Hanzo: You Gotta Pay More

"Disperse."

Hanzo waved his hand, dismissing the Amegakure shinobi.

The Amegakure shinobi hesitated, but with a cold glare cast their way, they bowed their heads in obedience and scattered like birds.

"Save these tiresome little tricks for testing."

Hanzo regained his composure and reached for the still intact tea table, picking up a teacup and bringing it to his lips. "The Ninja World is not peaceful these days. Go back and tell Hiruzen Sarutobi that I hope this is the first and last time. Otherwise, he should understand the consequences."

The intense clash between the two had somehow not damaged the closest tea table, not even spilling a drop of tea.

This showed just how terrifying the control of power was for true Kage-level experts.

Uchiha Sōgetsu silently compared himself in his heart, realizing he was still quite a distance from these Kage-level powerhouses.

"I will deliver your message truthfully to Teacher,"

Tsunade put away her dismissive attitude and slowly stood up. "Regarding the sealing, notify us when you are ready."

Although it was only a brief exchange, it had allowed her to successfully gauge the foundation of this demigod before her.

Though advanced in years, his might remained.

"Let's go."

Since their objective was achieved, Tsunade no longer lingered. She turned and called Sōgetsu and Hikari, and they left the room.

The path back was again guided by Amegakure shinobi.

Upon returning to their lodging, Tsunade seemed to sigh in relief, slumping onto the floor ungracefully. "So tiring. I knew I shouldn't have agreed to the old man's request. But that old geezer Hanzo, he's indeed not as simple as he seems."

"Lady Tsunade, your hand."

Uchiha Sōgetsu's gaze fell upon her right hand, and he frowned. "I didn't expect Hanzo of the Salamander's poisoning skills to be so adept. If not for the Sharingan, I doubt I would have noticed."

In that brief moment of combat, Hanzo had used an imperceptible method to poison Tsunade.

"Heh, so many years have passed, and he hasn't improved at all,"

Tsunade glanced at her hand, waving it dismissively as if it were nothing. "It's fine. I can already cure his poison. It'll just take a bit of effort."

After Tsunade left, Hanzo remained in silence for a long time.

He slowly withdrew the hand hidden in his sleeve, his entire palm contorted and trembling uncontrollably.

The pain of his bones shattering beneath his skin could not move the demigod of the Ninja World. He stared blankly for a moment, a deep helplessness finally surfacing in his eyes.

No matter how he tried to hold on and put on a brave front, it couldn't hide one fact.

He. Was old.

Physical aging meant a decrease in Chakra reserves, along with a decline in energy and stamina.

How much longer could he hold on?

A hint of bewilderment appeared in Hanzo's eyes. He had strived his entire life, yet he still couldn't change his current situation.

Looking around, Amegakure was still subservient to the Five Great Shinobi Villages, its people still shrouded in the rain of war, and he himself had been forced to become a monster that disgusted even himself.

Tap, tap, tap.

Footsteps pulled Hanzo back to reality.

He put away all his weakness and helplessness, once again becoming the ruthless and vicious Hanzo of the Salamander who held the power of Amegakure.

"What is it?"

Hanzo lowered his eyelids, his tone devoid of emotion.

"Lord Hanzo, [his] people have arrived," the Amegakure shinobi said respectfully, kneeling.

"Heh, what kind of day is it today?"

Hanzo frowned slightly, clenching his fist. The wrinkled skin on his face twitched, and he sneered, "Even that rat from the gutter can't wait to test me?"

"Fine, send him to Room B."

In this vast underground labyrinth, his residence was not singular.

To prevent assassination by those with ill intentions, he changed his residence randomly every so often.

The Konoha Anbu member, wearing an animal mask, was led to Room B by an Amegakure shinobi.

The room had the same furnishings, with simple tatami mats, devoid of any extravagance. Hanzo sat facing the wall, his back to the newcomer.

Even after hearing someone enter, Hanzo didn't turn his head. "What is it?"

Feeling slighted, the Konoha Anbu member was somewhat displeased but couldn't act out. He could only say stiffly, "My name is Terai. Lord Danzo sends his regards and wishes to make a deal with you."

"A deal?"

Hanzo's drooping eyelids lifted slightly, revealing a sharp glint. "Interesting. Go on."

"Tsunade and an accompanying Anbu should have arrived in Amegakure by now," Terai lowered his voice, not stating his purpose directly but hinting meaningfully at Tsunade and her group.

Swish!

A cold glint grazed Terai's mask and embedded itself deeply into the wall behind him.

The animal mask cracked open a slit, and Terai's pupils suddenly shrank, his hair standing on end.

"I don't have time to listen to your nonsense."

Hanzo's voice was cold, like the winter wind: "Next time, I'll take your head."

"Lord Danzo wishes for you to take action and capture the Anbu accompanying Tsunade." Feeling the faint killing intent emanating from the old man facing the wall, Terai didn't dare to stall any longer, spilling everything out like beans from a bamboo tube.

If Hanzo said he'd take his head, even Danzo wouldn't be able to stop him!

So, after a slight pause, fearing he'd displease Hanzo, Terai quickly added, "Lord Danzo also said that if it's absolutely impossible, you can take his Sharingan. It will still count as completing the commission."

"Sharingan?" Hanzo pondered slightly and asked, "Is there anything special about his Sharingan?"

"I am unable to disclose that."

Terai's face stiffened, and he lowered his head deeply: "These are Lord Danzo's orders, and I don't know the reason."

Hanzo understood Root well and didn't press him further. After a moment of thought, he said, "I can accept this commission, but only if Danzo can afford the price."

"Ten tons each of war materials such as ore, soldier pills, explosive tags, and herbs."

Terai directly stated the conditions: "Furthermore, Lord Danzo has promised to dispatch Root elites to help you eliminate the rebels in Amegakure."

"Not enough."

Hanzo slightly raised his eyelids, his tone firm: "If I make a move, Tsunade will definitely find out. Directly offending a Sannin with this little won't do, so... you need to add more money!"

"This..." Terai gritted his teeth and added, "Lord Danzo can offer a total of a hundred tons of supplies at most. Any more than that will be discovered by the Third Hokage!"

A hundred tons of supplies. Hanzo finally nodded: "Fine, I, Hanzo, accept this commission."

"Tomorrow, I will go with you."

Terai said respectfully: "I will do my best to lure Tsunade away, and the rest will be up to you."

"Mhm."

Hanzo closed his eyes again, appearing to fall asleep.

Seeing this, Terai didn't feel it was appropriate to stay any longer. He slowly moved his body and retreated from the room.

Not long after Terai left, a tiny black bug, about the size of a grain of rice, suddenly crawled out from the tatami mat where he had just sat. It quietly crept towards the gap under the door.

"Hmph!"

A cold snort, like a thunderclap.

The black bug was blown away by the air current, hitting the wall. It fluttered a couple of times, seemingly realizing it had been discovered.

Buzzing.

The black bug flapped its wings and flew out of the door at an extremely high speed.

A kunai flashed through the room like lightning. The black bug had no time to dodge before it was directly pinned to the doorframe.

Hanzo, who had been sitting facing the wall, turned around at some point. He stared at the black bug on the doorframe, a cold glint appearing in the depths of his cloudy eyes: "Kikaichū, huh? A boring trick. No wonder you're always a step behind Hiruzen Sarutobi."

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