Chapter 605: The Inevitable Battle
When Hanzō left Amegakure, he told no one. He departed alone, in secret.
That day, Hanzō thought about many things.
Danzo Shimura's plan was indeed beneficial to Amegakure. It could help Amegakure eliminate the Shinobi Sect, a potential great enemy, in advance.
However, it was only beneficial to Amegakure.
The death of a Ninja like Sōsuke would be a loss to the entire Ninja force of the Land of Rain.
Because Sōsuke could not only become stronger himself, he could also help others become stronger alongside him.
Moreover, Sōsuke already held considerable prestige in Amegakure. If Amegakure took the initiative to tear up the treaty and attack him, it would very likely disappoint some Rain Ninja.
Swoosh!
Hanzō unleashed his Chakra, using his extremely refined Water Body Flicker Technique to its utmost. He advanced rapidly toward Six Paths City, as if something terrible would happen if he slowed down even a little.
For Ninja, the distance between Amegakure and Six Paths City was not far. One was in the central region of the Land of Rain, and the other was in the southern region.
Under Hanzō's full-speed travel, he soon saw the town he had visited not long ago.
Following his memory from his last visit, Hanzō quickly bypassed the Shinobi Sect guards and entered the Shinobi Sect's station.
"At this hour, would he still be working?" Hanzō wondered, thinking about how he could directly find Sōsuke.
He only knew where Sōsuke worked, not where Sōsuke usually lived.
"Hattori, what made you think of coming to the Shinobi Sect to admire the moon at this hour?"
Just as Hanzō was still wondering where Sōsuke might be, a familiar voice reached his ears.
Hanzō looked in the direction of the voice and saw Sōsuke standing on flat ground, smiling at him.
Hanzō subconsciously glanced around. After confirming that no one else was present, he quickly jumped down from the rooftop and said with a dark expression, "I am not Hattori."
"With that disguise, are you not Hattori?" Mugetsu smiled as he led Hanzō into his office.
At this moment, Hanzō had once again disguised himself rather than using his original appearance.
Hanzō recalled that embarrassing incident and silently followed Sōsuke into the office without saying anything.
"He really does have the ability to see through my disguise," Hanzō thought, feeling a little fortunate.
During the second lecture, Hanzō had once thought of disguising himself again to test whether Sōsuke seeing through his identity the first time had been a coincidence or an inherent ability.
However, Hanzō had not acted on it, because he felt Sōsuke was unfathomable and it was better not to test him lightly.
"Have a seat. What brings you to see me so suddenly?" Mugetsu asked after sitting down on a wooden chair in his office.
When Mugetsu discovered Hanzō, he had already speculated about his intentions.
If someone came alone to the Shinobi Sect at night to find him, it had to be an important matter.
Combined with the Root Ninja previously discovered in Six Paths City, Mugetsu's first guess was that it was related to Danzo Shimura.
"Konoha wants to act against the Shinobi Sect," Hanzō said directly, wasting no time.
"Konoha? Where did you get this information?" Mugetsu asked further, showing a slightly surprised expression.
Upon hearing that it was Konoha, Mugetsu could basically confirm that Danzo was causing trouble.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's stance was to let Konoha catch its breath after its great victory against Iwagakure, only retaliating if Konoha was provoked, not actively attacking.
"Danzo Shimura, Konoha's Hokage Assistant."
The answer was exactly as Mugetsu expected.
"That is quite interesting. Konoha actually told you the plan."
"Because they want me to help them. To help them kill you."
Mugetsu could not help sighing inwardly.
Danzo truly was not afraid of using old tricks. He had already played this hand once, and now he was still trying to play it again.
"So now you plan to help the Shinobi Sect?" Mugetsu looked at Hanzō.
Mugetsu could not completely grasp Hanzō's current thoughts.
Hanzō was now in a very complicated period.
At his peak, Hanzō had been the Ninja Demigod respected by countless Ninja.
Even the Second Shinobi World War had failed to completely end Hanzō's glory, because although Amegakure lost, Hanzō had not lost to any Ninja on the battlefield.
But now, Hanzō was aging, and his remaining glory had become a stepping stone for Mugetsu's alias to become famous throughout the Ninja World.
The Hanzō of his glorious period had possessed the courage to challenge the Five Great Ninja Villages and the magnanimity to spare enemy geniuses.
However, the aging Hanzō, having lost his glory, would develop killing intent toward harmless Ninja forces within his own country because of power, and would fear enemy retaliation so much that he required twenty-four-hour protection from guards.
Therefore, even if Hanzō came at night to tell Mugetsu about Danzo's actions, Mugetsu could not be completely certain that Hanzō would stand on his side.
Mugetsu was not the type to believe everything he was told. This could be part of Danzo's plan, or part of someone else's conspiracy.
"No. I will agree to Konoha's request, and then I will do my best to kill you," Hanzō replied with certainty.
"Hm?"
Hanzō's answer was somewhat unexpected even to Mugetsu.
He had run to the Shinobi Sect's headquarters to tell him about Danzo's conspiracy, only to declare that he would help Danzo kill him.
If Mugetsu had not confirmed through Appraisal Technique that this was truly Hanzō, he would have thought someone was impersonating him to create hostility.
"Danzo Shimura certainly has malicious intentions, but some of what he said is correct. The Shinobi Sect and Amegakure are bound to have a battle," Hanzō explained in a deep voice.
"Rather than allow a major war between the Shinobi Sect and Amegakure in the future, causing the flames of conflict to spread across the Land of Rain, it is better to settle it now."
"We will only let a few trusted individuals act. After that, it will depend on our own abilities. If you die, you lose, and all Ninja of the Shinobi Sect will join Amegakure."
"If I die, I lose, and Amegakure will be yours. You can have them join the Shinobi Sect, or you can disband them directly. It will all be up to you."
This was the best solution Hanzō could think of.
No matter who won, the conflict between Amegakure and the Shinobi Sect would be resolved, and the Ninja forces of the Land of Rain would not be lost.
Moreover, the problem with Konoha could also be resolved.
If Sōsuke died, there would no longer be a Shinobi Sect in the Land of Rain, only a stronger Amegakure. If Konoha dared to attack Amegakure, which had just cooperated with them, then Konoha would lose all credibility.
If Hanzō died, Amegakure would join the Shinobi Sect, solving the Shinobi Sect's lack of mid-to-low-level strength and giving it enough power to make Konoha wary.
Mugetsu understood Hanzō's idea.
No wonder Hanzō had come to inform him but still said he would not help.
"Actually, this battle can be avoided." Mugetsu denied Hanzō's claim that a battle was inevitable.
One of Mugetsu's reasons for holding the lecture event had been to resolve the issue with Amegakure without bloodshed.
He had always wanted to find a way to make the Ninja of Amegakure recognize the merits of the Shinobi Sect, and to let the Rain Ninja understand that the Shinobi Sect could make the Land of Rain better.
As long as all Rain Ninja joined the Shinobi Sect, then naturally, there would be no need for war.
"It cannot be avoided." Hanzō stared at Sōsuke and spoke slowly.
Raise a white flag to the Shinobi Sect and merge into it as Sōsuke's subordinate?
What a joke.
Hanzō's inner pride would never allow him to do such a thing.
If he were willing to do that just to survive, then he would never have come to the Shinobi Sect tonight.
"Coming alone to declare war on me. Truly worthy of the Demigod's name, Hanzō." Mugetsu stood and poured him a cup of tea.
If everything Hanzō said was true, then at least in this moment, Hanzō was still the respectable Demigod Hanzō.
"It will not be long before it is your turn," Hanzō said faintly.
Even he found it somewhat unbelievable that he, who had always acted cautiously, would come to Six Paths City alone and say such things to Sōsuke.
As long as Sōsuke harbored killing intent, he would not be able to escape.
Sōsuke alone was already difficult enough for him to handle, let alone Kakuzu and Nagato, who were also in the Shinobi Sect.
"I will not disappoint you then, senior." Mugetsu also poured himself a cup of tea and raised it as he spoke.
If the facts were truly as Hanzō said, then Mugetsu would naturally keep the appointment.
According to Hanzō, he was helping Danzo.
Given the temptation of the sage art inheritance and the Rinnegan, Danzo himself would most likely be present.
Then this would be a rare opportunity to eliminate Danzo.
Danzo was too keen on causing trouble. In the original work, most of the bad things could be linked back to him.
Mugetsu felt that Danzo committing suicide would be a great act of charity. After all, if Danzo committed suicide now, he would commit far fewer immoral deeds later.
Since Danzo had caused trouble for him, Mugetsu did not mind sending him on his way and ending his sinful life.
"Is that battle truly unavoidable?" Mugetsu took a sip, then put down his teacup and asked.
Mugetsu had no intention of killing Hanzō.
If Hanzō joined the Shinobi Sect, Mugetsu could even let him serve as a high-ranking official within it.
Hanzō drank the tea in one gulp.
"As long as I live, it cannot be avoided."
He understood what Sōsuke meant, but it was impossible.
Mugetsu did not ask any further.
To continue asking would be somewhat insulting to Hanzō.
Hanzō stood and walked toward the office door.
As he grasped the doorknob, he suddenly asked, "Sōsuke, how is your Water Release?"
"A little weaker than my Fire Release, I suppose," Mugetsu replied.
Although both were Perfect-level Nature Transformation, the proficiency of his Fire Release Chakra Nature Transformation was slightly higher, and Mugetsu had also mastered more advanced Fire Release Ninjutsu.
"I see…"
Hanzō paused slightly, said nothing more, and soon walked out of the office building without looking back, disappearing into the darkness.
Mugetsu opened his Byakugan and silently watched Hanzō leave.
Hanzō had said he would not help the Shinobi Sect and had declared war on him, but in Mugetsu's eyes, Hanzō was actually helping him, and helping the Shinobi Sect.
Because Hanzō could not win against him, even against a Mugetsu who had not revealed all his strength.
Mugetsu believed that Hanzō would truly try his best to kill him, but Hanzō could not do it. The gap between them could not be bridged by effort.
Suppressing water with fire.
Any Ninja with even a slight understanding of Nature Transformation would know what that implied.
It was not an exaggeration to say that Hanzō had resolved himself to die. In the life-or-death battle between him and Mugetsu, Hanzō was destined to be the loser.
As a modern transmigrator, Mugetsu was actually somewhat perplexed by Hanzō. He could clearly solve the problem by living, yet he insisted on dying.
Although Mugetsu did not understand it, he chose to respect it.
…
"What is wrong with me, to have done such impulsive things?"
On the way back, Hanzō reviewed his own actions and could not help questioning himself.
Both venturing into the Shinobi Sect alone and challenging Sōsuke were extremely dangerous, with the latter being almost certain death.
One had to know that this was originally something unrelated to Amegakure.
Was it because he wanted to preserve the strength of the Land of Rain?
Or was it because of his pride, wanting to display the bearing of a Demigod senior in front of Sōsuke?
Or did he subconsciously believe that Sōsuke could make the Land of Rain better?
Hanzō even wondered whether Sōsuke had subtly planted some personal agenda during his lectures, causing his thought patterns to go astray.
"However, I might not necessarily lose."
Hanzō shook his head.
He did not think he had no chance of winning. Perhaps his Ninjutsu was inferior to Sōsuke's, but Ninjutsu was not the entirety of a Ninja.
He still had swordsmanship and poison.
The next day, Hanzō still did not agree to Danzo's cooperation. Instead, he held a high-level meeting to arrange various matters.
Both Sōsuke's side and his own side needed some time, so he could not agree too early.
Five days later, after seeing Danzo grow anxious, Hanzō finally gave his reply.
"Amegakure can assist Konoha in dealing with the Shinobi Sect."
Danzo remained calm on the surface, but inwardly, he was overjoyed.
His personal trip to the Land of Rain to coerce and entice Hanzō had not been in vain. It had finally succeeded.
Danzo seemed to see Wood Release, the sage art inheritance, and the Rinnegan beckoning to him.
"A correct decision, Hanzō. You are still as fond of peace as ever," Danzo said casually, in a good mood.
Hanzō remained expressionless and did not speak.
Being as bold as before was indeed true.
If time returned to that night, Hanzō might not have had the same spirit to go to Six Paths City again.
Danzo did not mind. After all, Hanzō always had that expression.
"We in Konoha have already devised a plan for you. Use the excuse of inviting Sōsuke and Nagato to an event to bring them to Amegakure, and then…"
Danzo explained his prepared encirclement plan.
As a qualified schemer, Danzo naturally would not wait until Hanzō agreed before thinking of a plan. Before coming to the Land of Rain, he had already prepared several plans.
Hanzō nodded.
The plan was nothing special, but it was very practical.
Because Hanzō had just agreed to the Shinobi Sect's request for unrestricted lectures, if Sōsuke refused Amegakure's event request, it would be somewhat unreasonable.
Once Sōsuke came to Amegakure, things would be simple.
Just kill him.
As the plan progressed to the stage where he would obtain Wood Release, Danzo became both nervous and excited.
After all, this was Wood Release, the Bloodline Limit unique to the God of Shinobi.
"How will he make me possess Wood Release?" Danzo was extremely curious.
Root's Wood Release Ninja relied on Hashirama cells, but Hashirama cells should only exist in Konoha.
"If it is him, having Hashirama cells is not impossible." Danzo thought of the intelligence capabilities displayed by "Uchiha Madara," and his expression darkened.
"Uchiha Madara" entering and leaving the Root Base as if it were unguarded truly infuriated Danzo.
If he could move freely even within Root, stealing a small amount of Hashirama cells would not be difficult.
Just as Danzo was thinking about "Uchiha Madara," a black-and-white figure silently appeared behind him.
.....
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