Hanzo had no intention of killing Jin outright.
He wanted him alive.
That was why he hadn't used lethal toxins. Instead, he had deployed a compound poison designed to suppress chakra circulation.
The toxin silently clogged the body's meridians, creating stagnation within the chakra network.
No chakra flow.
No ninjutsu.
And a shinobi who couldn't use ninjutsu—
How much of a threat could he be?
Hanzo was certain the battle was already decided.
"Poison?"
Jin raised a brow.
In the next instant, he vanished.
A blur—
And he reappeared directly in front of Hanzo.
His fist drove forward.
Boom!
Hanzo was blasted backward over a dozen meters, boots carving twin furrows through the soaked earth.
His eyes widened.
"Body Flicker…? Impossible!"
His voice sharpened.
"You weren't poisoned?"
Jin chuckled softly.
"Of course not. Half the shinobi world fears your toxins, Hanzo-senpai."
"I already exposed myself once because of your poison. Did you really think I'd make the same mistake twice?"
The moment Jin realized his infiltration had been exposed by environmental toxins, he had gone on full alert.
From the moment he entered Hanzo's estate—
His body had ceased to function as flesh.
He had maintained elementalization.
A living blaze.
Humans could be poisoned.
Fire could not.
Yes, it consumed stamina at a steady rate.
But that cost was far preferable to splitting his focus every second to guard against unseen toxins.
Jin lowered his fist.
"Now… can we talk?"
He made no move to continue the assault.
He deliberately relaxed his stance—an unmistakable gesture of goodwill.
Hanzo's gaze sharpened, calculating.
After several seconds, he lowered his sickle.
"…Very well."
"I am curious what you have to say."
Jin did not waste time.
"With your experience, Hanzo-senpai, you must already see that this war is nearing its end."
Hanzo had survived three great wars.
If Jin could see the shifting tides—
There was no way Hanzo could not.
Hanzo nodded slowly.
"It is ending."
"At this point, there is no profit left in it. Only losses."
The villages had taken what they could.
Shed blood enough to satisfy vengeance.
What remained in the Land of Rain were skirmishes fueled more by accumulated hatred than strategic value.
Once Konoha and Iwagakure's leadership reached agreement—
Troops would withdraw.
The war would be over.
Jin continued calmly.
"To be frank, the Third Hokage has already formed the intention to seek peace talks with Iwagakure."
Hanzo's eyes flickered.
That—
Was valuable intelligence.
If Konoha initiated negotiations first, they would be surrendering leverage.
A victor bowing to the defeated.
Absurd.
Unless—
Hanzo suddenly recalled rumors.
During negotiations with Sunagakure, Konoha—despite winning—had conceded significant benefits.
He had dismissed it as exaggeration.
Now…
Perhaps it had been true.
The Land of Fire truly was wealthy.
Generous enough to bleed coin instead of pride.
Hanzo's thoughts spiraled rapidly.
If that was the case—
Then perhaps Amegakure could also…
Jin noticed the subtle shift in Hanzo's expression.
He pretended not to.
"Of course," Jin added evenly, "this is only the Third's inclination. Some within Konoha's leadership oppose it."
Hanzo's lips curled faintly.
"Let me guess."
"The one opposing him… is Danzō."
Given Hanzo's understanding of Hiruzen Sarutobi, such weakness in pursuit of 'peace' was entirely believable.
And the only one brazen enough to openly challenge him—
Would be Danzo Shimura.
Jin inclined his head.
"Correct."
Hanzo fell silent, then let out a cold chuckle.
"So Danzō cannot sway Sarutobi."
"Which means he has come to the Land of Rain to ignite fresh conflict."
"False-flag operations. Assassinations. Blame-shifting."
"Stirring the embers until the flames return."
He looked at Jin sharply.
"Am I wrong?"
Jin was genuinely impressed.
With only fragments of information and his understanding of Konoha's leadership dynamics—
Hanzo had reconstructed nearly the entire situation.
The old monsters who survived multiple wars were never simple.
"Then tell me," Hanzo said, voice steady.
"What is your objective?"
"To stop Danzō?"
"To ensure Konoha and Iwagakure reach peace?"
Jin's expression did not change.
"If I say yes… what would you choose, Hanzo-senpai?"
Hanzo narrowed his eyes.
He slowly raised his sickle.
If Amegakure were a great power like Fire, Earth, or even Wind—
He would intervene without hesitation.
Block Danzō.
Leverage the situation.
Extract concessions from Konoha.
Sarutobi would likely yield.
But the Land of Rain was small.
Konoha feared Iwagakure.
They did not fear Amegakure.
If Amegakure overstepped—
Konoha would crush them swiftly and decisively.
And if Rain aligned openly with Earth—
Konoha's retaliation would only grow fiercer.
Konoha would never tolerate a minor nation daring to stand over it.
Which left—
Only one viable path for Rain to gain advantage.
Hanzo's eyes hardened.
The choice before him was no longer about morality.
It was about survival.
And opportunity.
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