The guards greeted them with excited expressions.
Just as they were about to enter,
three figures emerged from within.
Of the two male ninja, one had a round nose, while the other was...
"Uchiha Clan."
Shennong recognized the identities of the three.
And moreover...
"It's actually Fugaku the Fierce Eye."
Fugaku Uchiha had made his name during the Second Shinobi World War.
He was slightly younger than the Sannin.
He was a ninja who had been active for many years.
And since Konoha was the chief culprit behind the destruction of Empty Village, Shennong naturally knew him.
But Mingren's attention was on the round-nosed Uchiha. "That nose and face shape look somewhat familiar..."
He looked like a combination of Kagami Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha.
"Could he be... Shisui Uchiha's father?"
Mingren watched their backs as the three Uchiha departed.
As though they had sensed his gaze, the three Uchiha turned around at once. After taking in one another's appearances, all three turned and left again.
Shennong said, "It seems Konoha can't wait to receive an answer. They even sent the arrogant Uchiha Clan..."
Because of their bloodline, the Uchiha Clan were exceedingly proud.
Therefore, under normal circumstances, the Uchiha Clan were not suited for diplomatic negotiations.
Now, even Fugaku Uchiha, the leader of the Uchiha Clan, had been sent.
That meant Konoha had issued Amegakure an ultimatum.
So what would Hanzo's answer be...?
Inside the Tower.
Hanzo turned around, smiled faintly, and greeted them.
After having his granddaughter Asuka take her leave first,
Hanzo examined Shennong.
He wanted to see what kind of person could raise Amakawa Mingren.
"Lord Hanzo, there is no need to concern yourself with me. I merely know a little medicine. If you do not mind, I can help treat your village's injured ninja."
The corner of Shennong's mouth curled upward.
He knew that Hanzo's focus was his disciple.
That was nothing.
His goal had always been to overthrow the Five Great Nations and Unify the Ninja World.
How Hanzo viewed him was unimportant.
"Physician Shennong, you must be weary from your journey. If you do not mind, please rest for a while first."
Hanzo slowly raised a hand, signaling for his subordinate to arrange accommodations for Shennong.
After Shennong withdrew,
the entire room fell silent.
Outside, the steady patter of rainwater reached their ears.
"These past few days, thank you for taking care of my granddaughter. I hope she did not cause you any trouble."
Hanzo spoke first and gestured for Mingren to sit.
The two sat down on the mats.
"I raised my granddaughter alone. I was too busy before and did not have much time to guide her. Fortunately, the child did not stray down the wrong path."
Many second-generation heirs were arrogant and unruly.
Hanzo was grateful that his granddaughter was so sensible.
But precisely because she was too sensible, Hanzo felt even more regret in his heart.
If his granddaughter had acted spoiled, caused trouble, and displayed all sorts of pampered behavior,
then he could have allied with Konoha without any guilt.
But now, it seemed...
The more sensible his granddaughter was, the less he could let go of his hatred for the murder of his son and daughter-in-law.
Because only revenge could bring peace to the heart of a sensible granddaughter who had lost her parents' love.
"This is your first time in Amegakure, isn't it? What do you think?"
Hanzo set aside the matter of his granddaughter and asked instead.
"There is sorrow and fear in the eyes of ordinary people. Most of the ninja have become numb."
Mingren described what he had observed.
Even with the Demigod protecting Amegakure,
years of warfare and constant death could still make people feel despair and pain.
"Yes, your observations are sharp..."
Hanzo nodded slightly.
"In the Ninja World, there are already very few people who care about ordinary ninja and common folk... Most people who enter Amegakure only see its steel-city structure..."
He shook his head.
"The war has lasted too long. My subordinates do not say it aloud, but the sentiment against war has long since spread among them..."
Then Hanzo raised his head and stared into Mingren's eyes.
"Do you think... we can win?"
Amegakure.
Could it stand against the Five Great Nations?
Would the endless conflict of the Third Shinobi World War ever produce a result?
Was there truly any meaning in continuing the war?
"Let those who want to fight keep fighting. Repay vengeance with vengeance and grievances with grievances. As for those who do not want to fight or lack the ability to fight, we will protect them and fight in their place."
Mingren gave his answer without hesitation.
By saying this, he naturally understood Hanzo's thoughts.
He could more or less guess what Fugaku Uchiha and the other two had said.
Nothing more than Konoha issuing threats and intimidating Hanzo... and so on.
"I'm tired. I'll find somewhere to eat and get some rest first."
Mingren stood, intending to end the conversation there.
"I don't know what you think, but my thoughts are simple. Revenge... is only natural. Resisting invaders is also only right. If someone wants to be a saint, if someone chooses forgiveness, I won't say anything. But... they had better not jump out and stop others. Because only those directly involved have the right to decide whether to fight or not."
With that, Mingren left.
New Turmoil
"This way, please."
After leaving the Tower,
Mingren followed Ryu to the residence Hanzo had arranged.
"From now on, you and Physician Shennong will live here."
Ryu possessed the Swift Release Kekkei Genkai. He had previously been Asuka's teammate and protector.
A week had passed.
Without seeing the young lady,
he had naturally harbored some doubts.
When he saw Asuka appear, he was relieved.
The affection written all over his face could not have been more obvious.
After all, this was the world of Naruto Ninja. To a certain extent, most people were quite simple.
When it came to schemes, Tobirama Senju, Madara Uchiha, and Black Zetsu were already at the pinnacle.
Even so, their goals and thoughts were actually easy to guess.
But Mingren did not care about such things.
Nor did he feel either fondness or dislike toward Ryu's Kekkei Genkai.
Because Mingren knew very clearly that what he opposed was the idea and mindset of Bloodline Theory.
Not humanity itself.
Mingren looked over the somewhat old house before him as Ryu explained, "This was the residence of Young Lady Asuka's parents..."
"In other words, she lives here too?"
Mingren asked.
Asuka's parents had already died in battle. Did that mean she was the only one left to guard this home?
"Yes."
Ryu nodded slightly, unable to understand why Lord Hanzo had arranged for the two guests to stay here.
Even if Hanzo intended to invite them into Amegakure, this was still somewhat strange.
"If you need anything, call for someone outside. Meals will be delivered on time..."
After giving them a few instructions, Ryu left.
But from the expression he revealed whenever he looked back, he clearly did not understand Hanzo's decision.
"That boy has some issues."
Shennong walked over from the side, the corner of his mouth curling up.
"The human heart is at its darkest. I can sense his dissatisfaction toward us. Those Negative Emotions will sooner or later become a vortex of resentment and jealousy..."
An amused expression appeared on Shennong's face.
Observing the darkness in people's hearts was his pleasure. It was also what made him a Sobering Realist, and it was greatly beneficial to perfecting Dark Chakra.
"..."
Mingren said nothing and simply entered the courtyard.
In the Original Work,
after Amegakure fell apart, some of its ninja defected to Pain.
In other words,
Hanzo's rule was not one hundred percent secure.
It was inevitable that traitors would emerge among his subordinates.
Fortunately, this could at most be considered an internal war within the Land of Rain.
Before you continue