Hanzō the Salamander is an enigmatic figure in the ninja world. In the small, isolated village of Amegakure, he rose to the status of a demigod, recognized even by the five great nations. Under his leadership, Amegakure was able to contend with the great powers of Fire, Earth, and Wind, earning Hanzō his title.
Had Amegakure produced more individuals like him, the Land of Rain might have become the sixth great nation. However, with Hanzō as the only truly exceptional figure, his ambitions eventually brought disaster to his country. No matter how powerful one individual is, they cannot sustain a nation alone.
When Hanzō was young, perhaps he sought to free the Land of Rain from its destiny as a war-torn buffer zone. This led him to declare war during the Second Ninja World War. But his strength alone could not make the Land of Rain truly powerful, and he soon realized he could not protect the entire country by himself.
Faced with harsh realities, Hanzō slowly transformed from a heroic protector into a dictator obsessed with retaining power. Seeing the Akatsuki as a threat, he cooperated with Danzō to eliminate organizations advocating peace within his own country. Ironically, although he successfully defeated Akatsuki's leader, a true monster slipped through his grasp, one that would later take his life in vengeance. With Hanzō's abilities, he should have been able to escape such a fate, but in his lust for power, he lost the resolve that once sharpened his skills.
Remembering of Hanzō's downfall, Masaki took it as a lesson: never waver in his beliefs. No matter the obstacles he might face while pushing for new ideas, he must never falter. Otherwise, he feared, he could meet the same end as Hanzō.
Now, as he looked upon Hanzō, who had once sought to challenge the established order and change the ninja world, Masaki felt a twinge of sorrow. There was still a sharpness in Hanzō's eyes, a glimpse of the fierce will he once possessed, but that same man would later be reduced to an old warrior consumed by the fear of losing his power.
"This man is quite skilled," Danzō whispered to Masaki as he glanced at Hanzō's squad not far away.
As a "demigod," Hanzō's talents were indeed exceptional. He had no bloodline limit or special family techniques, aside from the deadly venom of a Salamander fish implanted in his body as a child. This gave his very breath a toxic quality. However, such a trait alone wasn't what made him a demigod.
Masaki and Danzō, both trained by the Second Hokage, could easily gauge Hanzō's strength just by observing his stance, his footwork, and his breathing. Danzō's assessment: Hanzō's physical prowess was on par with theirs.
"Indeed," Masaki replied.
"It's surprising to find someone of this caliber here in Amegakure," Danzō muttered.
"It's likely that someone of Hanzō's ability is the peak of what Amegakure can produce. With its limited resources, I doubt they could nurture another like him," Masaki observed.
A ninja's strength depends not only on talent but also on other factors: access to advanced ninjutsu, proper nutrition, and correct training methods. These require a strong village foundation. The five great villages—Konohagakure, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure—each had the backing of powerful clans and rich resources, allowing them to teach and nurture the next generation. Smaller villages, like Amegakure, lacked these advantages.
For Hanzō to reach such heights in a remote place like the Land of Rain, he must have shed a lot of blood and sweat, likely monopolizing the resources of his entire village. Yet, it was clear that Amegakure could never cultivate a second demigod.
Having been promoted to Jōnin, Danzō was beginning to understand more about the daily management of the village. He recognized the advantages Konoha had, something Amegakure simply could not compete with.
"Yes, as long as it's just him, Amegakure isn't a major threat," Danzō said, relaxing slightly.
Masaki reflected that Danzō would likely be more alarmed if he knew that Hanzō could once lead all of Amegakure in battles against three great nations. While he ultimately failed, Hanzō still managed to save his country and hold onto power until Nagato's revenge.
As they approached the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Wind, the atmosphere became increasingly hostile. The area was scarred by frequent wars, and along the road, corpses lay abandoned. The Land of Rain had little control over its territory. Even when there was no external conflict, the country often failed to properly dispose of bodies, leaving them to rot like refuse.
In the rainy climate of the Land of Rain, improperly handled corpses often led to widespread epidemics. The place was already a hotbed for disease, and seeing the situation, Masaki suddenly had an idea—a way to win over the hearts of the Rain's people.
Epidemics have always been a terror to the common folk, especially in the Land of Rain. If Konoha could assist in combating these diseases, it would alleviate dissatisfaction among the population. Additionally, it would allow Konoha's medical ninjutsu to develop further. It was a win-win.
As they prepared to leave the Land of Rain, Masaki paused and approached Hanzō, who had been watching them the entire way. He stopped in front of the Amegakure leader and said, "Hanzō, I've noticed many corpses discarded along the road. If they aren't dealt with, they could spread disease."
"Disease?" Hanzō asked, surprised. While people in this era were aware of sickness, they didn't fully understand its causes. This was the first time Hanzō had heard that corpses could be a source of disease.
"Yes, it's likely why your country has frequent outbreaks. In the Land of Fire, similar issues have occurred after large-scale wars when bodies were not properly managed. Although we don't fully understand the cause, untreated corpses seem to contribute to epidemics," Masaki explained.
Hanzō was intrigued. The Land of Rain indeed suffered from regular outbreaks, particularly in areas where battles had occurred. If the Land of Fire faced similar issues, there might be some truth to Masaki's words.
"However, we don't have enough people here to handle all these bodies," Hanzō said. "Most are needed to fight."
"We can help. Your people often suffer from these diseases. If you're willing, we can send medical-nin to treat them. The cost can be negotiated, and in some cases, we could even offer assistance for free," Masaki proposed. Though he was technically overstepping his authority, he felt confident that he could convince Konoha's leaders.
"Really?" Hanzō was moved. He cared not only about his own position but also about the welfare of his country. Disease had long ravaged the Land of Rain, and with their limited medical expertise, there was little they could do. Once infected, the people could only wait for death.
If Konoha could indeed send medical-nin, many lives would be saved. Masaki's mention of free assistance further endeared him to Hanzō, who had seen the Fire Nation's armies plundering his people under the guise of aid. He was initially suspicious that Masaki might do the same, but the offer of free aid eased his concerns.
"If you can truly help us with the epidemic, I, Hanzō, will count you as a friend," Hanzō said earnestly. "The Land of Rain will stand with the Land of Fire in this just war."
"Rest assured, we will help," Masaki replied with a smile.
Returning to the team, Masaki led them toward the Land of Wind. As they traveled, Danzō asked what Masaki had discussed with Hanzō. After hearing a summary, Danzō couldn't help but admit, "It seems you're winning the hearts of the people of the Land of Rain more easily than with force."
Masaki chuckled. "See? Sometimes compassion wins over violence."
Danzō gave a soft grunt. Though he might have wanted to argue, he couldn't deny that Masaki's approach was effective. Winning over the people with medical aid would earn far deeper and longer-lasting loyalty than violence ever could. Though violence might take less time, the results of Masaki's method were undeniably better.
Unwilling to concede fully, Danzō wisely changed the subject, discussing their next steps. Masaki merely shrugged and let the conversation shift.