"What will the Land of Rain become from now on?"
After leaving the Land of Rain Daimyo's palace, Hanzo, who had successfully persuaded the Daimyo, looked up at the gloomy sky. A trace of confusion rose in his heart.
For Hanzo, this was something difficult to imagine. The great Hanzo of the Salamander, a demigod revered by all, was actually feeling uncertain about his own decision.
He had always believed himself to be a ninja with firm convictions. Whenever he encountered another ninja with convictions, even if that person was an enemy, he would spare them out of admiration for their beliefs and persistence.
But at this moment, Hanzo did not know whether what he had done could be considered right, or whether he had upheld his convictions.
In order to stop being enemies with Ninshu and no longer have to worry every day about an attack from Sōsuke, he had used his prestige in the Land of Rain and the Daimyo's trust to smoothly persuade the Daimyo to accept Ninshu's terms.
While persuading the Daimyo, Hanzo had actually been persuading himself as well.
He told himself that Ninshu had not killed the Iwagakure ninja, that Ninshu truly was as peace-loving as the rumors claimed.
He told himself that with Ninshu's strength, the Land of Rain would become stronger, and the nation would become more peaceful and secure rather than more chaotic.
Would things truly turn out that way? Hanzo did not know. He was merely numbing himself by imagining the best possible outcome.
Once the cooperation officially took effect, Ninshu would truly become another Amegakure, with the authority to represent the Land of Rain in wars against other nations.
That meant Ninshu's actions would greatly influence the future of the Land of Rain.
To Hanzo, the Land of Rain