Although both had fought in the First Shinobi World War, this was Kagami Uchiha and Hanzō's first meeting. Most of what Kagami knew about the man had come from his close friend. The moment they met, Kagami recognized his formidable strength. Hanzō's gaze was exceptionally sharp, his breathing steady. He seemed unremarkable at first glance, yet every step he took carried a dangerous presence that someone of Kagami's caliber could sense.
"I've heard much about you, Hanzō," Kagami Uchiha said courteously. They were inside a Command Tent at a border outpost, the venue for the first meeting between the commanders of Konoha Ninja Village and Amegakure Ninja Village.
"And I've long heard of you. You were the one who stopped the Land of Wind's invasion back then. Having you as our commander this time gives us considerably more confidence," Hanzō said with a smile. He had a very favorable impression of Kagami Uchiha, who was rather different from the Uchiha described in the old rumors.
"That was then, and this is now. We can't treat them as the same. I imagine you've already received the intelligence we sent and know how difficult the Enemy Forces are to deal with." Kagami Uchiha had not grown conceited simply because he had once held off the Land of Wind. Even if he had, any such pride would have vanished after fighting them for a while.
Hanzō's expression grew slightly more serious. He had indeed read the intelligence sent by Konoha Ninja Village. Sunagakure Ninja Village's decision to stake everything on this offensive was unexpected, but understandable. In all honesty, if Amegakure Ninja Village faced the same circumstances, Hanzō might have adopted the same approach. When enemies met on a narrow path, the braver side prevailed. When strength was lacking, sheer resolve was the