Hanzo's raid on the Land of Iron sent shockwaves through the undercurrents of the entire ninja world.
The Five Great Nations could not tolerate Hanzo's growing ambition.
In particular, the three great countries bordering the Land of Rain—the Land of Wind, the Land of Fire, and the Land of Earth—had already entered a state of war readiness.
No one would allow an enemy to grow unchecked right at their doorstep.
Once Hanzo successfully annexed the Land of Iron, the Land of Rain would not only expand its territory, but also gain control over the samurai forces and rich mineral resources of the Land of Iron.
At that point, the Land of Rain would truly possess the foundation needed to rise as a major power.
More importantly, the Land of Rain and the Land of Iron were not directly connected. Between them lay the Land of Grass and the Land of Fire.
If Hanzo intended to seize the Land of Iron, it meant he would inevitably encroach upon the territories of both the Land of Grass and the Land of Fire.
It was nothing less than pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth—
And the tiger in question was one of the strongest forces in the entire ninja world.
This was precisely why Shimura Danzō had so aggressively pushed for military intervention in the Land of Rain.
At the same time, Hanzo's actions gave the militant factions within the Five Great Nations the perfect excuse to ignite a new war.
More than twenty years had passed since the end of the First Great Ninja War. During that time, each nation's economy, population, and military strength had grown significantly.
Alongside that growth, war factions within each country had also steadily risen.
They had long been restless—
All they needed was an opportunity.
And now, Hanzo had given them both a reason and a trigger.
"Hahaha!"
The Third Raikage burst into hearty laughter, gripping the intelligence report detailing Hanzo's attack on the Land of Iron.
Unlike the other nations, the Land of Lightning did not border the Land of Rain, giving it far more flexibility in responding to the situation.
Rather than anger, the Third Raikage felt only excitement.
Hanzo himself did not concern him.
What excited him… was the opportunity for war.
As someone deeply familiar with his greatest rival—the Hidden Leaf Village—he knew that Konoha would never remain idle in the face of Hanzo's actions.
Once Konoha intervened militarily, the Land of Lightning would have a perfectly legitimate reason to mobilize its own forces.
At that time, he could form a temporary alliance with the Land of Rain, deploy troops along the borders of the Land of Fire, and contain Konoha's strength.
At the same time, they could secretly support Hanzo, allowing the Land of Rain to grind down Konoha's forces on the frontlines.
And when both sides were sufficiently weakened…
He would personally lead the main army, strike directly into the heart of the Land of Fire, and seize its resources and territory in one decisive blow.
In just a few moments, a rough but highly feasible strategy had already taken shape in the Third Raikage's mind.
However, there was still one key issue to resolve.
He needed to convince the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth not to attack the Land of Rain for the time being—but instead to support it.
To the Third Raikage, this was not a major obstacle.
He was confident he could persuade the Kazekage and the Tsuchikage.
After all, ever since Kizaru had appeared, Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure had been in unusually close contact.
The foundation for an alliance was already there.
Without hesitation, the Third Raikage moved immediately.
Opportunities like this did not wait.
—
At the same time, far away in the Land of Fire—
Kakuzu, who had been lying in wait, immediately realized that his chance had arrived upon hearing news of the Land of Rain's attack.
As a veteran of the ninja world, Kakuzu possessed sharp instincts.
He knew Konoha could not stay out of this conflict.
Once Konoha stepped in, the scale of the war would inevitably escalate.
And when that happened…
His target, Shimura Kizaru, would undoubtedly be deployed.
And the moment Kizaru entered the battlefield—
His chance to assassinate him would finally come.
Driven by the enormous bounty—and his confidence in his own strength—Kakuzu disguised himself and infiltrated a merchant caravan heading toward Konohagakure, posing as a guard.
However…
Just as Kakuzu was making his way toward Konoha, Kizaru had already departed.
The day after Hanzo launched his attack on the Land of Iron—
While Kakuzu had only just begun his journey—
Kizaru had already left the Hidden Leaf Village, seeing off his clan and the Sannin.
Two days later, when Kakuzu finally infiltrated Konoha after considerable effort, he learned a piece of news that left him both pleased… and irritated.
Shimura Kizaru had already left the village.
Because both Danzō and the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had publicly praised Kizaru's heroic act—heading alone to the border to monitor the Land of Lightning during a high-level ninja meeting—
The news had spread among Konoha's shinobi.
With his experience, Kakuzu easily picked up this information from their conversations.
Without hesitation, he left Konoha that very night under the cover of darkness.
After traveling nonstop through the night, Kakuzu arrived near the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water.
The Land of Hot Water lay between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, making it a crucial strategic buffer zone.
Based on his judgment, Kizaru would most likely be stationed somewhere in this region.
Even so, Kakuzu did not act recklessly.
Instead, he entered the Land of Hot Water, intending to recover the chakra he had expended during his journey.
Seven hundred and fifty million ryō…
Right within reach.
As a seasoned bounty hunter, Kakuzu knew one thing very well—
The closer you are to your target, the more careful you must be.
—
"…This place is quite nice, you know."
On a bustling hot spring street in the Land of Hot Water, Kizaru—wearing brown-tinted sunglasses—casually looked around with interest.
The establishments here offered a wide range of services, far more varied than he had expected.
With a faint, easygoing smile on his face and a cold drink in hand, Kizaru strolled leisurely through the street before eventually entering one of the hot spring inns.
Under the warm hospitality of the proprietress, he changed into a yukata and stepped into the hot spring.
Lowering himself into the steaming water, he let out a long, relaxed breath.
"Haah… how comfortable."
After spending a full day at the border with nothing particularly urgent to do, he allowed himself this rare moment of rest, eyes half-closed in contentment.
Not long after, a maid entered, carrying a tray with sake and small dishes.
She carefully set it beside the pool and politely offered a massage.
Kizaru declined with a lazy wave of his hand.
The maid bowed slightly and quietly withdrew.
Kizaru rested his arms along the stone edge of the pool, eyes drifting toward the wooden door that had just closed.
A faint, amused smile formed on his lips.
"…Ara ara~"
His tone was light.
But his gaze had already sharpened.
He had sensed it—
A rather unpleasant presence… drawing closer.
—
Outside, Kakuzu, having traveled all night, stepped up to the entrance of the hot spring, intending to wash away his fatigue.
He pushed the wooden door open—
And froze.
Standing there, already dressed in a loose yukata, Kizaru looked at him with a relaxed smile, a small sake cup held between his fingers.
"Hmm~ you've got quite the scary look, you know," Kizaru said lazily, tilting his head slightly.
He raised the cup in a casual gesture.
"…Care for a drink?"
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