Hanzō's gaze scrutinized the young Yahiko below, seemingly able to sense the internal struggle within him.
Beside him, Kyusuke glared at Yahiko with hatred in his eyes. However, before he could utter any curse, a Rain ninja nearby forcefully restrained him, stuffing a cloth into his mouth to silence him.
Finally, Yahiko spoke.
"Lord Hanzō, I will not commit suicide. If you must kill me, I cannot resist. But the resolve of the Akatsuki cannot be extinguished by you!"
Hanzō scoffed. "Kid, do you really think you're in a position to talk to me about the determination to save the Land of Rain?"
Yahiko, however, remained calm. "I respect all that you've done for the Land of Rain. You've always been a role model to us. But if what I do becomes an obstacle on your path to saving the country, feel free to act. Just be prepared for the day when you face countless people like me."
The wind at the bottom of the valley still blew, but the wind atop the cliffs was far stronger.
Hanzō didn't say more. He simply observed Yahiko for a moment, then made a slight wave of his hand. Immediately, all the Rain ninjas leaped downward. Hanzō followed suit, leaping down into the valley.
Yahiko's heart raced, though he had long been prepared for this moment. Yet, facing death itself still caused a sense of unease.
Hanzō walked slowly to a position not far from Yahiko. He spoke, "Kid, is it true that the one called Nagato in your Akatsuki possesses the Rinnegan?"
Yahiko answered, "The Rinnegan is only used for the righteous cause of saving the Land of Rain and changing the world. If our paths differ, Akatsuki will never be under your command."
Hanzō sneered lightly. "Kid, let me teach you in the future what truly defines the righteous path."
Yahiko clenched his fists but suddenly froze, realizing something.
Hanzō gently raised his hand, and at that moment, the Rain ninjas behind him untied Kyusuke's restraints.
Kyusuke swiftly broke free and flew to Yahiko's side, vigilantly watching the ninjas surrounding them.
Hanzō slowly spoke, "Kid, you barely qualify. But compared to my standards, you're still far from enough."
He glanced at Kyusuke. "As for you, you've done well as a subordinate."
With that, Hanzō raised his voice slightly. "Yahiko, from today on, you are my assistant, the deputy of Hanzō of the Salamander. From now on, you and your Akatsuki will operate under the name of the Hidden Rain, under my name, Hanzō of the Salamander."
Kyusuke stood there, somewhat dazed. "Eh... what does that mean?"
A middle-aged man beside Hanzō spoke up. "These are all tests from Lord Hanzō. Everything Akatsuki has done has been watched by him, and he appreciates your actions."
Hanzō turned to Yahiko and continued, "From the moment you dared to come here alone, you've barely passed this test. However, what I want to know more is what kind of resolve you have as a leader."
Yahiko tightly pressed his lips together. He didn't show any sign of joy at the news, nor did he ask Hanzō for any future evaluations. Instead, he asked in return, "Lord Hanzō, was the attack by the Konoha ninjas on us also planned by you?"
Hanzō replied calmly, "It wasn't. A Konoha ninja came to me not long ago. These actions were his own doing behind the scenes. The situation in the Land of Rain is much more complicated than you think, but you'll learn about it all in time."
Yahiko took a deep breath. In that instant, many thoughts crossed his mind, and the fist he had been clenching loosened.
He suddenly smiled with calm determination. "Lord Hanzō, I must respectfully decline your offer to become your assistant."
The moment those words were spoken, everyone, including Kyusuke, was stunned.
The people around Hanzō couldn't hold back and immediately shouted in anger. "Yahiko, do you know what you're saying?!"
Yahiko responded calmly, "Lord Hanzō also said that I am the leader of Akatsuki. While we are both working for the Land of Rain, we have our own path to walk, our own ideals. If you allow it, Lord Hanzō, please don't interfere with us in the future."
Hanzō's expression was hidden behind his breathing mask, making it impossible to gauge his feelings. However, there was no anger in his eyes, just a complex mix of emotions.
Yahiko remained unafraid, maintaining eye contact with him. Hanzō suddenly laughed out loud. "Now that's more like the words of a leader. I just hope you don't make any foolish decisions in the future. The platform of Akatsuki is limited, and there are many things you cannot see. If you want to move forward, you'll have to seek my help, or perhaps… overthrow me."
Yahiko smiled lightly. "We will not raise our hands against those we respect as seniors."
The surrounding Rain ninjas were both shocked and furious. Overthrow Hanzō? A small organization like Akatsuki really dared to say such a thing!
Hanzō replied, "You are always welcome to come to me."
His final words were vague, but it was clear that his appreciation for Yahiko was real.
It was precisely because he had once failed that Hanzō was even more curious about what the outcome for Yahiko would be. He didn't think Yahiko was naive or anything like that. No one could truly be all-knowing or flawless from the very start.
In this world, who will be the last one standing is something no one could know.
However, one thing he was certain of was that the major nations would eventually pay the price for their arrogance!
At that moment, a Rain ninja suddenly appeared beside him and whispered something.
Hanzō's expression changed, and he spoke, "You can return now. Your Akatsuki was attacked by Konoha ninjas."
"What!" Yahiko and Kyusuke were both shocked, their faces filled with disbelief.
"They disguised themselves as our Rain ninjas. I suspect that your Akatsuki members think you've already died at my hands."
Hanzō immediately issued an order. "Genma, take your team and go with Yahiko to provide backup."
"Understood!"
Hanzō's eyes darkened. It was clear now—Danzo's scheme was truly aimed at the Rinnegan!
At Akatsuki's base, the two sides had already engaged in combat. However, Akatsuki's members were at a disadvantage, with casualties starting to mount.
Not far from the base, two figures stood, watching the battle with indifference.
"Danzo really is relentless, coveting the Rinnegan," one of them remarked.
"The investment he made in Orochimaru has already begun to lose ground in Konoha, which is likely why he's having these thoughts," the other replied.
A cloaked man with a mask sneered, "He doesn't even fear dying here."
He found the current situation to be quite favorable. If Konoha wiped out the entire Akatsuki, it would awaken Nagato, and he would stand on his side.
The figure with black-and-white patterned body, Zetsu, suddenly made a sound of realization, "Hanzō has already reached an agreement with Yahiko. He's sent people to follow Yahiko and head here for reinforcements. Looks like your hopes have been dashed."
The masked man fell silent.
White Zetsu's voice continued, "If you want to stop those Rain ninjas from coming to the rescue, there's still time."
The masked man responded, "Someone like Hanzō would actually recognize an idealistic fool like Yahiko?"
Black Zetsu asked, "Do you want to stop those Rain ninjas?"
The masked man silently watched Nagato, who was in the midst of battling the enemy below.
Yahiko, huh...