Katasuke spoke decisively.
As he spoke, two young men, somewhat reluctant, carried out the village's only remaining grain and placed the bags in front of the Hidden Rain Ninjas.
The two men were tall and thin, their faces waxy pale, a result of malnutrition.
"..."
Silence suddenly dominated the area.
Hanzou looked at the two half-full bags of grain on the ground with silence and bitterness, not picking them up, feeling a mix of emotions.
The other Hidden Rain Ninjas also remained silent, their anger and humiliation visible, something warm wanting to overflow from their eyes.
Has the Land of Rain... really come to this?
How can such a small amount of grain sustain an entire village?
"Lord Hanzou, please accept our small token of goodwill."
Katasuke said in a pleading tone.
As if considering that Hanzou looked down on this small amount of grain.
Hanzou still did not speak, instead scanning the villagers behind the old man.
Silent elderly, confused and helpless young adults, women unwilling to let go of their children, children reaching their hands toward the grain bags, giggling with innocence, their faces covered in dust.
Hanzou picked up the two bags of grain, his action causing the villagers to gaze at him even more eagerly.
"Katasuke, isn't it? I accept your goodwill, but we cannot take these two bags of grain."
Hanzou returned the two bags to Katasuke's hands.
As he spoke, ignoring Katasuke's shouts from behind, Hanzou turned and left this sorrowful place with the Hidden Rain Ninjas.
"Go back and divide up some of the grain."
As Hanzou uttered these words, he felt himself aging by decades, his expression complex, devoid of any energy.
"Lord Hanzou!"
Kanzo wanted to say something, but Hanzou interrupted again:
"Each person save five days of rations, then face off against the Hidden Sand! I cannot bear to delay any longer. This battle must end in victory, no defeat!"
There is no more room to retreat. Hanzou sighed within his heart.
Walking forward, Hanzou dared not look back at those lovely yet sorrowful villagers.
Afraid of their appearance.
Because the more he saw them, the more ashamed Hanzou felt.
He couldn't face his current self.
It reminded him of the fearless self of the past, now drowning in false honor and pitiful power struggles.
Becoming the very kind of person he once despised the most.
When did I begin to become so timid? Hanzou looked at the vast wind and rain, with no one to answer his question.
◎
Except for the sound of rain, everything around seemed silent.
Overlooking countless ditches from the cliff, a peculiar sight created by the gathering rain.
Drenched by the rain, only this way could Hanzou somewhat clear his mind.
Fingers trembling, the inner heart also tense.
What am I capable of achieving now?
Feeling his body no longer as it used to be, his fighting spirit not as strong as in the past, could he really lead a successful attack against the Hidden Sand along with Konoha in a few days?
Hanzou's mind was in turmoil.
The resolve he made in a moment of indignant fervor due to the old man 'Katasuke' was beginning to waver once again.
Afraid.
Anxious.
If he gave up fighting, he could still rule the Hidden Rain for another decade, enjoy others' respect, and the wonderful taste of power.
Why do I have to fight?
Should I give up at this point?
After all, the Hidden Sand's target is only Konoha, he just needs to bow slightly to the Hidden Sand, compromise again, and maybe the crisis will be averted.
In that case, the battle could be avoided, he would still be the revered Demigod of the Hidden Rain.
But then he thought of the devastated Land of Rain, full of starving poor people, the Land of Rain had already fallen to such a state, could he really still compromise and retreat?
If he compromises with the Hidden Sand, would they really let him go?
Hanzou felt his mind incredibly chaotic.
On one hand, he wanted to compromise, on the other, he wanted to fight.
"Lord Hanzou."
A strange voice called out to him.
Hanzou turned around to see three unfamiliar young people, two men and one woman.
Not very old, under twenty.
Young people at the bloom of youth.
Their bodies also appeared a bit underfed, likely from long-term hunger.
Wearing the Hidden Rain ninja headbands on their foreheads.
"Who are you?"
Hanzou inquired about their identities.
"My name is Yahiko, and these two are Nagato and Konan."
The young man at the forefront introduced himself.
Hanzou was sure he hadn't heard of these three names before, possibly bottom-tier ninjas from the Hidden Rain Village, he stood there waiting for them to continue.
"With Lord Hanzou's esteemed identity, it's normal not to have heard of us. But we have long wished for a face-to-face conversation with Lord Hanzou, and now we finally had this opportunity. We come from an organization called 'Akatsuki,' and I am the leader."
Yahiko stepped forward, meeting Hanzou's gaze with humility.
Akatsuki? Hanzou paused, seemingly remembering the name of this organization.
An organization self-established by ninjas from the Hidden Rain, said to be committed to peace, helping the needy within the Land of Rain, with quite a reputation.
Looking at this young man named Yahiko, his body frail, but his eyes were full of an unyielding spirit, something called idealism reflected clearly in his eyes.
Unlike many young people of the Hidden Rain.
This young man named 'Yahiko' had the readiness to sacrifice for his ideals at any time.