This ninja in Naruto is unscientific

Chapter 149 Yahiko's Integrity

The land of rain.

Hanzo stood with his hands behind his back, his weathered eyes gazing at the somber horizon in the distance.

"The Land of Earth is gathering in the north, the Land of Wind is stirring in the west, and the Land of Fire's forces are also advancing westward."

Hanzo's voice was low and hoarse, carrying a hint of helplessness and sorrow as the leader of a small country.

"Is the Land of Rain about to become a battlefield for powerful nations once again?"

"Lord Hanzo."

A trusted Rain Ninja knelt behind him, his voice tinged with worry: "All nations are testing our resolve. Onoki of Iwagakure sent a secret message, hinting that he wants to use the Land of Rain as a route to launch a surprise attack on the Land of Fire's flank; Sunagakure also wants us to provide supplies. How... should we respond?"

"Borrowing a route?"

Hanzo sneered, the helplessness in his eyes instantly transforming into the domineering aura of a demigod.

"By allowing us passage, the battlefield will be right here on our own soil. Regardless of who wins or loses, it will be our civilians who die and our villages that are destroyed."

"Reply to them: Amegakure maintains strict neutrality. Anyone who dares to set foot in the Land of Rain will face the wrath of my kusarigama."

"yes!"

The confidant hesitated for a moment, then asked, "What about the Akatsuki? They've been making a lot of noise in the west these past few years, building roads, opening trade routes, and even forming their own armed guard. Some say... they might threaten your rule."

Upon hearing the name "Akatsuki," Hanzo's tense brows relaxed somewhat.

He turned around, walked to the table, and picked up a detailed report about the Akatsuki organization.

The report details the Akatsuki's activities over the past few years: taking in orphans, reclaiming wasteland, selling medicine, building roads...

The villages surrounding the Akatsuki base are no longer experiencing starvation, and their development is even better than that of the area surrounding Amegakure, the center of the Land of Rain.

"threaten?"

Hanzo shook his head slightly and tapped Yahiko's name on the report with his finger.

"No, that is hope."

"I'm getting old."

Hanzo sighed, a hint of melancholy in his voice.

"But these young people have shown me a different future for the Land of Rain. Unlike me, who only has military might, they know how to build and manage."

Although Hanzo was autocratic, he loved his country.

He is called a demigod not only because of his strength, but also because he has protected Amegakure time and time again in dire situations.

And now, he sees the shadow of a successor. A few years ago, he wasn't as dejected as he is now, but World War II really hurt the Land of Rain too deeply and also destroyed his pride.

"Then...should we restrict them?" the confidant asked, puzzled.

"Restrictions? Why impose restrictions?"

Hanzo threw the report back onto the table.

"The Land of Rain is too much for me to handle alone right now. Since they want to protect this country, let's give them a chance."

"but……"

Hanzo's eyes sharpened.

"Ideals and money alone are not enough. To survive in this cannibalistic ninja world, you also need fangs."

"Pass down the order to invite the leader of Akatsuki to see me."

"I want to see if they are truly qualified to take on this heavy responsibility."

……

The sound of rain outside the window never stopped, like the whispers of countless wronged souls.

Hanzo sat on the high seat, his eyes, which had seen the vicissitudes of life, fixed on the young man standing in the center of the hall.

Yahiko.

This kid, who was once just an arrogant brat in his eyes, has now grown into someone he can no longer ignore, and this is not just about his height.

"Yahiko."

Hanzo spoke, his voice low and hoarse, carrying a hint of goodwill.

"You are aware of the current situation. Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Konoha are all sharpening their swords at the border. The Land of Rain's small boat cannot withstand the storm."

He stood up, walked to the map, and pointed to the entire territory of the Rain Kingdom.

"I am no longer young, and I won't be able to wield this kusarigama for much longer."

"The Akatsuki organization did a great job, far better than those useless people under my command who only know how to kill."

Hanzo turned around, looking intently at Yahiko, and offered what he believed was an offer the other couldn't refuse: "Take your people and officially join Amegakure."

"I can appoint you as the deputy leader of Amegakure. After this great war ends, if Amegakure survives the struggle between the great powers, I will pass on the leadership position to you."

"From now on, Akatsuki will be the official organization of the Land of Rain."

This is the promise of the demigod Hanzo, and also the transfer of supreme power in this country.

However, a deathly silence fell over the hall.

Yahiko was neither overjoyed nor did he immediately kneel down to express his gratitude.

He stood there, his hands clenched tightly at his sides, his nails digging deep into his palms. In an instant, the bloody, rainy night flashed back into his mind.

The flames of the explosion, the comrades lying in pools of blood, and their dying cries still seemed to echo in my ears.

"Send it to me?"

Yahiko raised his head, and his eyes, which were usually full of sunshine and passion, were now as cold as ice, with a strong hatred suppressed deep in his eyes.

"Lord Hanzo, have you forgotten something?"

Yahiko's voice trembled slightly as he tried his best to control his emotions.

"I can never forget that attack on the Akatsuki's 'wandering ninjas,' and the comrades who were killed or wounded."

"The fire burned very brightly that night."

Hanzo's expression froze for a moment; he understood what Yahiko meant—this kid knew he was the one who did it.

"That was an accident..." Hanzo tried to explain.

"Whether it was an accident or not, we all know the answer in our hearts."

Yahiko interrupted him, his tone hardening. After that night, he had completely lost his fascination with demigods.

"Lord Hanzo, I respect you for protecting this country. But the blood of my comrades who died that night is still wet."

"If I were to step over the corpses of my brothers to accept this position you've bestowed upon me..."

Yahiko took a deep breath, straightened his spine, looked directly into Hanzo's imposing eyes, and said, word by word:

"I can't do it."

"The Akatsuki will never become a vassal of Amegakure, nor will it become your private army."

Hanzo narrowed his eyes, and a terrifying killing intent filled the hall.

"Are you rejecting me? Do you know what that means?"

"I know."

Yahiko did not back down; he was no longer the child who could be slaughtered at will.

"But I know even more that if we merge with Amegakure, then Akatsuki will no longer be Akatsuki."

"but……"

Just as the atmosphere was tense and it seemed like a fight was about to break out, Yahiko suddenly changed the subject.

"Although I cannot forgive what happened that night, nor can I accept your offer, I am a citizen of the Land of Rain at this critical juncture for this nation."

Yahiko took out a copy of the "Border Cooperation Agreement" that he had prepared beforehand and placed it on the table.

"The Akatsuki organization is willing to take on the defensive mission of the western frontier of the Land of Rain and resist the explosive forces of Iwagakure."

"We remain in a cooperative relationship. We pay taxes, you provide official permits; we guard the western frontier, and the rest is up to you."

"We each get what we need."

Hanzo looked at the agreement, then at the stubborn and hateful young man before him.

After a long while, the murderous aura emanating from him slowly subsided.

"Ha...that's backbone."

Hanzo gave a cold laugh, it was hard to tell whether it was mockery or praise.

"Since you don't want to be my successor, let's continue our cooperative relationship."

"However, Yahiko, you must remember this."

Hanzo walked back to his high seat and sat down again.

"In this ninja world, having backbone alone won't get you long."

Once upon a time, Hanzo was also a man of unyielding integrity. Hanzo's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, and he sighed inwardly.

"Perhaps I really did make a mistake."

He secretly orchestrated the attack to teach these young people a lesson.

They thought this would deter them from further trouble, make them obediently seek protection, and allow Akatsuki to be incorporated into Amegakure.

The results of it?

Not only did they lose an elite captain, but they also forced the Akatsuki to reveal their true colors. More importantly, the firelight that night planted a thorn that would be difficult to remove between the two sides.

If he hadn't carried out that attack, perhaps he could have more easily brought that force under his control now.

"Thanks for reminding me."

Yahiko turned around and strode towards the door.

Just as he was about to step across the threshold, he stopped, without turning back, leaving behind only a resounding statement:

"Lord Hanzo, your era will eventually come to an end."

"The Akatsuki may be weak now, but one day, we will illuminate the entire Land of Rain in our own way."

"At that time, there will be no need for you to pass on your position; Akatsuki... will replace Amegakure."

After saying that, Yahiko pushed open the door and left, his figure disappearing into the rain.

Hanzo stared at the empty doorway and remained silent for a long time.

He wasn't enraged by the offense; instead, he seemed inexplicably weary.

"To replace Amegakure...?"

Hanzo looked out the window.

"Then let me see if you can survive this Ninja World War."

……

As he stepped out of the hall, Nagato and Konan were waiting outside. Upon seeing Yahiko come out, they immediately went to greet him.

"How is it? Hanzo didn't lay a hand on you, did he?" Konan asked nervously.

"no."

Yahiko shook his head, his eyes becoming more resolute than ever before.

"But I rejected his offer."

He looked at Nagato, at his close friend who possessed the Rinnegan.

"Nagato, you're right. Power must be in our own hands."

"We can't rely on Hanzo, nor can we trust him. I'll remember the grudge from that night."

Yahiko clenched his fist and looked in the direction of the Akatsuki base.

"The current cooperation is merely for survival."

"One day, we will completely change this decaying Amegakure, along with that demigod!"

Nagato watched Yahiko's retreating figure, a glint of light flashing in his purple Rinnegan.

"I will help you, Yahiko."

"Whatever you want to do, I will support you."