain. Their histories were separate. If anything, this neutrality could become an opportunity.
Perhaps, if played correctly, Mist could even become an ally.
As these thoughts churned, Hanzō cast another glance at the man before him.
Mizuki Ryosuke sat there, wearing a calm, knowing smile—a smile that revealed nothing.
Hanzō's mind raced, attempting to decipher the Mizukage's intentions.
But before he could formulate an approach, Ryosuke spoke first.
"Leader of the Salamander, I have come in person today because there is something I wish to discuss with you."
As he spoke, he slowly withdrew his hands from beneath his rain-drenched cloak.
A glint of metal caught the dim candlelight.
On the middle finger of his left hand sat a ring engraved with the kanji for 'Water' (水).
The unmistakable seal of the Mizukage.
At that moment, Hanzō understood—Ryosuke was not merely a visitor.
He was officially acknowledging his position as the Fourth Mizukage.
And in doing so, he was shifting this meeting out of the shadows and into the realm of formal diplomacy.
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