"I heard you recommended Namikaze Minato for the position of Hokage during the meeting?"
"Why didn't you recommend yourself?"
Hatake Sakumo looked at the taller Gekko Chizan beside him and asked curiously.
Chizan rolled his eyes again, then replied in a teasing tone:
"Me, as Hokage? You sure about that? Aren't you afraid I'd lead the village astray?"
"You know, my nickname is the Ghost — the complete opposite of Minato's Flash. One is light, the other is darkness."
"Just like the Hokage-sama and that bastard Danzo — one stands in the light, the other hides in the shadows. The one in the shadows isn't meant to appear on stage."
"Besides, I don't intend to become Hokage anyway. What's so good about it? Being stuck in the village every day? I don't like the taste of being without freedom."
Hatake Sakumo nodded slowly. He truly hadn't expected Gekko Chizan to have such a unique perspective.
Those who walk in darkness shouldn't stand in the light?
Heh... if Danzo heard that, the old bastard would probably die of anger on the spot.
"Be careful in Amegakure. That guy Hanzo isn't easy to deal with."
"You don't have to tell me. We've crossed paths several times already. I can't kill him yet, but I'll make sure he doesn't get any peace — even in his own territory."
"Oh? How strong is he? Is he really as powerful as the rumors say?"
Hatake Sakumo had never been to Amegakure. Back when Hanzo started the war, he had been busy dealing with the Sunagakure attacks, so he never fought there himself.
He'd always liked crossing blades with strong opponents.
As for Hanzo of the Salamander — the so-called "demigod of the shinobi world" — he had long wanted to face him in battle.
"He's alright, I guess. His speed isn't as fast as yours, and his movement technique isn't as good either."
That evaluation made Sakumo's lips curl slightly — obviously pleased by the compliment.
But the next words instantly soured his mood — extremely so.
"But his methods of attack are far more varied — better than yours."
"His trap techniques are more sophisticated — better than yours."
"His summoned beast is massive, with terrifying destructive power — better than yours."
"If the two of you fought, I'd say it'd be an even match. But in a war scenario, you'd be at a disadvantage — after all, his summon can spew clouds of deadly poison with a single breath."
Sakumo's lips twitched uncontrollably for a while. He was seriously tempted to punch Gekko Chizan in the face right now.
But before he could act, Chizan was already gone, vanishing amid laughter.
...
At the same time, in Root headquarters.
"Hmph! That damn brat — how dare he speak to me like that!"
"Does he really think that being called the 'Ghost of Konoha' puts him on the same level as me?!"
Shimura Danzo's face was dark with fury, and none of the Root members beside him dared to make a sound — fearing to further provoke their leader.
"Danzo-sama, he's just returned from the battlefield after earning merits. Considering what happened with Orochimaru earlier, it's natural that he holds some resentment toward you."
"For now, we should think about how to make him settle down for a while."
"If necessary, we can eliminate him."
A Root operative with black eyes suddenly spoke coldly, his tone filled with killing intent.
"Tatsuma, your thinking is good — but as things stand, Gekko Chizan's strength has already reached a formidable level."
"Even compared to his teacher, Orochimaru, he's not much weaker."
"Even if we wanted to kill him, we can't do it ourselves."
Cold light flickered in Danzo's eyes — his decision already made.
Since Gekko Chizan intends to go to Amegakure for revenge... heh, then he might as well never come back.
...
Three days later, in the Land of Rain.
"Tch... damn weather. If it weren't for my goal, I'd never have come here."
Gekko Chizan's entire body was soaked, and his expression was far from pleased — no one liked getting drenched.
While grumbling about the weather, he kept his guard up, scanning his surroundings.
This was Amegakure — danger lurked everywhere.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed nearby. Chizan quickly activated Transparent Release and hid in a concealed spot, watching as a group of ninja passed by on patrol.
Seeing them, Chizan smirked disdainfully.
"So, that old Hanzo tightened the village's security right after returning from the battlefield, huh?"
"Heh. Guess he knew I'd come for payback?"
"Too bad, old man — ordinary patrols like these won't stop me."
Though the rain interfered slightly with Transparent Release, once he activated the Transformation Technique, he changed into someone else entirely and walked straight toward Amegakure as if he belonged there.
Once he entered the village, he didn't hesitate — he went straight to the hot springs.
After all, being drenched was an awful feeling.
Leaning against the edge of the bath, Chizan had already started to move.
Who said sneak attacks were only for humans?
In the dark corners of Amegakure, countless snakes began to slither together, gathering in one direction.
"Chizan, are you sure sending snakes like this will actually work?"
"Wouldn't it be better if we just flew over there and blasted him directly?"
"That beam-like Tailed Beast Bomb — man, that was so satisfying! Can we do that again?"
Chōmei's excited voice echoed suddenly, full of energy.
Clearly, he had fallen in love with that overwhelming destructive power.
"Chōmei, you're getting cocky again."
"This time, we're here just to make that old fossil Hanzo miserable. I don't plan to fight him head-on."
Chizan twirled his sake cup in his hand, waiting patiently for the chaos to begin across Amegakure.
Soon, under the night sky, most villagers were fast asleep, save for the remaining patrols.
Then, a faint rustling began to rise.
Countless venomous snakes slithered toward Hanzo's fortress.
...
At that very moment, Hanzo of the Salamander was meeting with a rather special guest.
"Oh? So, he's not just my enemy — you people want him dead as well?"
"Heh... backstabbing your own village's rising star — that's so very like you, Shimura Danzo."
Hanzo looked at the man before him — it was Aburame Tatsuma, Danzo's right-hand man. Young, powerful, and absolutely loyal.
He had brought Danzo's letter, seeking to use Hanzo's strength to ensure Gekko Chizan never left Amegakure alive.
As the two were speaking, a sudden shout rang out from outside.
"Snakes!"
"Too many snakes! We're under attack — snakes are attacking!"
Hanzo and Aburame Tatsuma both frowned deeply.
Snakes?
They didn't even need to think — it could only mean one thing: Gekko Chizan had arrived.
This was his first wave of assault.
"Seems he's here already."
"I wonder if Hanzo-sama can finally vent his anger and take down that ghost lurking in the shadows."
Tatsuma's words earned him only a cold snort from Hanzo — his tone brimming with killing intent.
"You don't need to worry about that. He's just another insolent kid."
"Since he dared to step into my domain — he won't be leaving alive!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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