"Hiruzen, feel my determination and my will!"
Once again, Hanzō merged with the water.
He was already planning his next decisive offensive.
Gradually wearing Hiruzen down with the water-blade chain-scythe was the first step.
The Explosive Flame Formation was the second.
And summoning Ibuse would be the third.
His battles were fought with his brain.
Water Release Secret Technique: Great Water Arm Technique!
Hanzō's arm swelled as though it had been filled with water, thick muscles bulging outward.
Combined with the mobility granted by his aquatic Body Flicker movements, it completely eliminated the sluggishness that normally accompanied techniques used by members of the Hōzuki Clan.
Hiruzen calmly received the attack.
At this point, relying solely on Earth Spear to deal with Hanzō had already reached its limit...
And that was exactly what Hiruzen intended.
He wanted Hanzō to pressure him.
He wanted to forge the potential Konoha's growth had granted him into tangible reality through combat.
The two exchanged another dozen or so rounds.
Watching from the sidelines, Tsunade and Orochimaru couldn't help feeling somewhat uneasy.
Although Hiruzen's defense remained impeccable, the fact that he only defended without attacking was still worrying.
And inevitably, some attacks slipped through.
The water blade sliced across Hiruzen's arm.
After breaking through Earth Spear, it left several shallow marks.
'That should be enough...'
'I can see it more clearly now...'
Hiruzen felt his neural responses growing smoother.
His dynamic vision was becoming increasingly capable of locking onto Hanzō's movements.
Today's training session was over.
Now it was time to display the Hokage's power.
Hanzō charged again.
After Hiruzen blocked and counterattacked, Hanzō once more used the Water Body Technique to avoid physical damage, continuing the cycle that made his fighting style so infuriating.
Then the unexpected happened.
Still gripping Hanzō's arm, Hiruzen suddenly erupted with dazzling lightning!
Hanzō's small eyes widened into perfect circles.
His first thought was that it had to be a genjutsu.
The aura of that Lightning Release Chakra Mode was simply too authentic.
It might not rival the Third Raikage's, but even in Kumogakure it would unquestionably rank among the very best...
'This is bad!'
Hanzō's heart trembled.
Lightning chakra possessed extremely advantageous properties.
It countered two elemental styles simultaneously.
Elementally, it suppressed Earth Release.
And through its physical properties, it was the natural enemy of Water Release...
A massive quantity of Lightning Release chakra surged through the water and into Hanzō's body.
The structure of his Water Body Technique was disrupted, preventing him from escaping once again...
Gritting his teeth, Hanzō pushed the Great Water Arm Technique to its absolute limit.
Ignoring the numbness spreading through his body, he swung the displaced chain-scythe and severed his own arm, sending blood spraying everywhere.
Then he swept up the scattered blood with one hand and performed a summoning.
"Summoning Technique!"
But at that exact moment, Hiruzen also gathered his strength.
The muscles in his arm bulged like twisted steel cables, swelling with explosive power...
Then he unleashed a full-force punch straight into Hanzō's chest!
Ibuse the salamander appeared.
But it was too late to shield its master.
The punch had already landed squarely.
Lightning flashed.
Hanzō shot away like a ball struck by a siege weapon, flying across the battlefield before crashing into the lake and sending towering waves surging into the air!
A remarkably human expression of shock and confusion appeared in Ibuse's eyes.
It wasn't a top-tier summon like the creatures of the Three Great Sage Regions or Enma, capable of communicating as freely as humans.
But its intelligence was far from low.
Though unable to speak, it could think and judge situations perfectly well.
Why had Hanzō-sama been launched away the instant he appeared?
It looked like he might have died a little...
"So you're Ibuse, Hanzō's trusted partner."
"Don't move. I'm Hanzō's friend."
"We're only sparring. Nobody's going to hurt you..."
At this distance, killing Ibuse wouldn't have been difficult.
But it was Hanzō's most important summon. Losing the King of Salamanders would dramatically reduce his combat strength.
And Hiruzen still needed Amegakure to serve as Konoha's northern shield. Weakening Hanzō brought Konoha no benefits.
With a leap, Hiruzen landed atop the salamander's head.
Curiously, he crouched down and touched the strange creature's skin.
It felt remarkably slick.
He wasn't worried about the salamander's poison.
Hiruzen had already figured out how to deal with it.
Feeling the tingling electricity radiating from the figure standing atop its head, Ibuse froze completely.
"Go on, then. Check on your master."
Hiruzen patted the salamander's head.
Orochimaru and Tsunade exchanged glances.
Both of them were stunned.
It wasn't as though they didn't know Hiruzen had been training Lightning Release Chakra Mode...
But they had assumed he was merely dabbling in it as a way to strengthen his body.
Neither had imagined it had reached this level.
Only Danzō and Minato had personally experienced it.
The problem was that Danzō would never voluntarily tell anyone how badly Hiruzen had beaten him...
And Minato's position was simple:
He wasn't telling either.
First, because protecting the Hokage's intelligence was important.
Second, because he believed Hokage-sama wouldn't spar exclusively with him. Other people deserved to experience the pressure that came from an information gap.
Not because he was secretly devious.
It was all for the sake of creating a more realistic combat environment for his comrades!
Beneath the lake's surface—
Hanzō was coughing up blood in great mouthfuls.
The surrounding water had already turned red.
That punch had come dangerously close to rupturing the poison sac inside his body!
"Hah... hah..."
Hanzō absorbed water from his surroundings.
At advanced levels, the Water Body Technique was extraordinarily versatile.
In water-rich environments, it could replenish moisture and alleviate injuries.
Its weakness, however, was Lightning Release—or any technique capable of disrupting chakra flow.
"Ibuse..."
The giant salamander swam anxiously around Hanzō.
Concern was written plainly across its face.
Since the end of the war, it had rarely seen Hanzō and genuinely missed its master.
"As expected of Hiruzen..."
"He spared you."
"Go."
"Hide underground and wait for my signal."
Hanzō took a deep breath.
In his eyes, Hiruzen's decision not to kill his summon meant only one thing:
The fight could continue.
Pain coursed through his body.
But it also fueled his fighting spirit.
Hanzō burst from the lake's surface.
"Hiruzen! Again!"
This time, he no longer rushed into close combat recklessly.
Instead, he combined mid- and long-range Water Release attacks with his aquatic Body Flicker movements, attempting to force Hiruzen to deactivate Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
Lightning countered Water offensively.
But conversely, Water could also suppress Lightning offensively.
Ultimately, it came down to who landed the decisive hit first.
'Lightning Release Chakra Mode...'
'Hiruzen only began training it midway through his career.'
'The technique consumes enormous amounts of chakra. Only a monster like the Third Raikage can maintain it for extended periods.'
'Meanwhile, thanks to the terrain, my Water Release consumes very little chakra...'
Hanzō analyzed the battlefield.
His reasoning wasn't wrong.
At least, it wasn't wrong according to normal logic.
The problem was that Hiruzen wasn't particularly normal.
'So you want me to deactivate Lightning Release Chakra Mode...'
'Very well.'
Hiruzen smiled inwardly.
Since they were already fighting, he might as well make full use of the opportunity and thoroughly convince Hanzō of the difference between them.
There was no point letting him keep hidden cards and later return home thinking he had simply failed to perform at his best.
As he evaded the incoming Water Release attacks, Hiruzen deliberately played along with Hanzō's expectations and withdrew the lightning armor.
The instant that happened, a sharp gleam flashed in Hanzō's eyes.
His hands formed seals.
Hidden markings beneath Hiruzen's feet suddenly activated.
Dozens of explosive tags wrapped tightly around Hiruzen's lower body.
This technique first functioned as a form of physical restraint before delivering devastating damage directly to the target's body...
One of Hanzō's signature techniques:
Explosive Flame Formation!
A thought crossed Hiruzen's mind.
A sealing technique of this level could never truly restrict his chakra flow.
But he still didn't reactivate Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
He wanted to display his margin for error.
Nothing crushed an opponent's spirit more thoroughly than seeing how much room for mistakes you could afford.
The primary source of damage from explosive tags was compressed Fire Release chakra.
Leaving aside Hiruzen's resistance to fire, the instantaneous activation effect granted by the Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration Seal was enough to let him absorb vast amounts of Fire Release chakra the moment it detonated.
"That technique again!"
Tsunade clenched her teeth.
She had been caught by this exact trap before.
Orochimaru's expression wasn't any better.
The technique was like planting invisible landmines.
Almost impossible to guard against.
The explosive tags detonated instantly!
At the same moment, Ibuse burst from the earth behind Hiruzen and unleashed a massive cloud of poisonous mist!
"Hiruzen!"
"This is my strongest combination attack!"
"Feel my will!"
Hanzō roared at the top of his lungs.
"I can still fight warriors like you!"
"I can still dance!"
"Sensei!"
Tsunade cried out instinctively.
Orochimaru's brows furrowed tightly.
It felt as though Hanzō had become even more tenacious than before.
After taking such a heavy blow from Sensei, he was still relentlessly searching for ways to turn the battle around?
But what happened next was completely different from what they expected.
First, the explosive tags failed to detonate.
The instant the Fire Release chakra erupted, it seemed to wither away.
Instead of exploding, it flowed harmlessly into Hiruzen's body.
Hanzō, Orochimaru, and Tsunade all froze.
It was an unbelievably bizarre sight...
What kind of technique was that?
Ibuse, however, didn't care about any of that.
Its little salamander brain couldn't comprehend such complicated ninjutsu exchanges. Following Hanzō's command, it unleashed the most concentrated poisonous mist it could produce.
Though confusion still lingered in its eyes.
'Both this human and Hanzō-sama keep calling each other friends.'
'So why are they attacking each other like this?'
'Humans are such strange creatures!'
Hiruzen's figure disappeared within the purple-black fog.
Hanzō, Orochimaru, and Tsunade all waited to see what he would do...
Logically speaking, the first response to being poisoned should have been to retreat from the contaminated area.
Yet Hiruzen didn't react at all.
'Could he have been knocked unconscious immediately? Impossible...'
Hanzō dismissed the thought.
Not every powerful shinobi possessed poison resistance.
But using chakra to suppress toxins was a basic skill. Hanzō refused to believe Hiruzen couldn't do that.
'What's going on...?'
Hanzō was still trying to figure it out when his eyes suddenly narrowed.
Something even stranger happened.
The thick, sticky purple-black poison mist began changing.
Like a neutralized chemical reagent, its dark violet color rapidly faded before everyone's eyes.
It condensed into tiny gray-white flakes.
Like burned paper turning to ash, they drifted downward in sheets.
Centered around Hiruzen, a cloud of Boil Release acidic mist forcibly pushed back the poison fog.
Whenever the boiling acid touched the poisoned water below, a barrage of sharp crackling sounds erupted across the battlefield.
"You can do that...?"
Tsunade muttered.
"I was wondering whether Sensei had used some kind of antidote..."
"This looks like toxin denaturation!"
Orochimaru's eyes widened.
"That's right..."
"Ibuse's poison is a biological toxin. Its active compounds rapidly denature and become inert in environments with high temperatures and strong acidity. That's a perfect match for the acidic mist produced by Sensei's Boil Release."
A look of genuine admiration appeared in Orochimaru's eyes.
This wasn't merely a student's respect for his teacher.
It was also recognition between kindred spirits.
What was a research-oriented shinobi?
In Orochimaru's view, it wasn't limited to people who developed new jutsu.
Anyone who applied scientific principles in battle belonged to that category as well.
'Sensei...'
'You really do acknowledge my ninja way.'
Warmth flowed through Orochimaru's heart.
Hiruzen's attitude toward research.
His support.
Not merely words of encouragement, but funding.
And now he was personally applying those principles in real combat.
Hiruzen genuinely believed in science, even in a world where supernatural powers like chakra existed.
Because the essence of science was a method and mindset for approaching truth.
And that principle was universal.
Hanzō's face was filled with disbelief.
Clearly, he had never seen his poison mist neutralized in such a fashion before.
Even when opponents managed to resist it, they had always relied on antidotes to endure it...
'Has he never fought a Boil Release user from Kirigakure?'
'Then again, they're awfully far apart...'
Hiruzen smiled inwardly.
He had found the perfect way to leave a lasting impression on Hanzō and bring this spar to an end.
Then Hiruzen moved.
Lightning armor wrapped around him once more.
The battle shifted from defense to offense.
At tremendous speed, he advanced toward Hanzō's position while weaving through layers of poisonous mist.
With a powerful leap, Hiruzen soared into the air.
Then he descended like a falling executioner's axe, bringing his leg crashing down toward Hanzō.
'What incredible speed...'
For the first time, Hanzō truly felt pressured.
At this point, all he could do was continue relying on the Water Body Technique and aquatic Body Flicker movements to maneuver around him.
There was no way his Water Release attacks could actually hit Hiruzen.
If he wanted to win, he needed to find an opportunity to get close and land a strike with his Water Release-enhanced chain-scythe, forcing a reaction between Hiruzen's lightning chakra and water chakra...
'But I can't approach recklessly.'
'The lightning interferes with my Water Body Technique...'
Thoughts flashed through Hanzō's mind like lightning.
Once again, he shifted away using his aquatic Body Flicker.
But at that very moment, Hiruzen seemed to have predicted his movement.
While still in midair, he dismissed the Lightning Release chakra armor.
The violent lightning vanished instantly.
As he landed, Hiruzen dropped to one knee and thrust his palm directly into the bubbling water below.
Ice Release: Ice Age!
A torrent of frigid Ice Release chakra exploded from his palm into the water.
Extreme cold spread wildly across the surface.
The poisoned acidic water that had been crackling moments before froze solid in an instant.
Dark purple foam.
Rising bubbles.
Even the texture of the stones beneath the water's surface.
Everything became trapped within crystal-clear ice.
And Hanzō suffered the same fate.
His liquid body had only just begun reforming into a complete human shape...
When his limbs and torso became fused to the surrounding ice.
The fluidity of his Water Body Technique was completely locked down.
Even his chakra circulation became sluggish beneath the freezing prison.
He resembled a specimen sealed inside an icy coffin.
Unable to move even a fraction of an inch.
Battle intent flashed in Hiruzen's eyes as he formed another hand seal.
Earth Release: Moving Earth Core!
The ground beneath the frozen lake erupted upward.
The earth surged violently and launched into the sky.
Hanzō, encased in ice, was hurled upward like a boulder launched from a catapult, soaring dozens of meters into the air amidst a shower of frozen shards.
Almost the instant Hanzō was launched skyward, steam erupted around Hiruzen's body.
Using the brute force generated by boiling vapor, he propelled himself into the air and caught up to the weightless Hanzō in moments.
Then, high above the battlefield, Hiruzen tightened both arms and locked the frozen Hanzō in a crushing embrace.
At the same time, dazzling lightning exploded from his body once again and surged into Hanzō's frozen form.
Hanzō's muscles immediately spasmed uncontrollably.
Complete paralysis overtook him.
There was no longer even the slightest possibility of escaping through the Water Body Technique.
"Hanzō!"
"Feel my determination and my will to pursue peace through my strength!"
"Use your chakra to protect your organs and poison sac as best you can!"
"Don't die on me!"
Holding the frozen Hanzō tightly in his arms and drawing upon the momentum of their descent, Hiruzen roared: "Lightning Release: Lightning Plough Hot Knife!"
A deafening explosion erupted across the battlefield!
The two bodies slammed violently into the frozen ground.
The terrifying impact force exploded outward instantly.
The thick, solid ice sheet shattered from the point of impact, breaking apart with a thunderous roar!
Countless chunks of ice the size of washbasins, along with countless smaller shards, were hurled in every direction amid crackling bolts of lightning.
Even the earth beneath the ice churned violently.
Spiderweb-like cracks spread across the ground for dozens of meters.
The gale generated by the impact swept through the forest, causing countless massive tree trunks to sway as branches rattled loudly.
Orochimaru and Tsunade raised their arms to shield themselves from the wind, forced to narrow their eyes.
The two exchanged a glance.
Each saw the same astonishment reflected in the other's eyes.
First, Hiruzen had neutralized the Explosive Flame Formation using a bizarre technique.
Then he had used Boil Release acidic mist to dissolve Ibuse's poison fog, shaking Hanzō's confidence with a completely flawless display.
After that, he had closed the distance with Lightning Release, used a hidden Ice Release technique to lock down the Water Body Technique, demonstrated an entirely different application and property transformation of Boil Release chakra, and finally secured victory with a decisive finishing blow!
Even replaying the battle in their minds, Tsunade and Orochimaru found themselves endlessly fascinated.
It had been the perfect practical lesson.
The only problem was...
The number of techniques involved was a little excessive.
Multiple Kekkei Genkai, secret techniques, and close-combat skills.
It was almost impossible to replicate.
At best, they could learn from the thought process behind it.
"Tsunade, get over here and save him!"
Hiruzen's voice echoed from the distance.
Tsunade froze briefly before hurrying over with the enhanced Medical Chakra Scroll.
Hanzō lay inside a crater in the earth.
His face was covered in blood.
He appeared completely incapable of moving.
Yet his eyes remained locked on Hiruzen without blinking.
His voice sounded like a broken bellows.
"Hiruzen... Hiruzen..."
"I felt it..."
"I felt the conviction and power behind your pursuit of peace. It's unwavering..."
As he spoke, blood continued to spill from his mouth.
'Hiruzen has fully conveyed his will to me...'
'But because of my years of complacency, I failed to convey my own will to him.'
'I couldn't allow Hiruzen to truly enjoy himself or fight at full strength.'
'I'm deeply sorry.'
A look of genuine regret appeared on Hanzō's face.
Those words weren't spoken merely because of Hiruzen's strength.
Hanzō understood all too well how crushing it was when a person fell from the height of confidence and was forced to confront the enormous gap between reality and their dreams.
Both of them had participated in the Second Shinobi World War.
And both had failed.
One had believed he could mediate the entire shinobi world.
The other had believed he could surpass the previous Hokage.
So in Hanzō's eyes—Hiruzen's strength was certainly impressive.
But what amazed him even more was Hiruzen's willpower.
The ability to endure setbacks, withstand despair, and continue training step by step despite tremendous disappointments.
That was what truly inspired awe.
Such determination could only belong to someone possessing extraordinary perseverance toward an ideal.
And what was that ideal?
After thoroughly touring Konoha, Hanzō already knew the answer.
Peace.
The Will of Fire.
"I'll just heal you directly."
"Forget the medical scroll."
Tsunade looked down at Hanzō.
Watching her former rival reduced to this state by her teacher left her with complicated feelings.
Even stranger, Hanzō genuinely seemed to have sensed some kind of "will within strength" through Hiruzen's violence.
He looked completely willing to accept the result.
Almost apologetic.
Tsunade vaguely understood some of it now.
The concepts of carrying the burden of an entire village...
Of conviction...
They had gained far greater meaning for her.
These weren't things to joke about.
"No..."
"I know my own condition."
"My poison sac hasn't ruptured."
"The scroll is enough."
"I already told Hiruzen that the primary purpose of this spar was to test its practical combat value."
Hanzō raised his head slightly.
Looking at his wounded limbs, he actually smiled.
Although he could no longer move, his injuries weren't life-threatening.
The Ice Release had imprisoned him, but it had also protected him.
And Hiruzen had specifically instructed him to use chakra to protect his internal organs.
In simple terms—
The hit had been powerful enough to clear his head without causing permanent damage.
The enhanced Medical Chakra Scroll was activated.
Deep green light spread across Hanzō's body and penetrated deep into his tissues.
Pain rapidly faded.
Bleeding stopped.
Wounds began repairing themselves.
Even a portion of his chakra reserves was replenished.
A look of surprise appeared on Hanzō's face.
His breathing gradually stabilized.
Without the fine control of a medical ninja, the effect was naturally far from perfect.
But as an emergency battlefield tool?
It was absolutely revolutionary.
"Remarkable..."
"If these medical scrolls can be mass-produced, they'll be capable of changing the course of entire battles."
"This is practically a second life for shinobi on the battlefield."
"Did you develop this?"
Hanzō looked toward Tsunade.
She nodded.
Then shook her head.
"In a way, yes."
"And in a way, no."
Hanzō looked at her in confusion.
"It belongs to me."
"But it also belongs to Sensei, Orochimaru, and every shinobi in Konoha."
"It's the result of everyone's efforts."
"There is no way I could have accomplished this alone."
"The technology, the funding, the early-stage preparation, the mid-stage coordination, and the future mass-production process that still hasn't been achieved..."
"All of it depends on countless people contributing their strength."
Tsunade answered seriously.
Orochimaru couldn't help glancing at her.
His expression was filled with surprise.
What was going on?
Sensei had thrown Hanzō into the ground.
So why did it seem as though Tsunade's way of thinking had been fixed as well?
Hanzō stared at Tsunade for a long time.
Then he looked toward Hiruzen and slowly exhaled.
"Konoha..."
"Truly is an extraordinary village."
He shifted his body, trying to stand.
Tsunade continued watching him closely.
Not because they were staring each other down.
She was recording the effectiveness of the Medical Chakra Scroll.
"Welcome to the family of the Will of Fire, my friend."
Hiruzen extended a hand toward Hanzō.
Hanzō froze for a moment.
Then he laughed and clasped Hiruzen's hand firmly.
"Good!"
"Konoha and Amegakure shall remain brothers forever!"
"I swear before the Sage of Six Paths: if I ever break this oath, may I be struck down by lightning!"
Hiruzen waved dismissively.
"There's no need for that."
He had never placed much faith in oaths.
Leaving aside whether the Sage of Six Paths even existed...
Even if he did, there was no guarantee he could hear it.
Hanzō stood shakily on his feet.
"Let's discuss cooperation between our villages, Hiruzen..."
"No rush."
"Hanzō-dono needs proper treatment first."
Hiruzen turned toward Tsunade and Orochimaru.
"You two escort Hanzō-dono to Konoha Hospital and ensure he receives the most comprehensive treatment available."
"Help him fully recover from his injuries."
"And if he has any old wounds, treat those as well."
"Don't be stingy with resources."
Hiruzen said it as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Yes, Sensei!"
Orochimaru and Tsunade answered with wholehearted conviction.
"Hiruzen..."
"If we're truly friends, then don't call me Hanzō-dono anymore."
"If I may be so bold... could I call you Big Brother?"
Hanzō looked directly at Hiruzen as he spoke.
"What if I'm actually younger than you?" Hiruzen joked.
Hanzō shook his head.
"Age doesn't matter. The capable come first!"
"Very well, little brother. Focus on recovering from your injuries. Once you're healed, we'll sit down and discuss everything properly."
"Send someone to notify Amegakure first. Don't keep the Rain shinobi waiting too long."
Hiruzen gently patted Hanzō on the shoulder.
"Understood!"
Hanzō froze for a moment.
His big brother had even thought of that?
Orochimaru watched his teacher with a complicated expression.
Well then...
Not only had Kujō Gen, the Daimyō of the Land of Fire, started calling Sensei "Big Brother"...
Now even Hanzō of Amegakure was doing the same.
'At this rate...'
'The shinobi world may end up with many "big brothers"...'
'But every one of them will still be calling Sensei "Big Brother."'
Orochimaru sighed inwardly.
Watching them leave, Hiruzen began reflecting on what he had gained from the battle.
As well as the specific details of Konoha's future cooperation with Amegakure.
Hanzō was clearly sincere.
Since they intended to cooperate, it was better to wait until emotions settled and then negotiate an agreement both sides could accept in the long term.
Logically speaking, now was actually the best time to negotiate.
The pressure from the battle was still fresh.
He could drive the price down considerably.
But what Hiruzen wanted was something much greater.
So he didn't mind adopting a generous posture and offering certain benefits.
Simple cooperation between Konoha and Amegakure wasn't enough.
He wanted them to deeply experience the Will of Fire.
To develop the desire to join Konoha.
To make that desire their dream.
Of course, before that happened, they would need to pay their share in sweat and blood.
As for how to completely eliminate the lingering discomfort the Rain shinobi would inevitably feel...
Hiruzen had already prepared an unprecedented solution.
Amegakure was the village of the Land of Rain's shinobi.
If the Land of Rain were incorporated into the Land of Fire, then Amegakure would naturally become part of the Land of Fire as well.
At that point, it would fall under Konoha's authority.
And under him, both as Hokage and as the Shōgun of the Land of Fire.
It was an interesting reality.
The long-standing tension between shinobi and nobles largely existed because shinobi were relatively few in number.
As a result, they had always been forced to rely on large numbers of nobles and their administrative organizations.
A hidden village was ultimately just a nation's specialized military force.
At its core, it was a mercenary organization working for payment.
The legal sovereignty of the Land of Rain belonged to its Daimyō and nobility.
And the nobles of the Land of Rain, who desperately desired stability, security, and access to the Sage Region Pills, were hardly difficult targets to win over...
'I possess legitimacy among both shinobi and nobles.'
Truly incorporating Amegakure into Konoha would be a territorial expansion of historic significance.
It would dramatically increase Hiruzen's prestige.
And it would redefine the very borders of what "Konoha" meant.
'It just requires time...'
'The slower the plan, the smoother the result. One step at a time.'
'Patience.'
A smile spread across Hiruzen's face.
Even with no one around to see it, his smile remained as warm as the sun.
...
While Hiruzen was planning for Amegakure...
Uchiha Madara was also hard at work in Kirigakure, diligently finding one opponent after another for Konoha.
If he wanted to prove that the chain of hatred could never be broken, then enemies needed to keep coming without end...
The Hidden Sky Village had merely been an appetizer.
The fact that even the Hidden Sky Village dared to attack Konoha was itself proof of Konoha's weakness to the isolationist Kirigakure.
Manipulating one of the Great Hidden Villages still felt somewhat beneath Uchiha Madara...
But it was just barely worthy of his attention.
"Hi-kun!"
Madara swept his hand dramatically through the air.
"Time to get to work!"
---
I will post some extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. >> patreon.com/TitoVillar
---