It was pitch black.
Though the night in Ame was darker than many others due to the abundance of rain cloud that covered the dim moonlight, everyone felt instinctively—that tonight was darker than ever.
The only thing that existed was the everlasting sound of heavy rain, along with its cool sensation upon contact.
"...Though we lost the track of them, in our land of all things at that,"
On such a night, Hanzo sat on a regal seat, one fit enough to call a 'throne'.
The torchlights that illuminated the room red burned ferociously as Hanzo's eyes narrowed.
"You are now in my hands. That is no doubt in that."
Upon further investigation, the ninjas deemed that some degree of injuries was drawn from one of the four, Nagato. Coupled with Konan being caught in the explosion, it wasn't hard to estimate that they would be requiring medical attention.
However, let's say that Akashi was a cold-blooded fellow, enough to throw away his own friends. Even if he were to ignore their conditions, what can he do at this moment?
Just outside the Amegakure, a war—large enough to consider it a 'World War'—is ongoing. Furthermore, the name of 'Red Blade' is well-known. His appearance has been defined throughout years, and based on what Hanzo saw today, the montage held some degree of accuracy.
What if he was a spy of Konohagakure as Hanzo suspected, you say?
"...Hah,"
Hanzo snorted as such a thought made its way into his mind.
"an idiotic thought at this point."
It was Yahiko and Nagato whom he previously speculated to be the spies from Konoha. However, they were connected to Akashi, one who was wanted by Konoha for killing Shimura Danzo.
If anything, it would be more correct to say that they have a connection in Konoha, a betrayer who is willing to side with them.
And this was an opportunity for Hanzo.
"...It is an unexpected turn of events, but in the end, it did reignite my original thoughts back into the plan."
Hanzo stared ahead, where the doors lied. However, it wasn't the doors which he stared.
"You don't have a choice, Red Blade,"
Whispered Hanzo.
"Even if you somehow kill all the Ame ninjas and defeat me, nothing will change. No, that would mean that you would lose the protection from the war just outside the borders. And I know, based on how you avoided contact with me for three years while killing the ninjas from outside, how much you value peace."
It truly was a complex turn of events, Hanzo couldn't help but think.
Attempt to recruit. Failed. If impossible to recruit, kill. Failed. However, in doing so, the chance of recruiting has gone up.
Hanzo found himself cracking a laughter.
__________
"...Is what you probably are thinking, Hanzo."
From the dark woods, Akashi whispered as he gazed at the tall wall ahead.
"Yield, beg to join... you wish for a pitiful resignation from me."
It surely was an easy way out. Though they would suffer under Hanzo afterward, they would get to solve the immediate problems.
However,
"Treatment isn't the biggest concern."
What Hanzo didn't know was that Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato received personal training from Jiraiya.
How do you think they were able to live in seclusion for three years? Do you think that they were sick for a single instance? That they trained in a way that didn't harm them at all?
Though medical attention was needed, it wasn't as immediate as Hanzo believed.
Rather, what Akashi had his mind focused on was...
"It's about sending a message."
Within the darkness, one sword revealed itself.
Its blade, being equally black as the surrounding, seemed sharp enough for anyone to call it deadly upon first sight.
Such sword was now held in Akashi's hand, and its name was Ryuma.
"This nation would've appreciated your work. Hailed you as a hero. All those would've happened if... you were recognized as one of them."
Akashi believed in himself. And just as much as he did so, he also believed in Yahiko—that he would do the right thing.
Through Akashi's action tonight, many things will change, be it good or bad. But one thing was for sure.
The name of 'Red Blade' will once again be reignited.
Within the darkness, Ryuma began to glow in a brilliant fire. As the droplets of rain reached it, it became steam, and even the countless of it wasn't enough to stop the intensification of said fire.
The wind whistled. Fuelling the fire that surrounded Ryuma, it seemed to be singing a tune—a deadly melody, that is.
"Blaze Rend."
__________
It was initially a small glow.
However, knowing that it was an unusual phenomenon, one shinobi on guard quickly called his colleagues.
The fire then grew. It seemed intense enough to sustain even under the heavy downpour.
The ninjas, interacting with one another with hand signs, prepared to investigate the site of the glow—
—although they didn't even get the chance to do so, for a gigantic arc of fire was blasted straight at the wall of Ame,
"...Huh?"
one that gave rise to an explosion huge enough to wake everyone up.
Boom.
The steam, smoke, fire—everything burst out simultaneously. Blood splashed within the darkest night of Ame.
Screams arose. Shouts of panic arose everywhere.
Ninjas looked to their left and right. Who was the enemy? Who was the attacker?
How many? Their appearances?
Everything was dark. One attempted to light the torch, however, the wood was wet. Even upon succeeding in the attempt, the rain immediately extinguished it as if laughing in mockery.
The rain felt colder than ever to the ninjas of Ame.
Tap. Tap.
In this state, one walked upfront with a sword held by his right hand.
Everyone realized that it was the attacker whom they'd been looking to identify.
"Hold your ground! Formation A!"
The sound of footsteps resonated in their ears a hundred times louder than it was supposed to. Even with the sound of rain, the subtle footstep sound reached all ninjas' ears.
Why didn't their enemy resort to a sneak attack? It was such a non-ninja-like way, giving up the advantage like this.
"Hanzo of the Salamander."
One individual, the lone enemy in front of the ninjas whose facial features couldn't be seen due to the darkness, growled.
"Bring him to me."
"...Only if you manage to defeat us."
One Ame ninja, holding onto his kunai with a tight grip, snarled back.
Immediately after, the blood was drawn as said Ame ninja's kunai-holding arm was sliced from his shoulder, much to the man's shock.
"...!"
Shocked and full of pain, the ninja fell to the ground and held his stump of an arm, rendering all the other ninjas petrified.
After all, they couldn't see just now, the speed at which this man moved.
And only then did the ninjas, the lone blue eye that contained nothing but coldness.
"Red... Blade...!"
"Funny joke, really,"
Akashi exclaimed dully,
"Only if you manage to defeat us? Must I teach you that deads don't speak?"
CLANG—!
Raising Ryuma, Akashi blocked a shuriken thrown his way.
Bringing Ryuma to his back, Akashi blocked an attempted stab at the back from one Ame ninja.
"Water Release—"
Another ninja whose hands rapidly underwent a series of hand seals had his neck removed from his shoulders.
"...I guess I'll go to him if he isn't coming to me."
Raising his head, Akashi stared at the tall tower that stood in the middle of Ame.
Akashi took one step forth.
Then, he vanished.
Afterward, all the ninjas present fell to the ground before they could react—with their top halves sliced apart from their bottom halves.
The screams and chaos continued to resonate throughout Ame. However, the only thing that remained at this site full of dead ninjas was nothing but silence.
__________
"Gate 3 is down! Five teams defeated! Number of enemy is speculated to be one!"
"Front guards are down! Enemy entered the central tower!"
"Casualty amounting to a hundred minimum! Requesting for a backup immediately!"
"..."
Hanzo pinched the bridge of his nose to calm his headache.
"You..."
Of all the possible actions, Akashi did what was the least expected of him.
However, even if that were to be the case, Hanzo was shocked for another reason.
To think that Ame, the entire nation, is having trouble against one shinobi...
"The reason why you retreated earlier on... wasn't because you couldn't dare to fight?"
Anyhow, the situation was dire. Ame was continuously losing troops, and if this were to continue, they wouldn't have the power to protect themselves from the ongoing war just outside.
Then, the doors in front of Hanzo exploded.
Two heads of dead shinobis rolled into the room, leaving trails of blood.
Along with such heads, one man who was bathed in blood revealed himself.
Akashi.
"Red Blade..."
Hanzo, filled with nothing but rage, glared at Akashi murderously.
"..."
And facing the ruler of Ame, Akashi tightened his grip over Ryuma.
The might of Hanzo's killing intent was frightening indeed. However, Akashi, throughout the years, faced far too much to be scared by something as minuscule as the killing intent.
"What are you mad at?"
Impassively and casually, Akashi stated,
"You are the one who started all this."
Raising Ryuma, Akashi pointed its tip at Hanzo.
"Draw your weapon, Hanzo of the Salamander."
His lone blue eye stared right back at Hanzo's eyes, and for some reason, Hanzo felt... that something was wrong here.