Chapter 169: Hanzo of the Salamander Enters the Great Konoha, The Hokage's Long-Time Spiritual Brother
Konoha.
Hokage Building.
"Hiruzen, what is the meaning of this Hanzo?"
"He actually came alone?"
Danzo frowned, holding a specialized intelligence-receiving ninja tool, and said in a deep voice, "I suspect a trap!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a drag from his pipe and inquired, "When did the village discover Hanzo's whereabouts? Are you certain he is alone?"
Danzo froze. Why was Hiruzen asking about this?
But since Hiruzen asked, he still answered honestly and professionally first: "The Iburi clan members reported it when he entered seventeen kilometers into the Land of Fire. The hiding effect of their Body Oxidation Technique in the forest is excellent, and they have repeatedly rendered distinguished service recently."
"After the report, the patrol units quickly verified further and confirmed it was Hanzo."
"The Anbu's mobile squads and Root units flanked him from behind. No supporting shinobi were discovered behind him, on his flanks, or in the direction of Amegakure."
Nowadays, Konoha's defense perimeter was steadily expanding step by step.
First was the Konoha reserve force stationed on the periphery, namely the Iburi clan and the Tsuchigumo clan.
These two shinobi clans that had joined Konoha later were now placed under Kakuzu's management by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Under the guidance of the veteran Kakuzu, these two clans, which were originally considered "scattered stragglers," had become increasingly formalized.
They were extremely timely in discovering any bounty hunters and rogue shinobi infiltrating Konoha.
This was also the result of Kakuzu's "reverse-engineering experience."
After all, who understood the tricks of the trade better than him?
And with Konoha's economic development, "fully village-funded" positions like Anbu and Root became more numerous, working full-time for the village.
They no longer took on missions frequently, perhaps only accepting one or two low-level missions during their days off just to relax.
This was naturally beneficial for combat capability and professional proficiency.
The only reason they didn't do this in the past was because the expenses of a shinobi were too high, and Konoha couldn't afford to support that many people.
However, this also led to a minor problem.
Due to Hiruzen Sarutobi taking on the role of "Grand General of National Pacification," an unprecedented honeymoon period had begun between the nobility of the Land of Fire and the shinobi. The volume of missions and the remuneration had both increased significantly.
But they couldn't take on all the missions, because although the childbirth subsidy had been implemented, the increase in the effective population would take time to manifest.
After hearing Danzo's explanation, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.
He was quite satisfied.
The village had spent so much money on construction and expenditures; they had to see some improvements.
As a violent military group, providing welfare wasn't to feed lazy bums, otherwise it would all be a waste of effort.
"Is this new ninja tool easy to use?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed to Danzo's waist, where a device resembling a walkie-talkie was clipped.
This was a ninja tool developed for the Yamanaka clan by Orochimaru, Hiruko, and others in response to the village's increasing communication needs.
It used chakra metal as its core component, supplemented by sealing formulas.
It could transmit intelligence accurately even in extremely harsh environments and under chakra interference, and its range was significantly enhanced compared to the Yamanaka clan's traditional arrays.
"Hmph." Danzo snorted coldly. He knew this was one of the projects led by Orochimaru.
"It's alright, I suppose. Throwing that much money at it, even a mediocre talent could produce some results!" Danzo first threw out an insult before reluctantly admitting, "With this thing equipped to the corresponding Jonin and squad leaders, intelligence transmission has indeed become much faster."
"But Hiruzen, you still need to be careful! I'm not targeting Orochimaru."
"Although he is your disciple, his hands have never been clean when it comes to financial matters. He was like that back in the old Root. You cannot trust him too much!"
Danzo still couldn't resist planting some negative seeds.
Hiruzen Sarutobi simply let out an "Oh," saying, "Alright, I'll keep it in mind."
There was no need to argue with Danzo; it was better to just treat it as a joke.
Compared to research funds, the fact that Orochimaru actively informed him about an overly sensitive forbidden jutsu like "Living Corpse Reincarnation" already proved the elevation and solidity of their master-disciple bond.
Even setting the bond aside, the personnel arrangement of the R&D Division alone was enough to put Hiruzen Sarutobi at ease.
Tsunade, Hiruko, and Orochimaru acted as checks and balances against one another.
And recently, Hiruzen Sarutobi had learned...
His Tobirama-sensei had run off and joined the Hashirama Cell research group, bringing a young man into the R&D Division.
Then there was even less to worry about.
The first-generation Shinobi of Darkness was no joke!
"By the way, how is Seisui doing recently?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked with a smile. "Are you two getting along pleasantly?"
At the mention of Seisui, a smile straight from the heart unconsciously blossomed on Danzo's face.
The purity of this smile made even Hiruzen Sarutobi stare blankly for a moment.
Could this guy Danzo actually smile in a way that made people feel sunny?
"Hiruzen, I'm not boasting..."
Danzo's tone carried a hint of pride. "My disciple, Seisui, has the bearing of a Hokage!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in agreement.
There was truly nothing wrong with that statement.
He couldn't criticize it; he really did have the bearing of a Hokage.
"You think so too, Hiruzen?" Danzo laughed heartily.
His old brother's recognition of his disciple actually made Danzo happier than being recognized himself.
After all, this was Tobirama-sensei's direct descendant.
After realizing this, Danzo himself was quite surprised.
While staring at the photo of the first Shinobi of Darkness and muttering to himself every night, Danzo unconsciously wondered...
What was he even pursuing the Hokage position for?
"Naturally, Seisui is outstanding in every aspect, which you and I both know."
"But don't put too much pressure on Seisui. He is still a boy, after all." Hiruzen Sarutobi emphasized.
No matter what, Tobirama had shown him great kindness; otherwise, he wouldn't have survived to this day.
Having summoned his master back from the Pure Land to work for him, he couldn't exploit him too much.
There had to be some human touch...
Of course, if Tobirama couldn't stay idle and wanted to actively work for the village, that was a different story.
"Also, regarding Seisui's private matters, even though you are his master, you shouldn't interfere too much."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said tactfully, "I know you want to get closer to Isshin and the Uchiha, but there's no need to rush into such preemptive actions."
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi was busy with a myriad of affairs, he still paid relative attention to matters concerning Tobirama.
Through channels like Hizashi, he had learned about Danzo and Isshin arranging blind dates for Tobirama.
Upon hearing they were finding an Uchiha woman for Tobirama, Hiruzen Sarutobi nearly lost his composure.
Was this right?!
It wasn't that Hiruzen Sarutobi objected to Tobirama having new experiences in his second life.
But the Hokage knew that his revered master's personality had some issues.
While chatting idly with Mito, Hiruzen Sarutobi had heard quite a few jokes about Tobirama's blind dates, which made him laugh very happily.
In Hiruzen Sarutobi's view, it was better for Tobirama to just find someone suited for a quiet, domestic life.
But as for who he ultimately chose, that was his master's private business. As long as it didn't violate village regulations, he wouldn't interfere or intervene.
Others didn't know "Seisui's" true identity, but Hiruzen Sarutobi did.
After all, he was the mastermind behind turning Tobirama into an Uchiha.
"You're too soft, Hiruzen!" Danzo rarely adopted his old tone. "Although Seisui is an Uchiha, but..." Danzo paused.
Even when it was just the two of them, they had to be accustomed to secrecy and not expose "Seisui's" bloodline.
So Danzo changed his phrasing: "He has the bones of the Will of Fire!"
"Such a wonderful seedling, it would be a pity not to use him for a political marriage!" Danzo said sternly, "Hiruzen, you are the Hokage! But you are also now the Grand General of National Pacification of the Land of Fire. There are some things where it's not impossible to borrow the mindset of the nobility..."
"Seisui was rescued by the village. He ought to do something for the village. In some matters, he has no choice!"
"Looking at it from the nobility's perspective, Seisui is the perfect tool for our political marriage with the Uchiha!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally understood what Danzo was saying.
Noble marriages were never emotion-oriented; the core was the integration of power and risk hedging.
Through the bond of bloodlines, two independent factions were transformed into a "community of shared interests," using the lowest cost to avoid conflict and consolidate their mutual relationship.
And the core prerequisite for a successful political marriage was finding an intermediary.
There had to be an individual accepted by both sides, bearing the interests of one side while being trusted by the other.
"Seisui's" dual attributes perfectly fit this requirement.
But the problem was, if "Seisui" was truly just Tobirama's descendant, operating this way wouldn't be an issue.
After all, even as the Hokage's grandson, having enjoyed abundant resources, when push came to shove, one had to step up to the plate.
The former Hiruzen Sarutobi was the same.
Back during the First Great Ninja War, if the Second Kage of Kumogakure or Iwagakure had proposed a marriage with Hiruzen Sarutobi to end the war...
Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't have been able to refuse.
Politics was not child's play; there wasn't that much freedom.
But the problem was...
"Seisui" was actually Tobirama Senju himself!
Even among the nobility, whose bottom lines were notoriously low, while royal offspring being used for marriages of state was indeed the norm, no one had ever seen the "Retired Emperor" being asked to do it!
This seemed a bit too flexible...
"Mm."
Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered, "No matter what, we cannot violate the village's regulations, and we must respect the wishes of Seisui and the other party."
"Let's set the tone like this. Do not interfere with what happens next; just let nature take its course."
Hiruzen Sarutobi decisively chose to stay out of it!
No participation, no asking questions.
If something happened, it had nothing to do with this monkey.
As Hokage, he shouldn't be concerning himself with these things anyway.
It was nothing more than trivial squabbles among teenage boys and girls.
In terms of political marriages, if one day a female shinobi approaching the level of Hashirama or Madara appeared in another village, only then would Hiruzen Sarutobi pay serious attention and find a way to get acquainted with her himself.
But unfortunately, there was no such person in the shinobi world.
This also made Hiruzen Sarutobi feel somewhat regretful. Biwako had actively told him she wouldn't mind...
Danzo shook his head in extreme dissatisfaction, clearly not taking his old brother's words to heart.
"Hiruzen, you probably don't know..."
"I asked Tobirama-sensei, and he supports sending Seisui for a political marriage! It is a necessary sacrifice." Danzo said this in his heart: The Second Grandfather has already agreed!
As for how he asked, Danzo locked eyes with Tobirama's photo album every night and muttered to himself.
Subconsciously, he just felt that Tobirama approved of his logic, just like he felt he would be the Fourth Hokage and Seisui would be the Fifth.
If one wants to become Hokage, they must first sacrifice some freedom for the village!
"Hiruzen, let's stop talking about this. How are we handling Hanzo's matter?"
Danzo changed the subject.
Regarding Seisui, he had his own ideas.
After all, he was Seisui's master!
Hiruzen Sarutobi said impassively, "Entering Konoha alone on horseback, Hanzo certainly has sincerity. This represents his trust in us."
"But conversely, he is also demonstrating his might to Konoha."
"He was, after all, once referred to by shinobi as the man 'closest to standing at the pinnacle of the shinobi world,' and he defeated Jiraiya and the others during the Second Great Ninja War. The shinobi in the village have a deep impression of him."
Hanzo's behavior reminded him of Liu Biao, Liu Jingsheng.
Treating Konoha like Jingzhou, is that it?
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi was also somewhat surprised.
Ever since the Second Great Ninja War, the once highly active Hanzo had basically ceased all activities.
Even Amegakure had gone quiet for a long time, as if the entire village had entered a state of radio silence.
Even Kusagakure, which was much weaker than Amegakure, had made more noise in the shinobi world during that time.
But instead, after Konoha began to rise, Hanzo started taking action again.
He unified their propaganda, genuinely promoting in Amegakure and the Land of Rain that the culprits of the last Great Ninja War were Iwagakure and Sunagakure, placing their own side and Konoha in the "victim" camp.
However, Hanzo wasn't entirely wrong in saying this.
Although he intensified the conflict to display his power on a grand stage, it was indeed Sunagakure and Iwagakure who subsequently attempted to expand the war.
So this narrative was widely accepted in Amegakure.
And recently, Hanzo had been frequently interacting and communicating with Konoha's Administration Department.
At least in attitude, he showed considerable sincerity and expressed a willingness for deep cooperation with Konoha.
And today, he had come to Konoha all by himself.
"I must say, Hanzo's action has quite the bearing of a hero."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled faintly, "I really want to befriend a figure like this!"
"Since he came alone, I will welcome him alone."
"Whatever moves he has, as Hokage, I will naturally face them."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone was calm, projecting a relaxed demeanor that nonetheless revealed immense confidence.
It was just Hanzo...
Not Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.
Could he really turn the heavens upside down?
Danzo froze, his eyes staring straight at Hiruzen.
You say Hanzo has the bearing of a hero—but doesn't you, the Hokage, also possess the same?
Damn it, I want to learn this so badly!
"Then I'll go get Hanzo's files for you? We have backups of intelligence on his salamander venom mist, Body Flicker Technique, and more from the last war, and I had Root conduct a detailed investigation previously."
"Take another look, Hiruzen. Although there's basically no possibility of a fight breaking out, it's good to be prepared," Danzo said softly.
"Then thank you for your hard work, Danzo." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with a smile, "Your intelligence work is always so thorough."
Danzo frowned, "Hard work? I feel like you're being sarcastic..."
But regardless of what he said, Danzo felt very validated inside.
A moment later, Hiruzen Sarutobi flipped through the files Danzo had hastily brought over and nodded.
It was indeed very comprehensive.
And interestingly, because of some of the details within, Hiruzen Sarutobi could actually infer that the old Danzo had reached some sort of cooperation agreement with Hanzo in the past.
He hadn't known this before...
But since Danzo actively brought it to him, this matter was considered water under the bridge.
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook out his Hokage mantle and picked up his pipe, "Inform all the Konoha Commissioners and the Jonin in charge of the various divisions that Hanzo and I will most likely take a walk through the village."
"Tell everyone not to panic or be overly curious. Maintain stable order."
Danzo nodded, "Leave it to me, Hiruzen!"
At this moment, Danzo suddenly thought of Orochimaru in the R&D Division, and the corners of his mouth curled up.
Even if you are the Hokage's disciple, what use is it?
"The person Hiruzen trusts and relies on the most is always me!" Danzo thought cheerfully to himself.
...
Outside Konoha Village.
Hanzo walked slowly toward the village entrance.
Along the way, he had already noticed anomalies.
As a powerhouse who had fought on the front lines of the battlefield.
Although the reconnaissance methods of the Aburame, Inuzuka, and Iburi clans were covert, it was impossible for them to remain completely undetected by someone who came prepared.
But even so, Hanzo felt secretly alarmed.
Even if he didn't try to hide his tracks, Hanzo knew in his heart that he would most likely have been discovered anyway.
Visible sentries, hidden lookouts, reconnaissance ninjutsu, and patrol squads formed a tightly woven overlapping system...
Trying to evade it was nearly impossible.
"I'm afraid only something like the Second Tsuchikage Mu's invisibility technique could silently infiltrate this..."
"But it's hard to say. Mito Uzumaki is still here. With her sensory abilities, even Mu would probably be detected." Hanzo continuously gathered intelligence.
Ever since his will was restored, Hanzo felt as if he were ten years younger, once again becoming the hero bursting with vitality who could fight on the battlefield for five days and five nights.
Willpower and mindset were sometimes just this wondrous.
"But since they've discovered me, why haven't they made a move?"
Hanzo's visit this time was preceded by official communication between Konoha and Amegakure; it wasn't an unannounced arrival.
He just hadn't brought guards and a visiting delegation according to standard protocol.
"Are they shocked by my approach?" Hanzo smiled faintly. He seemed to envision Hiruzen Sarutobi holding an emergency meeting, studying his behavior.
"Although it is for cooperation, negotiation itself is also a game of chess."
"I can't just follow your rhythm!" Hanzo thought to himself, accelerating his pace.
But a few kilometers away from the Konoha entrance.
Hanzo, who was in a state of rapid march, suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Because in the distance of his gaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi was smoking his pipe, looking at him with a smile.
Hanzo's heart skipped a beat.
How could the other party also be alone?
But he quickly calmed down, slowed his speed, and walked slowly toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
As he walked, Hanzo assessed the Hokage, feeling an involuntary surge of alarm.
After resolving to make one more push, Hanzo felt much younger.
Before coming to Konoha, he specially changed into a brand-new set of clothes and a cloak. Even his respirator mask was brand new, and his chain sickle was polished to a shine.
A leader with a tough and pristine appearance always naturally inspires respect.
But compared to Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hanzo's renewed vigor was nothing to write home about.
"When did his physique become so robust and muscular? And this face, it's clearly how he looked over a decade ago. This isn't just a renewed spirit; he's reversed time!"
"This intense chakra, and this feeling of power that seems to spill over..." Hanzo quietly activated a sensory jutsu; he had some attainment in this area as well.
In his perception, Hiruzen Sarutobi was like a furnace. Just standing there, he radiated exuberant vitality and a massive chakra signature.
"You've arrived?"
Seeing Hanzo approach, Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke and said in a relaxed tone, as if chatting about daily life, "I didn't expect Your Excellency Hanzo to come alone."
In this first round of the peace negotiation game, even if Hanzo didn't want to admit it, he knew he had fallen into a disadvantage.
One on one...
In this first round, Hanzo originally intended to seize the initiative in the negotiation by displaying a mental state that wasn't inferior to his prime.
But the result was obvious.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's current state vastly exceeded Hanzo's expectations!
What exactly happened over these past few years?
Hanzo couldn't help but doubt reality.
Shortly after the end of the last Great Ninja War, Hiruzen Sarutobi and he had met.
The Hiruzen Sarutobi back then, although giving off a relatively sturdy impression, radiated a sense of exhaustion from the inside out, possessing the aura of a middle-aged to elderly man.
But now, he was entirely in his robust prime, the absolute peak of his vitality!
Before coming, Hanzo was still thinking to himself that Hiruzen Sarutobi shouldn't let him down.
But this was a bit too not letting him down!
"Your current state is truly astonishing." Hanzo walked up beside Hiruzen Sarutobi and said softly, "I also didn't expect you to personally come out of the village alone to welcome me."
"Your Excellency Hanzo's state is also the same as before; your presence is undiminished from those years."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and extended his hand, "Welcome the visit from Amegakure. Since Your Excellency Hanzo trusts Konoha so much, I, as Hokage, naturally cannot be discourteous."
"My work today is to accompany you on a walk through the village. Without others disturbing us, the two of us can stroll and talk casually."
Hanzo shook Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand with a solemn expression, "Thank you for your high regard, Lord Hokage."
The two walked side by side.
"Regarding the matters of deep cooperation between our two villages, I have carefully read the report from the Administration Department."
"The problems Amegakure faces are primarily a lack of mission quotas and a reduction in fiscal revenue. This is closely related to the conflicts with your domestic nobility after you initiated the Great Ninja War."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said slowly.
Hanzo nodded, "That is indeed the case."
As a small hidden village, placing the main battlefield of a Great Ninja War within its own borders brought immense pressure and criticism.
It was only because Hanzo's reputation and strength were truly top-tier in the shinobi world back then that he avoided excessive condemnation.
But even so, the Daimyo and nobility of the Land of Rain felt offended by Hanzo's refusal to heed their advice, and they deeply distrusted this 'monster shinobi' who decided on a whim to wage war against two great hidden villages.
If he had won, naturally everything would be fine, and the nobility would have changed their tune.
But the problem was, he didn't win.
As the main battlefield, the various facilities and personnel of the Land of Rain suffered heavy losses.
And for Amegakure, located at the junction of three major hidden villages, the nobles had numerous alternatives.
They could place orders with Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Konoha, and even Kusagakure to fulfill their mission needs, expressing their dissatisfaction with Hanzo and Amegakure.
This silent resistance left Hanzo with no solutions.
After all, given Amegakure's sensitive location, if he were to act against the nobility and the Daimyo, it would give the other hidden villages the legal justification to ally and attack him.
When the nobles of the Land of Rain approached Hanzo after so many years because of Konoha's "Sovereign Sage Pill," he was shocked.
A mere product from Konoha could actually make these nobles, who had been engaged in a cold war with him for so many years, lower their stance and take the initiative to come to him?
"Does Lord Hokage have a way to help Amegakure solve this?" Hanzo said softly.
"Yes." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, "To tell the truth, Amegakure's needs coincide perfectly with Konoha's. We have a surplus portion of mission quotas and lack the population to digest them."
"The production of the 'Sovereign Sage Pill' has also recently seen a breakthrough, and we want to expand our sales channels."
Hanzo's eyes lit up.
Was Konoha going to allocate a portion of their mission quotas to Amegakure?
But Hiruzen Sarutobi's words also made Hanzo feel a pang of bitterness.
Surplus mission quotas?
What kind of talk was this!
Konoha's population wasn't small, but even so, there were still too many missions to handle?
Think about Amegakure, where shinobi had to viciously compete with other great hidden villages just for a single mission...
One was a picky eater, and the other was starving with no options.
Comparing oneself to others is enough to make one die of anger!
"Amegakure desperately needs these."
Hanzo spoke decisively, "I understand that these things cannot be taken for free. Please speak plainly, Lord Hokage: what does Konoha need Amegakure to do?"
"Your Excellency Hanzo, there is no need to rush." Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled and waved his hand, "In the shinobi world, past alliances and peace treaties have always been nothing more than pieces of scrap paper, devoid of any credibility."
"This is because the conflicts and contradictions between each other have never been fundamentally resolved. Both sides only want to temporarily rest and recuperate, so they can sharpen their weapons and fight another battle in the future."
"Sunagakure needs fertile land; Iwagakure harbors hostility towards Konoha in their very bones; Kirigakure needs to suppress the outside world as an outlet for their internal contradictions."
"As for Kumogakure's situation, everyone knows they are the bandits of the shinobi world."
Hanzo couldn't help but nod in agreement, listening intently to Hiruzen Sarutobi's words.
This was also the reason why he chose to give up pursuing peace after the Second Great Ninja War.
The five great hidden villages all had their own ideas and demands, and no one yielded to anyone else.
Just like the Senju and Uchiha of the past, without fighting until they were exhausted and a clear victor emerged, sitting down to talk was impossible.
Even though Konoha had always stated they only wanted peaceful stability, it was useless.
Even with Hashirama's reputation backing them, the other hidden villages were terrified that Konoha would produce another Madara Uchiha.
If they didn't secure victories during Konoha's vulnerable transitional periods, the consequences of letting them develop fully would be very troublesome.
No one could guarantee whether the Senju and Uchiha, these two millennia-old shinobi clans, would suddenly produce another divine anomaly.
No one wanted to be ruled by martial force.
Moreover, the Kage all believed that as long as their own hidden villages united, they had the potential to reach the summit. Let alone Madara Uchiha, even the emergence of another Tobirama was something the other great hidden villages absolutely didn't want to see.
One could only say that having a glorious ancestry was a double-edged sword.
Inheriting a rich legacy meant enduring the wariness and covetousness of external wolves.
"Konoha's contradictions with them are irreconcilable."
"Or rather, the price of reconciliation would require Konoha to accept unfair demands, naturally rendering it meaningless."
"But Amegakure is different. We can work together with Konoha for mutual benefit, forming a complementary relationship. Your Excellency Hanzo repeatedly promoting the friendship that should exist between our two villages in your country has shown me the foundation for true cooperation between us."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said slowly, "Therefore, I hope that after Your Excellency Hanzo gains a deep understanding of Konoha, our two sides can forge an alliance distinct from any previous form in the shinobi world, forming a truly tight-knit community of shared interests."
"Betrayals and backstabbing are common occurrences in the shinobi world, and I am tired and sick of seeing them."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Hanzo, "Just like the Senju and Uchiha in the past, there has been unpleasantness between Konoha and Amegakure. But as long as we both show sincerity as much as possible, we might not be unable to become one family."
Hanzo's expression changed slightly, visibly moved.
Using the Senju and Uchiha as an example?
This was actually elevating Amegakure considerably.
Because no matter how you sliced it, Amegakure was only a small hidden village.
Compared to Konoha, using the evenly matched Senju and Uchiha as an example was inappropriate.
Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally knew this as well, but he didn't care.
Words are cheap; it's just mutual flattery.
During casual conversation, he could call him 'Your Excellency Hanzo.'
But when the agreement involved Konoha's core interests, they would have to listen to him, the Hokage!
"I understand Lord Hokage's sincerity."
"Since that is the case, then I request Lord Hokage to show me the Konoha of today. I will experience it with my heart, and then negotiate with you again with the utmost sincerity."
"Bringing up the agreement so abruptly just now was truly lacking in solemnity. Please forgive me."
Hanzo said softly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled slightly.
If an outsider heard the tone of this conversation, they would find it hard to guess that these were the leaders of Konoha and Amegakure.
They were both very polite to each other.
And this was the 'power of sincerity.'
Hanzo was anxious to cooperate, but Hiruzen Sarutobi conversely rejected him first, telling him to 'inspect the goods before thinking it over.'
"Please."
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Hanzo stepped through Konoha's gates.
Under the respectful gazes of the gatekeepers, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Hanzo walked side by side through the streets and alleys of Konoha.
Just the commercial district in Konoha's outer ring alone left Hanzo somewhat dazzled.
"I usually only hear the caravans say that Konoha's prosperity today is incomparable to any other village, even more bustling than the capital of the Land of Fire..."
"Seeing it with my own eyes, I know their words were not false!"
"Compared to Konoha, calling the capital of the Land of Rain a 'rural backwater' is almost a compliment!"
Storefronts encompassing almost every trade and profession, and all of them high-end and trendy.
Hanzo noticed something else as well.
He saw that the members of the Police Force maintaining discipline cooperated tacitly and had friendly demeanors.
"Those are the Aburame clan..."
"Is Konoha's Police Force no longer solely controlled by the Uchiha? No wonder there's been a massive amount of intelligence regarding the Uchiha in the shinobi world recently."
"And the Hyuga clan members... The conservative Hyuga actually allowed their branch family to enter the Anbu?"
A knowledgeable leader like Hanzo could tell at a glance that this was a manifestation of Konoha's heightened cohesion.
The various shinobi clans had already been unified into a single entity by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hanzo also saw that wherever Hiruzen Sarutobi walked, even in places outside his direct line of sight, the shinobi looked at him with gazes of absolute reverence.
Hiruzen Sarutobi continuously waved in greeting to the shinobi, his smile kind and amiable, clearly holding immense popularity in Konoha.
If the Third Mizukage could see this scene, he could actually analyze these things too.
He just liked to play little 'Village of the Bloody Mist' games, but that didn't mean he lacked basic logical analysis skills.
But unfortunately, he and Kirigakure were targeted by Madara Uchiha.
The Land of Water was already in a state of closed-door isolation, and their information flow was poor.
Madara Uchiha also mobilized a large number of White Zetsu and took personal action, forcibly constructing a "Madara's Truman Show" for Kirigakure!
Tweaking details, fabricating false intelligence.
Making Kirigakure's higher-ups believe that the current state of Konoha's shinobi clans wasn't due to cohesion, but rather that Hiruzen Sarutobi had lost control and was forced to open up a large number of vital positions.
It was essentially an ultra-massive genjutsu!
But right at this moment, an unexpected incident occurred.
A foreign merchant being questioned by Homura Uchiha suddenly slammed a smoke bomb onto the ground.
His entire body moved like lightning, a faint layer of lightning crackling over his skin. Clearly utilizing a technique to activate his cells with Lightning Release chakra, he dashed desperately in the opposite direction.
He was a spy from Kumogakure.
When he saw Hanzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi walking side by side, his expression had clearly betrayed him.
And this scene was perfectly captured by Homura Uchiha.
Coupled with the fact that the un-washable stench of Kumogakure on him had already aroused the suspicion of the Inuzuka clan's ninken, he had been under surveillance from the moment he entered Konoha.
Homura Uchiha had barely asked two questions before the Kumogakure spy couldn't handle the pressure.
"Good kid, fast reflexes!" Homura Uchiha roared angrily, activating the three tomoe in his eyes.
It had been a long time since he'd seen someone run wild in Konoha.
And today of all days, the day Hanzo visited Konoha...
Was this damn Kumogakure spy trying to make him and the Uchiha look bad?
This actually had nothing to do with whether the Police Force was competent, because this was just the ecology of the shinobi world.
Infiltration and counter-infiltration would never cease, but the Uchiha clan was just that proud.
"Lord Hokage?" Hanzo frowned.
This Kumogakure spy was clearly highly proficient in speed. While his attainments in other areas couldn't be discerned, his mobility alone was faster than most Jonin.
He was clearly a Kumogakure elite.
"It's no matter." Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression remained unchanged.
He didn't move.
He trusted that Konoha's defense system wouldn't let the enemy escape.
And just as Hiruzen Sarutobi's words fell.
A bolt of lightning, compressed to its absolute limit, shot out from above like divine punishment, piercing precisely through the Kumogakure spy's throat!
It was none other than Hizashi Hyuga.
Even though the target was moving at high speed, Hizashi's accuracy and predictive capabilities were evidently superior.
Homura Uchiha glared with his three tomoe: "Tch..."
"Forget it, he's dead anyway! You boys from the Aburame, lend a hand and send this disgusting animal to the Analysis Team. I bet it's highly likely he's from Kumogakure."
Homura Uchiha was slightly annoyed, but mostly surprised inwardly.
He saw that it was Hizashi who attacked.
But wasn't that distance a bit too far?
The Hyuga have been practicing a single set of Gentle Fist for nearly a thousand years; since when did they have this move!
Hanzo was also stunned.
What kind of jutsu was this?
He couldn't help but think that if they went to war with Konoha, just relying on this over-the-horizon single-point strike alone, there wouldn't be many in Amegakure who could withstand it.
Not to mention the mid-level shinobi below them!
If they encountered this in the forest terrain of the Land of Fire and got kited, wouldn't they just be picked off one by one?
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression, however, was full of gratification.
Who doesn't like a good student?
Clearly, Hizashi had earnestly studied the chakra control, accumulation, and release techniques he had taught him.
And by combining the essence of the Curse Mark and the Byakugan, he had fused them into his own unique style.
"An astonishing jutsu." Hanzo murmured to himself, "Who is this?"
"He is my eyes and my right-hand man," Hiruzen Sarutobi answered with a smile.
Hanzo sighed.
He actually had right-hand men too, but compared to Hiruzen Sarutobi's, they seemed lacking in substance.
This minor interlude passed quickly.
After all, cleaning up the mess didn't take long.
The two of them continued into Konoha's inner ring.
Here, Hiruzen Sarutobi first took Hanzo to visit Konoha's Ninja Academy.
After seeing the base stats of the Ninja Academy students, Hanzo's expression gradually grew numb.
These were Ninja Academy students?
Many of these students, even if you sent Amegakure's Chunin, they would only be at this level.
Hanzo also acutely noticed the dense schedules for the open classes attended by Konoha shinobi parents.
"Let's take a look at today's menu."
Hiruzen Sarutobi led Hanzo to the back kitchen of Konoha, where a dazzling array of dishes were being methodically prepared, the aroma overflowing.
"All of this is for the Ninja Academy students?" Hanzo couldn't help but ask.
"We can have some too."
Hiruzen Sarutobi joked, "The children are growing, so naturally they need to eat a bit better. The village provides it free of charge."
Hanzo's expression became somewhat unnatural.
Amegakure was very poor. Let alone eating like this, many children could barely fill their stomachs.
This was inseparable from their terrible geographical environment and the destruction brought by the Second Great Ninja War.
Next.
Hanzo visited various areas of Konoha, excluding the strictly classified R&D Division.
He stood in front of the Uchiha clan's model bulletin board for a long time.
Just like Kisame and the others, he meticulously read every one of Konoha's policies and welfare systems. His expression shifted from disbelief to numbness, and finally to a slightly fanatical intensity as he read them over and over again.
Was this still a life for shinobi?
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Hanzo would never have believed it!
Konoha Hospital.
Hanzo also saw the prosthetics and medical chakra scrolls currently being rolled out in Konoha.
"Sensei! I was just looking for you."
Tsunade hurried over. Upon seeing Hanzo, her brow unconsciously furrowed.
There was no helping it. Whichever of the Sannin saw Hanzo would probably have this reaction.
Hanzo felt slightly awkward.
Times had changed.
In the past, he could stand atop his salamander, looking down on Tsunade and the others, bestowing the title of "Sannin" upon them while maintaining a superior posture.
But after seeing Konoha's might, Hanzo understood why Hiruzen Sarutobi had him take a look before making a decision.
He didn't dare to dream of matching Konoha.
Even if Amegakure had just half of this prosperity, it would be like celebrating the New Year every day!
"I didn't expect to see you in the village."
Tsunade sized up Hanzo, her expression complex. "Sensei, this is...?"
"Actually, Hanzo has been my friend for many years. We were both previously deceived by Sunagakure and Iwagakure, leading to an unfortunate internal conflict between brothers."
Hiruzen Sarutobi used Hanzo's propaganda from Amegakure without batting an eye.
Hanzo's eyes lit up.
He knew it!
He had always been paying attention to Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Hiruzen had definitely been paying attention to him too!
They truly had been spiritual brothers for a long time!
"I really don't understand you Kage. When I become Hokage in the future, I will definitely speak my mind straightforwardly."
Tsunade's mouth twitched, and after a thought, she added, "Wait, no, Hanzo can only be called a Leader; he's not a Kage."
Hanzo's face darkened, "Thank you for the correction, Tsunade-hime of the Sannin."
Tsunade couldn't hold back either and was just about to say something.
"Alright, alright." Hiruzen Sarutobi smoothed things over, "Let's not dwell on the past, let's not bring it up!"
These two were tearing at each other's old wounds.
"Sensei, the first edition of the medical chakra scroll is finished."
"I need some Ninja Academy students, or high-level shinobi in the village sparring, to try it out for me. Provide me with some data and feedback on its performance in actual combat use."
Tsunade said slowly.
To test it properly required a massive amount of actual usage to gather feedback.
The medical chakra scroll was meant to save lives on the battlefield, after all. Any minor detail could affect the life of a Konoha shinobi.
Of course, this was also related to Konoha's abundant finances, which gave Tsunade the leeway to do this.
"Rest assured, the amount of medical chakra contained in each scroll is plentiful. As long as it's not a fatal blow to the head or heart, they can be saved."
Tsunade said playfully, "I also prepared some extra-capacity versions for you. I know you like sparring with the shinobi in the village on normal days but always hold back for fear of accidentally injuring your own people. You don't have to worry about that now."
"When Jiraiya gets back, Sensei, you must teach him a harsh lesson!"
Tsunade gritted her teeth, "He's just hyping himself up endlessly. One moment he says he's invincible in the world, the next he says he's a great author who wants to 'shatter the firmament with his ninja way'!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but laugh.
Jiraiya's personality was truly like a living treasure.
Clearly, after Mount Myoboku gave Hiruzen Sarutobi the title of "Master of Prophecy," it effectively cured Jiraiya's mental friction.
Because Mount Myoboku and Konoha were now unified.
Jiraiya no longer had to agonize over ambiguous prophecies, and his personality became increasingly bright, even a bit lively.
But Hanzo, standing to the side, fell into deep thought.
Medical chakra scrolls?
If they could be mass-produced for the battlefield, the strategic implications were simply unimaginable!
And at this point, Hanzo understood.
The fact that Hiruzen Sarutobi considered forming a cooperation with Amegakure was highly likely because the two had been long-time spiritual brothers, understanding each other's hardships, which was why he was extending a helping hand.
Otherwise, wouldn't there be plenty of other cooperation partners?
Of course, that wasn't the case at all. As the "Sixth" Great Hidden Village, Amegakure possessed irreplaceability.
But overwhelmed by the succession of Konoha's advancements, Hanzo couldn't help but think this way.
"Lord Hokage..."
"I have seen Konoha's sincerity and prosperity."
"At this point, I believe you also understand that Amegakure's greatest resource is actually myself."
Hanzo stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said softly, "You also know that if we are to reach a deep cooperation, martial force is always the most important bargaining chip and foundation for trust in the shinobi world."
"Since we happen to have encountered the medical chakra scrolls developed by Tsunade."
"Why don't we have a sparring match and act as the first experimental subjects."
Tsunade's brow furrowed tightly.
She knew Hanzo's strength.
But what she didn't expect was...
Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed immediately, as if afraid Hanzo would back out: "Alright!"
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