If all three of the Sannin had shown up, Hanzo wouldn't have had much to say.
He respected the strength of the Sannin. Even if Danzo came, that would have been fine. A member of the Elder Council would also be a reasonable representative. As for the Third Hokage, Hanzo didn't even consider it.
With Konoha still fighting against the Sand Village, there was no way the Third Hokage would leave the village so easily.
But just Tsunade? What was the meaning of this?
Did they think so little of me, Hanzo?
Outside the walls of the Rain Village, Tsunade suddenly felt uneasy. Shikaku Nara, too, looked tense.
Only Takuya seemed completely at ease, yawning lazily as if the seriousness of the situation didn't faze him in the slightest.
"Tsunade."
From the top of the village walls, Hanzo appeared, but he made no move to open the gates.
Standing high above them, Hanzo gazed down at Tsunade with a cold and aloof expression.
Tsunade frowned. "Hanzo, what is the meaning of this? Don't tell me this negotiation with Konoha was a lie?"
Hanzo's face remained emotionless, his voice cold as ice. "I've already lost the war, and I have no intention of going back on my word. However, Konoha clearly underestimates me. Sending you, Tsunade, with two brats to negotiate? What an insult."
I knew this wasn't going to be simple, Tsunade thought, feeling anger bubbling up inside her.
"So, what do you want then?" she asked, frustration lacing her voice.
"Go back and tell the Third Hokage himself to come here. Or let Danzo and the elders come. You, Tsunade, are not qualified to represent Konoha on your own."
So Konoha wants to play hardball? Fine, let's play, Hanzo thought.
Let's see who cracks first.
The Rain Village lacked resources, but Konoha was in an even more dire situation, still at war with the Sand Village.
"Damn it!" Tsunade cursed, stomping her foot hard enough to crack the stone beneath her. But it was pointless.
Feeling disrespected, Hanzo believed Konoha had sent such a group as an insult. He had no intention of opening the gate, let alone negotiating.
"Let's go!" Tsunade barked, her frustration evident. There was nothing more she could do here but return and let the Third Hokage decide what to do next.
You old man... You're going to regret making me look like a fool!
She stomped off, her temper flaring as she imagined the scolding she would give the Third Hokage once she got back.
The ANBU members obediently followed. Shikaku sighed, thinking of the two days of preparation now wasted.
"Takuya?" Tsunade called when she realized he wasn't moving. She turned to find him still standing there.
"We came all this way. Don't you want to go inside and have a look around? You're just going to leave it like this?" Takuya asked casually.
"How are we supposed to get in if they won't let us?" Tsunade replied.
Of course, she wanted to get in. If she could, she would've already punched her way through the gates, given Hanzo's masked face a taste of her fists, and shown him what it felt like to get hit by something as solid as a sandbag—though her fists weren't quite that big.
"Just fight your way in," Takuya said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"…"
Fight your way in? If I could've done that, I would've already!
Tsunade's forehead twitched with irritation.
Shikaku, standing off to the side, felt numb. He had heard of Takuya's terrifying achievements, but this was Hanzo.
Even though Hanzo's title of "demigod" was perhaps a bit exaggerated, there was no doubt that he was one of the strongest ninjas in the world.
And Takuya seriously thought he could just punch his way into the Rain Village?
What kind of insane plan was he cooking up?
Hanzo watched the conversation unfold from his vantage point on the wall. That white-haired kid looked vaguely familiar...
"Lord Hanzo, that white-haired boy is rumored to be Yagami Takuya—the one who put the Third Kazekage under a genjutsu and made him dance… something ridiculous," whispered one of the Rain Village ninjas standing safely behind the walls.
"Oh?" Hanzo said, his eyes narrowing as he remembered the name.
That's why the kid seemed familiar. Yagami Takuya...
The same boy who supposedly put the so-called strongest Kazekage under a genjutsu? Could his genjutsu really be that powerful?
It seemed like Konoha hadn't sent just any brats after all.
Factoring in Takuya's achievements and strength, Hanzo begrudgingly placed him on the same level as Tsunade. Even so, this didn't change his resolve.
For Hanzo, sending these people to negotiate was still an insult.
"Well, go ahead and try," Tsunade said, exasperated beyond belief. "If you can fight your way in, you'll certainly earn a ton of merit."
She raised her hand, massaging her temples.
This kid's just messing around, she thought. His genjutsu might be strong enough to affect the Kazekage for a moment, but there was no guarantee it would work on Hanzo.
"You better not come crying to me if things go sideways," she warned, waving her hand dismissively.
"If I can break in, you'll personally put in a good word for me?" Takuya said with a mischievous smile.
"Merit? That's it?" Takuya teased, looking at her with a playful grin.
Tsunade clenched her fists, her chest rising and falling as her anger flared up again.
"What else do you want? Do you expect me to be your servant or something?" Tsunade snapped.
"Well, I wouldn't say no to that…" Takuya began, unfazed by Tsunade's murderous glare.
But then Takuya paused, imagining Tsunade clumsily attempting to serve someone while wearing a maid outfit. The mere thought made him shudder.
"No, no thanks," Takuya said, shaking his head with a wince.
Tsunade's eye twitched, but before she could respond, Takuya quickly added, "Actually, there is something I'd like—how about you give me your grandfather's Raijin Blade? No one's using that old relic anyway."
Takuya had been on the lookout for a good weapon, and the legendary Raijin Blade seemed like a perfect fit.
The sword had been sitting in the Senju family's ancestral home for ages, and not even the Third Hokage dared to take it.
"Deal!" Tsunade said, a fierce grin spreading across her face as she pointed at Hanzo, still standing smugly on the wall.
"If you manage to fight your way in, I'll give you my grandfather's Raijin Blade! Now, go hit that damn village with everything you've got!"
It's just a sword, she thought. Not like I ever use it anyway. Besides, Shizune could never master it, and neither could anyone else.
If Takuya could succeed in humiliating Hanzo and bringing honor to her name, the sword would be a small price to pay.
"Deal!" Takuya replied, his grin matching hers. With the terms set, he stretched his arms and prepared to get started.
What's this kid planning? Hanzo thought, his mind racing. He had already made it clear that no one was getting in, yet they still hadn't left.
Were they seriously trying to challenge him?
And what was Yagami Takuya going to do? Was this kid really about to pull a stunt in front of me, Hanzo?
***********
Note: If you're interested, you can read up to chapter 239+ at patreon.com/ Emik01. Don't forget to give a power stone for many bonus chapters