Bull Warrior Never Takes Off His Mask

At this point, Yahiko naturally had no intention of poaching Hanzo's people and creating a new Amegakure.

But the Akatsuki's establishment and its expansion within the Land of Rain had indeed harmed Hanzo's interests and rule.

A small country like the Land of Rain had little land and was wedged between several major ninja villages. Its potential for war was limited, and supporting one Amegakure was already its limit.

Once the Akatsuki grew stronger, it would inevitably undermine Amegakure's rule.

Moreover, Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan were truly outstanding in both strength and talent. At just fourteen or fifteen, they already possessed the strength of Elite Jonin.

They were much like Konoha's Sannin back then.

This made Hanzo feel threatened.

If he continued allowing the Akatsuki to develop within his territory, then once the trio's strength improved further, his rule over the Land of Rain would become precarious.

This was not a question of whether Yahiko was interested in Amegakure. It was a matter of two factions fighting over the soil needed for survival.

Even if the Akatsuki loved peace and would not storm Amegakure to seize power, as long as they continued developing in the Land of Rain, Hanzo's influence would inevitably keep declining.

In the end, even if Yahiko and the others did not attack Amegakure, Hanzo would have no choice but to bow his head. The entire village would have to act according to the Akatsuki's wishes.

Then who would truly have the final say in the Land of Rain?

But if Hanzo were to recruit Yahiko and the others, he lacked both the ability and the will to do so.

Yahiko and the others had a clear goal: to persuade the major ninja villages to set aside their disputes and end the war through peaceful means.

It