Hanzo, who found it difficult to downplay his role, also needed to ease relations with the Ninja Sect and was willing to pay a certain price.
As long as the Ninja Sect agrees to cooperate, and the demands aren't excessively outrageous, Hidden Rock and Rain Ninja will try their best to meet them.
This is a rare opportunity for the Ninja Sect, even if it is a semi-official organization. In the future, actions will be more convenient.
"The key to cooperation is that it is a stage-based collaboration. This can only be a phase cooperation. A truly peaceful Land of Rain doesn't need Rain Village and the Ninja Sect to coexist!"
For the Ninja Sect, the Rain Ninja can be a target to win over, but Rain Village must be eradicated.
The reason the Ninja Sect needs to cooperate with Rain Village is that the current Rain Village is beneficial for peace, but once the power of the Ninja Sect grows, the coexistence of the two ninja forces will become a risk for peace.
"Tch, as expected, there's a hidden agenda." Kakuzu showed a face of expected realization.
He didn't believe that Mokgetsu would simply spare Rain Village that nearly destroyed the Ninja Sect.
Mokgetsu says cooperation with Rain Village, but in fact, it's a delaying tactic. Before gaining enough power, they coexist peacefully, then eradicate Rain Village when powerful enough.
"If that's the case, cooperation is really promising." Ike Masaya thought Mokgetsu's idea was perfect.
The current Ninja Sect has strong high-level combat power, but otherwise, it's just an ordinary medium-sized ninja organization. Such a Ninja Sect is not qualified to replace Rain Village in maintaining peace in the Land of Rain.
After all, no matter how strong Mokgetsu and his group are, they can't be a thousand ninjas each. Sufficient numbers of middle and lower-level ninjas are crucial for the stability of a nation.
When it finally came to voting, most of the ninjas supported cooperation.
After deciding on cooperation, Mokgetsu conveyed the Ninja Sect's demands to Kitsuchi.
Cooperation is possible, but the Ninja Sect and Rain Village must have an equal relationship. Nobody can command the other; everything must be consulted together. Meanwhile, Rain Village must acknowledge the Ninja Sect's legitimacy in the Land of Rain, not as a regular ninja organization.
"These are very reasonable demands. I will truthfully inform Lord Hanzo." Kitsuchi felt a joy in his heart.
He wasn't afraid of Mokgetsu making demands, but feared the Ninja Sect had no intention of cooperation, which would truly make it impossible to proceed.
Once the Ninja Sect and Rain Village achieve peace, Hidden Rock can then create a false impression of Konoha Ninja threatening the Land of Rain. At that time, combining old and new grievances, it wouldn't be hard for Rain Ninjas to fight Konoha.
Kitsuchi quickly returned to the leader's office of Rain Village to bring the good news to Hanzo.
"Lord Sosuke understands your predicaments and is willing to cooperate, just with a few small requests." Kitsuchi relayed Mokgetsu's requests to Hanzo.
After listening, Hanzo's face darkened. These are supposed to be small requests.
A ninja organization of over a hundred wants to be on equal standing with Rain Village, not to mention holding a similar status to an official Ninja Village in the Land of Rain.
In fact, the former is nothing to Hanzo; he could decide this himself.
After all, even if the cooperation treaty doesn't state equality, the Ninja Sect's ninjas won't listen to him anyhow, and Rain Ninjas wouldn't obey Sosuke.
But the latter is different; Hanzo must discuss this with the Daimyo of the Land of Rain, and it could leave latent risks.
"This is a significant matter. I need to discuss it with the Daimyo." Hanzo finally decided to agree to the Ninja Sect's proposal.
Because regardless of acknowledging the Ninja Sect, they are there, and improving relations through cooperation might lead to different outcomes.
...
Konoha.
In the training ground, Might Guy was excitedly warming up, while opposite him, Teacher Chen was reading a book.
Having no rival temporarily in the pupil infighting, Might Guy set his instructor, Teacher Chen, as his next target to defeat.
While Teacher Chen's Taijutsu wasn't the absolute strongest in Konoha, he was among the top in Taijutsu. Defeating Teacher Chen would be a significant step for Might Guy toward becoming the strongest.
"Do you think Guy has any chance of winning, Shiranui Genma?" Unable to resist, he asked Ebisu beside him.
The scene of Might Guy fiercely opening the Six Gates and, with the Breath of Rock Chakra Mode, battling the Seven-Swords Ninja on the East Coast Battlefield was still vivid in people's minds. So, even against Teacher Chen, known for having the strongest Taijutsu in Konoha, Shiranui Genma thought Might Guy wasn't without a chance.
Ebisu pushed up his sunglasses on his nose. "Hard to say, Teacher Chen has incredibly rich Taijutsu experience. When it truly comes to a fight, Guy might not have the upper hand."
Although Might Guy was indeed strong, Ebisu still thought the experienced Teacher Chen would win.
"If he really wins, it would be amazing. Could he not take the title of strongest Taijutsu from Teacher Chen then?" Shiranui Genma once again felt the disparity of the world.
Back then, among the seven-member team on the East Coast Battlefield, only they were still Chunin.
Swoosh.
Seeing that Might Guy had finished warming up, Teacher Chen closed his book and took a battle stance.
"Guy, you're already a Jonin. Once the fight starts, I won't hold back." Teacher Chen reminded.
In his heart, Teacher Chen was quite emotional. In the bell-snatching test, Teacher Chen had already seen Might Guy's Taijutsu talent and knew he would surpass him on the Taijutsu path and go further.
But Teacher Chen didn't expect Might Guy to progress so quickly. At only eleven years old, Might Guy already had the strength to challenge him.
"A youthful battle requires giving it all!" Might Guy flashed a shining white fang and gave Teacher Chen a thumbs up.
Teacher Chen also smiled. He really felt very proud to have such a disciple.
"The battle begins!" called Ebisu after both were ready.
"Eight Gates, Fifth Gate, Limit Gate, open!" Against Teacher Chen, Might Guy dared not be careless and directly entered the Fifth Gate of the Eight Gates.
Might Guy was well aware of Teacher Chen's strength, possessing a powerful physique, and masterful Taijutsu. Without using the Eight Gates, he was not qualified to duel with Teacher Chen.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Both erupted simultaneously with Chakra, and their speed was extremely fast.
The two figures swiftly crossed, punches and hand chops colliding, then both retreated and kicked out the Tornado Kick.
Bang! Bang!!
Their fists and feet clashed incessantly like a fierce storm, and the air currents caused by the collisions made the leaves on the branches rustle loudly.
Shiranui Genma and Ebisu couldn't see their movements clearly. Just when they thought they had caught the movement, it turned out to be afterimages.
"As expected of Teacher Chen." Might Guy laughed, feeling the burning pain in different parts of his body.
On the surface, they seemed evenly matched, but in reality, Might Guy was at a disadvantage because he hadn't managed to hit Teacher Chen, while Teacher Chen had struck his body several times.
Fighting Teacher Chen reminded Might Guy of his first battle with Transparent World Kakashi, where his attacks were completely seen through, and he was basically just getting beaten.
The difference between the two was only in method; Kakashi relied on the ability of the Transparent World to see through, while Teacher Chen relied on years of Taijutsu cultivation accumulation.
Might Guy knew he couldn't continue like this; he had to use his trump card.
Silently, Might Guy closed the Fifth Gate and then concentrated his breathing to the extreme, entering the Breath of Rock Chakra Mode state.
Once the Breath of Rock Chakra Mode surged, Might Guy's aura rapidly escalated, and his strength and speed soared.
Teacher Chen squinted his eyes slightly, beginning to gather more Chakra.
Swoosh!
Might Guy's speed was so incredible that it seemed like a green light shooting towards Teacher Chen.
Bang!
Teacher Chen calmly caught Might Guy's swinging fist with his palm.
This level was still within what he could handle.
Whoosh!
The impact from their interacting fists caused their hair to blow backward, and Teacher Chen twisted Might Guy's fist and tossed him away.
"Konoha Dragon God!"
Might Guy, grabbed a branch in midair to land steadily, then gathered a large amount of Chakra to unleash the signature Taijutsu that made Teacher Chen famous in Konoha.