Kakuzu clicked his tongue as he looked at the Rain Shadow Hat. Having come from Takigakure, a small shinobi village, he knew all too well what the leaders of those smaller villages wanted most.
It was nothing more than to follow in their predecessors' footsteps and become someone who stood on equal footing with the Five Kage.
What was more, during the Second Shinobi World War, Hanzo of the Salamander had driven the forces of several shinobi villages out of his territory and even challenged Konoha, the strongest of them all. Although Amegakure had lost in terms of the overall war, Hanzo of the Salamander alone had defeated the Hokage's three disciples.
If Boss Izuna had not cut him down with a single strike at the end, he probably would have been strutting around with his nose in the air by now.
And what did Hanzo of the Salamander need most at this point? Recognition from others, of course.
For the boss to send him a Rain Shadow Hat now was tantamount to acknowledging Hanzo of the Salamander's performance in this war and declaring him worthy of standing alongside the Five Kage.
To him, such recognition would undoubtedly be a ray of dawn breaking through the gloom that had shrouded his life.
"Understood, boss. I'll give this to Hanzo of the Salamander when the time is right, then introduce you to him."
"Thanks for your hard work."
"Just doing my job."
Kakuzu left in a hurry, just as hurriedly as he had arrived. After all, he genuinely hoped to become the Land of Rain's Finance Minister as soon as possible.
Watching Kakuzu leave, Tetsuya stretched.
"I wonder how my adorable students are doing with their businesses."
Chiba Grand Hotel, Capital City of the Land of Fire.
Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko