Hanzo remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on Uchiha Kin with resignation.
"Kill me. Losing to you is no disgrace."
Slowly, he rose to his feet, determined to meet his end with dignity. He had long known this day would come—such was the fate of a shinobi. Hanzo was no groveling coward; he would rather die than bow to another.
"What a pity," Kin sighed.
It seemed he lacked the charisma to inspire loyalty, even when threatening death. The skeletal half of his Susanoo raised its massive black blade, poised to strike—until Kin's peripheral vision caught movement in the distance. Rain shinobi, hidden but not unnoticed.
The blade halted mid-air.
Kin stroked his chin, an idea forming.
"It seems your subordinates truly revere you."
Hanzo's expression twisted as realization dawned. Hatred burned in his eyes as he snarled, "What are you planning, Konoha shinobi?!"
How could anyone—no, how dare they—?!
Have you no decency?!
"You wouldn't want me to slaughter all your Rain shinobi, would you?"
Kin's grin was the epitome of smug triumph. From the height of his Wood Human technique—though still far from Hashirama Senju's level—he could clearly see the hidden Rain forces.
He clasped his hands together.
"Wood Release: Floating Suspension Wood!"
A self-created jutsu.
Behind him, massive wooden spears erupted from the Wood Human, filling the air in an instant. Kin didn't even glance at Hanzo; his focus was on the Rain shinobi's hiding spot.
"Time for a choice."
"Submit—or watch your men join you in death."
Hanzo fell silent. The situation was spiraling toward the worst possible outcome. This boy before him wielded immense power, yet...
Why?
"Despicable."
Such underhanded tactics.
"I'm just working with what I've got," Kin said innocently, feigning hardship. "Back home, I was pushed out. Had to strike out on my own, you know? No funds, no followers—gotta get creative to recruit and fund my ventures."
If he'd had more than just Kakuzu as a capable subordinate, he wouldn't have targeted Hanzo.
If he'd had his own territory, he wouldn't have come to the Land of Rain.
If the Uchiha hadn't been ostracized, he wouldn't be here at all.
In short:
This is all Sarutobi Hiruzen's fault.
Hanzo took a deep breath. He couldn't fathom how someone like this possessed such strength yet lacked even a shred of nobility.
It made no sense.
"So, what's your decision, Hanzo?"
Kin waited, fingers twitching.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several wooden spikes shot forth, impaling one unlucky Rain shinobi in the distance.
"Oops. My hand slipped."
Kin offered Hanzo an apologetic smile.
"You—!!"
Hanzo's finger trembled as he pointed, but Kin's attention was already back on the Rain forces. The attack sent the remaining shinobi scrambling like startled birds.
"They're running. I'll give you three seconds."
"One."
Hanzo's face twisted with conflict. Surrender went against everything he stood for.
"Two."
Sweat beaded on his brow. On one side: his pride. On the other: the last hope of the Land of Rain.
If these men died, the nation would be truly lost.
But could he really abandon his dignity?
"Three!"
"I yield!!"
Hanzo's roar was raw, his face crimson, veins bulging in his eyes.
He chose to kneel.
For the Land of Rain.
On the battlefield, Kin sat on a wooden stump while Hanzo tended to his giant salamander's injuries nearby. The Wood Human had dealt significant damage.
Hyuga Kiyoshi and the others were nowhere to be seen.
"Next, gather all your Rain shinobi," Kin ordered.
"...Understood."
Hanzo's reply was heavy as he launched a signal firework into the sky. A massive Rain Village emblem blossomed above them.
"They'll come soon," he muttered.
Kin stood and approached Hanzo, his hands glowing with an eerie black light.
"Let me heal you both while we wait."
He possessed all of Tsunade's medical knowledge, after all.
Hanzo eyed the sinister glow warily. It hardly looked like healing. With a resigned sigh, he allowed it.
Under Kin's expert care, Hanzo and the salamander recovered swiftly. Had Kin not secretly implanted the Soul Illumination Technique in Hanzo's mind, he might've been mistaken for a proper medic-nin.
Perfect.
When it came to underhandedness, Kin was second to none.
Hanzo didn't know about the technique—it affected the soul directly, leaving no trace—but he could guess. There was no escaping now.
"So, does this mean Konoha has annexed the Land of Rain?" Hanzo asked grimly.
Between the Byakugan, Sharingan, and Wood Release, only Konoha could produce such a monster.
If it was Konoha... well, it could be worse. Though that Danzo was another matter entirely.
"Don't be ridiculous," Kin said, giving him a strange look. He hadn't snuck out to expand Konoha's borders.
"I may be from Konoha, but this has nothing to do with them. If you want to attack Konoha, I won't stop you—just don't expose me."
The odds of his Wood Release being traced were low.
But if he used Dark Release, he'd be caught instantly.
Hanzo relaxed slightly. If this wasn't a play by the major villages, it was a small mercy. At least Rain wouldn't be used as cannon fodder.
Suddenly, figures emerged from the distance, landing before Hanzo.
"Lord Hanzo!"
Their glares at Kin were venomous. Though they didn't know the details of the battle, they recognized the boy as an enemy.
Hanzo looked at his loyal men and sighed deeply.
"I lost."
Shock rippled through the group, but they held their tongues, waiting for an explanation.
"From today onward, he is the Kage of Amegakure."
Outrage erupted.
"What?!"
"Lord Hanzo, how?!"
"We won't accept an outsider as our Kage!!"
Hanzo clenched his eyes shut, enduring the pain of his next words. When he opened them, his voice was steel.
"Silence! This is my final order to you. From now on, you will follow this man's commands!"
His authority still held. Though resentment simmered, the Rain shinobi fell quiet.
"You may call me... Mr. An."
Kin smiled warmly at them.
...
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(End of Chapter)