Danzo Disappeared
A crimson hue silently spread from the corner of his lips, standing out starkly in the dim light, sending chills down one's spine.
"Are you... alright?!" Koki exclaimed in surprise, quickly crouching down and gently supporting Yahiko against her chest. She frantically rummaged through the scroll for a first-aid kit, hastily pulling out some disinfectant.
He tore open the strips of cloth, faced Yahiko's shocking wound, took a deep breath, tried to calm himself, and said in a low voice, "This wound is extremely susceptible to infection and needs to be disinfected immediately. It will be painful, but you must persevere."
"I understand," Yahiko replied softly, his voice weak yet resolute.
Koki no longer hesitated. His technique was as gentle as a spring breeze as he carefully dipped a sterile cotton ball in the medicine and gently applied it along the edges of the wound.
Each touch caused Yahiko's body to tremble slightly involuntarily, but he gritted his teeth and refused to utter a sound.
The pungent smell of disinfectant filled the air. As the disinfection process continued, the strong irritation of the disinfectant caused fine beads of sweat to appear on Yahiko's forehead, which then slid down his forehead.
Yahiko's face grew paler and paler. He couldn't help but cough a few times. Perhaps because of excessive blood loss, his body temperature dropped sharply. His body felt as if it were covered by cold snowflakes, and every cell was trembling in the cold.
Koki immediately took out a blanket and gently covered Yahiko with it.
Yahiko raised his eyes with difficulty. In the dim light, Koki's figure was still not completely swallowed by the darkness, radiating a warm and bright light.
Feeling his restrained gentleness is like being healed, soothing the wounds in his heart and making the pain seem to lessen.
Like sunlight piercing through dark clouds, Koki spread freely, filling every corner of Yahiko's heart, giving him an unprecedented sense of peace and warmth.
Yahiko took one last look at Koki, then closed his eyes peacefully and drifted into a tranquil dream.
In that dream, the smoke of war vanished without a trace, and pain disappeared, leaving only warmth and hope as constant companions.
Koki finished the disinfection work without realizing it. He gently exhaled and wiped the fine sweat from his forehead.
But when he looked up, he found that the person beside him had quietly fallen asleep.
"Someone come quick!"
The Land of Rain, where Hanzō resides.
This is a luxurious yet desolate mansion, with exquisite interior decorations and facilities, which contrasts sharply with the desolate landscape outside.
Inside a room in the mansion, a subordinate was reporting the latest developments with a serious expression, while Hanzo of the Salamander sat at a large table, listening to his subordinate's report with a blank stare and expressionless face.
He was wearing a long black robe and a heavy gas mask that covered his head, revealing only his eyes. The gas mask acted like a solid barrier, isolating him from the outside world and making it impossible to see his true face.
"My lord?!" The subordinate's voice rose slightly, tinged with anxiety, as he tried to get Hanzo of the Salamander's attention.
Hanzo of the Salamander's thoughts were interrupted. He slowly raised his head and asked in a low, ethereal voice, "What is it?"
"... Sir, this is the current situation." The subordinate repeated the report again, his tone tinged with caution.
"Are those little guys still hiding in the cave?" Hanzo of the Salamander closed his eyes slightly, maintaining his indifferent attitude.
"That's true! Nothing unusual has been found yet. Should we eliminate them?" the subordinate asked cautiously, awaiting Hanzo of the Salamander's decision.
"No need! You may leave." Hanzo of the Salamander's voice was deep and carried an undeniable air of authority.
The subordinate bowed respectfully, then quickly turned and left the room.
As the door closed gently, the room fell silent once more.
Hanzo of the Salamander sat alone at the table, re-examining the intelligence in his hand. Every word felt like a knife, piercing his heart.
After a long while, he finally stood up and slowly walked to the window.
Outside the window, the sky was gloomy, and thick, dark clouds seemed to press down on his heart, creating a suffocating oppression. He stared silently at the somber sky, wondering when he had fallen to such a state.
His body aged year by year, and his once firm beliefs were shattered by the struggle for power and the impact of reality.
Now, he has begun to fear a group of young ninjas, those naive teenagers who possess boundless courage and determination, willing to pay any price for their beliefs.
Their presence made him feel threatened like never before, and it also made him begin to question whether his rule and decisions were correct.
Was it right or wrong for Danzo to instigate him to ambush these young people?
Danzo was a cunning and dangerous figure whose only goal was personal gain. At that time, blinded by power and fear, he listened to Danzo's words and launched an attack on those young people.
Hanzo of the Salamander was filled with anxiety and unease. He began to worry that everything he had would vanish like a bubble, and that his self-proclaimed "god" status would be brought to an end by this group of young people.
The moment this absurd and ridiculous thought emerged, it stirred up a storm in his mind.
"Ridiculous!" he thought to himself, dismissing the sudden worry with disdain.
He is Hanzo of the Salamander, a majestic figure revered as a "Demigod of the Ninja World." How could his status and even his life be shaken by these naive and inexperienced children?
He firmly believed in his own infallibility; he was a god!
Only he can protect the Land of Rain; only he has the ability to lead the kingdom towards its so-called "glory."
Why exterminate these juniors? Because only the chaotic Land of Rain needs Hanzo of the Salamander; and he, Hanzo of the Salamander, also needs this chaotic Land of Rain to consolidate his power.
In recent years, the reason he has remained aloof and allowed the Land of Rain to descend into chaos is precisely because of this: in the midst of the chaos, he has been able to better grasp the overall situation and consolidate his power.
He tolerates the existence of other organizations because it would make the situation in the Land of Rain more complex and help him to strategize, but he will never allow them to threaten his position. He must exist forever as the "god" of the Land of Rain.
The Akatsuki has already suffered heavy losses and seems to have no ability to pose a threat to him anymore, so he can naturally put it aside for the time being. After all, in his eyes, these juniors are no longer a threat.
However, whenever he thought of those legendary, mysterious eyes, a cold glint would flash in Hanzō's eyes. Those eyes filled him with an intense longing. If he could possess those eyes, his power would surely reach new heights.
After a long silence, he raised his head, pondered for a moment, and then gave the order to the empty room, "Bring Danzo here."
"Yes, sir!" A reply rang out from a corner of the room, then silence fell.
Soon after, a Amegakure rushed over, shouting, "Something terrible has happened! Lord Hanzō! Danzo... he's disappeared!"
"What did you say?!"