Yahiko looked over the contents of the scroll, then raised his head, exchanging a knowing glance with Nagato and Konan.
"I understand. To a fruitful alliance!" Yahiko smiled and reached out to shake Minato's hand.
In the room, Hanzo of the Salamander stood up abruptly. What was Yahiko thinking? As the Akatsuki organization gained influence, Hanzo had begun to view it as a threat. Despite being the strongest in the Land of Rain, he could not ignore the rise of such a powerful organization within his territory. However, with the war just over, he'd avoided internal conflict, knowing it would only weaken the overall strength of his country.
His original plan had been to include the Akatsuki in the alliance as a way to exert control over them. If he won their allegiance, he could set terms. If they refused, then the Akatsuki would have no choice but to yield. But now, things were not going as expected.
"Hanzo-sama, we can still accommodate your requests," Tsunade said calmly. "The purpose of this alliance is to help both villages prosper, to share resources, and to collaborate."
With that, she signed her name on Hanzo's scroll, solidifying Konoha's commitment.
"Haha… I suppose I got a bit carried away," Hanzo admitted, laughing nervously. "In the future, may our alliance…"
*Boom!*
A powerful shockwave shook the tavern, interrupting Hanzo mid-sentence.
"Enemy attack!" Minato called, and everyone quickly moved to defensive positions. Tsunade and Hanzo stepped outside, positioning themselves in front of their respective groups.
"Where's Reiki?" Tsunade scanned the area anxiously.
"Teacher, I'm here. I'll handle the injuries immediately!" Reiki's voice called from a nearby area where he was still treating Nagasawa Jo.
Hearing this, Tsunade felt a little relieved. But now, the immediate concern was—who was behind the attack?
"Lord Hanzo, this doesn't look very promising for an alliance if we're already being ambushed near your territory," Tsunade remarked, her tone pointed.
Hanzo frowned. The attack was indeed suspiciously timed. "I'll handle it. Whoever is behind this won't escape so easily."
With that, Hanzo summoned his powerful salamander. The giant creature appeared, releasing a thick cloud of purple poison mist into the air. The surrounding area had been cleared for the alliance talks, so he wasn't concerned about collateral damage. And with Tsunade there, he felt reassured that her medical expertise would prevent any harm to allies.
*Summoning Jutsu!*
Tsunade called forth the slug Katsuyu, instructing it, "Protect everyone from the poison mist."
Tsunade had her suspicions about the attackers. With the Hidden Sand weakened and Kirigakure too distant, the likely culprits were either Iwagakure or Kumogakure.
"Tsunade-sama, should we intervene?" Minato asked, unsure about Konoha's role given that the alliance with Rain was not yet formalized.
"Not for now. The man they call the 'Demi-God of the Shinobi World' is no pushover," Tsunade replied, watching calmly. She knew how strong Hanzo was; she and the other Sannin had barely survived an encounter with him years ago.
"Understood," Minato replied. "Also, Kato Dan was buried under the rubble from the shockwave. Shall I go retrieve him?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Let him be. He'll survive—probably."
Minato nodded, disappearing in a flash. In mere moments, he returned, carrying a barely conscious Kato Dan, who had taken a beating from Nagasawa Jo earlier. Just as Kato Dan was starting to regain his senses, the shockwave had hit, causing the building to collapse and burying him.
"Teacher, leave this to me. Reiki taught me bone-setting techniques!" Nozuki offered eagerly.
Tsunade waved her hand dismissively. "Go ahead."
"Wait, what? Reiki taught you?" Kato Dan, still dazed, tried to protest. The idea of Nozuki setting his bones, with techniques learned from Reiki, filled him with dread.
*Crack!*
Nozuki had barely touched Kato's broken arm when a loud snap echoed. Kato Dan winced, unable to scream or even pass out from the pain. He had no choice but to endure it as Nozuki continued her work.
"Nozuki, you're not quite there," Reiki observed, walking over. "With your sensory skills, you should locate the misalignments first. And always secure the fracture areas before applying force."
Reiki began to demonstrate, guiding Nozuki with patience.
---
Meanwhile, in the midst of the purple poison mist, a few shadowy figures appeared. It was Senganzuchi and his team.
"Is this guy on something?" Senganzuchi muttered, frustrated. They had intended to launch a quick sneak attack, but now they found themselves caught in the poison mist, unable to retreat in time.
"It's Senganzuchi," Hanzo growled, spotting the intruders. "Iwagakure has gotten too bold. Do they want a war?"
Without hesitation, Hanzo charged forward. Senganzuchi alone was no match for him, and he intended to finish this quickly to solidify his alliance with Konoha.
---
Further away, Kirabai, watched the scene unfold with excitement.
"Brother, Iwagakure is fighting Hanzo. Now's our chance to leave!" Gulal suggested, thrilled by the chaos.
But his brother, Ai, shook his head. "No. Since we've made a move, let's leave a parting gift for Konoha's ninjas."
Ai's confidence was apparent, and though Gulal looked like he wanted to say something, he kept silent. If this plan succeeded, it would bolster their status within Kumogakure, especially Ai's, putting him closer to becoming the Fourth Raikage.
>>>>>
Gimme Power stones I'm Poor