The puppet old lady from Hidden Sand?
"Lord Hanzou, how should we handle these rumors?"
The Hidden Rain Ninja who came to report quietly asked.
After all, if not handled properly, this kind of thing can indeed cause significant internal conflict.
"Rest assured, previously it was because the merchant delayed the delivery when we were buying rice, so the distributed food had to be reduced slightly. The day after tomorrow, it will be back to normal. By then, these rumors will naturally fall apart."
Hanzou said confidently.
"Yes."
The messenger also breathed a sigh of relief.
It seems those rumors were merely being used by some with ulterior motives. As the leader of Hidden Rain Village, how could Lord Hanzou possibly make such a shameless compromise with Hidden Sand?
"By the way, Lord Hanzou, there is another matter that requires your decision."
"What is it?"
"According to the investigation by personnel outside the village, recently, there have been massacres in many villages within the Land of Rain, with all resources looted. A total of 2,400 people have died, and many villages have not been counted. Otherwise, the number of deaths would be even higher."
"What did you say?"
In the confined room, upon hearing the death toll, Hanzou stood up, surprised.
He opened the door, walked out, and his face showed both shock and anger.
"Is this information accurate?"
"Absolutely true."
The reporting Hidden Rain Ninja looked solemn.
Hanzou's face was uncertain.
"Are there any clues?"
"Although someone carefully handled the traces at the scene, it's not hard to see that it was the work of ninjas."
"Has this news been sealed off?"
Hanzou asked.
The messenger chuckled bitterly and shook his head.
Seal it off? With such a high death toll, how could such a major event be sealed off?
In just a few days, this event will likely spread throughout Hidden Rain Village, more serious than the previous rumors.
Hanzou sighed.
Indeed, how can such an event be sealed off?
Under the oppression of the great nations' ninjas, now this kind of thing happens, those Hidden Rain Ninjas must suspect that it was done by those great nations' ninjas.
But what would be the point of doing such a thing?
Hidden Sand should have no reason to do this.
The puppet old lady wouldn't target the Land of Rain without reason, involving Hidden Rain Village in the conflict would be disadvantageous for Hidden Sand.
If it were Konoha…
Konoha!?
Hanzou's expression changed slightly.
Then, he calmed down and waved his hand, signaling the messenger to leave.
Returning to the room, Hanzou's face was gloomy.
He picked up a secret letter from December last year, sent by Chiyo, the puppet old lady from Hidden Sand.
The letter stated that Konoha Root Leader Shimura Danzo led Root Ninja into the Land of Rain with unclear intentions.
It also warned Hidden Rain to be cautious of falling into Konoha's trap, turning against Hidden Sand.
"Danzo!"
Hanzou tightly clenched his fists.
His eyes showed a terrifying killing intent.
Although there was no definitive evidence, if Hidden Rain got involved in this war, Konoha would be the biggest beneficiary.
The only quick and peaceful resolution for the Land of Rain now is to secretly support Hidden Sand, quickly directing the war to the Land of Fire so that he can lead Hidden Rain Village to swiftly stabilize the domestic situation.
In this situation, Konoha stands against Hidden Rain and Hidden Sand.
Because if the battlefield stays in the Land of Rain, it's the worst-case scenario for both Hidden Rain and Hidden Sand.
Hidden Rain can't stabilize the situation in the Land of Rain, and Hidden Sand can't achieve its strategic goals.
The only beneficiary would be Konoha.
And with Konoha now appearing utterly exhausted against Hidden Sand, their way to salvage the disadvantage is to pull Hidden Rain into the water, forming an alliance against Hidden Sand Ninja.
"As expected of the Dark Ninja, I underestimated you before, Shimura Danzo!"
The only one capable of such despicable actions and risky maneuvers for Konoha's benefit would be none other than Root Leader Shimura Danzo.
Hanzou angrily punched the ground.
But all of this is just speculation; he has no concrete evidence.
He believes that Root's schemes won't end here; they will surely cause more massacres in the Land of Rain, then frame Hidden Sand.
As long as he finds definite evidence that it's Root's doing, he doesn't mind allying with Hidden Sand to wreak havoc in the Land of Fire.
Even in the face of that Ninja Professor, as a Ninja Demigod, he's not necessarily afraid.
He only fears Konoha's endless stream of elite ninjas, those with Kekkeigenkai and secret Ninja Techniques.
"Bring Kanzo over!"
Hanzou ordered to the outside.
Soon, a Hidden Rain Ninja arrived outside Hanzou's room, kneeling on one knee.
"Lord Hanzou, what are your orders?"
Kanzo, the Hidden Rain Ninja, was an aging middle-aged man.
His right eye was covered with a black eye patch, wearing an old-looking Hidden Rain Ninja headband.
But from his voice, he was still full of vigor, a presence not to be matched by an ordinary ninja.
As one of Hanzou's trusted aides, Kanzo was not only dependable but also one of the Named Jonin with some renown in Hidden Rain.
"I need to investigate some matters personally, and you will accompany me this time."
Hanzou stepped out of the room, wearing an anti-poison mask, with chains around his waist connected to a sharp-bladed scythe on his back.
"Yes."
Though puzzled why Hanzou would go out at such a time, as a subordinate, all he needed was to follow orders.