Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 413 Tripartite Talks

Either come in and talk, or let's start the war right now.

There is only one choice.

Inside the cave, the light was dim, with only a few glowing minerals providing faint illumination.

Outside the cave, the Sand Ninja and Iwa Ninja were watching them menacingly, and the cold rain continued incessantly.

Hanzo the Salamander remained silent for a moment.

He could feel two massive and heavy chakras pressing down on him like two mountains.

A surge of energy emanated from that arrogant Wind Shadow; his chakra was like a magnetic storm in the desert, brimming with aggression and destructive power.

The other chakra came from that unassuming old man; his chakra was as solid as a mountain, so heavy that it was suffocating, as if he were one with the entire earth.

Although the few trusted men he brought were all elites from Amegakure, they couldn't even last half a minute under the combined attack of these two Kage-level powerhouses and ninjas from both villages.

Countless thoughts flashed through Hanzo's mind in an instant.

He hated the feeling of being controlled, especially on his own turf.

The Sand Village and the Stone Village, these two greedy jackals, have finally extended their claws to the Land of Rain, this piece of fat meat squeezed into the cracks.

He took a deep breath of the air, which was mixed with the smell of rain and mud, and his chest filled with cold anger.

But he knew that anger wouldn't solve anything.

Hanzo slowly loosened his grip on the kusarigama.

"it is good."

He squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth.

"Lord Hanzo..."

The rain ninja beside him spoke in a dry voice, already prepared to fight to the death alongside his leader.

Hanzo slowly raised his hand to stop him.

His face, hidden by a mask, turned toward Retsumon and Onoki.

"Looks like you two have me figured out."

This is not a question, but a statement.

Liemen shrugged and didn't answer, but his matter-of-fact attitude was more arrogant than any words.

Onoki snorted, impatient with this pointless probing.

"Hanzo, you should know very well that you have no choice."

His voice carried a hint of condescension, "The fate of Amegakure now rests entirely in your hands."

"In the blink of an eye..."

Hanzo repeated the four words in a low voice, as if he was pondering their meaning.

Suddenly, he smiled.

The laughter came from behind the breathing mask, muffled and strange, causing the Sand Ninja and Rock Ninja around to involuntarily tense up.

"Indeed, I have always felt this sense of having no choice."

Immediately, Hanzo turned around and gave orders to the several Rain Ninja behind him who had tense expressions.

"You all, wait here."

"Lord Hanzo!"

One of the Rain Ninjas couldn't help but speak up, his face full of worry.

Hanzo didn't turn around. "This is an order."

After saying that, he ignored his subordinates' reactions and strode forward alone, walking step by step toward the dark cave that resembled the maw of a giant beast.

With each step he took, his aura intensified.

It doesn't resemble a trapped beast heading towards its cage, but rather a king surveying his territory.

The absolute confidence and terrifying pressure honed from countless life-and-death battles and mountains of corpses caused some of the younger ninjas in the encirclement to even experience the illusion of difficulty breathing.

Liemen raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

As expected of a demigod, his courage alone is enough to make 90% of the ninjas in the ninja world look up to him.

However, that's all.

Times have changed.

Stepping into the cave, the sound of rain outside was instantly shut out, leaving only the dripping of water and the crackling of torches burning.

Retsumon and Onoki had already settled down beside a natural stone platform in the center of the cave.

Retsumon remained in the same posture, arms crossed, looking down at Hanzo as he approached.

Onoki found a protruding rock to sit on, a height from which he could look the other person in the eye, which made him feel much more comfortable.

"Hanzo, you're a smart man."

Liemen spoke first, breaking the silence in the cave, "You should understand that since we've made so many preparations, we're not here to just have tea and chat with you."

"Hanzo, you're a smart man."

Liemen placed his hands on the rough stone table, the torches flickering, the firelight dancing on the three men's faces and casting shadows of varying lengths.

Onoki stood with his back to the cave entrance, the damp, cold air mixed with the smell of earth constantly rushing in from behind, causing the hem of his cloak to sway slightly. He impatiently tapped the rock he was sitting on, the sound of the impact particularly jarring in the quiet cave.

"Hanzo, in this era, intelligent people usually live longer. But they are also easily overwhelmed by the so-called balance."

Onoki's voice was hoarse, carrying an undeniable toughness: "Konoha's so-called peace is nothing but chains. They stand on high, watching us struggle in the mire."

Hanzo did not respond.

The breathing mask hissed, and he lowered his hands, his knuckles gripping the handle of the lock scythe.

"..."

Retsumon glanced at Onoki, then turned his gaze back to Hanzo.

"The Third Raikage of Kumogakure died too young. They lost almost an entire generation in that naval battle, and it will be difficult to heal the wounds in just a few years."

"In the years since that Fourth Raikage took over, Kumogakure has been shrinking its defenses."

Retsumon spoke softly, his tone devoid of emotion, "Reparations, reconstruction, internal strife. The current Cloud Village is outwardly strong but inwardly weak. That Lightning Fang has already softened."

Hanzo's body paused almost imperceptibly. He raised his head, his eyes, hidden behind his mask, staring directly at Retsumon.

"Are we going to attack Cloud Village?"

"It's not moving, it's sharing the food."

Onoki jumped off the rock and landed silently.

He walked to the stone platform and slammed his rough hands on the map. "Sunagakure needs more water and arable land, and Iwagakure needs to expand its mineral veins. The tailed beasts in Kumogakure are also an important strategic cornerstone."

A low, cold laugh escaped Hanzo's throat.

"A three-way alliance. Is the Land of Rain a battlefield, or a springboard?"

"As an ally."

Liemen corrected his wording.

A deathly silence fell over the cave.