This matter...
Suddenly became shrouded in mystery.
Jiraiya bowed his head and began to ponder the purpose of the Akatsuki Organization, "Could it be that those powerful guys gathered together to challenge Salamander Hanzo?"
"After all, he is the legendary Ninja Demigod..."
Akihara Kagura looked at the Hidden Rain Village, full of heavy industrial style, and continued, "From any perspective, Salamander Hanzo has the value of being challenged, doesn't he?"
"..."
Jiraiya began to think deeply.
This disciple made a lot of sense.
Akihara Kagura clenched his fist tightly and said in a low voice, "No matter what they intend to do, we must stop them. Let's just kill Salamander Hanzo first and ruin their plans!"
"That's not a serious plan..."
Jiraiya shook his head, rejecting Akihara Kagura's proposal.
"Then what should we do now?"
Akihara Kagura threw the problem back to his teacher.
Jiraiya thought for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Let's go, let's leave here first and capture some Hidden Rain Ninjas with scratches on their Ninja Headbands on the battlefield..."
"..."
Akihara Kagura nodded silently.
Jiraiya, this teacher of his, really is serious. Though he normally seems unrestrained, he is very methodical in what he does.
"Then let's go."
Akihara Kagura placed his hand on Jiraiya's shoulder.
The two of them instantly used the Flying Thunder God Jutsu to leave the Hidden Rain Village. Such teleportation jutsu always inevitably arouses envy.
Even though Jiraiya had already witnessed another deceased student using the Flying Thunder God Jutsu, he couldn't help but marvel again when Akihara Kagura took him away, "The Flying Thunder God Jutsu is forever the most convenient ability..."
"Shall we go to the battlefield?"
Akihara Kagura's eyes were filled with inexplicable anticipation.
"I will go alone."
Jiraiya quickly shook his head. Although he wanted to teach his disciple some common sense on the battlefield, he was worried that Akihara Kagura might get carried away with killing.
This is a battlefield!
The most likely place for a Ninja to get lost!
The allure of a bustling tavern can't compare to the battlefield!
When Jiraiya had Akihara Kagura wait in a cave, White Zetsu's silhouette slowly emerged, "Now what?"
"Of course, go see Salamander Hanzo."
Akihara Kagura's fingers tapped lightly as if playing a piano, as if strands of silk danced at his fingertips like a puppet show.
Akihara Kagura chuckled softly, asking White Zetsu, "If Salamander Hanzo finds Jiraiya-sensei, and with me, if we go trouble the Akatsuki Organization, how would the Akatsuki respond?"
"Salamander Hanzo has lost his courage."
White Zetsu shook his head, softly reminding Akihara Kagura, "That guy has aged. After that incident years ago, Salamander Hanzo lost his fighting courage and just wants to survive. Otherwise, he wouldn't hide..."
"He's the Ninja Demigod!"
Akihara Kagura chuckled softly but still praised Salamander Hanzo, saying, "I believe he has the courage to confront the Akatsuki... As long as I'm there, he will find the courage."
The Land of Rain.
A very concealed base.
This base seemed like a quiet village, unaffected by the civil war in the Land of Rain, and barely anyone could find it.
Because this base was specifically ordered by Salamander Hanzo as a breeding ground, containing large ponds where giant salamander ninja beasts were raised.
Salamander Hanzo often hid in this base, commanding his trusted guards to protect it, to prevent others from discovering his whereabouts.
"That kid with the Rinnegan..."
Salamander Hanzo recalled an incident from years ago, still with lingering fear.
Many years ago.
Salamander Hanzo and Shimura Danzo teamed up to ambush the Akatsuki led by Yahiko, forcing Yahiko to commit suicide, and almost killed Nagato and Konan with explosive tags.
However...
Nagato's Rinnegan erupted, summoning the gigantic Gedo Statue, capturing Hanzo and Shimura Danzo's subordinates completely, almost killing him.
Since then, Salamander Hanzo constantly feared retaliation from the Rinnegan, always on guard against being killed by the Akatsuki Organization. He feared the power of the Rinnegan, and dreaded the life-devouring Gedo Statue.
Because of this...
Salamander Hanzo didn't dare to live in the Hidden Rain Village.
He stayed on the top floor of this base, with only his closest aides permitted to access it, to prevent more people from discovering his tracks.
Knock, knock, knock...
A knocking sound came from outside the door.
Just as Salamander Hanzo was about to instruct those outside to leave his breakfast by the door, the one delivering the meal suddenly opened the door.
"Who allowed you..."
Salamander Hanzo instantly reached for his scythe!
"Shh, don't move!"
The visitor was an unfamiliar young man.
This young man was Akihara Kagura. With the active help of White Zetsu, Akihara Kagura found Salamander Hanzo's location.
Akihara Kagura held the breakfast tray in his hand, showing no fear of Hanzo's might, smilingly saying, "Lord Hanzo, you wouldn't want to be discovered hiding here, would you?"
"Who exactly are you?"
Salamander Hanzo looked at the boy and shouted coldly, "How did you find this place? Who leaked my whereabouts?"
"Calm down."
Akihara Kagura kept smiling at him and even sat down, placing the breakfast tray on the ground, "Lord Hanzo, do you remember your former ally?"
"..."
Salamander Hanzo couldn't recall immediately.
"Do you need a reminder?"
Akihara Kagura smiled at Salamander Hanzo, continuing, "Your ally against the Akatsuki, but suffering heavy losses... It seems Lord Hanzo is still troubled by the Akatsuki!"
"You are... a subordinate of Danzo!"
Salamander Hanzo remembered the ally who caused him harm.
If it weren't for that ally claiming that the Akatsuki posed a threat, he wouldn't have turned hostile against them, nor let the situation deteriorate to this point!
Of course.
As the ally predicted.
The development of the Akatsuki indeed threatened his rule.
More and more Hidden Rain Ninjas defected to the Akatsuki.
In fact.
Salamander Hanzo also deceived Shimura Danzo.
Salamander Hanzo knew Shimura Danzo wanted to use him, yet he knew his own limits. He knew the Land of Rain wouldn't fully pledge loyalty to any great nation, only promising verbally but never fulfilling.
"What does Shimura Danzo want?"
Salamander Hanzo's hand remained on his scythe, not daring to relax, concerned about his safety, "Who exactly told you I live here?"
"Don't rush."
Akihara Kagura reached for the chopsticks on the breakfast tray, as if in his own home, "It was early, I hadn't had breakfast yet..."
"Kid! You think I won't kill you?"
Salamander Hanzo's scythe almost instantaneously pressed against Akihara Kagura's neck!
"The Ninja Demigod is this brave?"
Akihara Kagura didn't care about the scythe at his neck and continued to eat Salamander Hanzo's breakfast, mumbling, "The food here isn't great, improve it next time."
"Oh, right."
Feeling the chill on his neck, Akihara Kagura continued to enjoy his breakfast, casually reminding, "I forgot to introduce myself. I'm not just Lord Danzo's subordinate. I'm Akihara Kagura. I have many identities, which one would you like to know?"
"Oh, right."
"A friendly reminder."
"Each of my identities represents a possible fate for you..."
"You can take the time while I have breakfast to ponder which fate you want, which identity of mine you want to know?"