Chapter 44: Hanzo of the Salamander

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Hanzo of the Salamander

Hanzo of the Salamander understood all too well the reasons why the three great nations, through their mutual conflicts, had dragged the battlefield into the Land of Rain without cause. But...

Why?!?!

Why should the Hidden Rain Village be subjected to such oppression?! As the leader of the Hidden Rain Village, he had to resist.

Thus, he ignited this war.

Throughout the entire Land of Rain, many fervently followed Hanzo, willing to devote everything for his sake. Yet, at the same time, there were just as many who could not comprehend his actions. After all, Hanzo had not declared war on some insignificant foes, but on three of the five great nations. Such a reckless move was beyond their understanding.

For Hanzo, however, if the Land of Rain did not seek a new path, it would only sink into a slow death. The prices of food and goods in the Land of Rain had risen year after year, reaching levels that many commoners could no longer afford.

Because the great nations constantly brought their conflicts into the Land of Rain, it had been cut off from any possibility of economic exchange with the outside world. And with its perpetually rainy climate, the Land of Rain could never achieve self-sufficiency.

As time passed, Hanzo could no longer count how many people had died of hunger in the Land of Rain, nor how many had lost their lives simply by accidentally getting caught in the crossfire of the three nations’ conflicts.

The tragedy of a small nation... was far too heavy.

Though Hanzo of the Salamander was hailed as a living legend, a man at the pinnacle of the Ninja World, it was still not enough.

Because he alone could not influence the entire Ninja World. He was not Senju Hashirama, nor was he Uchiha Madara. He could not reach the level where his mere presence could intimidate the five great nations.

So, he had no choice but to ignite a war! Only through war could he carve out a new path for the Hidden Rain Village, allowing it to stand before those great nations!

To save this nation! He, Hanzo, had to do this!

"Oboro."

"Lord Hanzo!"

After quietly observing the Hidden Rain Village for a long time, Hanzo spoke softly. A figure immediately appeared in the rain, kneeling silently behind Hanzo of the Salamander.

"As expected, the Hidden Sand forces have advanced three stations. Proceed according to plan. It’s time to make that old woman Chiyo understand what true poison really is."

Hanzo of the Salamander spoke with icy killing intent in his eyes.

"Yes!"

"Also, have Yumehi keep an eye on Konohagakure. If anything happens, notify me immediately. The ninja Konohagakure sent is no pushover.

Konohagakure won its battle against the Hidden Sand too easily. Before, because they were fighting on two fronts and wanted to conserve their strength, they didn’t directly engage with us. Now that those fools from the Hidden Sand have been defeated, Konohagakure will likely turn their aggression toward our Hidden Rain.

No, not likely—it’s certain. I can tell that the overall commander Konohagakure has in the Land of Rain is not one who likes to stay idle. How did Sarutobi Hiruzen manage to raise such a cold-blooded disciple?"

Hanzo of the Salamander spoke with a tone of wariness and coldness. He knew all too well that the ninja who was like a snake would not simply stay put.

"Yes!"

.... ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Time passed.

In a mountainous forest on the border of the Land of Fire.

A team of Hidden Sand ninja was swiftly infiltrating deep into the Land of Fire.

"Confirming the mission once more. According to Elder Ebizo, Konohagakure intends to engage us in a prolonged war of attrition. Our mission is to quickly infiltrate the Land of Fire and destroy Konohagakure’s logistical supply routes.

If necessary, for the sake of the village, you all understand what must be done. Everyone, the Hidden Sand Village needs us now. This mission... we must complete it!"

The Jonin leading the team whispered to his companions behind him, using the jungle as cover. To maintain their resolve, he repeated such speeches at regular intervals along the way.

"Understood."

The Sand ninja nodded one after another, their eyes filled with hatred toward Konohagakure. In this war, they had lost too much—that was why they were here.

All of them... were a special forces unit carefully selected by Ebizo, consisting of individuals with deep-seated hatred for Konohagakure and exceptional infiltration skills.

Everyone was well aware of the dangers of such a mission deep into enemy territory. Under the strict wartime lockdown, the likelihood of survival was almost zero.

Receiving confirmation from all his comrades, the Jonin leader nodded slightly. Suddenly, he raised his hand, signaling for silence, and sharply looked upward.

There, a black-haired, spiky-haired youth was staring coldly at them.

"A Konohagakure ninja?! Prepare for battle! Wait! That clan emblem... and that ornate sword... You are Konohagakure’s Thunder Calamity, Uchiha Xuan! Everyone, be careful! The enemy is an Uchiha ninja—do not look into his eyes under any circumstances!"

The moment the Jonin leader saw Uchiha Xuan, killing intent instantly flared in his eyes. Just as he raised his hands to form hand seals, a name deeply ingrained in the minds of Hidden Sand ninja suddenly surfaced in his thoughts.

That... Uchiha genius who manipulated heavenly lightning to kill Lord Rasa.

As soon as his words fell, a terrifying aura erupted from Uchiha Xuan, pressing down upon them like a suffocating weight.

In the eyes of the Sand ninja, Uchiha Xuan was surrounded by black lightning. He stood there quietly, yet it felt as though he controlled the entire world, driving them away.

"You..."

The mental pressure caused the Sand ninja’s eyes to widen involuntarily. However, in the next second, the phantom of a Three-Tomoe Sharingan bloomed within their pupils.

[Defeated B-rank target. Obtained B-grade Card Pool draw count: 1]

[Defeated D-rank targets. Obtained D-grade Card Pool draw count: 6]

"Pathetic weaklings. They are already under the control of the Sharingan. The rest is up to you."

After instantly subduing all the Sand ninja, Uchiha Xuan spoke indifferently.

From the bushes behind him, several masked ninja emerged, skillfully binding and taking away all the Sand ninja controlled by Uchiha Xuan.

As for Uchiha Xuan, he vanished from the spot in a flash.

When he reappeared, he was already inside his tent at the Konohagakure camp.

As soon as he appeared, a familiar voice rang out beside him.

"You finished the mission so quickly? The Flying Thunder God Technique really is convenient. Come here, come here! I’ve made some progress on that thing you asked me to research."

Uchiha Xuan looked in the direction of the voice and saw Tsunade standing in front of Charizard. Several slugs were crawling on Charizard’s body, while Gardevoir and Gengar stood beside the two, watching the distressed Charizard with anticipation.

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