The gloomy sky hung low over the Land of Rain like a filthy rag soaked in dirty water, pressing down upon the endless hills and marshlands below.
Cold rain fell without pause.
It struck muddy roads and ruined buildings alike, producing a monotonous, suffocating rustle.
At the edge of this rain-soaked land, beside an unremarkable stretch of forest—
A figure staggered into view.
Nearly collapsing into the mud.
It was Danzo Shimura.
His black robe was torn in multiple places, stained with mud and dried, darkened blood.
The bandage over his right eye hung loose and filthy, while his exposed left eye was bloodshot and exhausted.
His face was pale from blood loss.
Each breath pulled at the pain deep within his body.
He had escaped that hellish northeastern battlefield—
Abandoning his shattered forces.
Sacrificing the last of his elite Root operatives as decoys.
Only then had he managed to shake off the relentless killing intent of the Raikage.
Danzo had not returned to Konoha.
In his view, that path led only to death.
Instead, he took a detour—
Moving through uninhabited forests—
Until he entered the territory of the Land of Rain.
"Cough… cough…"
He covered his mouth, suppressing his coughing as the metallic taste of blood rose again in his throat.
He needed a safe place.
Somewhere temporary—
But secure.
A force capable of intervening in this chaotic war—
Yet not one that would immediately sell him out.
Amegakure.
Hanzo.
The man known as the "Demigod."
A warrior whose personal strength made even the Five Great Nations wary.
And more importantly—
A realist.
A calculating ruler.
Not a fool driven by passion or rigid ideals.
As long as the price was right—
Everything could be negotiated.
After confirming his direction, Danzo forced his chakra to circulate again.
His figure melted into the rain and shadows—
Moving deeper toward Amegakure.
Avoiding roads.
Avoiding settlements.
Relying on his reconnaissance skills and memory of the terrain—
He traveled through mud and darkness.
Healing.
Advancing.
Days passed.
At last—
A massive military compound came into view.
High walls.
Rows of sharp iron spikes.
Countless hidden and visible sentries.
At its center—
A fortress of steel and stone.
Dark.
Oppressive.
Like a crouching beast in the rain.
This—
Was Hanzō's headquarters.
The heart of Amegakure's power.
Infiltration was extremely difficult.
Amegakure's defense system was unique—
A fusion of ninjutsu, poison techniques, and physical traps.
It was highly sensitive to chakra fluctuations.
Danzo had to suppress his presence to the absolute limit.
Using the sound of rain as cover—
Like a slippery eel—
He passed through layer after layer of defenses.
Until—
He reached the core fortress.
Deep inside—
At the end of a damp corridor lit by dim oil lamps—
Danzo stopped before a heavy iron door.
He knew.
He had been discovered.
From the shadows on both sides—
At least four hostile gazes locked onto him.
Yet—
No one attacked.
Perhaps they recognized him.
Or perhaps—
At this point—
No one could escape Amegakure's core anyway.
Realizing concealment was meaningless—
Danzo straightened his posture.
Took a step forward.
"Shimura Danzo, advisor of Konoha… requests an audience."
Silence.
Then—
"Enter."
Inside—
The room was spacious.
More a war chamber than an office.
Maps of the Land of Rain and the shinobi world covered the walls.
Documents piled high on the table.
Weapons and gas masks were displayed in one corner.
Rainwater slid down narrow windows—
Casting shifting, damp shadows across the room.
At the center—
A man sat in a wide chair.
Lower face hidden behind a respirator mask.
Only a pair of sharp, hawk-like eyes visible.
Gray hair tied back.
Clad in dark combat gear beneath a cloak bearing Amegakure's symbol.
He sat there—
Yet exuded overwhelming authority.
Cold.
Heavy.
Deadly.
Hanzo narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Danzo.
Taking in his battered condition in a single glance.
"Advisor Shimura…"
His voice, filtered through the mask, sounded low and muffled.
"Shouldn't you be rebuilding your strength in Konoha?"
"What brings you to my Land of Rain?"
Danzo stepped forward.
Meeting his gaze.
"Hanzō-sama."
His voice was hoarse.
"The Land of Fire and the Land of Rain… have never been true enemies."
"On the contrary—your battle with Konoha's Sannin made their names known throughout the world."
"In these turbulent times… we can become allies."
No pleasantries.
No wasted words.
Straight to the point.
"There is an opportunity."
"A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—for the Land of Rain."
Hanzō showed a hint of interest.
He gestured toward the seat before him.
"Sit."
Danzo sat without hesitation.
"The Raikage's main force has been annihilated in the Land of Fire."
"The new generation—A, along with the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails Jinchūriki—are currently in the Land of Grass."
"This means—"
"The Cloud Village is now more vulnerable than ever."
"Third Raikage is dead."
"Their top forces are deployed."
"Their defenses… must be weakened."
Danzo locked eyes with Hanzō.
Then—
Spoke his proposal.
"I, on behalf of Konoha…"
"Invite you—and your elite forces…"
"To march north."
"Strike directly into the Land of Lightning."
"No need to face their main army."
"Just force them to retreat."
"Once they turn back—Konoha will press the attack."
"And Amegakure…"
"…can seize resources, wealth, and jutsu."
"Perhaps even cripple Kumogakure permanently."
"And your position in the ninja world…"
"…will be transformed."
Silence.
Hanzō leaned back.
His eyes calm.
No excitement.
No greed.
Only indifference.
A foolish plan.
That was his first thought.
If not for Danzo's identity—
He would have thrown him out.
"Advisor Shimura."
Hanzō's voice was cold.
"The Land of Rain is small."
"Amegakure is small."
"We survive not by expansion…"
"But by balance."
He shook his head.
"To attack one of the Five Great Nations…"
"…is a gamble."
"And the price…"
"…is everything."
His gaze fell on Danzo's injured body.
Meaning clear.
"And how certain is this 'weakness' you speak of?"
"The Cloud Village has stood for decades."
"Do not mistake appearance for reality."
Danzo's heart sank.
This was no longer the ambitious Hanzō of the past.
Time.
Power.
Fear of loss—
Had made him cautious.
Even conservative.
Words alone—
Would not move him.
Danzo fell silent.
Then—
Made a decision.
He raised his head.
His single eye sharp.
"Then…"
"What if Konoha—"
"Supports Amegakure…"
"…to become the Sixth Great Ninja Village?"
For the first time—
Hanzō's eyes shrank.
Just slightly.
But unmistakably.
Even his fingers tightened on the armrest.
The room froze.
Rain seemed to vanish.
"Not a minor nation…"
"But an officially recognized Sixth Great Village."
"With status."
"With authority."
"With a rightful share of the world's power."
"Konoha will support this—fully."
"And this operation…"
"…will be your stage."
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
Hanzō turned toward the window.
Rain poured endlessly.
But within his eyes—
A storm was forming.
"Can Konoha truly pay such a price?"
"And how do I know this isn't empty promise?"
Danzo replied without hesitation.
"I will publicly come to Amegakure."
"As Konoha's advisor."
"And sign a joint declaration with you."
"To the entire world."
"Once victory is achieved—"
"Your rise will be unstoppable."
Silence returned.
Only rain remained.
Finally—
Hanzō spoke.
"Your proposal…"
"…is tempting."
"But…"
"This is not a decision to be made lightly."
"I need time."
Danzo frowned.
"Time?"
"Yes."
"I must verify intelligence."
"Assess risks."
"Prepare."
"This is not my decision alone."
"It is the fate of the Land of Rain."
Danzo suppressed his urgency.
"…How long?"
"A few days."
"I will give you an answer."
"You may remain here to recover."
House arrest.
Disguised as hospitality.
Danzo understood.
"…Very well."
"I will wait."
He turned.
Left with the guards.
A seed had been planted.
Now—
It depended on whether ambition—
Could break through caution.
Inside the room—
Hanzō remained alone.
His gaze fixed on the Land of Lightning.
Fingers tapping slowly.
Outside—
The rain fell endlessly.