Danzo Colludes with Hanzō

Tsunade slammed a hand on the table and said loudly:

"The Land of Rain has a unique geographical location. It borders the Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Earth. Once we send people into the Land of Rain, we will provoke Sunagakure while also aggravating the Land of Earth.

Will Ōnoki really stand by and do nothing then?"

Shikashin, do you have anything to say about this?

The Third Hokage glanced at Shikaku Nara.

Shikaku Nara rose with a smile and said unhurriedly, "Lady Tsunade, if the village sends people into the Land of Rain, it will indeed stir up Sunagakure, Amegakure, and even Iwagakure. But we must also consider Iwagakure's enemy."

"For the past two years, Kumogakure has repeatedly harassed and attacked the borders of the Land of Earth. Iwagakure and Kumogakure have had quite a few small-scale clashes. I believe everyone understands what I mean."

"Even if Iwagakure is ultimately drawn in, the enemy we need to face should be Sunagakure, not Iwagakure."

Since he had dared to propose such a plan, Shikaku Nara had naturally considered Iwagakure's existence. Fortunately, Iwagakure and Kumogakure had been in serious conflict over the past few years, with friction never ceasing. That gave Konoha an opportunity.

Still, the plan was somewhat risky. It would be fine if Iwagakure did not become deeply involved, but if Iwagakure sent a large number of shinobi into battle, Konoha might end up surrounded.

"I hope so."

Since Shikaku Nara had already considered those matters, Tsunade, who had never liked involving herself in such affairs, simply stopped speaking.

This was merely a targeted meeting, not a war council, because Konoha had no intention of going to war with Sunagakure.

At least, not yet.

After the meeting ended, its contents were delivered directly into Shimura Danzō's hands.

Shimura Danzō, who had been considering how to persuade Hanzō, realized that his opportunity had arrived.

The days passed one after another, but the camp remained much the same. The New Year brought no changes to it.

Jingyi, still waiting for the Tenseigan's fetal movement to end, had no idea that the fuse of the Second Shinobi World War was about to ignite.

In the Naruto anime and manga, there was not much information regarding the Second Shinobi World War. It was only briefly explained as having been caused by uneven economic development among the various nations and villages.

Then, a chaotic free-for-all of a war broke out.

The Land of Rain became a battlefield outright. Konoha fought Sunagakure, Iwagakure fought Konoha, Sunagakure fought Iwagakure, and then Hanzō, pushed beyond endurance, led Amegakure in declaring war on Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure, worsening the situation of that chaotic war.

The three great shinobi villages fought each other fiercely, then fought Amegakure as well.

The entire Land of Rain became a complete mess.

Several visitors of unusual status arrived in Amegakure and were received by Hanzō.

Within the spacious office, only Shimura Danzō and Hanzō sat together.

"I wonder what brings the Hokage's advisor to my Amegakure."

Shimura Danzō had been stripped of all his positions after offending Mito Uzumaki. Such a matter was hardly glorious, and only a small number of people within Konoha knew of it. It had not been publicized outside the village.

Therefore, Hanzō did not know that the Shimura Danzō sitting before him was no longer the Hokage's advisor.

"I came for a deal. A deal that benefits both Amegakure and Konoha."

Shimura Danzō spoke calmly.

"What deal?"

Hanzō frowned. He was not someone who allowed others to manipulate him, even if Shimura Danzō's identity represented Konoha.

Under his leadership, Amegakure had become far more active than before, openly and covertly seizing some benefits that belonged to Konoha.

But that did not amount to becoming enemies with Konoha. Such minor benefits were not worth two villages going to war.

Shimura Danzō said indifferently, "Sunagakure has repeatedly sent people into the Land of Rivers to provoke Konoha. The village held a meeting over this matter, and during the meeting, someone brought up Amegakure. They believed Amegakure's strength had become a threat, so they wanted to persuade the Hokage to send people into the Land of Rain and draw the attention of Sunagakure and Iwagakure."

"What?"

Hanzō's expression changed drastically. He rose to his feet in fury. "Who made that suggestion?"

Was this not putting Amegakure over a fire?

If Konoha sent people into the Land of Rain, Sunagakure would definitely follow. Once Sunagakure moved in as well, Iwagakure would not pretend not to see it. Friction between the three villages could trigger a war at any moment.

When that happened, the Land of Rain would become the battlefield of Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure.

"Who made the suggestion is unimportant. What matters is that, in the eyes of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Amegakure has become a threat."

What exactly did this man mean?

After his initial panic, Hanzō quickly calmed down. He did not believe Shimura Danzō had come here for no reason, nor that he would share such vital intelligence without a purpose. His scheme was certainly considerable.

That raised a question.

What did Amegakure, or even the Land of Rain, possess that was worth the attention of this Hokage's advisor?

"Danzo, state your purpose."

Having calmed down, Hanzō sat back in his chair and poured himself a cup of water.

"Help me kill someone. I will do my utmost within the village to oppose the proposal to send people into the Land of Rain."

Shimura Danzō had no interest in playing games of suspicion with Hanzō and stated his purpose outright.

"Kill someone?"

Hanzō immediately became wary. He stared at Shimura Danzō scrutinizingly. "Danzo, you came from afar and brought intelligence my village needs. I am grateful to you for that. But this old man and Amegakure will not interfere in Konoha's internal conflicts."

Was the intelligence Shimura Danzō had brought important?

It was. Otherwise, Hanzō would not have said he was grateful.

But Hanzō would not accept the other party's proposal.

For Shimura Danzō to offer such bait to entice him, the person Shimura Danzō wanted dead could not be ordinary. It might even be one of Konoha's higher-ups.

If he did it, it would amount to declaring war on Konoha. Amegakure could not bear Konoha's wrath.

"Jingyi Hyuga. He is your target. He is merely a medical shinobi, not particularly strong, but Lady Mito values him highly, so I cannot act myself."

"???"

Not a Konoha higher-up, merely a minor medical shinobi—only someone valued by the formidable Mito Uzumaki?

For a moment, Hanzō could not understand what Shimura Danzō was trying to do.

A medical shinobi, not very strong. With Shimura Danzō's strength and methods, he should have been able to kill the man easily. Why had he come to seek Hanzō's help?

Could this be a trap?

Wait. Hyuga? The person Shimura Danzō wanted to kill was from the Hyuga Clan?

"Here is the information. I will leave someone behind to await news. Once it is done, I will do my utmost to persuade the others and prevent the village from sending people into the Land of Rain."

"Furthermore, from beginning to end, this matter is your own act, Hanzō. It has nothing to do with me, and I will not acknowledge today's deal."

Leaving behind Jingyi's information, Shimura Danzō rose and departed.

If the village had not held a meeting concerning Sunagakure, persuading Hanzō would have been difficult.

But things were different now. The initiative was in his hands. For Amegakure and for the Land of Rain, Hanzō had no choice but to agree.

"Danzo, this old man has not agreed to anything yet!"