CH - 88 Meeting Hanzo
"The Leader of Grass Ninja Village!" Hanzo maintained a cross-legged posture, his gaze sharp as it pierced through his mask, observing Akihiko's entrance.
As a small nation situated between the cracks of the Five Great Ninja Villages, he was intimately familiar with the tumultuous history of the Land of Grass. Their history was even more tumultuous than that of the Land of Rain.
In the past, their propensity for trickery and deceit had led to their downfall during the First Great Ninja War. By the conclusion of the Second Great Ninja War, they had managed to reconstruct their village by capitalizing on the turmoil engulfing other ninja nations.
In the years that followed, Hanzo had caught wind of the transformations transpiring within the Grass Ninja Village. Their traditional practice of peddling information appeared to be fading, replaced by a form of commerce akin to the prosperous Merchant Ninja Village.
Yet, who could have predicted this? They had only just declared war against Rain Village, and now they were standing here, proposing a significant business partnership. Did they honestly think he was a fool? A desire for collaboration? Nothing more than mere wishful thinking. They knew all too well about Grass Village's reputation for underhanded schemes and deceitful tactics.
Particularly this guy, wasn't he the scoundrel who infiltrated the Land of Rain previously, attempting to abduct people? And now, he had the audacity to come to their Rain Village for business matters?
Hanzo raised an eyebrow, reigning in his anger as he spoke calmly, "Rain Village has no interest in collaborating with your Grass Village. Leave immediately! You are not welcome here."
"Oh, come on~ Just hear out our terms," Akihiko disregarded the hostile glares from the Rain Ninja around him and paid little heed to Hanzo's stern tone. He found himself a seat and settled down, continuing, "What if you end up regretting this later? You never know."
"Regret? Absurd! How could Rain Ninja Village possibly have any regrets concerning a mere Grass Ninja Village?!" Hanzo snorted, regarding the Grass Ninja leader with a steely gaze. "During the Second Great Ninja War, you swindled Rain Ninja Village out of five million ryo. Then, not long ago, you trespassed into the Land of Rain to abduct individuals. You even dispatched those three young troublemakers to create havoc here. And now, you dare to propose cooperation with Rain Ninja Village?"
Hearing Hanzo's words and observing the Rain Ninja around, who were on the brink of confrontation, Akihiko could only offer an awkward smile.
It was evident that the Land of Rain would be placed in a disadvantageous position in this scenario. Just as he was about to voice his opinion, Hanzo snorted once more and began, "Cooperation is an impossible notion, utterly impo—"
However, his sentence was abruptly cut off by a soft "snap." A stack of documents materialized before him, leaving the Rain Ninja momentarily stupefied as they instinctively glanced up at the stack.
The documents bore titles such as:
-"The Land of Grass Aid for the Economic Recovery of the Land of Rain"
-"Land of Grass Assistance for Land of Rain Recovery and Production Plan"
-"Land of Grass Employment Opportunities for Land of Rain Strategy"
-"Land of Grass Acquisition of Land of Rain Iron Mines Strategy"
Four sets of documents were neatly spread out in front of Hanzo. Even Hanzo himself was taken aback, rendered momentarily speechless by the unexpected turn of events.
While the elaborate titles might have initially overwhelmed him, his attention was quickly drawn to a bold, conspicuous line at the top of the most prominent document: Initial Investment: 100 million Ryo.
A hundred million ryo? For the Land of Rain? And this was only the initial investment. Could the Grass Ninja Village truly possess such wealth? Hanzo's astonishment and confusion were palpable.
At that very moment, Hanzo found himself momentarily silenced, his usually unyielding composure briefly disrupted. In response, Akihiko's lips curled into a knowing grin, his voice radiating calm confidence as he softly inquired, "Does this meet your expectations?"
"It does," Hanzo managed to recover from his surprise, his demeanor settling back into an expressionless mask. "However, the Grass Village must first extend an apology and provide suitable reparations."
Without uttering a word, Akihiko gracefully rose from his seat, his hands moving in a swift, practiced motion. The atmosphere seemed to hum with chakra as he executed the technique known as the 'Paper Style: Paper Dragon Technique.' Suddenly, an immense dragon, composed of paper yet emanating undeniable power, materialized at his side. Its presence was imposing, poised to heed its creator's command. Akihiko maintained an unflinching gaze fixed upon Hanzo, and asked, "Is this sufficient?"
Hanzo's lips curled in a smug smile, his demeanor unshaken by the impressive spectacle before him. His voice, tinged with a blend of mockery and defiance, cut through the tension, "A grand gesture indeed, but one that carries true weight only in times of peace." His unexpressed thoughts echoed with confidence, unimpressed by this show of strength, no matter how spectacular.
"Is that so?" Akihiko's grin seemed to deepen, undeterred by Hanzo's unwavering facade. With a gesture that appeared almost casual, he repeated the clapping motion, invoking the intricate 'Paper Style: Multiple Paper Dragon Technique.' The air shimmered as not one, but three colossal paper dragons materialized alongside him, embodying sheer dominance.
The room practically crackled with the released power. Akihiko's gaze remained fixed on Hanzo, a silent challenge exchanged between them. It was a query that required no spoken words, only the palpable tension that hung heavy in the air: "And now? What if we add this?"
Did they truly believe that Akihiko had traveled this distance just to plead for their favor? Despite his occasional jokes and casual demeanor, Akihiko, being a transmigrator, understood the value of strength and the respect it commanded in this world. He might appear nonchalant about others underestimating him, but he was well aware that true influence came from power.
Did they really think he needed to seek their approval? His primary concern was the future of the entire Grass Village, which compelled him to approach this situation carefully. However, if anyone dared to exploit the circumstances, he was prepared to make them fully aware of who they were dealing with.
Hanzo's typically composed facade wavered. Akihiko's demonstration of power transcended mere spectacle, it hinted at a formidable force far beyond Hanzo's initial estimation. Even the usually stoic Rain Ninja watched in awe, their initial resolve subdued by the sheer grandiosity of this unexpected demonstration.
Caught between his pride and the overwhelming demonstration of Akihiko's might, Hanzo struggled to find the appropriate words. The balance of power had dramatically shifted, and Akihiko's composed smile felt almost sinister as he continued, "Shall we proceed with our discussion?"
…
Since the vest incident, Konoha had come to a stark realization about the Grass Ninja Village's intentions. It became apparent that they were planning to distribute ninja vests widely across the entire ninja world, not limiting their sales to just the Five Great Ninja Villages. Even the smaller, less prominent ninja villages were on their radar.
The borders of the Land of Grass were now adorned with banners representing not just one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, but all of them. It was a bold statement, almost as if the Grass Ninja Village wanted the entire ninja world to know that their ninja vests were being endorsed by all five major villages.
Konoha understood the gravity of this matter and couldn't afford to take it lightly. Despite being a relatively small village, the Grass Village had managed to steal(copy) a significant amount of jutsu from the Five Great Ninja Villages, making them a force to be reckoned with. Therefore, Caution was warranted.
Reflecting on history, Konoha remembered the events of the First Great Ninja War. Back then, they had underestimated the cunning of the seemingly insignificant Kusagakure. Believing that such a small village couldn't possibly deceive the mighty Konohagakure, they had readily purchased what was claimed to be crucial information. However, the outcome was quite different. Those clever swindlers hadn't just fooled Konoha; they had managed to deceive all five of the Great Ninja Villages. A village of seemingly little consequence had sowed chaos among the major powers during the war.
As a result, in order to preempt any potential disruptions by the Grass Ninja Village, a consensus was reached after thorough deliberation – they needed to keep the Grass Ninja Village occupied. The question remained, how to effectively divert their attention? Declaring an all-out war directly on the Grass Ninja Village was not a viable option. This was primarily due to Konoha's standing as a symbol of peace within the ninja world and its position as the mightiest of the Five Great Ninja Villages.
Complicating the matter was the fact that, although the Kannabi Bridge provided direct access to the Hidden Stone Village, the Grass Ninja Village had not officially aligned itself with the Hidden Stone Village. Kusa had clarified this, asserting that it was merely an accident. Furthermore, on the surface, the alliance between Kusagakure and Konohagakure remained intact.
Indeed, they are still considered allies up to this point, how could Konoha, as one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, reasonably target a small village without a justifiable cause? Such an action could tarnish their reputation and credibility, making it difficult to gain the trust of other ninja clans and smaller villages.
Given these intricate considerations, the course of action was not as straightforward as it seemed. Despite the urgency of the situation, a thorough and careful approach was necessary. The discussions continued, as Konoha carefully weighed their options and deliberated on the best course of action.
However, beneath the surface, within a concealed underground location in Konoha, Danzo, the Hokage's assistant and the mastermind behind Konoha's covert ninja operations, allowed a subtle smirk to cross his face.
Observing recent events, he found their hesitancy and conservatism bemusing. While they avoided direct warfare to safeguard their reputation, they remained wary of Grass Village's potential disruptions. Such shortsightedness and naivety disappointed Danzo, who harbored a more pragmatic perspective.
Even his former comrade, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, had succumbed to such a perspective, much to Danzo's chagrin. But Danzo, bearing the weight of Konoha's darker side, saw things differently.
"It appears I must take matters into my own hands. Hiruzen, you naive fool," Danzo mused to himself. Holding a letter in his hand, he muttered, "Rain Ninja Village seeks negotiation with the Five Great Ninja Villages, but they are hardly qualified for such a privilege. I shall offer them an opportunity."
Addressing the Root ninja standing beside him, Danzo's voice carried a calculated calmness. "Dispatch a message to the leader of the Rain Village. In order to get this opportunity, Rain Village must declare war upon the Grass—"
However, before Danzo could conclude his instruction, a sudden "shuu" sound pierced the air. Another ROOT ninja materialized, swiftly assuming a respectful kneeling posture."Danzo-sama! We have received crucial intelligence from the front lines. The Rain Village has officially declared war on the Grass Village!"
The abrupt news left Danzo momentarily taken aback. His gaze oscillated between the letter in his hand and the ninja before him. "Declared war already?" His surprise was palpable, as the Rain Village had acted ahead of his planned manipulation.
"Why have they chosen to declare war?" Danzo questioned with a measured skepticism.
"Well, the specifics are yet unknown," the ROOT ninja responded, his tone reflective of the limited information available.
"Very well. It seems they have decided to declare war without waiting for a reason," Danzo sneered, tearing the letter in his hand using Wind Release. "I need not intervene further. Let them handle this situation on their own."
As his subordinates departed, Danzo, left alone, gazed thoughtfully ahead. Memories of past experiments, the fallen ROOT ninja, and the hidden Uzumaki clan surfaced in his mind. He muttered, "Grass Ninja Village..."
Danzo had long suspected the Grass village's involvement, but his investigations had been minimal in recent years due to the delicate nature of the situation. He couldn't afford to make drastic moves.
Though Grass Ninja Village was weak, its intelligence was invaluable. If the situation escalated and his actions attracted Tsunade's attention, it could spell trouble for him and Konoha. Despite his motives being for the village's greater good, Danzo's actions often went misunderstood.
His face expressed a complex blend of sorrow and resolve. His eyes flickered with a hint of indecision. With a sigh, Danzo murmured, "So be it. I suppose it's time for me to pay a visit to Rain Village personally."
…
"Visit us frequently!" Hanzo spoke with an almost friendly tone, as though addressing an acquaintance.
"Absolutely, without a doubt," Akihiko responded with a nod that conveyed his willingness to oblige.
"The subsequent course of action rests in your capable hands, my friend Akihiko!" Once the Grass Ninja leader had departed, Hanzo's smile wavered, a trace of uncertainty tainting his expression. As he observed the young figure retreating, his smile gradually dimmed. He watched the departing silhouette, contemplation flickering across his features. Finally, a protracted sigh escaped him, his head shaking slightly. He muttered under his breath, "Even the Grass Ninja Village seems to have produced an impressive shinobi."
A sense of nostalgia and perhaps a tinge of regret colored his thoughts. While in the past, he might have relished the opportunity to test his strength against such a ninja, his priorities had shifted. Now, all he desired was peace, to secure Rain Ninja Village's position and stability.
...
On the opposite side, as Akihiko, the leader of Grass Village, continued his stride, he halted momentarily, casting his gaze back toward Rain Village. His eyes narrowed faintly, and a subtle smile graced his lips, akin to a hidden knowing. "Time to ready the village."
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