"Join our organization and dedicate your strength to peace."
Nagato's expression remained cold and resolute. His piercing gaze swept over Hanzo's face, ready to act at any moment.
Though he harbored some lingering emotions toward Hanzo, he would show no mercy if the man refused to obey.
Hanzo let out a cold chuckle, his shoulders trembling weakly as he attempted to adjust his posture.
Yet, under the restraint of the Adamantine Sealing Chains, he found himself completely immobilized. Barely able to lift his head, he met Nagato's gaze and spoke in a deep, steady voice:
"Kid, if you want my life, just say it outright. Don't throw around grandiose excuses like peace on me."
"What do you even know about peace?"
Nagato's expression remained indifferent. He raised a black rod and severed the chains binding Hanzo, yet at the same time, he unleashed a repulsive force, pinning Hanzo to the ground and preventing him from even lifting his head.
"Feel this power. This is peace."
"With these Rinnegan eyes, I will establish an organization that even the Five Great Hidden Villages cannot oppose.
I will collect the nine Tailed Beasts—war machines of destruction—and forge the ultimate weapon, one capable of annihilating an entire nation in a single strike, wielding it as a deterrent to extinguish all wars."
"Tell me, with such a plan and such power, can peace not be achieved?"
Nagato demonstrated his prowess, lifting Hanzo into the air with a surge of gravitational force. The overwhelming might of the Rinnegan radiated from his eyes, leaving no doubt about the extent of his power.
Hanzo gazed at the ambitious young man before him, his expression complex. He sighed lightly and said,
"Challenging the Five Great Hidden Villages… such an arduous path. I've walked that road before. In my prime, my salamanders could kill enemies faster than your Rinnegan, perhaps even more efficiently."
"I can join your organization—but only to survive. I don't believe in your so-called peace."
His tone was calm. The devastation of Amegakure had long drained his heart of any passion.
The dream of peace was undeniably enticing, but without absolute certainty of success, he no longer wished to chase after it.
Seeing Nagato's slightly displeased expression, Hanzo chuckled, crossing his legs as he sat on the ground and spoke slowly:
"With your current strength, I, Hanzo of the Salamander, acknowledge that you are a rare talent, perhaps even unparalleled. But you are not invincible."
"Even fighting against a single Hidden Village is an immense challenge. Waging war against all five? That's nothing but a fool's dream."
"If you wish to establish such an organization, you must consider logistics, supplies, intelligence networks, reward and punishment systems, combat forces, and structural organization.
You cannot afford a single gap in your strategy. Can you truly manage all that?"
"Even with your Rinnegan, you are far from reaching the level where the entire shinobi world would fall silent before you."
Hanzo counted on his fingers, speaking from the perspective of a former village leader. He pointed out the very weaknesses that had once plagued Amegakure.
Kana shot him a surprised glance, a hint of delight flickering in her eyes. 'As expected of Hanzo—his foresight surpasses that of those rogue ninjas on Black Zetsu's list. His perspective is on an entirely different level. With him, the "Whirlpool" organization's foundation will be far more stable…'
Nagato and Hanzo locked eyes for a long time before Nagato suddenly chuckled and said,
"So, you're saying that with my current strength, even with her, we still cannot bring true peace?"
He gestured toward the towering wooden figure and the ravaged valley around them, then kicked at the shattered remains of the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
Hanzo nodded. "You cannot. However, building a peaceful village would not be a problem."
"You must understand—unless you reach the level of Hashirama or Madara, no individual can stand against the Five Great Hidden Villages."
"Furthermore, establishing an organization is far more demanding than you might think. This is not a problem that can be solved through sheer force."
Hanzo's voice, though calm, carried a sense of urgency, even desperation.
He had once possessed great ambition.
Nagato's words and the power he had displayed stirred something deep within him, rekindling emotions he had long buried.
Rinnegan, Wood Release, the Uzumaki Clan—these three alone were enough to shake the shinobi world.
But Hanzo, now in his later years, could not afford another crushing failure. He hesitated.
"Hanzo, face the truth."
Kana spoke coldly, "You may not have the strength to bring peace to the world on your own, but you can still contribute to the path. Hiding away in a valley, fishing, and avoiding the reality of your defeat—is that truly how you want to live?"
"In the 'Whirlpool' organization, we already have brilliant strategists capable of handling all the logistics. Besides, our foundation is far beyond your imagination."
Nagato nodded, then added, "There is no need to fear the Five Great Hidden Villages. You know as well as I do that their forces are not as decisive as they seem. How many shinobi in each village are truly formidable?"
"Their so-called Kage—how many of them could last more than a few moves against me?"
"And you—at your peak—did you fear any of the Five Kage? Was your salamander and your chain sickle so weak?"
Hanzo's head snapped up. His pupils trembled, lips pressing into a tight line as he suppressed the emotions surging within him.
Nagato stepped closer, his voice impassioned.
"The Five Great Hidden Villages rule with brutality. They have done nothing but keep the shinobi world locked in endless war!"
"Men die on the battlefield, women suffer under oppression, and children wander homeless. This world is filled with nothing but sorrowful cries!"
"And beyond the shinobi, even the common people live like cattle. The daimyo and the villages are in collusion, draining the life from the powerless for their own gain. Knowing this, how can we, who possess strength, stand by and do nothing?"
"Even if we have failed once, it doesn't matter. With my Rinnegan—my Sage Eyes—you should have faith in success!"
"If you refuse… then take up your chain sickle and fight me. I only hope that if you die, you do so with dignity."
Hanzo looked at the tall yet still somewhat youthful Nagato, feeling a deep sigh rise within him.
'Ah, youth… how wonderful it is.'
Slowly, he rose to his feet and extended his right hand toward Nagato.
"I hope you won't disappoint me."
Nagato maintained a proud expression as he firmly shook Hanzo's hand.
"Congratulations. You are now the first member of the 'Whirlpool' organization."
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