In the Land of Rain, no one dares challenge Hanzō of the Salamander's iron grip. It hasn't happened before, and it won't happen now.
Yet, the Akatsuki organization grows stronger by the day, a festering thorn in Hanzō's side, a blight he cannot ignore. Peace? Negotiation? To Hanzō, these are hollow lies, the kind of drivel spewed by fools. There is no peace in Amegakure, the Hidden Rain Village. Only the naive dreamers of Akatsuki believe such a thing exists.
Hanzō's true aim is to excise the Akatsuki like a cancer through this so-called "peace talk." Isn't it obvious? One mountain cannot house two tigers. They've all tasted war's bitterness—Hanzō, the Akatsuki, everyone. Pity, then, that Akatsuki clings to childish ideals. Such fantasies don't survive in the shinobi world.
The Land of Rain's cursed geography doesn't help. Wedged between the great nations—Wind, Earth, and Fire—it's a perpetual battleground. When wars erupt, Amegakure suffers most. Major powers don't fight on their own soil; they spill blood in the Rain. Smoke, death, and rotting corpses litter the land during conflict. It's a cesspool, a dumping ground for the world's refuse. Perhaps that's why the heavens weep endlessly, drenching the country in eternal rain.
Hanzō grinned, a cruel twist of his lips. "Akatsuki and their 'peace'—just a pack of delusional brats. I'll show them what a true shinobi is. I'll crush their innocent dreams myself."
The next day, the peace talks began.
Yahiko and Nagato led a small group of Akatsuki members to the meeting point. Konan's absence weighed heavily—she hadn't returned since delivering the negotiation proposal.
Nagato's voice was tight. "Yahiko, Konan's been gone all night. What if something's happened?"
Yahiko's jaw clenched. "We can't focus on that now. We deal with Hanzō first, then find Konan. You know her strength, Nagato. She'll be fine."
Nagato's gut churned with unease, but with the Akatsuki already at the rendezvous, they had no choice but to press on.
Yahiko, Nagato, and their few dozen comrades arrived at the desolate meeting place. Perched atop a jagged rock wall stood Hanzō of the Salamander, his presence oppressive.
"Hanzō-sama," Yahiko called, voice steady. "I'm Yahiko, leader of the Akatsuki. Can we begin the peace talks?"
Hanzō's eyes glinted. "Oh, the Akatsuki's leader? So young, so promising."
"Thank you, Hanzō-sama," Yahiko replied, cautious.
"No, no," Hanzō waved a hand. "It's no compliment. To achieve what you have at your age? That's a threat."
These talks weren't just about Amegakure. They tied to the great nations—Fire's Konoha and Earth's Iwagakure. The Wind's Sunagakure was a non-factor, weakened and irrelevant. Yahiko's plan was to secure an agreement with Hanzō, who'd then broker terms with Konoha and Iwagakure. A three-way accord could bring true peace to the Rain, sparing it from being a perpetual warzone. Hanzō's demigod status in the shinobi world lent his words weight—his endorsement could make it real.
But Hanzō, gazing down at the Akatsuki, only smirked. "Yahiko, before we talk, I have a gift for you."
"A gift?" Yahiko froze.
A figure stumbled forward, bound and kneeling. Konan. Her hands and feet were tied, her face a mask of desperation. "Yahiko, Nagato, help me!"
The resemblance was uncanny—her voice, her chakra signature. A perfect doppelgänger, crafted to deceive. The Akatsuki members gasped.
"That's Konan!" one shouted.
"She went to negotiate and vanished—Hanzō's got her!"
"What's his game? Peace talks, and he kidnaps her?"
Teeth gritted, the Akatsuki seethed. Why would Hanzō sabotage his own negotiation? They couldn't fathom it.
Nagato's Rinnegan twitched, sensing Konan's chakra. It felt real—no discrepancies. She was truly captured, or so it seemed.
Yahiko's face darkened, eyes narrowing to slits, his body radiating cold fury. Hanzō's smirk widened.
"Easy, Akatsuki leader," Hanzō mocked. "No need for such a terrifying glare."
Yahiko's voice was ice. "We came in good faith, Hanzō-sama. We call you 'sama' out of respect. Why hold our comrade hostage?"
Hanzō laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Peace talks? You're all naive children! I don't need reasons. If I did, it's simple—you threaten my rule over this land, this village."
"Damn him," Yahiko muttered. "This old fox—谈判 was a trap all along."
Yahiko's glare could've burned holes through stone. Hanzō met it with disdain.
"Nice eyes," Hanzō taunted. "Pity your Akatsuki ends today."
With a signal, hundreds of Amegakure shinobi emerged, surrounding the Akatsuki. The group's meager dozens stood no chance. Worse, Hanzō had ensured no reinforcements could reach them. They were cut off, trapped.
"Charge! Save Konan!" a few hotheaded Akatsuki members roared, rushing forward.
Shing! Boom! Shuriken, explosive tags, and kunai rained down. The attackers were cut to pieces in moments, their bodies crumpling like paper.
"Mantis against a cart," Hanzō sneered. "Fools."
Nagato moved to act, but Yahiko grabbed his arm. "Wait, Nagato. Konan's still in their hands."
Hanzō's lips curled. "Smart leader. You've got some sense."
"From now on," Hanzō continued, "if any of you Akatsuki take a step, this woman gets a new scar. Want to test me?"
Yahiko's kunai trembled in his grip, knuckles white. If Konan weren't a hostage, he'd have lunged already. But he couldn't—not yet.
"Damn you, you old bastard," Yahiko growled, his face twisting with rage.
Hanzō leaned forward. "What do I want? Simple. Your life, Akatsuki leader. One for one. You die, she lives. And you—" he pointed at Nagato, "—you'll do it."
Hanzō's eyes gleamed with sadistic curiosity. Would Yahiko sacrifice himself? His real goal wasn't just Yahiko's death—it was the annihilation of Akatsuki. But he'd never say that aloud. Why would he? The leader's death would cripple them, and Hanzō had no intention of sparing the rest.
Only an idiot would believe otherwise.
And Yahiko, tragically, was that idiot.
He believed his death could save Konan, could save Akatsuki. Taking a deep breath, he turned to Nagato, eyes burning with resolve.
"Nagato," Yahiko said, voice steady but heavy. "Look at me. Pick up the kunai and end it."
Hanzō nearly cackled. A kid's a kid, he thought. This is their leader? Pathetic.
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