The Shame of a Demigod

Dark clouds loomed over the dark red earth, and soybean-sized raindrops fell from the sky-obscuring gray-blackness, gathering into a ceaseless torrent on the ground.

Amegakure, Tenshukaku.

Hanzo of the Salamander slowly stepped out of the Daimyo's residence.

A ninja from Amegakure immediately rushed to Hanzo's side.

Although he tried his best to control his emotions, his brows were tightly furrowed, and the indignation in his expression was hard to conceal.

"Lord Hanzo, Sunagakure..."

Shindatsu clenched his fists, lowered his head, and felt the indignation in his chest preventing him from speaking the words.

Hanzo's expression was calm, and he raised his hand to pat Shindatsu's shoulder. "Calm down, I know."

"Don't worry about it."

"As a ninja, your heart cannot be disturbed."

Raindrops pattered loudly against Hanzo, sliding off the oil-paper umbrella he wore.

He stopped, raised his head to gaze at the gray sky, and opened his hand, fingers spread.

"That person is one of the five Kage, standing at the pinnacle of the ninja world. It's perfectly normal for them to look down on us small ninja villages."

Hanzo's tone was flat, without the slightest ripple, as if he hadn't taken the matter to heart at all.

Not long ago, several conflicts had occurred along the border between Sunagakure and Amegakure.

If it weren't for the simmering anger of his subordinate ninjas, Hanzo wouldn't have allowed Shindatsu to visit the Third Kazekage and deliver a letter of apology.

"He's just a mere Kazekage. Lord Hanzo, you are the recognized demigod of the ninja world."

"After the Ninja God Hashirama, you are the only ninja called a god!"

Shindatsu looked at the broad back of the man before him. He had personally followed this lord, who, with his own power, had started from the impoverished towns within the Land of Rain.

In just a few short years, he had swept away all local powers and foreign ninjas within the Land of Rain with unparalleled might.

He was treated as an honored guest by the Daimyo of the Land of Rain, established Amegakure, and unified the entire Land of Rain.

His immense strength, coupled with such achievements, earned him the title of demigod from the Daimyo of the Land of Rain.

Even the hammer and sickle tools he carried were painstakingly crafted by master artisans from the Takumi Village, commissioned by the Daimyo at great expense over several years.

Tenbuho-rin – that was the name of this hammer and sickle.

This wasn't a gift bestowed upon him; rather, it was a testament to Hanzo's achievements, earned through his own hands, time and time again!

Upon hearing this, Hanzo's eyes narrowed slightly, and for a fleeting moment, a terrifying killing intent flashed, causing Shindatsu to stiffen before his face filled with fervor.

"Heh, demigod? It's just an empty title."

The world believed "demigod" was a beautiful compliment, praise for Hanzo.

But he knew in his heart that it was the contempt, the mockery, of the Daimyo of the Five Great Nations!

Nearly ten years ago, after the Daimyo and he had personally funded and contributed to the unification of the Land of Rain and the establishment of Amegakure, they had a private meeting with the Daimyo of the Five Great Nations in the Land of Iron.

He had intended to proclaim himself the Kage of Rain, but he was obstructed by those Daimyo.

They said he wasn't worthy of being called a Kage unless he could defeat Mifune, the strongest samurai of the Land of Iron.

Without any objection, he gambled his life and accepted the challenge.

Yet, after winning, those five reneged on their promise. Not only did they fail to uphold their end, but they also mocked him and the Daimyo of the Land of Rain.

They called them frogs in a well, dreaming foolish dreams.

Finally, after a barrage of criticism, they bestowed upon Hanzo the title of demigod.

Hearing this title, Hanzo's eyes seemed to recall the past, the unforgettable, grief-stricken scenes.

The hideous faces of those five appeared as if they were right before his eyes.

In an instant, Hanzo's raised right hand clenched into a fist, gripping his hammer and sickle.

He raised his hand to caress the inscriptions on them.

[Tenbuho-rin]

Pulling his thoughts from the memories, he walked forward, drenched in the rain.

"Shindatsu, go tell the ninjas on the border that no matter how big the conflict, as long as Sunagakure doesn't launch a large-scale invasion into the Land of Rain, they don't need to report it. They should just retreat."

"Lord Hanzo, this..." Shindatsu clenched his fists, his jaw trembling, his eyes unfocused.

He couldn't believe these were the words spoken by the demigod Hanzo, whom he followed.

Hanzo turned his head, his eyes meeting Shindatsu's. "Now is not the time."

"I want to make those so-called great nations witness the anger of our Amegakure, this tiny land, this small country."

With that, Hanzo continued forward.

"This rain isn't heavy enough. I want them to experience the taste of rivers formed by rain."

Shen Da stood frozen, a look of joy on his face.

He knew it, Lord Hanzo had never changed from beginning to end.

He had actually doubted his lord just now, how damnable.

Lord Hanzo's words must be because of his trust in me, and he can't tell others yet, so he has to make them endure a little longer.

"Yes, I will immediately send this news to the border!"

Shen Da's figure quickly disappeared.

At the same time, an uninvited guest, not belonging here, wearing a gray-black rain cloak like everyone else, stepped into Amegakure at this moment.

This person was Qingguang.

He found a seemingly ordinary tavern and slipped inside.

He took off the hood from his head, hung his rain cloak on the wall, and walked straight towards the bar in front.

He casually ordered a drink and a simple meal, then sat at a single table, eating by himself.

However, his ears were perked up, constantly listening to the conversations at the surrounding tables.

The ornate taverns served great lords and nobles; only in ordinary places like this could ninjas and the local villagers afford to patronize.

His attention was focused on several ninjas in front of him, wearing the gray-purple Amegakure vests and headbands.

It wasn't until another incense stick's worth of time had passed after those Amegakure ninjas left that Qingguang finally drank the last sip of his wine, walked to the door, put on his rain cloak, and left.

Afterward, he blended into the crowd, disguised himself as a local resident at an alley entrance, and browsed around the street vendors, chatting with a few of them.

When the sky had completely darkened, he found a guesthouse for a temporary stay.

At this moment, he organized and recorded all the information collected today onto a scroll.

"In the conversation of those Amegakure ninjas during the day, they mentioned Sunagakure, and their attitude was unusually furious. I'm afraid it was done by the companions who were supposed to meet me."

"But Amegakure didn't show any signs of counterattack, like a soft persimmon to be bullied."

Qingguang muttered to himself, writing it all down.

Although he knew that Hanzo had directly declared war on the five great ninja nations simultaneously, such a thing definitely could not be told directly to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Because it was too unbelievable, too outrageous.

He only needed to write down what he saw and heard in Amegakure, after thinking about it and organizing it.

As for anything else, it was not his concern.

Qingguang was very clear about Hiruzen Sarutobi's methods; if he directly proposed opinions and conclusions, wouldn't that be equivalent to expressing his own thoughts?

This Hokage did not like to listen to opinions; he liked to act according to his own logic.