On the border of the Land of Rain, inside an abandoned outpost hastily converted by Konoha Ninja.
Hanzo lay quietly on a makeshift stone bed, bound by countless chains and covered with several layers of intricate Fuinjutsu. He was still unconscious.
At the other end of the room, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Hatake Sakumo stood around a map, the atmosphere tense.
A summoning snake had just delivered the Third's handwritten reply.
----Orochimaru quickly read through the reply. He fell silent for a moment, then relayed the Third's orders in a hoarse, complicated tone. "The teacher's orders have three parts."
"First: Hanzo must not be taken back to Konoha." Orochimaru paused, then explained, "The teacher thinks the risk of Hanzo killing himself or being intercepted by another village along the way is too high. He's ordered us to establish a temporary prison here. Tsunade will be responsible for keeping him alive and, as much as possible, making sure he's well cared for."
"Second: interrogate him here and negotiate with Amegakure." He looked toward Hiroki. "Hiroki and the interrogation personnel who'll be arriving from Konoha are to work together to obtain all the information in Hanzo's mind. Meanwhile, Jiraiya, you're ordered to—"
Orochimaru turned to Jiraiya, a hint of amusement in his gaze. "—take advantage of Amegakure's lack of leadership and install a pro-Konoha acting leader. Use the living Hanzo as leverage in political negotiations with Amegakure."
"Konoha doesn't need a colony, but it does need a friendly ally that poses no threat to us. Konoha Ninja will establish a permanent base in the Land of Rain, and its people will be able to go to Konoha in the Land of Fire and try to become ninja—"
"But there can be no more Rain Ninja in the Land of Rain. All Rain Ninja