You, Go Take Down Jingū Kiraku

"This guy actually dared to challenge me?"

Hanzō the Salamander looked at the flyer in his hand, his face full of surprise.

He knew something about the strength of Jingū Kiraku, a Chunin from Amegakure.

Although the man had repeatedly risked his life on the battlefield and earned many accomplishments, that was more due to a certain...

Luck.

Judging purely by strength, Jingū Kiraku was nothing more than an utterly ordinary Chunin.

If there was anything special about him, it was only his outstanding painting skills and astonishing courage.

Compared to him, a legendary ninja hailed as standing at the pinnacle of all ninja, Jingū Kiraku had no chance of winning whatsoever.

Under such circumstances, why did he still dare to issue a challenge?

Seeing the confusion on their leader's face, the Rain Ninja who had come to report cautiously offered a guess.

"Could Jingū Kiraku have encountered some kind of fortuitous opportunity and greatly increased his strength?"

At that, Hanzo raised an eyebrow disdainfully and said in a deep voice, "Any fortuitous opportunity must be built upon one's own strength. Jingū Kiraku is merely a Chunin—how could he obtain power sufficient to rival this old man in just a few days?"

"Looking across the entire history of the ninja world, such a thing has never been heard of."

Without a second thought, Hanzo directly ruled out that possibility.

The improvement of a ninja's strength always had to follow a gradual process.

Absolutely no one could rise from Chunin to Kage-level in just a few days!

Hearing such a decisive rejection, no one present argued.

Because that was simply reality. Turning the tables after encountering some fortuitous opportunity was the kind of plot that only happened in novels!

After ruling out that possibility, the newly arrived Rain Ninja raised another guess.

"Then could Jingū Kiraku have set some kind of trap in Rain Dragon Valley? The moment you step into the valley, Leader, he'll smash a cup as the signal, and five hundred elite ninja will rush out from both sides..."

That guess made Hanzō the Salamander suddenly take things seriously—

That really was possible!

After all, Jingū Kiraku could not possibly be foolish enough to duel him one-on-one. Setting traps and ambushes was practically his only hope of turning things around.

The Amegakure Leader could not help but seriously consider the possibility.

"But what kind of ambush could he set? Where would the troops for it come from?"

Hanzō the Salamander quickly raised another question.

Although Jingū Kiraku had gathered a large number of supporters through his speeches and created an imposing spectacle,

In truth, those people had no clear organizational structure and no clear political goals. They were nothing more than a rabble.

At least, that was how Hanzo saw them.

Organizing a force capable of defeating him in such a short time was almost impossible.

After all, he was someone capable of fighting the Three Legendary Ninja alone. A few insignificant opposition rabble were not worthy of his attention.

"Could Jingū Kiraku have won over forces from other countries?"

The unnamed Rain Ninja cautiously voiced another speculation.

Upon hearing that, Hanzō the Salamander's aura immediately turned grim.

"That is possible..."

He spoke coldly, his gaze gradually turning icy.

As a famous battlefield for the great nations, the Land of Rain was a strategic location contested by the Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Earth.

Now that Amegakure had completely sided with Konoha, it was entirely possible that the other two countries wanted to eliminate him and install another proxy in his place—or rather...

There was a very high possibility of that!

Alarm bells rang wildly in Hanzo's heart as a sense of unease surfaced.

That premonition of unease directly stirred up his anger.

What Hanzo could least tolerate now was anyone coveting his position as leader.

It was easy to imagine that he would respond with extremely forceful measures!

When that happened, the opposition led by Jingū Kiraku would likely face a grim fate, while the entire village would fall into even deeper division and conflict!

Realizing this, Amemura, who had just managed to catch his breath after getting up from the ground, flashed his eyes. Ignoring his injuries, he tried to persuade him.

"Lord Hanzo, we still do not know the enemy's arrangements. Rather than voluntarily stepping into a trap, it would be better to wait and observe—"

Before he could finish, he was interrupted again.

"Amemura, are you planning to make Lord Hanzo lose face before all the villagers?"

This time, it was the Amegakure Jōnin named Noguchi who interrupted him.

Noguchi stared at Amemura while pointing toward the street outside the window.

Flyers soaked by the rain lay scattered there, looking like ruthless mockery of Hanzo—

If you're a man, come to Rain Dragon Valley and cut me down!

It was a provocation no man could endure, much less one made before so many villagers.

If he truly refused the challenge, Hanzo would likely be mocked for the rest of his life.

This incident would also inevitably become a massive stain on his ninja career.

This was something the proud Lord Hanzo could absolutely not tolerate!

As expected, after understanding the stakes, Hanzō the Salamander immediately slammed the declaration of war in his hand onto the table.

With a loud bang, a surging killing intent erupted from him.

"Since Jingū Kiraku is so confident, then this old man shall grant him his wish."

He narrowed his eyes and spoke calmly, radiating the composure and confidence of the strong from beginning to end.

Just as Amemura and the other Rain Ninja thought that this imposing Amegakure Leader was about to head to the meeting alone and take his enemy's head as easily as reaching into a bag, he suddenly turned around and said,

"Noguchi, lead ten elite Rain Ninja to Rain Dragon Valley and take down Jingū Kiraku!"

"Me?"

Noguchi—the Amegakure Ninja other than Amemura—pointed at himself, a somewhat panicked expression appearing on his face.

So all that buildup was just to send me?

What if Jingū Kiraku truly had the support of Sunagakure and Iwagakure, just as they had guessed? Wouldn't I be walking straight to my death?

Uh...

Was it still too late to join the opposition?

Of course, Hanzō the Salamander would not give him a chance to refuse.

"What? You are unwilling to share this old man's burdens?"

The instant Hanzo cast a glance his way, Noguchi immediately behaved himself. He straightened his body and shouted, "Of course not! For Lord Hanzo's great cause, this subordinate is willing to give his all!"

At that, Hanzō the Salamander finally showed a satisfied expression.

He immediately waved a hand and ordered, "Then set off as soon as possible, lest complications arise."

Thus, under Hanzo's orders, Noguchi set off with fifteen elite Amegakure Ninja, their faces full of misery.

Watching their retreating figures, Amemura's heart was filled with sorrow—

He wondered where the future of the Land of Rain would ultimately lead...