CH - 124 Hanzo’s Confidence in Akihiko

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Hanzo's audacious proposal left both Akihiko and Mubuki in a state of astonishment. The idea of entrusting one ninja village entirely to the leadership of another was a bold and risky move, rarely witnessed even in the closest alliances. As they stood there, Hanzo's unwavering gaze fixed upon them, a silent expectation hung in the air, as if he awaited Akihiko's response.

For a time, both Akihiko and Mubuki remained silent, grappling with the profound implications of Hanzo's suggestion. Their thoughts raced as they weighed the potential outcomes of such a monumental decision.

On one hand, Akihiko was deeply touched by the level of trust and confidence Hanzo, a renowned figure in the ninja world, had placed in him. On the other hand, he keenly recognized the immense responsibility and risks associated with this proposal.

The room grew heavy with tension, and even Mubuki, who had been eagerly observing the proceedings, dared not utter a word. He swallowed hard, his excitement reflected in his eyes as he witnessed this historic moment. 

Akihiko's gaze was fixed on Hanzo, a man who had weathered the harsh realities of life, rising to the pinnacle of the ninja world despite his early life as an orphan implanted with the venom sac of a black salamander. Hanzo's journey was a testament to his courage and unyielding determination, especially in a world where he lacked bloodline limits or secret jutsu for assistance.

A small but genuine smile touched Akihiko's lips, his expression adopting a profound seriousness as he regarded Hanzo. His response was a single word, "Very well."

With this simple word, Akihiko accepted Hanzo's proposal. The room was filled with the sound of Hanzo's hearty laughter, a joyful nod confirming his satisfaction. He spoke with sincerity, "Then it's settled. I entrust the Land of Rain to you, Lord Akihiko!"

However, Akihiko, eager to explain his strategic plan for the upcoming war, began to speak, "Actually, it's not that troublesome. In this war, we only need to defeat one and defend four..."

Hanzo, with a warm smile, interjected, "No need. You need only give the orders for the Rain Village. We will follow your lead."

This statement left Akihiko momentarily surprised by the sheer magnitude of trust that Hanzo had placed in him. Mubuki also couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and admiration for Hanzo.

With those words, Hanzo didn't hesitate for a moment; he turned and left, exiting the room under the watchful gaze of Akihiko and Mubuki. They both observed his departure and couldn't help but sigh. Hanzo had earned his reputation as a 'Ninja Demi-God' for a reason, and his actions spoke volumes about his character.

However, as Hanzo began to leave the room and had taken a few steps, an unexpected moment of doubt overcame him. He glanced back at Akihiko, his hesitation palpable, and he posed a question, "Are you truly not deceiving me or the Land of Rain this time?"

Akihiko, who had just been filled with awe and admiration for Hanzo, found himself dumbfounded by this unexpected turn. He looked at Hanzo with a mix of surprise and inner frustration, silently cursing, 'Couldn't you just have walked out straightforwardly? Give me back my emotions, you bastard.'

Just as Akihiko was about to respond, Hanzo broke into a chuckle and added, "Haha, I was simply teasing you. No need to worry."

In an abrupt shift of demeanor, Hanzo posed a follow-up question with a solemn expression, "Is it true?"

Akihiko was momentarily perplexed, but before he could ask "Is what true?" Hanzo pressed on, "Will there genuinely be peace in the Land of Rain?"

A smile slowly spread across Akihiko's face, and he nodded in affirmation, "Yes!"

"That's settled then! I'll be counting on you, Leader Akihiko! Hahaha~" With a hearty laugh, Hanzo exited the room, leaving Akihiko and Mubuki with a complex mix of emotions.

Mubuki couldn't help but reflect, 'What an intriguing character Hanzo is.'

As Akihiko watched Hanzo's departure, he sighed and turned to Mubuki, remarking, "It seems we'll need to revise our battle plans for the Rain Village."

…

As the rain poured down over the Land of Rain, Mubuki, the diplomatic spokesperson of the Grass Village, stepped forward to address the accusations leveled by the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Without a moment's hesitation, he issued a pointed rebuttal, affirming that the Grass Village's intentions were solely rooted in peaceful trade. He questioned the other villages' intrusion into the Grass Village's affairs and pointed out that the conflict with the Rain Village was nothing more than a military exercise among allies. He suggested that the other villages might be overreacting.

Mubuki made it clear that the Grass Village had no intention of returning the funds acquired through what they considered a legitimate transaction, urging any complainants to direct their queries to the Grass Village's Financial Minister. He dismissed any notion of surrender, stating unequivocally that the Grass Village would stand its ground. With unwavering resolve, he declared that their village had no fear of war and, while they sought peace, they were not afraid to engage in battle if necessary.

Seeing the Grass Village's apparent lack of respect, the Mist Village and the Sand Village, as two of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, were considering their response to this audacious challenge. However, just as they were deliberating their course of action in light of the Grass Village's defiance, a surprising twist unfolded.

Hanzo, the formidable leader of the Rain Village and known as the Ninja Demi-God, stepped forward and made a groundbreaking announcement. He declared an alliance with the Grass Village and, even more shockingly, declared war against the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

This revelation sent shockwaves reverberating throughout the entire ninja world. The Land of Rain had suffered considerable devastation during the Second Great Ninja War and was still grappling with its aftermath. The sudden emergence of the Rain Village from the shadows and its alignment with a minor village raised countless questions. What had prompted the Rain Village to make such a bold move, and what had the Grass Village offered in exchange?

With these two smaller villages forming an alliance and openly challenging the Five Great Shinobi Villages, the major ninja villages were on high alert. Nevertheless, the Five Great Shinobi Villages, while cautious, did not perceive an immediate threat. They were acutely aware of the significant power disparity between the smaller villages and themselves, and they believed that the two smaller ninja villages, Grass and Rain, would soon come to understand the immense difference in strength that separated them from the apex of the ninja world represented by the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

The intentions of the Five Great Shinobi Villages had little bearing on the Grass and Rain Villages' response. In the wake of the threats from the major ninja villages, the Grass and Rain Villages entered into the state of war.

With the alliance between the Grass and Rain Villages now exposed, the Grass Village decided to abandon any pretense of secrecy. In an effort to protect their people, the Grass Village began implementing centralized control and gathering their citizens in secure locations.

The sudden declaration of war by the Five Great Shinobi Villages incited anger among the inhabitants of the Rain and Grass Villages. These people, who had been living in the midst of a tumultuous and uncertain environment, had found a glimmer of hope and safety in the presence of Grass and Rain ninjas. The Five Great Shinobi Villages' demand for surrender from the Grass Village, which was merely engaged in business, was seen as an unjust and unreasonable imposition. The outrage among the ninjas of the Rain and Grass Villages was palpable.

In the heart of a bustling mining field, the news of the alliance between the Grass and Rain Villages to confront the five major ninja villages reached Daisuke, who was the leader of mining. It brought a smile to his face, though he couldn't entirely shake his concern regarding the potential response of the major ninja villages. The scars left by the Second Great Ninja War on the Land of Rain still weighed heavily on his mind.

One of the older individuals present sensed Daisuke's contemplation and inquired, "Is there something on your mind, Daisuke-sama?"

Daisuke, momentarily pulled from his thoughts, reassured, "It's nothing, just thinking about the situation. You don't need to worry about me."

With the Grass Village currently experiencing a period of relative peace, many of its citizens were involved in various daily tasks, factory work, mining, or fulfilling their roles as Grass Village ninjas. Mining, however, was not a profession undertaken by many.

For these individuals, the tranquility they now enjoyed was a rare and cherished gift. Having stable jobs and not having to go to bed hungry were privileges they deeply valued. The older man decided to stay by Daisuke's side, sitting down to engage in conversation with him, observing the clouded expression in Daisuke's eyes as they both looked ahead.

"I know. It's because of war, Right?" The older man's eyes remained fixed on the pouring rain as he responded, "Now, everyone knows that the Grass and Rain Villages have declared war against the five major ninja villages."

Daisuke raised an eyebrow in surprise as he looked at the older man. It was true, that the declaration of war had garnered immense attention and was likely the topic of conversation among people everywhere. The contrast between the heavy rain and the still-shining sun overhead created a unique and memorable scene in the Land of Rain.

Concerned, Daisuke asked the older man, "Aren't you all afraid?"

The older man, with a calm and matter-of-fact tone, acknowledged, "Afraid? Of course, we are. But what good does fear do? Back when you and your comrades weren't here, the Land of Rain was already in turmoil. We struggled to find enough food, with the constant threat of ninja attacks. Winters were especially harsh, marked by hunger and cold. I remember thinking that we might not survive another winter. But fate had a different plan."

Tears welled up in the old man's eyes as he continued, "One fateful night, a group of ninjas suddenly appeared. At that moment, I thought our end had come, and I would finally reunite with my grandson's parents. However, instead of death, I met you, Daisuke-sama."

Gratitude filled the old man's voice as he shouted to Daisuke, "Thank you!"

Daisuke acknowledged the thanks with a nod but quickly redirected the credit, saying, "It's not me you should thank, it's Leader Akihiko."

"I know. We are grateful to Lord Akihiko as well," the old man replied, nodding in appreciation. Reflecting on the impending war, he continued, "War, you say? Everyone is afraid. But what use is fear now? The Grass and Rain Villages have us surrounded, and that's already a blessing. If we were really unlucky, I might not be here today. But Lord Akihiko told us not to worry, we just have to continue our work, and the rest is in the hands of the ninjas. So, let's just do our work. Can it be any worse than it was back then?"

Daisuke's surprise at the old man's perspective soon gave way to a nod and a warm smile. "You're absolutely right," he agreed. "Let's just do our work!"

As Daisuke rose to his feet, a young man approached him and exclaimed, "Daisuke, there you are!"

"Ah, Hato!" Daisuke responded with surprise. He inquired, "Why are you here? Don't you have work to do?"

Hato laughed heartily and replied, "Haha, I came to see. I'll be heading to the battlefield in a few days with Yahiko and the others. This time, I'll show the five major ninja villages just how powerful I am!"

Daisuke couldn't help but smile at Hato's determination. He then had a realization and removed his helmet. Turning to the older man, he said, "I'm sorry, but I think I'll need to leave for a while. I have something to attend to."

The older man seemed to understand and watched Daisuke walk away into the distance. He shouted after him, "Leader, will you come back?"

Daisuke called back with assurance, "Of course, I'm your leader. When I return, I'll treat you all to drinks!"

Under the pouring rain, the old man observed Daisuke's retreating figure and laughed heartily. "We'll be waiting for your return, Leader."

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