[Year 52, Land of Earth]
— Han —
The sunlight filtered through the canopy of tall trees, casting dappled shadows on the small farm where Han had found a semblance of peace over the past few months. The farm was a modest patch of land just outside a quiet village, nestled in a secluded valley far from the chaos of the war he had left behind. The sweet scent of freshly tilled earth mixed with the aroma of blooming wildflowers, and for a fleeting moment, Han allowed himself to believe that he could truly leave his past behind.
"Han-ojisan! Han-ojisan!"
A high-pitched voice cut through the stillness, drawing his attention. Han turned to see a little girl with pigtails bounding toward him, her laughter echoing through the air. Her name was Michi, the youngest daughter of the family who had taken him in. She was clutching a small wooden carving—a crude but earnest attempt at a horse Han had whittled for her during his quiet evenings on the porch.
"Look!" she said, holding it up proudly. "I named him Hayai because you said horses are strong and fast, but peaceful!"
Han couldn't help but smile, a rare expression that softened his normally stoic features. He knelt to her level, brushing a hand over her unruly hair. "That's a good name, Michi. You're taking good care of him?"
"Uh-huh! He's my favorite!"
He felt a warmth in his chest, before it was chased away by the weight of guilt that never quite left him. He had no right to this peace, no right to be here. But Michi didn't see him as a fugitive or a weapon of war—just as Han-ojisan, the quiet man who helped her family with the harvest and carved her little toys.
As he stood and watched her run back toward the house, clutching her wooden horse, he wondered if perhaps this simple life could ever truly be his.
__________________
The evening air was crisp as Han hauled a stack of firewood toward the farmhouse. The setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, and the fields glowed like molten gold. He placed the wood beside the door and glanced toward the horizon, his sharp eyes catching a flicker of movement along the distant tree line.
His body tensed. He knew that movement. The way the figures melded with the shadows, the precision of their steps—they are shinobi.
Iwagakure hunter-nin.
Han clenched his fists. They'd finally found him.
___________________
The first attack came just as he stepped away from the farmhouse. A kunai whistled through the air, embedding itself in the ground inches from his foot. Han didn't flinch. His training kicked in, and he immediately scanned the treeline for the source.
"You've been a hard man to find, Han," a voice called out. Eight shinobi emerged from the shadows. The only visible identifiable trait being Iwa's symbol etched in the center of the masks.
'Eight people in a tight circle formation. Classic protocol for hunter ninja.' He eyed the number 3 symbol on one of their shoulders. 'Squad 3, eh?"
Han's eyes narrowed. "Go back to Iwa. Tell the old Fence-Sitter that I'm done fighting his wars."
"You don't get to decide that," the leader snarled, stepping forward. "You're a jinchūriki. Nothing more than a tool that holds a Tailed Beast. You belong to the village. And you'll either come back willingly or as a corpse."
Han's jaw tightened. "I don't want to kill you. I don't want to kill anyone anymore."
"Then die," the hunter-nin spat, launching forward with blinding speed.
___________________
The battle was brutal yet quick, each movement a deadly dance of chakra and steel. Han didn't hold back and fought with every point of precision and power that had earned him his reputation in Iwagakure, his Steam Release erupting in bursts of molten fury. The hunters were skilled, their teamwork honed through years of training, but they were no match for the jinchūriki's raw strength.
The farm became a battlefield. Hot steam scorched the earth, setting crops ablaze. Wooden beams splintered and fell as the hunters' techniques collided with Han's counterattacks. The tranquil valley that had been his refuge was transformed into a hellscape of fire and destruction.
One by one, the hunter-nin fell. Han's final blow sent the leader crashing into the smoldering remains of the barn, his mask shattering to reveal wide, terrified eyes before the light faded from them.
When the last of the attackers lay motionless, Han breathed heavily in the center of the destruction, his chest heaving, his fists clenched.
The sound of sobbing cut through the crackling of flames. Han turned to see Michi, clutching her mother's skirts, her tear-streaked face a mask of fear. Behind them stood her father, his face twisted in a mixture of rage and despair.
"What have you done?" the father roared, his voice shaking with fury.
Han's mouth opened, but no words came out.
"You promised us you'd bring no trouble here!" the man continued, stepping forward. "You said you just wanted a quiet life! Look around you! This was our home!"
"I…" Han's voice faltered. He looked at the ruined fields, the smoldering barn, the terrified faces of the family who had shown him nothing but kindness. The weight of his actions crushed him, leaving him unable to meet their eyes.
"You need to leave," the father said, his voice trembling with emotion. "Now. And don't ever come back."
Han hesitated, his gaze lingering on Michi, who looked at him with tearful confusion. She didn't understand why her Han-ojisan, her quiet, kind protector, was suddenly the source of so much pain.
"I'm sorry," Han murmured, his voice barely audible.
With a heavy heart, he turned and walked away, the flames and the cries of the family fading into the distance.
__________________
[Year 52, Kumogakure]
— Third Raikage POV —
The Third Raikage stood on the balcony of his office, gazing over Kumogakure, the Hidden Cloud Village. Situated atop the mighty peak of Mount Hashima, the tallest mountain in the Ichigari range, the village was surrounded by perpetual winds and shrouded in swirling clouds. From this vantage point, he could see the sprawling courtyards below, filled with shinobi engaged in relentless drills, their movements sharp and precise despite the biting wind that swept through the village.
The air at this altitude was thin, sharp, and invigorating. It carried the faint tang of ozone, a constant reminder of the storms that frequented the mountain range. The towering spires of the village were built to withstand the winds, their sturdy structures a testament to the resilience of Kumogakure and its people.
The Raikage's eyes narrowed slightly as he observed his village. Every shinobi here had been forged in the crucible of these mountains, hardened by the harsh environment and relentless training. Kumogakure was a village of warriors, and he was their leader—the indomitable pillar who stood as their protector and guide.
Behind him, the sound of a door slamming open shattered the tranquil moment. He didn't need to turn to know who it was. Only one person in the village would enter his office with such force.
"Why the hell are we still sitting here doing nothing?!" Ay, his son, bellowed as he strode into the room.
The Raikage remained silent, his broad frame unmoving as he continued to look out over the village. Ay stormed toward him, his scowl deepening with every step. The younger man was clad in the standard Kumogakure shinobi attire, his headband gleaming under the faint light filtering through the clouds. His movements were filled with barely restrained energy, his frustration radiating off him like a physical force.
"Iwa, Suna, and Konoha are tearing each other by the throats!" Ay continued, his voice echoing through the office. "This is our chance to prove to everyone that we're the strongest! So why are you making us stay put?!"
The Raikage turned slightly, his piercing gaze falling on Ay. It was a look that had silenced countless opponents and brought even the most defiant shinobi to their knees. Ay staggered slightly under the weight of that gaze but quickly caught himself, his scowl returning with renewed intensity.
"Oh hell no," Ay said, shaking his head. "I'm no longer that kid you can just stare down to quiet. I'm a Jonin of Kumo now, and I'm your son!"
The Raikage studied Ay for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Indeed, Ay had grown. He was no longer the impulsive boy who acted before thinking, though the fire in him still burned brightly. The Raikage saw potential in that fire, but also recklessness. Perhaps it was time to temper it with knowledge.
Finally, he turned away from the view of the village and began walking toward the door. "Come with me," he said simply.
Ay blinked in surprise, his scowl momentarily replaced with confusion. "What? Where are we going?"
"You'll see," the Raikage replied without looking back.
_________________
They descended deep into the mountain, the winding paths lit by faintly glowing lamps embedded in the rock walls. This was a place few ever saw—a labyrinthine facility built into the very heart of Mount Hashima. The air grew cooler as they descended, the walls lined with doors that led to various chambers housing secrets known only to the highest ranks of Kumogakure.
As they walked, Ay's curiosity got the better of him. "What is this about?" he asked, his tone less confrontational now. "Where are we going?"
"To the treasure vaults," the Raikage said, his deep voice reverberating through the stone halls. "It's time I brought you into our plans. As you have realized, there is a reason I have refused to involve our village in the current war."
Ay frowned but didn't press further. He followed his father in silence, his mind racing with possibilities. The treasure vaults were the stuff of legend among Kumogakure's shinobi, a place rumored to house artifacts and secrets of unimaginable power.
Finally, they reached a massive set of double doors, their surfaces inscribed with intricate seals and symbols. The Raikage placed a hand on the doors, channeling a precise amount of chakra into the seals. With a low rumble, the doors swung open, revealing a cavernous chamber filled with strange objects and artifacts. Weapons, scrolls, and ancient relics lined the walls, each one radiating a faint aura of power.
Ay's eyes widened as he took it all in. "This... this is incredible," he muttered, his earlier frustration momentarily forgotten.
The Raikage, however, ignored the majority of the treasures as he strode toward a specific section of the vault. Ay followed, his curiosity piqued. They stopped in front of a display case that contained several ornate weapons and tools, each one exuding an otherworldly presence.
"These," the Raikage said, gesturing to the objects, "are the Sacred Tools of the Sage of the Six Paths."
Ay's jaw dropped. "W–What? H–How?! I thought the treasures were stolen by the Gold and Silver Brothers over a decade ago!"
The Raikage allowed himself a small smirk. "They were. Until I tracked them down a few years ago and retrieved them. The Gold and Silver Brothers are now sitting in our dungeons, their bodies studied by our medical shinobi to see if we can replicate their usage of the Nine-Tails' chakra."
Ay tore his gaze away from the treasures to look at his father. "But you're not banking on that, are you?"
"Of course not," the Raikage replied. "These treasures were the real goal. The legends say that anyone who masters these tools could wield power equal to the Five Kage. But using them requires an amount of chakra so immense that it would kill most shinobi."
He turned to face Ay fully, his expression serious. "However, there is one clan known for their exceptional life force and chakra reserves."
Ay's eyes widened as realization dawned. "The Uzumaki Clan."
The Raikage nodded. "I have plans in motion to procure one of their number for us to study. If successful, our scientists will begin uncovering what makes the Uzumaki special. If not... well, we can always ensure their legacy survives in a way that benefits Kumogakure."
Ay's lips curled into a smirk, the fire in his eyes returning. "And if the plans fail?"
The Raikage's smirk mirrored his son's. "Why do you think I've had our shinobi running drills for the past year? If the plans fail, then we'll take what we need by force. There's an entire village filled with them after all."
Ay chuckled, his earlier frustration replaced by a sense of excitement. "I like the way you think, old man."
The Raikage turned back to the treasures, his gaze hardening. "This is not a game, Ay. If we move, it will be with precision and purpose. The world may see us as sitting idle, but when we act, it will shake the foundations of the other villages. Remember that."
Ay nodded, his expression turning serious. "Understood."
The Raikage placed a hand on his son's shoulder, his grip firm. "Good. Now, let's prepare for what's to come. The storm is coming, and Kumogakure will be at its center."
________________
AN: Han will be a pretty important character in the coming arcs. I hope you guys enjoyed the twist I brought to his characters. Also, Kumogakure is cooking something behind the scenes.
For advanced chapters, Head on to my pat_reon page! A whole bunch of chapters are ready there. Chapter 49 should be available by the time this was posted.
P atr eon.com/TeemVizzle
(Remove the spaces)
Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!