Damn it, do they really think I, Hanzo the Salamander, am just made of mud?
The black iron sand floated up, circling around the Third Kazekage. But the Third Kazekage had no intention of turning back. He never put Hanzo the Salamander on the same level as himself.
"Amegakure has no choice, nor do you. How things unfold is up to you."
Cooperation?
Why would Sunagakure need to cooperate with you?
As for siding with Konoha—that was even more impossible. That would only lead Iwagakure to double down.
In the end, there was only one outcome: Amegakure and the Land of Rain had no choice, and they couldn't escape either.
"Hmph! I hope you won't regret this."
Leaving those harsh words behind, Hanzo dashed into the curtain of rain, soon disappearing into the mountains.
Faced with the Third Kazekage's threats and mockery, Hanzo showed no intention of backing down. He didn't want his village and country to suffer needless misfortune, but he also wouldn't bow to the Five Kage.
After all… once you bow your head, you can never lift it again.
Such a result, for someone like Hanzo who aspired to be on equal footing with the Five Kage, would be worse than death.
"Ignorance."
What level does he think he's at, wanting to be the Rain Kage and equal to the Five Kage?
Does Amegakure have a choice?
No!
In the power struggle between Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure, Amegakure was nothing more than collateral damage. Hanzo had no real options, unless he could elevate himself from a Demi-God to a true god.
Without such power, even obtaining some of Konoha's intelligence was meaningless—it would, at best, just add more chaos to the situation.
---
Tsunade stayed at the camp for a few days before returning to the village. Just as she had said, the village sent a group of shinobi who boldly entered the Land of Rain.
Konoha's entry into the Land of Rain was in response to Sunagakure's provocations. Sunagakure, seeking to provoke further, would not back down and promptly dispatched their own forces from the Land of Rivers to the Land of Rain.
The situation in the Land of Rain shifted, and tensions began to rise.
The Land of Rain bordered the Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Earth. When Konoha and Sunagakure entered the Land of Rain, Iwagakure, initially content to be a spectator, suddenly became uneasy.
What were Konoha and Sunagakure planning to do by sending forces into the Land of Rain?
Provocation shouldn't be done like this. If you really wanted a fight, head to the Land of Rivers. What are you doing bouncing into the Land of Rain?
To Iwagakure, the actions of Konoha and Sunagakure were clear provocations.
If Konoha simply wanted to go against Sunagakure, they could have just launched operations from the Land of Rivers. There was no need to make such a fuss in the Land of Rain.
While Konoha's plans targeted Amegakure, Iwagakure didn't see it that way. To them, Amegakure wasn't significant enough for Konoha to pay that much attention.
They figured Konoha must have other motives.
An important meeting was held in the Tsuchikage's office, and soon, Iwagakure also sent a team of shinobi into the Land of Rain.
The Land of Rain became filled with tension. Even the constant downpour couldn't extinguish the sense of gunpowder in the air.
A chaotic situation filled with tension inevitably led to clashes, and clashes led to battles.
---
The medical room beds, which had been empty for half a year, finally saw some use.
If it weren't for the wounded being brought in from the Land of Rain, Takashi would have nearly forgotten that he was a medical ninja at the camp.
Though the Land of Rain was in chaos, it hadn't affected the border camp. After all, the camp's main purpose was reconnaissance and acting as a buffer, not to push its personnel onto the battlefield. As long as they ensured no enemies from the Land of Rain invaded the Land of Fire, they had fulfilled their mission.
When the conflict intensified or escalated into full-scale war, the village would send additional forces. At that point, the camp would become a logistics and resource hub for the war effort.
However, Konoha wasn't planning on launching an invasion. If possible, the Third Hokage would rather have more Five Kage Summits to promote peace and development throughout the shinobi world.
After all, none of the other villages had Konoha's inherent advantages. In terms of development, only Kumogakure could stand a chance at competing.
Konoha had strong resources, a large population, and the highest number of shinobi among the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Though Kumogakure was trying to catch up, it would take a long time—provided they had the funding to do so.
Iwagakure remained true to its approach of amassing troops. Lacking natural and economic advantages, they banked on a large-scale army and earth-style battalions.
Kirigakure was still mired in internal strife; at least until the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, took over, it would be difficult for them to initiate any external warfare, at best causing some small disturbances.
As for Sunagakure, it occupied the most barren land in the shinobi world but harbored the greatest ambition.
Perhaps because their land was so poor and their population so small, Sunagakure constantly eyed the Land of Fire, dreaming of taking a bite out of it. The provocations in the Lands of Rivers and Rain were the best proof.
Apart from ambition, the main reason lay in Sunagakure's exhausted development potential. They had stagnated, unable to progress, and to climb higher, they needed more resources, people, and money.
Without sufficient population, resources, and funding, development stagnated, and they had been going in circles for years. Meanwhile, Konoha, their neighbor, grew stronger each year—how could Sunagakure stay calm?
Konoha didn't mind peaceful development among the Five Great Nations, but Sunagakure did. They were unwilling—a hundred times unwilling—to accept such a situation.
Though minor conflicts continued, there was no large-scale fighting, and the situation seemed to stabilize. While the tension remained high, none of the three parties was willing to make the first move, fearing they'd get ganged up on.
The Land of Rain remained relatively stable, which Takashi was quite pleased about. At least until his rotation was over and he returned to the village, he hoped the conflict wouldn't escalate.
Once the conflict escalated or broke into localized warfare, any hope for rotation would vanish, and all camp personnel would have to stay put and continue their duties.
As the year came to an end, Takashi and the other shinobi scheduled for rotation made their way back to the village.
Everyone had smiles on their faces, eager to return home and spend a bustling New Year with their families.
Home at last.
Looking at the rustic gates of Konoha, Takashi felt a strange sense of warmth.
Guarding the border camp for a year had been truly exhausting.
First stop: the hot springs. A soak in a hot bath, then some food, and then a good rest at home.
Takashi didn't go looking for Tsunade. The end of the year, combined with the changes in the shinobi world's situation, meant Tsunade was likely busy—probably in a meeting at the Hokage's office.
He found a hot springs inn and chose a private hot spring. With his ticket, he headed to the changing room.
Soaking in the steaming water, Takashi let out a long sigh of relief.
There was nothing like being back in the village. At the border camp, even taking a hot bath was a hassle, and as for food, there hadn't been much variety to choose from.
With his eyes closed, Takashi started feeling drowsy, thoroughly relaxed in the hot water.
After the bath, Takashi's entire body felt at ease. He rubbed his stomach, deciding it was time for some barbecue to soothe his insides—after two days on the road, eating nothing but dried rations, he deserved it.
He headed to the barbecue restaurant owned by the Akimichi Clan, found an empty seat, and ordered a good amount of meat.