Inside the attic, Hanzō remained seated on the tatami, a scroll held loosely in his hand.
Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan stood to the side, ignored as if they were nothing more than insignificant subordinates.
This was not their first time seeing him. Years ago, during the battle between the Legendary Sannin of Konoha and the so called Demigod, the three of them had been caught at the edge of the battlefield.
If Nagato had not awakened his power in that moment, they would not have survived.
Since that day, Yahiko had come to understand that Nagato possessed a rare ability, one that allowed his strength to surge dramatically under extreme conditions. What once seemed like weakness could transform into overwhelming power in an instant.
Hanzō finally broke the silence after a long pause.
"So, what is it that brings you here to see this old man?"
He did not lift his head. His eyes remained fixed on the scroll, his lack of respect obvious.
Yahiko did not show anger. He stepped forward calmly.
"I hope Lord Hanzō will stop the war. The Land of Rain cannot endure any more suffering."
Hanzō's brow furrowed slightly, but he said nothing.
Yahiko clenched his fists, then dropped to his knees.
"Please. I do not want to see this land fall into war again. I do not want people to suffer, and I do not want more children to become orphans. I am begging you."
Only then did Hanzō look up, his gaze settling on the kneeling youth.
"And if I stop the war, what then?"
Yahiko raised his head and spoke without hesitation.
"Then we will restore order in the Land of Rain, improve the lives of the people, and eliminate the rogue shinobi who threaten stability. Akatsuki will support you with everything we have."
These were not empty words. They were plans he, Nagato, and Konan had carefully discussed.
Hanzō listened, but his expression gradually turned disappointed.
This was not what he wanted to hear.
"And then?" he asked again.
Yahiko hesitated. "Is that not enough?"
Hanzō glanced at him, his tone turning heavier.
"Do you truly believe that is enough?"
He set the scroll aside and continued.
"Do you know of the agreement Konoha forced upon us after the last great war?"
"I have heard a little," Yahiko replied.
As the Five Kage Summit drew closer, more details about those agreements had begun to spread.
Hanzō's voice grew colder.
"The reparations alone will bind the Land of Rain for two hundred years. That is only the beginning."
He continued, listing each restriction one by one.
"The largest mines in our land are controlled by the Land of Fire. Trade is dictated by them. Even the missions our shinobi accept cannot extend beyond our borders without consequence."
He looked directly at Yahiko.
"Under such conditions, do you still think your plan is enough?"
Yahiko was stunned. He had never imagined the situation was this severe.
In Jiraiya sensei's stories, Konoha had always been just and honorable. It was a place Yahiko had admired.
But reality was far more complicated.
"Even so," Yahiko began.
Hanzō cut him off.
"Even so, war should not happen, is that what you wish to say?"
His voice carried authority, pressing down on Yahiko.
"Without war, how do you intend to break these chains? Even great villages like Sunagakure and Iwagakure resort to conflict to ease their internal struggles. Do you believe a small nation like ours has a better option?"
Yahiko clenched his teeth.
"But all of this began because you chose to start that war."
The room instantly grew tense.
"Watch your words," Kazama snapped from the corner.
Hanzō raised a hand, stopping him.
He stood slowly, his presence becoming heavier.
"You believe all of the Land of Rain's suffering is because of me?"
A faint laugh escaped him.
"I once thought the same way you do. I believed that if I unified this land, it would finally know peace."
His voice lowered.
"But I was wrong."
"The Land of Rain lies between three great nations. Our land is small, our resources limited. If we want to grow, conflict becomes unavoidable."
He continued, naming the surrounding nations.
"We cannot provoke the great powers. But weaker countries such as the Land of Rivers or the Land of Grass cannot resist us."
"Yet every time we attempt to expand, the great nations intervene."
He paused.
"To break that cycle, I chose to enter the last great war."
His expression darkened.
"And we lost."
Silence filled the room.
"Since then, I have come to understand something," Hanzō said slowly. "The true source of suffering in this world is not me, but the system created by the great nations."
He spoke of the structure established long ago, where power was concentrated in a handful of dominant countries, leaving smaller nations trapped between them.
"They maintain this balance to serve their own interests. As long as that system exists, the Land of Rain will never truly be free."
Yahiko could not respond.
Everything he believed in began to waver.
He had always thought peace alone would bring prosperity. That understanding one another would be enough.
Now, those beliefs felt fragile.
Hanzō returned to his seat and looked at them again.
"I will ask you once more. Did you come here on Konoha's behalf?"
Yahiko shook his head.
"We are Jiraiya sensei's students, but this has nothing to do with him or Konoha. We came here of our own will."
Hanzō's interest vanished.
Akatsuki was too small to matter. Without ties to Konoha, they held no value to him.
"I have nothing more to say," he replied coldly. "If you want to stop this war, then persuade Konoha to erase the agreements imposed on the Land of Rain."
He took a sip of tea before continuing.
"The current commander on their front lines is known as the Yellow Flash, a student of Orochimaru. Given the connection between Orochimaru and Jiraiya, perhaps they will listen to you."
Yahiko said nothing more.
He turned and left with Nagato and Konan.
Nagato's long red hair covered his face, hiding any change in his expression.
To Hanzō, they were nothing more than idealistic youths. If not for the assumption that they might represent Konoha, he would never have met them at all.
"Lord, they have left," Kazama said, kneeling as he entered.
"What is your opinion?" Hanzō asked.
Kazama thought carefully before answering.
"It does not seem connected to Konoha. Yahiko is simply... naive."
Hanzō narrowed his eyes.
"You sympathize with them?"
Kazama lowered his head immediately.
"No. I only thought they are still shinobi of this land. Perhaps they could be of use."
Hanzō let out a faint scoff.
"They have courage, but they lack understanding. And they are Jiraiya's students. That alone makes them unsuitable."
Kazama remained silent, though cold sweat ran down his back.
Hanzō observed him briefly, then spoke again, more casually.
"Keep an eye on them. Young shinobi often act on impulse, driven by ideals. That makes them easy to manipulate."
Kazama felt a chill. "Your meaning, Lord?"
Hanzō gave a faint smile.
"If you discover anyone secretly supporting Akatsuki, have Watanabe and his men seize those supplies."
Watanabe was known as a rogue shinobi, but in truth, he remained loyal to Hanzō.
The Land of Rain was filled with hidden forces from many nations. As its leader, Hanzō could not act openly in many situations.
So he relied on others to handle what needed to be done in the shadows.
"I understand," Kazama replied, then withdrew.
Left alone, Hanzō did not return to his scroll.
Instead, he sat in silence, lost in thought.
This time, would the Land of Rain rise...
Or fall even deeper into despair?
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