Shimura Danzō!

The next day, in Amegakure, Hanzō the Salamander's office.

Under Uchiha Jin's control, Hanzō the Salamander was reviewing the latest intelligence delivered from across the Land of Rain, gathering all manner of information about the country.

The Land of Rain bordered the Three Great Nations of Fire, Earth, and Wind, making it an undeniably crucial strategic location!

Uchiha Jin was now waiting for Shimura Danzō to take the bait. Since he had nothing better to do, gathering intelligence on the Land of Rain could serve as preparation for any eventuality.

"Hanzō-sama!"

Ametsuyu's voice came from outside the door, carrying a hint of agitation absent from his usual tone.

"Enter!"

Hanzō the Salamander spoke, setting down the documents in his hand.

Ametsuyu pushed open the door and entered, Kneeling on one knee as he said, "Hanzō-sama, a Konoha delegation has requested an audience at the village gates!"

"A Konoha delegation?" A flicker of crimson passed through Hanzō the Salamander's eyes as he asked, "Who is leading them?"

Ametsuyu replied, "A Konoha Elder, Shimura Danzō!"

He had finally come!

Hanzō the Salamander remained calm as he continued, "How many did they bring?"

Ametsuyu answered, "Shimura Danzō and two Konoha Anbu, three in total... They also brought the corpse of one of our Rain Ninja!"

Three people... Were the other Root Ninja hiding in secret?

It seemed that his order to tighten Amegakure's defenses had triggered a chain reaction, forcing Shimura Danzō to bring only a single Rain Ninja's corpse!

After pondering for a moment, Hanzō the Salamander said, "Take them to the Meeting Room!"

"Yes!"

Ametsuyu acknowledged the order and vanished in a flash.

Hanzō the Salamander also rose and headed for the Meeting Room.

His existence could not be known to too many people, so he could not make a move within Amegakure.

At the same time, his goal was to Wipe Out the elite Root Ninja Shimura Danzō had brought with him this time, so now was not the Critical Moment to act.

For now, he still needed to Pretend to be friendly with Shimura Danzō.

After Hanzō the Salamander waited in the Meeting Room for a while, a set of footsteps finally sounded outside.

After pushing open the door to the Meeting Room, Ametsuyu quickly walked over and took his place behind Hanzō the Salamander.

Shimura Danzō, the middle-aged Five-and-a-half-generation Pot Kage, entered the Meeting Room. Both his arms were intact, he wore Anbu Battle Clothes, a long sword was strapped to his back, and only his Right Eye was covered with bandages!

Of the two Root Ninja Danzō had brought, one remained outside the Meeting Room, while the other, carrying the Rain Ninja's corpse, followed Danzō inside.

"What a Rare Guest..." After glancing at the Rain Ninja's corpse, Hanzō the Salamander turned his gaze to Shimura Danzō. "I thought people like you no longer led troops onto the battlefield personally!"

After the First Shinobi World War ended, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Shinobi Hero known as the Strongest Hokage, had basically never returned to the battlefield. The other two Konoha Elders, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, were the same.

Shimura Danzō had remained active on the battlefield for a period during the Second Shinobi World War, but as Root developed, he gradually went underground and rarely showed his face openly.

"As long as the village needs me, I can appear anywhere!"

Shimura Danzō spoke those righteous words without changing his expression.

"If you want to show loyalty, go back to your own village!" Hanzō the Salamander said flatly. "Danzō, state your purpose!"

Shimura Danzō said, "I represent Konoha in seeking Peace Talks with Iwagakure. I would like Amegakure to mediate between us!"

Whether intentional or not, Shimura Danzō placed particular emphasis on the words "Peace Talks."

Hanzō the Salamander asked directly, "What can Amegakure gain from this?"

Shimura Danzō said indifferently, "That depends on Amegakure's choice!"

Shimura Danzō's One-Eyed gaze met Hanzō the Salamander's.

In that exchange of gazes, the two had already reached an unspoken agreement!

Some matters could not be brought into the open. As long as both sides understood, that was enough!

Hanzō the Salamander shifted his gaze to the Rain Ninja corpse carried by the Root Ninja behind Shimura Danzō and asked, "What happened here?"

Shimura Danzō cast a glance over his shoulder. The Root Ninja immediately stepped forward and placed the Rain Ninja's corpse before Hanzō the Salamander.

Shimura Danzō said, "On our way here, we encountered a squad of attacked Rain Ninja. The other bodies had already been destroyed. We only managed to preserve this one!"

"They seemed to be members of your clan!"

To stir Hanzō the Salamander's anger, Shimura Danzō had gone to great lengths, spending considerable effort to find several clan members close to Hanzō the Salamander.

Hanzō the Salamander narrowed his eyes, anger contained in his voice. "Who did it?"

Shimura Danzō pondered for a moment before saying softly, "At such a Critical Moment, neither Konoha nor Iwagakure would offend Amegakure. The ones who acted were likely Akatsuki Organization!"

"Impossible!" Hanzō the Salamander rejected the claim outright. "Akatsuki Organization acts for the sake of peace. I met their Leader yesterday. How could they possibly attack Amegakure!"

Quite a few people knew that Yahiko's Trio had come to Amegakure. Hanzō the Salamander did not make an issue of such a trivial matter, lest he lose more than he gained.

Shimura Danzō was not surprised and said calmly, "You can know a person's face but not their heart! If they truly seek peace in the Land of Rain, Amegakure has always worked toward the same goal. Why do they not simply join Amegakure?"

"Akatsuki Organization is developing rapidly. Perhaps before long, they will replace you!"

Shimura Danzō's tone was calm, but his words were exceedingly provocative.

Had the elderly Hanzō the Salamander truly been here, he might actually have grown suspicious of Akatsuki Organization because of this.

Hanzō the Salamander's expression flickered uncertainly. Only after hesitating for a moment did he ask, "What do you want?"

Shimura Danzō said, "I need Amegakure to have a wise Leader! I can help you eliminate Akatsuki Organization, but I want to take the corpses of Akatsuki Organization's three leaders back to Konoha!"

Hanzō the Salamander narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

Shimura Danzō explained, "Those three are disciples of Jiraiya, one of Konoha Sannin. They carry Konoha's intelligence within them, and it absolutely cannot be leaked!"

Shimura Danzō's reasoning was perfectly sound, with almost no flaw to be found!

After pondering for a moment, Hanzō the Salamander said, "I can find a way to lure them out, but aside from me, no other Rain Ninja will be present!"

"After all, just yesterday, I praised them as the future hope of the Land of Rain!"

Shimura Danzō nodded without the slightest hesitation. "Agreed!"

Hanzō the Salamander's proposal was exactly what he wanted!

From Beginning to End, Shimura Danzō's target had been Nagato's Rinnegan. He was merely uncertain of Nagato's strength, so he wanted to borrow the blade of Hanzō the Salamander, the God of Shinobi, to kill him.

If Hanzō the Salamander brought too many people, it would instead become difficult for him to act!

After that, Hanzō the Salamander and Shimura Danzō discussed several details.

Once everything had been settled and a time agreed upon, Shimura Danzō finally took his leave.

An invisible net slowly began to spread!