"Hanzo-sama, please let us come with you!"
Tenyu and Kanzō knelt before him, voices thick with worry.
Hanzo continued fastening his combat gear without looking up.
"I already said no. Guard Amegakure. Guard the Land of Rain. That's enough."
"But—"
"There is no 'but.'" His tone sharpened. "You both know my fighting style. If battle truly begins, you won't be able to assist me. You'll only distract me."
The words were harsh—deliberately so.
Only by cutting off their objections could he ensure they allowed him to walk alone into this meeting.
Tenyu and Kanzō lowered their heads in shame.
In the end, they were simply not strong enough.
Hanzo secured his weapons pouch, lifted his chained sickle, and said calmly:
"This place is in your hands."
"Yes! Please be at ease, Hanzo-sama!"
Their voices rang out in perfect unison.
Hanzo turned toward the doorway—toward Konan, her wrists bound with rope.
Their eyes met.
A subtle look.
It's fine.
Konan lowered her head, letting a trace of sorrow cross her normally expressionless face.
Hanzo blinked internally.
Impressive acting.
For someone so quiet by nature, she was playing her role perfectly.
Without further words, he led her out of Amegakure.
Leaving one's own territory always carried risks—who knew what eyes lurked in the shadows?
They maintained silence all the way to the designated valley.
The Valley
Shimura Danzō was already waiting.
With him—dozens of Root shinobi.
"Hanzo-dono."
Danzō's hawk-like gaze swept over Konan before settling on Hanzo.
Hanzo glanced at the Root operatives behind him and spoke in a low voice:
"Konoha's foundation truly runs deep. Even after fighting four great nations in succession, you can still muster this force."
Elite Chūnin. Special Jōnin. More than ten full Jōnin.
Enough to fight a small war.
"Hardly," Danzō replied blandly. "Merely my personal guard."
In truth, he had brought the majority of Root's elite.
For Nagato's Rinnegan, he was leaving nothing to chance.
And—this display served as intimidation.
Danzō's eyes shifted toward Konan.
"You bound her personally. Do you have a particular idea in mind?"
Hanzo nodded.
"They are the seedlings of this nation. I would prefer not to kill them myself."
"I've heard the three leaders of Akatsuki grew up together—life and death intertwined."
"So I thought… perhaps I'll let them kill one another."
"How does that sound?"
Konan shivered convincingly, staring at Hanzo in horror.
Even knowing this "Hanzo" was under Uchiha Jin's control, the cruelty of the proposal felt chilling.
Danzō, however, looked impressed.
"As expected of the 'Demigod' who ruled the Rain for decades."
"To destroy them not only physically—but spiritually."
No matter how strong the trio's bond, once blood was spilled, cracks would form.
And cracks would widen.
Time would finish what blades began.
"You can't… do that…"
Konan's voice trembled.
Whether fear or performance, even she might not know.
"You have no choice."
Hanzo raised two fingers and pressed them to her throat.
A black "Seal" symbol flared to life, spreading into dark script across her mouth.
Her lips moved—but no sound came.
Danzō's eye narrowed.
A simple technique—yet the chakra control was terrifyingly precise.
Even aged, Hanzo truly deserved the title "Demigod."
Then—
"They're here."
Hanzo turned toward the valley entrance.
Two figures rushed forward.
Orange hair.
Red hair.
Yahiko and Nagato.
Hanzo pulled Konan in front of him as a shield and drew his chained sickle.
Danzō tensed—then relaxed, eyes locked on Nagato.
Through the red hair, he tried to pierce the veil hiding those legendary eyes.
At last…
—
A flash of blinding steel.
"Shhk—!"
An arm spun through the air.
Blood erupted like a crimson fountain.
Danzō staggered backward, clutching his severed shoulder, disbelief etched across his face.
"Danzō-sama!"
Root shinobi swarmed around him instantly.
Hanzo stood there, sickle dripping red.
He said nothing.
He simply hurled Konan downward toward the stunned Yahiko and Nagato.
Yahiko caught her instinctively.
"Leave. Now!"
Hanzo's voice rang out as he turned to face Danzō and Root alone.
No hesitation.
No explanation.
Only battle.
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