Chapter 230: Hanzo: Do You Think I’m an Idiot?

In the Uchiha clan’s territory, Uchiha Shinji came to the basement and saw Black Zetsu’s message. Leaving temporarily... Fugaku’s guess was right. He really does have his own forces! Shinji thought to himself. Then, he let out a sigh of relief. The reason he agreed to follow the other party and do things for them was for the power behind this guy, wasn’t it? As for this person’s identity... he didn’t know for now, but he could be sure it was definitely not Uchiha Madara! When Uchiha Madara left back then, he was just a child. But according to his parents, Uchiha Madara’s power and pride were carved into his very bones. How could that guy possibly have such a tone and state? He destroyed the written message. A few seconds later, Shinji walked up from the basement. Just as he was about to close it. "Chichi-ue, you’ve been going into the basement a lot recently. Is there a passage down there?" Uchiha Shinji glanced at his son, then said slowly. "No, I’m just researching a more powerful strength." "With our current strength, it’s absolutely unrealistic to want to confront the current Konoha." "This..." Uchiha Inabi wanted to refute, but soon hung his head in dejection. He had to admit it. The current Ryoho Kyohiko was simply too powerful. Not to mention that not the entire Uchiha clan supported them now. Even with the few people on Uchiha Fugaku’s side, the entire Uchiha clan might not be enough for those two to kill. The Flying Thunder God was too terrifying! Namikaze Minato and Ryoho Kyohiko working together had almost no opponents in the current shinobi world. Uchiha Inabi was silent for a few seconds, then said in a low voice. "Then, have you thought of a way?" Uchiha Shinji squeezed out a smile. "Not yet, but I have some leads." The Nine-Tails! The people of Konoha were too confident. They actually attempted to coexist peacefully with a Tailed Beast to obtain a stronger and more perfect Tailed Beast power, and this happened to give them an opportunity. However, now, the person claiming to be "Madara" had temporarily left. Before the other party returned, it was indeed not suitable to make a move. Otherwise, if the Uchiha created chaos and his power did not intervene, then the Uchiha clansmen who followed him would all be tricked. Although Uchiha Shinji advocated for rebellion, his purpose was still to give the Uchiha a better and brighter future. As Fugaku had said... this "Madara" might not be trustworthy. While using him, he naturally kept a hand back, not giving him his full trust. "By the way, don’t act like before recently. Everyone lay low, especially Tekka... forget it. For Tekka’s side, just make sure he doesn’t know too much." Uchiha Shinji had originally wanted to say to have Inabi hold back his younger brother. But considering Uchiha Tekka’s personality, he gave up on that idea. It wasn’t that he was stupid. It was that the kid was too young and couldn’t control his temper. Uchiha Shinji said. "Just don’t let that kid go up against Uchiha Shisui." Inabi was stunned for a moment. "What’s wrong with Shisui?" Uchiha Shinji glanced at his son. "He’s like his grandfather. In terms of ideology, they are both of the faction that leans towards Konoha. It’s very difficult for us to win them over." "Yes, but the others..." Uchiha Shinji repeated himself. "Listen to me, don’t make a move during this time!" Although Inabi didn’t know the reason, his father’s strategies had never been very wrong, so he chose to believe him. Uchiha Shinji nodded lightly, his tone softening. "Let’s go, let’s go eat." "Yes!" --- On the border of the Land of Rain. Zetsu emerged from the ground, looking at the battlefield left behind, and waited for a long while. "What are you looking at? You can’t be thinking about how pathetic your escape was before, can you?" Black Zetsu replied with a laugh. "Heh, it wasn’t me who lost a body." White Zetsu was instantly silent. Indeed... back then, he had been miserably killed here, almost dying at the hands of Ryoho Kyohiko. Fortunately, he had lost half his body, but in the end, he was safe. However, he could hear that Black Zetsu was a little unhappy, so he didn’t want to sing a contrary tune with him. He looked around. "What are we doing here?" Zetsu replied faintly. "Go forward, then wait." As he spoke, he walked forward a certain distance, getting closer to the Amegakure tower. After a moment, he looked ahead. Someone’s coming! A figure slowly emerged from the rain curtain in front. He wore a mask and held a sickle in his hand, his killing intent palpable. "You didn’t die before, and you still dare to come?" The blade in Hanzo of the Salamander’s hand moved slightly forward, taking an offensive stance. Zetsu was not afraid. The body under the robe slowly bowed. "I am very sorry for causing chaos in Amegakure before. But believe me, I have no ill intentions towards you, but rather am full of respect." Hanzo of the Salamander sneered, secretly accumulating chakra in his body. "Oh? I don’t understand. A person who lured Sasori of the Red Sand to my Amegakure and caused the deaths of many of my ninjas, what right do you have to say you have no ill intentions towards Amegakure?" Zetsu was not in a hurry. "Do you think the current Konoha will still sit by and watch your Amegakure rise?" Hanzo was indeed very strong, but compared to Ryoho Kyohiko’s speed, Hanzo’s speed seemed insufficient. He definitely couldn’t win in a fight. But facing this guy, he was confident he could escape. "A person who cooperates with a rogue-nin, I cannot trust. What’s more, how do I know that Amegakure can rise by cooperating with you? Just based on you?" Although Hanzo’s aura was menacing, his attacking posture was not as fierce as before. Zetsu, however, still did not let down his guard. If the opponent were an ordinary genin, he would think the other had relaxed his guard. But... as a Kage-level powerhouse, who didn’t have a few tricks up their sleeve? It looked like he was willing to cooperate, but in reality, who knows, he might be hiding killing intent in his heart, ready to attack at any time. So, Zetsu actually took a step back. "Leader Hanzo, I am very sincere. Can you put down your blade first?" "Of course." Hanzo released the blade, his left hand holding the chain attached to it. "But you should also show your sincerity, right?" Zetsu replied faintly. "Cooperate with us, and you can definitely get what you want. Because... behind me is Uchiha Madara!" Hanzo was expressionless, and then he picked up his blade again. "It seems you think I’m an idiot." Zetsu smiled. "Everything I said is true. Otherwise, why would Ryoho Kyohiko want to kill me so badly?" "Our enemies are all Konoha. Why can’t we unite?" Hanzo said nothing, just looked at him coldly. Finally, he sheathed his sickle. "I can’t trust you. If you are really related to him, then come with evidence that can convince me. Otherwise, the next time we meet, I will kill you." "Besides, even if Madara is still alive, he is already very old." "Is he really as formidable as he was back then?" After speaking, Hanzo turned and disappeared into the rain curtain. Zetsu’s figure also disappeared into the ground. White Zetsu complained. "So sinister. What a difficult guy to deal with!" Black Zetsu urged. "Of course. If he didn’t have some ability, how could he have stood his ground between the three great nations? Let’s go. We’re going to Iwagakure and Kumogakure." "Time is tight, hurry up!" "I know." White Zetsu was about to escape when suddenly, Black Zetsu controlled his body. "Wait!" "What’s wrong?" "Someone is spying, but... it should be someone from Amegakure. Let’s go." "Yes!" Zetsu escaped into the distance. However, at this moment in Amegakure, Hanzo, holding his weapon, used a body flicker to head for a rooftop in the rear. After a few body flickers, a figure took off from that place and flickered into the distance. The two were one after the other. In an instant, Hanzo suddenly accelerated, and with a body flicker, he was already behind the person in front. Just then, a huge fireball spewed from the other’s mouth, flying towards him. Hanzo cut the fireball open with one slash. The next second, the figure behind the flames turned into foam. A shadow clone. But—he didn’t get far! Hanzo frowned. To be able to escape from his hands, the other’s strength was not weak. Who could it be? He became more curious, his speed suddenly increasing. After a few body flickers, he formed hand seals with both hands and suddenly pressed them on the ground. The next instant, the ground exploded violently. Two figures suddenly shot out from under Hanzo’s body. They formed hand seals, and instantly, a series of fireballs appeared. At the same time—Wind Style: Great Breakthrough! A fierce wind swept through. In an instant, flames and fierce winds ravaged the surroundings, but at the same time, around Hanzo, a huge wall of water rose up, blocking the flames from all directions. Hot water evaporated. The next second—an even larger stream of water suddenly erupted from within. Water Style: Exploding Water Colliding Wave! In the rushing water, Hanzo of the Salamander rode the current and quickly pursued. But at this time, flames rose up, instantly engulfing the surroundings, and even... the scorching flames evaporated the water in front, forming a large area of high-temperature dense fog. Even Hanzo had to stop in the face of such a scene, performing a jutsu to disperse the high-temperature dense fog. The enemy had already gotten far away. He looked at the ground washed by the water and fell into deep thought. This person’s strength was not as good as his, but he was already top-tier among ninjas, especially his understanding of the combination effect of Fire and Wind Style, which far surpassed ninjas of the same level. A Konoha ninja? No. "Doesn’t look like a Konoha ninja. More like a person who is already dead." In Hanzo of the Salamander’s mind, he thought of that special Sunagakure kunoichi. Scorch Release Pakura. Although not the strongest Sunagakure ninja, the other’s Scorch Release had left a very deep impression on him. The feeling just now was really similar. But... according to intelligence, Pakura had already died in a firefight with Kirigakure. "Could it be she didn’t die?" "Or, did I mistake her?" --- In the jungle, Pakura let out a long breath of relief. She had left the tree bark mainly to make Hanzo stop chasing. Otherwise, with Hanzo’s ability, he could definitely catch up again. At that time... even if she used the power of Scorch Release, she might not be able to escape again. "Thank goodness!" "But what Kyohiko said was actually true. There really is such a group of people hiding behind the shinobi world, instigating various forces to constantly start wars." "Amegakure..." "The next direction should be Iwagakure?" Pakura pondered in her heart. Amegakure, Iwagakure, and then it would be Kumogakure, right? If these three villages united, the enemy would definitely be Konoha, but... what about Sunagakure? Sunagakure was not what it used to be. Now, they had lost the ability to be enemies with Konoha. Once they participated in the war, whether they helped Konoha or helped Iwagakure and Kumogakure, they would suffer heavy losses. As for being neutral, easier said than done. The current Pakura could vaguely see a war that would sweep the entire shinobi world slowly unfolding before her eyes. Compared to the previous wars... this time might be the real Third Great Ninja War! She ran while thinking quickly. Konoha, Madara... now, it was essentially a choice between two. "Konoha!" Pakura quickly firmed up her thoughts. It wasn’t just because she had Konoha’s curse mark on her, but more because the current Sunagakure essentially had no choice. Following Konoha, they could still get meat. With that group... who knows what their background was? "Konoha!" Pakura quickly sobered up. It’s useless to go to Sunagakure now! Sunagakure no longer had anyone who could compete with Kumogakure and Iwagakure. Knowing this news would instead make that fool Rasa waver. Rather than that, it was better to let Konoha know early—of course, it was also possible that Konoha already knew. She quickly ran towards Mount Kikyo. --- At this moment in Sunagakure, Rasa had rarely returned home early to accompany his family. For no other reason—today was his son Kankuro’s first birthday. "What kind of person do you hope he will be in the future?" "Me?" Rasa looked at his two children climbing and playing in the distance and fell into a long silence. Temari, Kankuro... If he had a choice, he would certainly hope that both his son and daughter could choose the path they liked and do what they wanted to do, instead of how it was now. From birth, they had no choice. Rasa was silent for a good while. "I hope he can become the future pillar of Sunagakure, but... it’s too difficult!" Karura was silent. She sighed. "If it really comes to that, there’s nothing to be done." Rasa looked at his wife. "I’m sorry!" Karura replied in a low voice. "I understand. The current Sunagakure has already reached the point where it has to take that step. Fortunately, Konoha is willing to give us five years of opportunity." She looked at her daughter, a tear couldn’t help but flowing down from her eyes. Temari, her lovely daughter, at the age of five, would be sent to Konoha Village. In the future, it would probably be difficult to see her again. "Mm." Rasa responded. The current Temari was already two years old. There were still more than two years left. He hoped that some changes would occur in between, forcing Konoha to make concessions. For example—war! If that were the case, he could still keep his daughter. "Kazekage-sama, it’s about to begin!" "Alright." Rasa patted his wife’s shoulder, then stood up and walked towards Kankuro. "Let’s begin." Kankuro was held by Temari, struggling to be pulled to the middle. Around them, various ninja tools, medicinal herbs, and scrolls were arranged in a circle. The baby looked left and right, and finally crawled towards the medicinal herbs. Rasa’s eyes were fixed on Kankuro. The baby was dazed for a moment, then reached for a puppet toy beside him. This represented the "Puppet Technique." A look of disappointment appeared in Rasa’s eyes. Although the first-year grab did not necessarily represent the future, he had indeed hoped more that Kankuro would grab the ninjutsu scroll. Puppets... can he surpass Sasori of the Red Sand?