Hanzo's Arrangements

"Let them keep making trouble. Konoha's forces won't be able to launch an all-out assault anytime soon. What about our intelligence team?" Hanzo the Salamander flipped through the files before him. He was undoubtedly a war machine, but if he could, he would much rather see a peaceful world.

Hanzo glanced through the files. They seemed to be nothing more than summaries of minor battles.

Smack!

He slapped the files onto the desk.

"You've worked hard, Youzo. I'm sorry you've had to follow a leader who, in the eyes of outsiders, only ever stirs up war." Muffled breaths came from beneath Hanzo the Salamander's mask.

"You give yourself too little credit, Lord Hanzo. We understand your vision. It's just that most people don't understand your methods." Hanzo's Right Hand replied. He knew Hanzo all too well.

"As long as it brings peace, I won't turn back, even if my hands are stained with blood. As long as I can make life better for Amegakure and stop the Five Great Nations from using the Land of Rain as a buffer zone in their wars, I'll do whatever it takes." Hanzo the Salamander let out a breath.

Perhaps...

The Hanzo the Salamander of the future really would become a complete bastard—cowardly and weak, listening to anyone's advice without having any convictions of his own, and ruining other people's lives.

But...

The Hanzo the Salamander of today was still the Demigod of the Ninja World, still a formidable leader. His dream was still to keep the Land of Rain alive and free it from the ravages of war.

"By the way, Lord Hanzo, about the intelligence team... They were wiped out when they left Konoha's encampment. We suspect Konoha has sent a large number of sensor-type ninja." Hanzo's Right Hand spoke up.

"Sensor types? Then let's give them a taste of real poison. If I'm not mistaken, the antidote that yellow-haired woman developed came from that puppet-using hag. Tell Zozo to assemble the troops. I'll take Ibuse myself and show them what real poison is." Hanzo the Salamander chuckled.

As for the Salamander Toxin...

The antidote Chiyo had provided could indeed neutralize Salamander Toxin. But Ibuse was Ibuse, and Hanzo the Salamander's Ibuse was no ordinary salamander. With the boost from the black poison sac inside Hanzo, the two of them releasing their toxins together would unleash an even more terrifying poison across the entire battlefield. Chiyo didn't know this, because Hanzo hadn't thought it necessary to use that trick on her. The facts had proved him right.

After a long while...

Hanzo the Salamander finally spoke. "By the way, there seem to be some flies in the village. Youzo, go deal with them."

"Yes, Lord Hanzo." Hanzo's Right Hand immediately left the room.

At a certain place...

"Spread the word, but make sure it's well concealed. Say that some of our reinforcements and supplies are on the main road beneath the cliff in the Great Forest of the Land of Rain." Hanzo's Right Hand took a rolled cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a drag.

Behind Youzo...

A Rain Ninja suddenly disappeared.

Three days later...

Near Amegakure, at the Konoha forces' encampment...

"Orochimaru, what did you call me back for? Has Hanzo the Salamander assembled his troops?" Jiraiya pushed open the tent flap and stepped inside, wearing a rain cape.

"No, nothing like that. I just have something to tell you. Tsunade will be here soon, so sit down and rest for a while." Orochimaru's eyes remained fixed on the map. His finger traced the circles and markings drawn across its leathery surface.

"I thought something had happened. But actually, this works out. I've been gathering intelligence in Amegakure these past few days, and I heard that they're running short on supplies. Some of their reinforcements and supplies are beneath a cliff in the Great Forest of the Land of Rain. Should we send someone to check it out?" Jiraiya sat in a chair and took a sip from the cup on the table.

Orochimaru slowly raised his head.

"Intercept the supplies? Perfect. I'll go myself. I haven't stretched my legs in a while. The forward intelligence team says Hanzo the Salamander is assembling his troops. He knows we can't gather enough forces to launch an attack, so he's decided to take the initiative himself. The main battle will begin in about a week. We have to win this time, too." Orochimaru stepped away from the map table and rubbed his hands. Then he looked toward the tent entrance.

Tsunade walked slowly into the tent.

"Orochimaru, Jiraiya, what's going on?" Tsunade asked. For the past few months, she had been researching every kind of poison that might appear in the Land of Rain, including swamp toxins. She had also improved the antidote for Salamander Toxin.

"Good, you're both here."

"I received a secret message from our teacher. Intelligence coming through Konoha might not be reliable. Only the intelligence from our teacher is trustworthy. He said we should judge the truth of each report for ourselves. Which means..." Orochimaru began.

Tsunade brushed back her hair. "Someone doesn't want us to win."

"Probably someone on Danzo's side, or one of our teacher's political rivals," Jiraiya said, stroking his chin.

Orochimaru nodded.

He took a letter from his pocket.

"Our teacher said it was Danzo."

The three of them fell silent for a moment.

"But why would Danzo do this? It hurts Konoha's interests. What does he stand to gain?" Tsunade asked.

"The Hokage," Orochimaru replied casually.

"If we fail to defeat Amegakure's forces, Danzo will have grounds to impeach our teacher," Jiraiya said slowly.

"Honestly, it's so tedious. They keep fighting over the Hokage's seat. If only Grandpa Second were still here..." Tsunade rubbed her temples and sighed. The long hours spent cooped up in the lab had darkened the circles beneath her eyes.

"Heh. If the Second Hokage were still alive, there wouldn't be a war right now," Orochimaru said with a laugh.

"By the way, Orochimaru, Nawaki told me yesterday that he wanted to go on a mission with you, his teacher," Tsunade said, stretching. Her breasts rose and fell with the motion.

Orochimaru looked outside the tent.

The rain was still falling.

"Hmm... That kid is my student, after all. I'll be going on a mission tomorrow anyway, so I'll take him along." Orochimaru spoke.

"It's not dangerous, is it?" Tsunade asked. After all, he was her only little brother.

"If you're worried, I can take him on a patrol nearby instead. Either way, it's up to you," Orochimaru replied.

Tsunade shook her head.

Her tone was light. "Better not. If Nawaki finds out that I ruined his chance to go on a mission with Teacher Orochimaru after he'd finally gotten one, he'll sulk and refuse to eat."

"Hahaha. All right, that's everything. Tsunade, Jiraiya, feel free to go if you have other things to do." There was an unusual ease in Orochimaru's voice.