Reputation Spreads Far and Wide

Konohagakure.

Hokage Office.

"Hahahaha, excellent, truly excellent!" Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, looked at the intelligence report from the front lines, his mood finally lightening after months of suppression. As a student of both the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, he had perfectly inherited the Will of Fire, and his students were naturally the same.

"Spread this news throughout Konohagakure," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, looking toward an Anbu operative waiting for orders nearby.

The Sannin of Konoha.

This title immediately spread across the ninja world. Everyone knew that the students of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, possessed formidable strength and had shone brilliantly on the battlefield, even earning the praise of the Demigod of the Ninja World, Hanzo the Salamander. This served as proof that Konohagakure remained as powerful as ever.

Incidentally, after the battle with Hanzo the Salamander, Tsunade had successfully developed an antidote for the salamander toxin—the kind that neutralized the poison instantly. It was to such a degree that even Chiyo, the legendary puppeteer of Sunagakure, couldn't help but gasp in shock upon hearing of it.

After the battle with Hanzo the Salamander concluded.

The battlefield within the Land of Rain enjoyed a rare period of peace.

About three months later.

Inside Amegakure.

At the training grounds.

BOOM!!!!

Hanzo the Salamander sheathed his kusarigama.

"You have learned everything I have to teach. Though you are not yet refined, with effort and time, you will surely surpass me," Hanzo the Salamander said, glancing at the rain in the sky before looking back at Uchiha Chiba.

"It is not enough. It is not enough to protect everyone," Uchiha Chiba replied, his expression icy. Ever since Katsuzuki died, and Hanzo the Salamander had him training on these grounds, Chiba had done nothing but cultivate. In just three short months, he had already reached the middle tier of Kage-level power.

"Kid, don't be so hard on yourself... I am about to withdraw my troops from Konoha, and then, I shall declare war on every nation," Hanzo the Salamander suddenly announced.

Uchiha Chiba looked up.

He recalled that in the original story, the reason Hanzo the Salamander withdrew his troops was because he felt invincible, coupled with the fact that Tsunade had completely neutralized his toxin on the front lines, and the supply of Amegakure ninjas could not meet the demand. These factors led to his decision to retreat, but the consequence was that Amegakure suffered a massive blow to its vitality and fell into a long period of recovery.

But why would there be a declaration of war against every nation?

Some Empress Dowager: I'm familiar with this!

"Why?" Uchiha Chiba asked the question anyway.

"I am already a god; there is no need to concern myself with others. I held back the Konoha forces at the sea by myself, and the name I left behind became a title others revere. Chiba..." Hanzo the Salamander paused, then suddenly laughed. The flash of helplessness in that smile went unnoticed by Uchiha Chiba.

"In the entire ninja world, besides me, who else could do it? Hahahahaha! I am the number one in the ninja world. Since that is the case, who would dare attack me? I withdraw when I want, I fight when I want. Bullying the weak was never my intention, so I choose to withdraw from Konoha. I'm done fighting. What does it matter if I win a battle that is destined to succeed? That is why I intend to declare war on every nation! Only then will it match the strength of my Amegakure," Hanzo the Salamander said, turning his back. His tone was arrogant, as if he were intentionally hiding his expression from Uchiha Chiba.

Uchiha Chiba looked at Hanzo the Salamander.

"Master, have you truly betrayed your own heart?" Uchiha Chiba called him 'Master' for the first time.

With his back to Chiba, Hanzo the Salamander's expression was complex. He replied, "Are you dissatisfied with me, little wolf?"

"Was your heart not for the Land of Rain? Look at Amegakure... how many are homeless, how many have lost their families? The economy of Amegakure is not even as good as the nameless small countries surrounding us. If you choose to go to war with every nation, Amegakure will never be able to rise again," Uchiha Chiba frowned. He had hoped that in this timeline he had transmigrated into, Hanzo the Salamander might change his original character and become a true hero.

The facts proved him wrong.

He had thought too much.

And he had thought wrong.

"Get out, little wolf. You are nothing more than a disciple I took on a whim, a little thing to pass the time..." Hanzo the Salamander remained with his back to Chiba.

"Sister Katsuzuki would never want the father she admired most to be a madman who disregards his own village!" Uchiha Chiba gripped the blood-forged scythe, speaking with fury.

Why couldn't this guy listen to reason?

He had laid the drawbacks right in front of him—why couldn't he understand!

"Do you... intend to raise a hand against me?" Hanzo the Salamander did not take the bait. Perhaps out of guilt for Katsuzuki, or perhaps something else, he spoke coldly. Beneath his mask, heavy, labored breathing could be heard.

"Forgive me, but if I can wake you up, I am willing to try," Uchiha Chiba exerted force through his feet, shattering the ground!

BOOM!!!!!

The blood-red scythe clashed hard against Hanzo's blade.

Following that, Hanzo shattered the mask at Chiba's waist.

Chiba looked at Hanzo.

He said nothing.

Sparks flew as the blades ground against each other. The terrifying force did not diminish, and Uchiha Chiba's body was sent flying; his strength was still far inferior to Hanzo's!

"Fire Style: Great Fireball!"

A fireball churning with rolling heat erupted from Chiba's mouth, its terrifying momentum mixed with scorching flames as it flew toward Hanzo the Salamander.

"Water Style: Water Shockwave!"

A cloud of smoke surged violently.

RUMBLE!!!!

The massive explosion shattered the ground of the training field, and the Rain Ninja outside rushed in one after another.

"Lord Hanzo! What is the matter?" an elite Rain Ninja asked.

Hanzo the Salamander spoke slowly.

He uttered words that made Uchiha Chiba's pupils constrict.

"An Uchiha assassin from Konoha is attempting to assassinate me. Take him down." Hanzo the Salamander's voice held no emotion, as if he truly did not recognize the Uchiha Chiba standing before him.

Uchiha Chiba desperately wanted to refute this.

However, he suddenly realized that every time he appeared in Amegakure, he wore a mask. Even when he came to the training grounds with Katsuzuki, he wore a mask, terrified of being discovered as a member of the Uchiha Clan. Yet, just moments ago, Hanzo had shattered that mask. This meant that aside from Hanzo the Salamander, Youzo the Salamander, and The Three Orphans, no one knew his identity as Hanzo the Salamander's personal disciple!

During his time at the training grounds, there had only been two guards; now, thanks to a rare period of peace, there were over a dozen Rain Ninja... but no one knew he had been training here for months!

This meant

he had become an assassin in the truest sense!

Uchiha Chiba looked at Hanzo the Salamander in disbelief.

"Water Release: Water Bullet Technique!"

"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"

"Lightning Release: Earth Flash!"

Countless ninjutsu flew toward Uchiha Chiba.

His Three Tomoe Sharingan spun frantically.

"Hanzo the Salamander!" Uchiha Chiba's roar was deafening.

BOOM!!!!!

Countless ninjutsu landed on Uchiha Chiba.

His body was riddled with holes, yet a faint, emerald-green light could be seen healing him!

Then, his figure vanished from the spot.

The Rain Ninja beside Hanzo the Salamander made to pursue, but were stopped by Hanzo himself. He spoke in a gravelly voice, "No need to chase. The people of Konoha are cunning. Pass on my order: distribute Uchiha Chiba's bounty throughout all of Amegakure. Ensure he can never return to this village."

"Yes! Lord Hanzo!"

A long time passed.

Hanzo the Salamander sighed.

"I cannot give you the best resources. In the end, Konoha will be able to make you stronger than I ever could... Go on and hate me, Chiba..."