"Instead of worrying about the jinchuriki's whereabouts, you should be more concerned about your base. Without you there, it'll be vulnerabl
"Instead of worrying about the jinchuriki's whereabouts, you should be more concerned about your base. Without you there, it'll be vulnerable.
Watch out for Hanzo; he might wipe you out completely," Kai said, a smirk playing on his lips. "I'll take over the escort mission.
Helping others is my pleasure; I even enjoy seeing things through to the bitter end!" With that, he casually disappeared with Kimimaro.
Yahiko and the others were stunned. Nagato tried to give chase, but Konan stopped him.
"Yahiko, Nagato, I trust Kai. If he were truly malicious, he wouldn't have warned us about Hanzo's plans," Konan said, worry evident on her face.
"And Kai's right. Our base is already short-handed, and Hanzo will surely exploit that weakness. We should return and check on things immediately."
"But…" Nagato hesitated, but Yahiko shook his head.
"If Uchiha Kai hadn't intervened, our mission would have already failed. Besides, with our current state, we can't safely escort the jinchuriki to Amegakure.
Regardless of his motives, we have no choice but to rely on him," Yahiko said gravely. "Let's retreat before we understand Hanzo's full intentions."
With Konan and Yahiko's agreement, Nagato, despite his reluctance, nodded, leading the three injured members and Kumayama in a hasty retreat.
About two or three minutes later, several figures descended from the surrounding area. Leading them was Hanzo, wearing his distinctive mask.
"Hanzo-sama, we found no trace of Akatsuki, nor the Takeuchi clan's bodies," a Rain shinobi reported.
Looking at the devastated battlefield, Hanzo's face darkened. "Where is Danzo?" he demanded. "I want to know what happened in that third-rate organization.
They possess incredible strength; not only did they repel the Takeuchi clan, but they also caused this level of destruction."
"Yes!" The Rain Anbu, their expressions grim, dispersed to search the area. They held a deep respect for Hanzo, the iron-fisted ruler who had made Rain a military power despite the pressure from the Five Great Nations.
Observing the now silent ruins, Hanzo's fingers clenched. "I won't allow anyone to threaten my rule. I thought I could use them, but it seems they're expendable."
"Oh, Hanzo, you're so impatient," a shadowy figure emerged from the nearby ruins. The black and white face of Black Zetsu caused Hanzo's expression to harden. He instantly formed hand seals.
Body Flicker Technique!
With a ghostly movement, Hanzo appeared behind Black Zetsu. His chain sickle slashed towards Zetsu's neck.
Slash! Zetsu's head flew into the air. However, Hanzo's face darkened further. His sickle was coated with his potent poison, a guaranteed kill. Yet, the seemingly lifeless Black Zetsu's body writhed, reforming itself.
"Hanzo-sama, there's no need for violence every time we meet. I'm here to propose a deal," Black Zetsu said, gesturing to the desolate landscape. "I imagine this scene is quite unexpected to you. You wouldn't normally care about Akatsuki."
"But if you agree to cooperate, I can tell you a secret."
Hanzo's expression was grim. He tightened, then loosened his grip on his sickle. Consolidating his power was paramount; this dual-faced being's origins were secondary. His priority was understanding Akatsuki's threat.
"Hmph, I have no interest in dealing with such a mysterious individual," Hanzo said coldly, maintaining his composure. "However, if your information proves useful, I might consider a transaction."
Black Zetsu smiled, watching Hanzo, already manipulated, play the role of a cautious leader. As Misumi had said of the reanimated Hanzo, the demigod had lost his will to challenge, his drive to overcome stronger opponents. His only thought was to eliminate threats.
"If I tell you that one of Akatsuki's three leaders possesses the Rinnegan, a dōjutsu only the Sage of Six Paths possessed, would you be interested in acquiring it?" Black Zetsu asked, cutting straight to the chase.
The Rinnegan of the Sage of Six Paths?
Hanzo's expression changed drastically. Even he, the demigod, was shaken. He was at the pinnacle of shinobi, a demigod! But compared to Madara and Hashirama, he knew he was still far behind.
As a peak shinobi of the previous generation, he understood the Sage of Six Paths' power, surpassing even the God of Shinobi.
The Rinnegan was legendary. Obtaining it would not only change his situation but also reshape the shinobi world. It was the only explanation for the scale of destruction he'd just witnessed.
Seeing the greed flash in Hanzo's eyes, Black Zetsu smiled. "Hanzo-sama, it seems you're quite interested in the Rinnegan. However, someone is approaching from a distance. I'll take my leave. Danzo will provide further details."
With that, Black Zetsu vanished into the ground.
"Danzo?" Hanzo's face darkened. "So, that's why he approached me. His ambition is considerable, colluding with this dual-faced being."
"However, the Rinnegan's location is worth pursuing. If I obtain the Sage of Six Paths' power, my rule will be absolute, and the Five Great Nations will bow before me."
As he envisioned his glorious future, a dark figure swiftly approached. The figure's forehead protector revealed their identity, surprising Hanzo.
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