They're promoting the "Konoha threat" theory, and spouting nonsense about the Hidden

Chapter 104 Hanzo the Salamander: Do you know how much a rice ball costs outside? Five hundred thousand taels!

Just as Onoki had completely lost faith in his son and was starting to think about how to bypass his son and cultivate the next generation of successors.

The Third Raikage, far away in Kumogakure, was also worried about his son.

When not blinded by anger, the Third Raikage was quite wise; he clearly saw the fragility of the alliance, just like Onoki.

"Dad, I heard there's going to be a war? That's great! When will it start?"

The Third Raikage looked at his son, who had burst through the door with an expression that said, "I don't know who I am, I don't know why I'm here, but I know I'm going to go on a killing spree," and couldn't help but throw him to the ground with an over-the-shoulder throw.

"Fighting, fighting, all you do is fight all day. Look at Shinjuku from the next village, he's your age! What does he do all day? And look at you!"

"Want to fight? Fine, go find Hozuki Shingetsu and fight him!"

After venting his anger, the Third Raikage revealed the purpose of bringing his son here: "You will also participate in this battle."

Seeing the joyful smile on his son's face, the Third Raikage quickly added:

"Remember, obey Tu Tai's orders in everything, and do not rush in rashly! Otherwise, you can expect to stay in Yunlei Gorge until the end of the war!"

The future Fourth Raikage readily agreed; as far as he was concerned, he would do anything as long as he was allowed to fight.

"What a pity! It looks like Hozuki Shingetsu won't be participating in this battle, otherwise I would have definitely given him a go! I'd show Dad who's really stronger!"

Ever since Hozuki Shingetsu became the Six-Tails Jinchuriki and defeated Ren, he has become the "other people's child" that the Third Raikage often uses to educate his own son, which naturally makes him rebellious.

This time, his crazy application to participate was also driven by the desire to prove himself.

"Lord Raikage, isn't it inappropriate to use Hozuki Shingetsu to discipline the young clan leader like that?"

After watching the person leave, Tsuchikage asked the Third Raikage.

"I didn't want to either, Tutai..."

The Third Raikage stood up and looked down at the entire Hidden Cloud Village through the window. From this angle, the village, built among the misty mountain peaks, was completely visible.

"Currently, the entire ninja world considers Konoha to be the strongest, and Kumogakure to be second. But if we close ourselves off and think carefully, just how big is the gap between us and Konoha?"

The Third Raikage's voice rarely revealed weariness.

Sometimes, the most desperate one is not the third or fourth child, but the second child who is closest to the eldest.

Since the rebellion of Kinkaku and Ginkaku and the death of the Second Raikage, the Third Raikage has paid special attention to the overall development of the village.

You can call him reckless, but you absolutely cannot call him stupid.

It was from him that, for decades afterward, no high-ranking ninja in Kumogakure became rogue ninjas.

Under his leadership, Kumogakure's strength rapidly recovered, solidifying its position as the second strongest ninja in the world. However, precisely because of this, he also became more aware of how formidable Konoha was.

After all, the overall strength of a village depends not only on the older generation of pillars, but also more on the younger generation and their future potential.

Even if we use this war as an opportunity to cripple Konoha, as long as it is not completely destroyed, Konoha may be able to climb back to the top of the ninja world in another ten years or so.

So what should we do then?

Are we going to start another Ninja World War?

You have to understand that with war, anything is possible until the outcome is decided.

There is a possibility that Konoha will be defeated again, and there is also a possibility that Kumogakure will be defeated.

As the Raikage, his vision cannot be limited to the present; he must look to the future.

Currently, among the rising stars of the entire Hidden Cloud Village, there are only a handful who are truly outstanding.

What about Konoha?

Putting aside other issues, the Uchiha and Hyuga clans were not completely wiped out, so what makes you say that Konoha is desolate and has no more talent?

Even the Hidden Mist Village, whose strength had been greatly diminished, produced a young man with exceptional talent and skill like Shingetsu Hozuki. Add to that the Uzumaki Clan, who had previously established a nation with their own clan, how could he not feel immense pressure?

Therefore, given that it was clear that it was impossible to wipe out Konoha in one go, he had to consider the future and squeeze every last drop of value out of this war.

"Therefore, we must take advantage of this war to cripple Konoha while simultaneously giving our young people valuable experience. After all, war is the best way to hone people..."

"No matter how hard we try, this is about all we can do in our lives. If we can leave a solid foundation for future generations, I'll be content."

"But the next generation must be carefully nurtured, so that they can rightfully surpass Konoha on their stage!"

Looking out at the white clouds, the Third Raikage couldn't help but imagine the future when Kumogakure would truly become the number one ninja village.

-

After the three kingdoms officially signed this non-aggression pact and agreed to a joint attack, the situation in the Land of Rain did indeed stabilize instantly.

Although the balance maintained by this alliance is fragile, it has, at least for now, effectively created a pincer movement against Konoha.

To be even more certain, the three-nation alliance also set its sights on Amegakure, hoping to drag Hanzo of the Salamander into the fray and join forces against Konoha.

In their view, the strength of the Three Kingdoms Alliance was undeniable, and as long as Hanzo of the Salamander did not want Amegakure to be destroyed, he had no choice but to submit obediently.

However, they did not expect that their previous actions in the Land of Rain had thoroughly enraged Hanzo of the Salamander. So when the envoys from the three countries arrived in Amegakure with arrogance on their faces, what awaited them was not a mouthful of promises, but a scythe stained with blood.

-

Hanzo the Salamander initially wanted to tolerate the fact that his own territory had been chosen as the designated battlefield and that ninjas from various countries were wreaking havoc on his land.

After all, they were outmatched in strength, and any resistance would only bring them humiliation. In any case, the other party wouldn't last long, so let them have their fun if they wanted to.

With a "let it all go" mentality, Hanzo of the Salamander ordered all the Rain Ninja in the Land of Rain to retreat to the Rain Village, effectively handing over most of the Land of Rain to the enemy—since most of the Land of Rain was worthless anyway, it was no big deal if it was destroyed.

However, his retreat only resulted in the other four great nations intensifying their attacks. Whether instigated by Hozuki Shingetsu or with the intention of completely crippling the Land of Rain's war potential, the ninjas from each nation began targeting small villages.

In an instant, villages large and small scattered throughout the Land of Rain suffered devastating blows, and a large outflow of the population from the Land of Rain made the already impoverished Land of Rain even worse off.

What annoyed Hanzo the Salamander even more was that at this time, there were still people hoarding goods in the Kiju, and the price of grain was rising day by day. Upon inquiring, he found out that they were all merchants with backgrounds in the five great nations!

Therefore, when the envoys from the villages of Kumo, Iwa, and Suna arrived at Amegakure and asked Hanzo of the Salamander to cooperate with the Kumogakure ninja in attacking Konoha, Hanzo of the Salamander was completely enraged.

"So, if I don't attack Konoha as you demand, then you'll unite and destroy my Amegakure first, is that it?"

Hanzo, the salamander, wore a mask and knelt on the tatami mat, his head bowed so his expression was obscured.

In the dimly lit front hall, apart from the patter of rain outside the window, only the voices of the envoys from the three kingdoms could be heard.

"That's right. Furthermore, the ninjas of Amegakure must fight under our command and cannot act independently. I hope Lord Hanzo will prioritize the overall situation and not make a mistake!"

The dark-skinned envoy from Kumogakure sat casually on the ground and answered nonchalantly.

In his view, Hanzo the Salamander, as a ninja, was terrifying.

However, Hanzo of the Salamander, the leader of the ninja village, was also pitiful.

If Hanzo of the Salamander were alone, he wouldn't dare to do this even if he had ten lives. But since he cares about Amegakure, everything becomes much easier.

Hanzo the Salamander did not respond to the words of the Cloud Village envoy; he simply raised his head and stared at the ceiling.

"Hehe, actually, if Lord Salamander agrees to participate in the operation, then everything is still negotiable."

Perhaps sensing the somewhat somber atmosphere, the envoy from Sunagakure took a step back.

That's actually their main goal.

In the entire Amegakure, only Hanzo of the Salamander deserves their respect. As long as Hanzo agrees to participate in the war, it doesn't really matter whether the other Amegakure ninjas are there or not.

"I'm joining the war?"

Finally, the dull atmosphere was broken.

Hanzo the Salamander stood up, his tall figure blocking the light source behind him and casting shadows over the three messengers present.

"Yes, it is you..."

The Sunagakure envoy was about to say something when he was interrupted by Hanzo of the Salamander.

"I should indeed join the war. Not only me, but the entire Amegakure will join the war."

The Sunagakure envoy thought that Hanzo of the Salamander had agreed to their request, but before he could even feel happy, he was stumped by Hanzo's next question.

"On your way to Amegakure, did you visit any markets in the Land of Rain?"

Hanzo the Salamander walked barefoot step by step to the side of the Sunagakure envoy, looking down at him.

"...The market? Does Lord Hanzo need to buy anything?"

The Sand Village ninja seemed to realize the atmosphere was tense and tried to lighten the mood with a joke, but immediately Hanzo of the Salamander roared from inside the room:

"Five hundred thousand taels!"

"One rice ball costs 500,000 taels!"

"That amount of money couldn't even fit in a carriage!"

"And you're telling me not to make a mistake?"

Looking at the envoy in front of him, who was stunned with an incredulous expression, Hanzo the Salamander's lips, hidden beneath his mask, curled slightly, and he then raised the scythe behind him.

"Very well, then I'll make a mistake and show you!"

boom!

Outside the window, a sudden clap of thunder sounded, and the rain intensified. Drops of blood seeped from the cracks in the door, only to be washed away by the rain in an instant.

(End of this chapter)