Rain Village.
At this moment, Shimura Danzō was waiting for news of Hanzo's triumphant return.
In his eyes, Hanzo crushing the leader of a fledgling organization was no problem at all.
Just as he was feeling smug, a Root operative's low voice came from the shadows.
"Danzō-sama."
"Speak."
Danzō looked toward the reporting Root ninja, already picturing the good news to come.
Root would secure cooperation with Rain Village and gain access to even more resources.
With that, Root could expand recruitment as well.
As for Hiruzen Sarutobi's plan to expand Anbu, Danzō had known about it for a long time.
"Hanzo's unit is ten miles out, but… something's off."
"Be clear."
Danzō's confident expression tightened. He frowned.
"Our people observed from a distance. The Rain formation is loose, more than half are wounded, and Hanzo himself seems injured. Most importantly…"
The Root ninja hesitated.
"They brought back no prisoners, and there are no signs of victory."
Danzō's single eye narrowed.
The sealed room fell into a short silence, broken only by the steady tap… tap… of dripping water.
"Akatsuki's strength… exceeded our estimates," Danzō said at last, his voice emotionless.
"Or did Tsunade's side interfere?"
"Based on frontline analysis, Tsunade did not participate directly. But her student, Kiyohara, displayed… abnormal combat capability. Also, Akatsuki's red-haired ninja summoned a massive creature suspected of having chakra-absorbing abilities."
"Absorbing chakra…"
Danzō stared at the Root ninja, half suspecting the report was nonsense.
It was supposed to be the simple suppression of a new Rain-country group—how had it turned into this many curveballs?
Where the hell had this escalated to? Was this still the ninja world?
"Any intel on Nagato?"
"His eyes appear to be the Sage of Six Paths' eyes."
Watching Danzō's expression, the Root ninja added cautiously.
"The Sage of Six Paths…"
Danzō recalled ancient records—legends about the Sage and the Rinnegan.
Most people dismissed them as myths.
But what if they weren't myths?
"Where is Hanzo now?"
"He's entered Rain Village's outer security zone. Estimated arrival at the tower in fifteen minutes."
Danzō stood up.
"Prepare to withdraw."
"S-sir?"
"This cooperation has failed. Hanzo's authority is damaged. Rain Village will destabilize internally. If we remain here, we'll only become a target for every faction."
Danzō strode to the hidden-room exit, stopping before the stone door.
"Tell Hanzo that Konoha will continue monitoring Rain's situation. As for mining rights… we'll discuss it after he stabilizes his position."
"Yes."
The Root ninja bowed and melted back into the shadows.
Danzō pushed the stone door open. The sound of rain suddenly became sharp and loud. He paused at the stairwell corner, listening to droplets strike the tower's outer wall.
Kiyohara…
That brat again!
Danzō had thought he was just another flash-in-the-pan genius. The world never lacked geniuses—almost none lived long enough to become legends.
But now it seemed this young man wasn't merely "talented."
"Uchiha blood, plus Tsunade's tutelage…"
Danzō muttered.
"Hmph. They've only made that innately vile bloodline even more intolerable."
Danzō clenched his fist.
He'd always hated the Uchiha—especially after repeatedly failing to recruit Kiyohara, after Kiyohara had attacked one of his training bases, after everything.
Added together, it made Danzō feel Kiyohara was a pure-blood Uchiha through and through.
Yes—born evil.
But contrary to Root's estimate, Hanzo's group returned sooner.
Urgent footsteps pounded up from below.
Several Rain shinobi hauled a stretcher up the stairs. On it lay Kankura's corpse—his throat wound crudely treated, yet still horrifying.
Danzō stepped aside, his gaze sweeping the body.
A clean one-hit kill.
No wasted motion.
A method only seasoned battlefield veterans usually had… and yet Kiyohara was only a teenager.
"Danzō-dono."
Hanzo's voice rose from below.
"Looks like it was a fierce battle," Danzō said flatly.
Hanzo climbed the stairs and stopped beside Danzō.
Neither looked at the other. Both stared out into the endless rain beyond the window.
"Akatsuki is harder to deal with than expected," Hanzo said.
"Especially that red-haired Nagato… and Kiyohara."
"What jutsu did Kiyohara use?"
"Senjutsu."
Danzō's pupil tightened slightly.
"Mount Myōboku's senjutsu?"
"Not sure," Hanzo shook his head.
"But it was definitely senjutsu. The natural energy fluctuations—the distinct chakra sensation… I wouldn't mistake it."
"Tsunade taught him?"
"Doesn't seem like it," Hanzo said after thinking.
"I know Tsunade's style. Her senjutsu cultivation isn't deep. What Kiyohara used… felt like a system of his own. Rough, but with terrifying potential."
Silence fell again.
The rain intensified—fat drops slamming against the glass with rapid pa-pa-pa.
"Put the mines on hold for now," Danzō finally said.
"Handle your internal problems first. After this loss, some people will start moving."
Hanzo didn't argue.
Rain Village had never been a single monolith. The clans and factions had always fought in the open and in the dark.
He'd suppressed them with power and an iron hand—but the moment he showed weakness, those buried ambitions would rise.
"And Konoha's side…"
"I'll handle it," Danzō turned and headed down the stairs.
His silhouette vanished around the bend.
Hanzo remained alone at the window, rain reflecting in his eyes—eyes that had once been sharp as a hawk, now looking strangely clouded.
He pressed a hand to the bandage on his chest. Pain pulsed there.
That punch from Kiyohara hadn't just broken ribs—it had shattered the invincible image he'd maintained for years.
"Even heroes grow old…"
Hanzo laughed at himself, bitterly.
He remembered Yahiko's words—how the orange-haired youth had looked at him with nothing but disappointment and anger.
"You're no longer the Hanzo you used to be."
Maybe the kid was right.
Hanzo closed his eyes, old scenes rising in his mind.
Back then Rain was all fire and ruin. He'd stood alone on the border, a wrecked village behind him and the allied forces of three great nations in front.
He'd thought he was protecting his country.
But now… perhaps he'd only been protecting his grip on power.
"Hanzō-sama."
A Rain jōnin approached carefully.
"The casualty numbers are in.—"
Hanzo listened quietly.
"Understood. Have medical squads prioritize the wounded. Pay standard compensation to the dead. And…"
He paused.
"From today onward, Rain Village is under martial law. All external missions are suspended. Recall every shinobi currently outside."
"Yes!"
The jōnin hurried off.
…
The Mountain Graveyard.
Uchiha Madara sat before the Demonic Statue, his withered body swallowed by a black robe.
His breathing was so light it was almost inaudible, but the rise and fall of his chest proved he still lived.
When the Statue returned and White Zetsu helped plug the tubes back in, Madara's complexion finally improved.
Absorbing chakra from the Demonic Statue, Madara opened his eyes.
"Where is Obito?"
"Still on the way back," White Zetsu answered.
"I see," Madara said.
He'd once thought Obito was strong enough—but after seeing Kiyohara, he realized it wasn't nearly enough.
White Zetsu had already relayed battlefield intel.
"When Obito returns, we'll need Kiyohara to 'stimulate' him again," Madara thought.
The Uchiha were a cursed clan—the more pain they felt, the stronger they became, the more they drew out the Sharingan's power.
Madara understood that well.
So he planned to use Kiyohara to force Obito's growth.
Their earlier actions had already proven it could work.
…
The next day.
Konoha, Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind the broad desk. His pipe had long gone cold, yet he didn't notice. Tsunade's latest intelligence scroll lay open in front of him.
"Senjutsu…"
He murmured the word, tapping his pipe against the desk's edge.
He remembered years ago—Jiraiya returning from training, bursting with excitement as he demonstrated Sage Mode.
Back then the toad traits on Jiraiya's face were still obvious, but his eyes had been bright.
"Old man, look! This is Mount Myōboku's senjutsu—now I definitely can…"
Definitely can what?
Hiruzen closed his eyes.
The memory had blurred.
Jiraiya had said many grand things—about changing the shinobi world, about finding the "Child of Prophecy," about true peace.
Now that noisy white-haired student had grown into a pillar of strength.
"And Kiyohara learned senjutsu too…"
Hiruzen opened his eyes. His gaze fell on the report's descriptions of Kiyohara's performance.
"Tank Hanzo's iaijutsu… Wind Style power beyond standard S-rank…"
Each line forced Hiruzen to revise his appraisal upward.
This child's growth rate was beyond everyone's expectations.
No—maybe Orochimaru had foreseen it. That student, with his abnormal obsession with excellent bloodlines, had shown unusual interest in Kiyohara from the start.
No wonder Orochimaru was the first of the Sannin to extend an olive branch—taking Kiyohara on as an assistant.
A soft knock at the door.
"Enter."
An Anbu operative slipped in soundlessly and knelt.
"Hokage-sama. The latest compiled intel from the Rain front is ready."
"Report."
"Hanzo retreated with his remaining forces and immediately declared village-wide martial law. All external missions suspended. Our embedded source reports signs of instability—representatives of three clans met in secret last night. Details unknown."
Hiruzen nodded. That was expected.
Hanzo's authority had taken a hit; the factions he'd suppressed for years would inevitably stir.
"And Akatsuki?"
"Yahiko is consolidating survivors and treating the wounded. Nagato collapsed into a coma from chakra exhaustion. Akatsuki suffered eleven dead and twenty-three seriously wounded—but morale is rising. They repelled Hanzo head-on."
The Anbu paused, then added:
"Our agents ask whether they should remain in Rain to provide continued assistance."
Hiruzen considered.
Rain's position was too important—wedged between the Lands of Fire, Wind, and Earth, it had always been contested ground.
That was why every great nation had spies there. Hiruzen could get intel both from Tsunade and from his agents.
Now that Hanzo was weakening and Akatsuki was rising, Rain's entire balance would shift.
Occupy Rain?
The thought flickered, then he dismissed it.
Rain's terrain was harsh—mountains and endless rain, poor agriculture.
If Konoha occupied it by force, they'd face Rain remnants' guerrilla resistance and would border Sunagakure and Iwagakure directly, guaranteeing more border conflict.
More importantly, the war had already dragged on too long. Konoha's strength was drained, and civilians wanted peace.
"Tell Tsunade the mission is complete. She may return," Hiruzen decided.
Tsunade's report had suggested Konoha could leverage this moment to cooperate with Akatsuki—Hiruzen agreed.
"As for Akatsuki… send a shipment of medical supplies and basic tools in the Hokage Office's name. Tell Yahiko that Konoha recognizes Akatsuki as a legitimate political organization within the Land of Rain and is willing to cooperate on equal terms."
"Yes."
The Anbu wrote it down but didn't leave.
"Something else?"
"About public messaging…"
The Anbu asked carefully.
"Should we keep it confidential?"
Hiruzen's fingers tapped the desk.
Messaging.
The word pulled him back to the Second Great Ninja War.
The title "Three Sannin" had come from Hanzo—not praise, but mockery.
Three young prodigies had fought together and still lost. Hanzo "mercifully" spared them and "bestowed" the name.
It had once been a humiliation for Konoha.
Now Tsunade's student, fighting alongside Akatsuki, had beaten Hanzo head-on.
It was perfect propaganda.
"Publicize it," Hiruzen said slowly, an experienced politician's glint in his eyes.
"Emphasize two points. First: Konoha shinobi assisted a Rain-country peace organization to resist tyranny. Second: highlight this as proof of Konoha's new generation's strength."
He paused, then added:
"Just like the Chūnin Exams, we must show every nation Konoha's power—undeniable power."
"Understood."
The Anbu vanished.
The office fell quiet again.
Hiruzen stood at the window.
Early-rising villagers had begun their day, children's laughter drifting faintly from afar.
That peaceful scene was bought with shinobi blood.
"Rewards…"
Hiruzen returned to the desk and unrolled a fresh scroll.
This time, they had earned it.
Shizune should be promoted to Special Jōnin.
She'd followed Tsunade for years—medical ninjutsu, poisons, taijutsu—all at a solid level. Her performance in Rain had been strong.
Kurenai… exceptional genjutsu talent and well-rounded combat ability. She could be promoted to jōnin.
She was young, but wartime demanded exceptional promotions.
Tsunade…
Give her money.
That girl was always broke.
Hiruzen shook his head with a wry smile and wrote: mission bonus—one million ryō.
Finally: Kiyohara.
Hiruzen's pen hovered, hesitating.
Money? That kid didn't seem attached to it.
A jutsu, then.
Hiruzen decided to reward him with a technique after he returned.
"And Root…"
Hiruzen's brow tightened.
Tsunade had explicitly described Danzō's actions in Rain—attempting to wipe out Akatsuki, even sending Root operatives to assassinate Konan.
None of it had been approved by the Hokage Office.
"Anbu."
"Present."
Another Anbu appeared.
"Notify Finance. Starting next quarter, cut Root's budget by twenty percent."
The Anbu blinked but didn't question it.
"Yes. Should we notify Danzō-sama?"
"When he returns, I'll tell him myself," Hiruzen said.
He decided—for now—not to inform Koharu and Homura.
They were advisors too, but when it came to Danzō, they always preferred smoothing things over.
This time, Hiruzen wanted Danzō to understand: the Hokage was Konoha's highest authority.
The Anbu disappeared.
Hiruzen lifted his pipe and took a deep pull.
The harsh tobacco taste circled his lungs, and when he exhaled, it became a barely audible sigh.
Konoha's great tree looked lush above ground… but below, its roots had long since tangled into knots.
And how much longer could the Third Hokage prune those roots?
…
At the same time—Land of Earth, Iwagakure.
Ōnoki floated a meter above the floor, small frame hovering, arms folded, brow furrowed.
Around the long table sat more than a dozen of Iwa's top brass.
Kitsuchi sat on the left—Ōnoki's son and one of Iwa's pillars.
"You've all read the Rain intel?" Ōnoki asked.
Silence. Each person had a brief report in front of them—the basics of the Rain incident.
"Hanzo lost," Ōnoki continued.
"He lost to a rising organization and a Konoha squad—more precisely, to Tsunade's student Kiyohara and the summon Nagato called."
"Kiyohara…" Kitsuchi spoke, low and cautious.
"Father, according to reports, his record since this war began is conspicuous. He also appeared at Kannabi Bridge. And he captured Pakura."
"Too young," an elder said.
"At that age, even Hatake Sakumo didn't have achievements like this."
"Sakumo didn't have senjutsu," another countered.
"The report clearly says Kiyohara used senjutsu. Even tanking Hanzo's iaijutsu… that kind of defense is beyond normal ninjutsu."
Ōnoki floated down and walked to the map.
Rain's location was marked.
"You all know Rain's geography," he said, pointing.
"Wedged between us, the Land of Fire, and the Land of Wind. Under Hanzo, Rain claimed neutrality—but in reality, it played all three sides for profit."
"Now Hanzo is weakening and Akatsuki is rising," Kitsuchi followed.
"From Akatsuki's ideals, they lean toward peace and oppose major-nation aggression. That's not necessarily bad for us—Rain won't fall entirely into Konoha's hands."
"The problem isn't Akatsuki," Ōnoki turned, gaze sweeping the room.
"It's Konoha."
"Kiyohara's growth rate has surpassed normal 'genius.' If he keeps growing, what kind of monster will Konoha have in ten years?"
No one answered.
"So you mean…" Kitsuchi ventured.
"We're already at a disadvantage," Ōnoki said.
"Kannabi Bridge cut our supply line. Even if we've made progress near Grass, overall, the longer this war continues, the more Iwa bleeds."
He paused.
"My recommendation is to negotiate peace with Konoha."
"Peace?" someone protested.
"Tsūchikage-sama, negotiating now is admitting defeat. We'll have to give back territory we took in Grass."
"Then give back part of it," Ōnoki said flatly.
"Trade land for time. Konoha doesn't want a two-front war either. They're watching Mist to the east and Sand to the west. If we propose terms, Hiruzen will accept."
"But—"
"No buts."
Ōnoki's voice cut through.
"The purpose of war isn't destruction. It's profit. If we keep fighting, all Iwa earns is longer casualty lists. With peace, we keep most of what we gained—and buy development time."
He floated up again, looming.
"Put Kiyohara on the S-rank threat list. Inform all Iwa shinobi outside the village: if they encounter him, immediate withdrawal is permitted and will not count as mission failure."
"S-rank?" someone exclaimed.
"He's only a teenager!"
"Wasn't Namikaze Minato similar back then?" Ōnoki snapped.
"Only a bit older."
He'd seen Uchiha Madara's power. He knew what the Uchiha were capable of—and how high a genius's ceiling could be.
"What about when he's twenty-six? Thirty-six? Do we wait until he becomes a second Madara before we regret not treating him seriously?"
That name shut everyone up.
Uchiha Madara was a nightmare for the old generation.
Even "dead," his shadow still loomed.
"Meeting adjourned," Ōnoki waved.
"Kitsuchi, stay."
The others filed out until only father and son remained.
"Father… do you really think Kiyohara can reach Madara's level?" Kitsuchi asked quietly.
Ōnoki didn't answer at once.
He drifted to the window, looking out at Iwa's stone architecture.
The village built among mountains was defensible—but also enclosed, heavy.
"Kitsuchi, have you ever seen Uchiha Madara?"
"No. He died before I was born."
Kitsuchi found the question strange.
"I have," Ōnoki's voice carried rare weight.
"I was young, following Mū-sama to a Five Kage meeting. Madara stood beside the First Hokage, said nothing—just looked over…"
Ōnoki shook his head as if to fling off the memory.
"That pressure… I still remember it. It wasn't just stronger power. It was different. Like the difference between humans and tailed beasts."
Kitsuchi fell silent.
"Kiyohara doesn't feel like that yet."
"Then we prepare before he does," Ōnoki said, turning back.
"Peace talks are step one. Step two… make contact with Rain's Akatsuki."
Kitsuchi froze.
"Contact Akatsuki? Aren't they Konoha's allies?"
"There are no eternal allies," Ōnoki said meaningfully.
"Only eternal interests."
"Akatsuki wants to change Rain. They need resources, technology, international recognition. Konoha can give that—and so can we."
"I understand," Kitsuchi nodded.
"I'll arrange reliable people to approach them."
"Careful," Ōnoki warned.
"Don't let Konoha notice."
"Yes."
After Kitsuchi left, Ōnoki hovered alone in the empty room.
Outside was the village he'd protected his whole life—every stone soaked with the will of past Tsūchikage.
And now, a new threat was rising.
"Uchiha… what a troublesome clan."
His voice faded into the air.
…
Land of Lightning, Kumogakure.
The roar of a waterfall drowned everything.
Yugito stood beneath the crashing torrent, letting the current batter her body.
Chakra surged inside her, pushing back against the water's force.
"Yugito, take a break," Samui called from the bank.
The blonde kunoichi held a stack of documents, her face full of weary resignation.
"Not yet," Yugito bit out.
"I'm still not strong enough."
"You're already strong," Samui said.
"Fully controlling the Two-Tails… hardly anyone in Kumo's history has done that."
"So what?" Yugito stepped out of the waterfall. Her soaked clothes clung tightly, outlining a powerful, athletic figure.
Kumo hadn't had many Two-Tails jinchūriki. Its history simply wasn't that long.
"And I still lost to Kiyohara."
Samui sighed.
Ever since Yugito's loss to Kiyohara, she'd become even more relentless.
Training tripled. More missions. Less rest.
"This is the latest Rain intel," Samui handed her the file.
"Kiyohara has another achievement—he and Akatsuki repelled Salamander Hanzo."
Yugito scanned it quickly.
Her expression grew heavier with each line.
"Senjutsu…"
She murmured.
"He even learned senjutsu."
"And according to the description, it also boosts taijutsu… even changed his appearance," Samui added.
"Hanzo's iaijutsu—said to cut through Iron Country armor—only left a white mark on Kiyohara's arm."
Yugito crushed the pages in her fist until they wrinkled.
Humiliation.
As the Two-Tails jinchūriki—the next pillar of Kumo—she'd been beaten by a Konoha ninja.
There had been factors. Her control wasn't perfect at the time. But a loss was a loss.
"I'm going back to train," she tossed the file back to Samui and turned.
"Wait," Samui called.
"The Raikage told me to tell you: don't push too hard. Overtraining can ruin your foundation."
"I know what I'm doing," Yugito said without looking back.
Samui watched her go and shook her head.
She couldn't talk Yugito out of it. That proud companion never accepted defeat easily.
"Kiyohara…"
Samui repeated the name in her mind.
That kind of growth rate was simply absurd.
And last time, she'd been captured by Kiyohara—forcing Yugito to rescue her.
…
Akatsuki base.
Kiyohara didn't care about the ripples spreading across the world.
He touched the mark on his forehead.
Its outline was becoming clearer—more defined.
If he kept going, perhaps he'd soon form the Strength of a Hundred Seal.
~~~
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