"You-!" Yahiko was furious, his clenched fists cracking. "Hanzō! You don't deserve to be called the 'Demigod'! You promised to discuss peace! You-"
"Peace?" Hanzō interrupted again, his voice suddenly rising with barely contained fury.
"What the Land of Rain needs is absolute authority, an iron fist! Power that makes the great nations fear us!
"Not your childish games. That nonsense you spout about 'mutual understanding' will only make this country weaker! It will only embolden our enemies!"
He pointed sharply at Nagato. "Especially him! Those eyes... those eyes that should never have existed in this world.
"They bring no peace, only disaster! An unknown threat capable of overturning the entire Shinobi World! I cannot allow such a 'wild card' to grow within my country!"
Nagato trembled violently and staggered backward, almost falling.
Konan hurried to steady him, only to realize that she was trembling too.
"So," Hanzō said, his voice calm again, but colder than ever.
"Choose, Yahiko.
"Sacrifice one person to save two, or... let all three of you die for your naive ideals."
The Amegakure ninja behind him slowly drew their weapons.
The Root ninja lurking in the shadows revealed themselves as well, their kunai and shuriken gleaming coldly in the rain.
Murderous intent closed around them like a tightening noose.
Yahiko looked at the mud-covered kunai at his feet, then turned back to Nagato and Konan.
Nagato's face was deathly pale. His Rinnegan were filled with fear and despair, and his lips moved without making a sound.
Konan clutched his arm tightly, tears streaming down with the rain as she shook her head at Yahiko.
"Yahiko... don't..." Konan's voice shook with sobs.
Yahiko closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, nothing remained in them but ashen resolve.
He bent down and picked up the kunai.