Token of Allegiance

A light drizzle was falling from the sky.

Shiraha, dressed in a white fitted suit, stood quietly on the cliff, looking down at Amegakure in front of him.

The raindrops fell continuously, creating transparent ripples about twenty centimeters away from Shiraha's body, like ripples on a calm water surface.

After advancing to the first level of "Summoner", Bai Yu's mental power and magic power increased significantly. He has now completed the vaporization of mental power and has begun the second stage of mental power liquefaction. He can cast level 0 defensive spells like "Barrier" 24 hours a day, which can almost be regarded as a semi-permanent solidification spell. This consumption is almost negligible for him now.

Although with his current strength, if he encounters a powerful enemy and needs to fight, the "Barrier" spell can provide very limited defensive capabilities, it is more than enough to shelter him from the wind and rain.

Kodama investigated Obito and the White Creature, and found the leader of the Akatsuki. Shiraha took this matter very seriously.

After all, if Obito were alive, the fact that he didn't return to Konoha must mean he was influenced by Madara. And Madara certainly wasn't just bored and didn't want to mentor Obito, a junior. He must have some unspeakable secret.

No matter what form Obito takes, as long as Rin is the trump card, Shiraha will always have the upper hand.

Recently, several members of ' Infinite Ring ' have been active near the Land of Rain, and Shiraha has obtained a lot of information about them.

His main purpose in coming here was to take the opportunity to win over the Akatsuki. It would be best if he could recruit them, but if that wasn't possible, he at least wanted to establish some contact. Even if they couldn't cooperate, he still needed to keep a close eye on the Akatsuki and know their movements.

Just two days ago, Kodama discovered that Danzo and the Root members had arrived in Amegakure and were meeting with Hanzo.

Although Shiraha didn't know what Danzo and Hanzo had said, he knew that as long as he did the opposite of what Danzo wanted to do, he would definitely be able to profit.

With Shiraha's current strength, it's not impossible for him to Danzo on the way without anyone noticing. However, he cannot afford to lose either of Konoha's Wolong Fengchu.

If you try to deal with Konoha by force, Konoha will become more united than ever before.

Second Shinobi World War and Third Shinobi World War have already proven this point.

However, whenever Konoha is in peacetime, it will inevitably descend into chaos from within and begin to fight amongst itself.

The Sakumo incident and the Orochimaru incident have made Shiraha acknowledge Danzo and the Third Hokage Civil War Phantom God.

"Who goes there?!"

Shiraha arrived not far from the Amegakure. Before he even got close to the gate, more than a dozen Amegakure appeared in front of him and blocked his way.

Everyone stared warily at Shiraha. Although he was far too young, he remained completely calm despite being surrounded by people, which surprised everyone. No one dared to be negligent.

The leading Amegakure Jōnin forward, looking at Shiraha's face, feeling that it looked somewhat familiar. "I feel like I've seen you somewhere before, sir. May I ask what brings you to our Amegakure?"

"I am Yagami Shiraha." Shiraha smiled slightly. "I wish to see your leader, Hanzo."

"Yagami Shiraha?"

Everyone was taken aback.

"You're Yagami Shiraha?!"

A Chunin Amegakure asked curiously, "There are many famous and powerful ninjas, Five Kage of the Era, the Amegakure Demigod, the Legendary Konoha Sannin, and the Yellow Flash. These are all top-tier powerhouses."

Among these powerful figures, the Tsuchikage and Raikage are the strongest of the Five Kage. During the Ninja World War, the Third Raikage, A, repeatedly suppressed the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki. Therefore, the strongest of the Five Kage is undoubtedly the Third Raikage, A, who was at his peak.

Even Hanzo, the leader of Amegakure and known as Hanzo Demigod, publicly stated that he could not withstand the Third Raikage A's Nintaijutsu in a direct confrontation, and that he could only First Shinobi World War the Third Raikage A by relying on the deadly poison of the Ibuse.

However, during the Third Shinobi World War, Red Hot Habanero Kushina Uzumaki, the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki of Konoha, successfully mastered the power of the Kurama at the age of just over twenty, becoming the youngest and strongest Perfect Jinchuriki in history, and repeatedly suppressed the Third Raikage, A, in direct combat.

The man behind Kushina was Yagami Shiraha, who was able to fight the Third Raikage, A, to a standstill using his Nintaijutsu.

Kushina possessed the power of the Kurama, the strongest Tailed Beast, while Yagami Shiraha, born into a commoner family with no noble lineage, was neither Hyūga nor Uchiha. Yet, in his early twenties, he had mastered Nintaijutsu to such a terrifying degree.

It can only be said that birds of a feather flock together; Kushina and Shiraha are a combination of geniuses.

In the hearts of many ninjas in the Shinobi World, Shiraha's reputation is even higher than Kushina's, and he is on par with the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, the Yellow Flash.

Upon seeing him in person today, the Amegakure ninjas felt somewhat dazed. Although they were both in their early twenties, Shiraha looked like he had just come of age, yet he was already a powerful figure standing at the pinnacle of the Shinobi World, while they didn't even have the strength of Jōnin.

The difference between people can sometimes be greater than the difference between a person and a dog.

Snap!

Hearing his subordinate speak out of Jōnin, the Amegakure slapped him on the back of the head and scolded him in a low voice, "What are you yelling about? You should call him Lord Shiraha!"

As he spoke, he bowed slightly to Shiraha and said, "Lord Shiraha, may I ask what brings you to see our Lord Hanzo? Our Amegakure has not established diplomatic relations with the Uzumaki Clan, so could you please tell me the purpose of this visit?"

The Amegakure Jonin was unusually polite. Putting Jōnin Shiraha's terrifying strength, his wife was Kushina Uzumaki, the current head of the Uzumaki Clan and the Kushina Uzumaki of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. His arrival likely represented the Uzumaki Clan.

Shiraha's current status can be said to be second only to the Five Kage of the Era, so it is not too much for the ninjas who greet him to be respectful when he personally comes to visit.

After all, offending him was equivalent to offending two top-tier experts whose strength was no less than that of their leader, Hanzo.

This is something that should absolutely not be done.

"It is precisely because the Uzumaki Clan has not established diplomatic relations with Amegakure that I have come in person this time. Our diplomatic relations with Amegakure will be established starting today," Shiraha replied with a smile.

"You mean the Uzumaki Clan wants to formally establish diplomatic relations with us?!" The Amegakure's eyes Jōnin. Now that the village's efforts to establish diplomatic relations with Iwagakure were being hindered, the Uzumaki Clan was taking the initiative to establish diplomatic ties. This was truly wonderful news.

The Amegakure Jōnin said, "Please go into the village and rest for a while. I will send someone to inform Hanzo immediately."

Even if it were an ordinary Jōnin, or an envoy from one of the Great Nations, they would definitely have to wait at the gate for a simultaneous interpreter.

But Shiraha was different; he directly represented the Uzumaki Clan, making him a figure equivalent to the Five Kage in person.

The Great Nations, whose strength far surpasses that of Amegakure, are more of a formality than a practical one for Amegakure. Only Ninja Clan like the Uzumaki Clan, whose overall strength is not much different from that of Amegakure, have a real chance to form Mutual Defense Alliance with Amegakure.

"Please!"

At the signal of the Amegakure Jōnin, more than a dozen Amegakure stepped aside, bowed slightly, and invited Shiraha into the village.

"I've always heard that Amegakure is xenophobic and difficult to get along with, but it seems you're quite hospitable. The rumors are wrong."

Shiraha smiled slightly and stepped towards the gate of Amegakure.

The Amegakure followed behind.

"This is."

Only after a dozen Amegakure observed him closely did they notice that when the rain fell in front of Shiraha, it seemed to be blocked by an invisible barrier and did not touch his body at all. Walking on the wet and muddy road, his clothes and shoes were clean and not wet at all.

Just to avoid the rain, he released Chakra from every angle of his body.

Not to mention how much Chakra this behavior wastes.

What terrifying Chakra control!

I had long heard that Yagami Shiraha's talent in Medical Ninjutsu was in no way inferior to Tsunade, the medical expert among the Three Ninja, and now it seems that the rumors were not exaggerated at all.

What exactly is going on in Konoha?

They couldn't even keep such strong individuals, and they even let two of them go at once.

Shiraha only waited in the room for a few minutes, and before he could even take a couple of sips of tea, he heard a distinct sound of footsteps.

As the Kirigakure Jōnin stepped back from the door, a muscular middle-aged man wearing a gas mask and a short black cloak walked in. He was none other than Hanzō of the Salamander of the Amegakure, the leader of Amegakure, who was known in the Shinobi World as a ' Demigod '.

"Are you Yagami Shiraha? You're even younger than the rumors say. Truly, heroes emerge from among the young! Konoha is so lucky; it makes one envious!"

With admiration and envy in his voice, Hanzō of the Salamander extended his hand.

Shiraha stood up and shook hands with Hanzo, smiling as he said, "Hanzo is as powerful as the rumors say. However, there is one thing I must clarify: I am now part of the Uzumaki Clan. Although we are allies with Konoha, we have become independent and will not be subject to Konoha's control, nor will we obey Konoha's orders."

While the two were exchanging compliments, they also conducted a test of each other's abilities.

Hanzo appeared to be praising Shiraha and expressing envy of Konoha, but he was actually testing Shiraha's attitude towards Konoha.

Although he and Kushina had left Konoha, the specific details were considered a disgrace by the Konoha High-Level, who naturally forbade the Jōnin to disclose them. Hanzo, unaware of the reason, was naturally afraid that the Uzumaki Clan would maintain a close relationship with Konoha as before, so he probed the matter by speaking.

Shiraha's answer also revealed his and the Uzumaki Clan's attitude.

As Kushina's husband, his words and actions were representative of the Uzumaki Clan.

"I believe Lord Shiraha doesn't like beating around the bush, so I'll be frank." Hanzo's eyes lit up upon hearing Shiraha's reply, and he continued, "I fully support the Uzumaki Clan's alliance with our Amegakure. However, I think we should clarify the extent of each other's sincerity beforehand."

Upon hearing this, Shiraha cursed inwardly. As expected of an old fox, he spoke so eloquently. However, to be able to keep Amegakure in a corner of the world during a chaotic era, Hanzo must not be a simple person.

It should be noted that Amegakure is located in the center of the border Three Countries. The terrain is low-lying and mainly consists of plains, making it most suitable for large-scale military advances. If it weren't for the fear of Hanzo, the Three Countries could have easily destroyed Amegakure.

"Hanzo is indeed very direct, so I will be frank as well." Shiraha said solemnly, "The Uzumaki Clan hopes to form Mutual Defense Alliance with Amegakure to jointly resist the invasion of a great power."

Hanzo frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "Now that the Ninja World War has ended, Amegakure has been affected by the Second Ninja World War and has not yet recovered."

The Iwagakure is about to make a complete ceasefire with us. At this time, it would be possible to form an alliance with the Uzumaki Clan, but if we form Mutual Defense Alliance alliance, wouldn't that just create a few more major enemies for us?

After all, the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools must have involved Kirigakure, as well as other ninja villages, and it's hard to say whether Iwagakure and Sunagakure were not involved.

Amegakure is located at the border of Three Countries. If it becomes hostile to Iwagakure and Sunagakure because of this, and a war really breaks out, will the Uzumaki Clan be able to come to its aid in time?

Moreover, the Uzumaki Clan is more likely to be attacked.

I can't risk Amegakure.

"Hanzo's answer was within my expectations. After all, other countries had similar concerns when they allied with us," Shiraha nodded.

Hanzo looked puzzled. "The other countries?"

Shiraha replied, "The Demon Country, the Land of Stone, the Bird Country, and the Bear Country have all formed Mutual Defense Alliance with our Uzumaki Clan."

Shiraha saw no need to hide the alliance; it wouldn't matter if it were made public.

In any case, if the enemy wants to deal with the Uzumaki Clan, they will definitely attack the Land of Whirlpools, their main base, first, rather than directly attacking other small countries.

If the enemy truly lacks martial ethics, then Shiraha will directly enter the enemy country to carry out sabotage.

As for the Land of Snow, it is currently the organization's headquarters and a heavy industrial base. In addition, with the Ice Ocean as a barrier, Shiraha has no intention of exposing himself for the time being.

"What?" Hanzo looked surprised and somewhat incredulous. Although Shiraha was talking about small countries, it was precisely because they were small countries that he needed to be more cautious.

Small countries either survive by remaining neutral and not forming alliances with any country, or by becoming dependent on the larger neighboring countries.

These countries are all located in the northwest of the Land of Fire, while the Land of Whirlpools, where the Uzumaki Clan resides, is on a peninsula on the southeast coast of the Land of Fire. The distance is great, so if an accident were to occur, the Uzumaki Clan's army would need to cross the entire Land of Fire to arrive.

Because they are so far apart, Hanzo is not keen on forming Mutual Defense Alliance the Uzumaki Clan.

"Because these countries all know that allying with the Great Nations means being abandoned at any time. Only by closely uniting with the Uzumaki Clan can they have a chance to be on par with the Great Nations. The choice between a Great Nations and a Small Nations is often a matter of choosing one or the other. So, whether to form Mutual Defense Alliance with our Uzumaki Clan or to continue to depend on the Great Nations and be abandoned again during the Ninja World War is Hanzo needs to carefully consider and decide."

Shiraha said in a deep voice.

Hanzo silent for a long time before replying, "I don't know if you want to use Amegakure, but what you said makes a lot of sense. However, if you want me to trust you, you must show true sincerity!"

Shiraha's heart stirred, but his face remained expressionless as he calmly asked, "What sincerity?"

He didn't necessarily want to ally with Amegakure; his main goal was to obtain information about Akatsuki and Danzo, and to figure out Danzo's purpose.

However, he is genuinely sincere about forming an alliance.

Hanzo's Chakra strength is slightly weaker than that of the Third Raikage, A, but it is comparable to that of the Third Hokage. Moreover, his specialty is the poison of the Ibuse, which can affect even the presence of an antidote. Therefore, he is an army in himself, and his combat power should not be underestimated.

If Amegakure Uzumaki Clan's bandwagon, their overall strength will increase significantly, making it a powerful alliance.

However, Shiraha believed that Hanzo would not agree easily.

That is indeed the case.

"In recent years, an organization called 'Akatsuki' has emerged in the Land of Rain Territory. I recently met with the leader of this organization, and they want to cooperate with me."

However, the Akatsuki's true goal is to seize power and overthrow my rule in Amegakure.

Recently, I have been preparing to take action against the Akatsuki and completely eliminate them.

"Since the Uzumaki Clan truly intends to form Mutual Defense Alliance with us, let's use this matter to demonstrate their sincerity and help us completely eliminate the Akatsuki."

Hanzo explained, his eyes fixed on Shiraha.

After a moment of contemplation, Shiraha replied, "Okay, I can help with this."

"Then I wish us a pleasant cooperation!" Hanzo extended his hand again.

Shiraha smiled and nodded, shaking hands with Hanzo, but he had another thought in his mind.

It seems that the right to choose an alliance is in Hanzo's hands. Shiraha needs to offer a pledge of loyalty and help Hanzo resolve this trouble in order to gain his trust.

But in reality, the initiative lies with Shiraha.

Shiraha didn't know much about the Akatsuki, but he knew that at the beginning of the story, the Akatsuki's goal was to collect the Tailed Beast, which meant that the Akatsuki would definitely be extremely powerful in the future.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. It's still unclear whether Amegakure is friend or foe. Should we choose the currently powerful Amegakure or the mysterious and powerful Akatsuki?

Shiraha needs to think this over carefully.