In the autumn of the 38th year after the founding of Konoha, heavy rain fell over the Land of Fire. At the same time, Hanzō finally emerged from the darkness of his prison cell and made his way back toward the Land of Rain.
From a geographical standpoint, the autumn rain in the Land of Fire and the ceaseless rain of the Land of Rain blurred together, becoming one. In essence, they were indistinguishable. But for Hanzō, who had escaped death and lived by fortune, the feeling ran far deeper.
To his eyes, the rain in the Land of Rain was not as harsh as that of the Land of Fire. It carried a strange warmth, a peculiar scent he somehow recognized. It reminded him of something once spoken by the Third Kazekage. After undergoing Konoha‑style reforms and returning to the Land of Wind, the Third Kazekage had touched the desert floor, trembling with age, and said with raw emotion that the desert was "gold." Though later dismissed as insane and confined to Sunagakure's hospital, only he truly knew the depth of feeling in those words.
Hanzō walked back toward the Hidden Rain Village unhurriedly beneath the cleansing rain. Soon, word of his safe return from Konoha spread throughout the shinobi world like wildfire.
What did it mean? Had Hanzō betrayed everyone again and aligned with Konoha? The news sent shock through the other great nations. The Third Raikage was said to have smashed his own desk in fury. But it was too late. There was no time to deal with Hanzō now.
While the nations raged, Hanzō silently approached the Hidden Rain Village under the moonlit sky, as if untouched by the chaos. Overnight the village seemed quiet, like the turmoil had never happened, though the smell of blood lingered.
In the following days, bearing the damage of his giant scythe, Hanzō traveled throughout the Land of Rain, and within two days every one of the four subordinates who had betrayed him met their end. What had nearly been a fractured land was steeled once more, and factions that once stirred turmoil fell silent.
Seven days later, Konoha's Lightning Flash and the White Fang arrived, each leading three thousand ninja through the rain toward the Land of Rain.
At the same time, Sunagakure shinobi under Ebizō and Rasa gathered at the border of the Land of Wind, and Iwagakure forces led by the Four‑Tails Jinchūriki Roshi and Fūga assembled at the border of the Land of Earth.
In an instant, the situation shifted, shaking the shinobi world to its core.
Hayashi was no stranger to the Land of Rain. His first battlefield assignment had been there. First impressions always cut deepest — painful, yet unforgettable. Though he had wandered for seven or eight years before returning to this place, it was no coincidence. In the eyes of many like Madara, the world was so small that even vast lands barely contained one's ambition.
Why, just a month ago, had Hanzō been an enemy? And now he stood as Konoha's strongest ally? Because Konoha's strength was massive, and where strength resides, alliances follow.
Arriving again in the Land of Rain, Hayashi felt little emotion beyond the rain itself. Poverty defined this land more than anything — though it had been the first nation to end its wartime state, its circumstances had not changed. Its position was barren, and little could alter that fact.
The Konoha encampment sat close to the Hidden Rain Village, visible to any observant eye. The meaning of their alliance was plain.
Inside the Konoha war room, Hayashi and Sakumo both focused on the world map, eyes fixed on the tiny rain‑soaked country wedged between the Land of Wind, the Land of Fire, and the Land of Earth.
"According to reports from the Land of Grass encampment," Shikumo said, gesturing at the map, "Iwagakure forces show no unusual movements. Commander Kitsuchi remains on the front line, so all current Iwagakure troops have been drawn from within the village."
Previously, each major village had pulled some of their ninja back to guard against Hayashi seizing their bases. But Iwagakure had chosen to reinforce the front, suggesting confidence in their homeland's defense. With the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki leading, they believed they would not be taken by surprise.
But what surprised Hayashi most was this:
"There are two commanders from Iwagakure this time," Shikumo continued. "The Tsuchikage's right hand, Fūga, and the Four‑Tails Jinchūriki, Roshi."
Hayashi's brow tightened.
Roshi was not unknown to him. The first jinchūriki Hayashi had ever faced was Roshi. At ten years old, with Nawaki and Mikoto by his side, they had been soundly beaten. If not for Sakumo's timely arrival, none of them would have survived.
Even then, Sakumo barely managed a draw by using his secret technique. Roshi had dominated them all. Perhaps that had been the peak of Roshi's strength — a shinobi who once subdued Konoha's Lightning Flash and White Fang before they had even reached maturity.
If they met now, would Roshi still be so overbearing?
Hayashi could not be sure. But he remained alert.
Back then Roshi had controlled the Four‑Tails. If he had since perfected that bond, then Hayashi's genjutsu could be rendered useless. The idea that all jinchūriki were immune to genjutsu was both true and false. Naruto once fell under a genjutsu because his chakra was disrupted. A jinchūriki's resistance only works if the tailed beast actively interferes to break the genjutsu. If the relationship was weak, then immunity could not be guaranteed.
And with Ōnoki's wisdom, it was impossible he had failed to guess Hayashi had awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan. Yet still he sent Roshi — a testament to how much he trusted him.
"Everyone knows Roshi, but many may not know Fūga," Shikumo went on. "Fūga was active in ANBU before being transferred out by the Third Tsuchikage. He has immense strength, a rocklike physique, mastery of taijutsu and Earth Release, and is also an expert in sealing techniques. Currently, he leads the Iwagakure Sealing Squad."
All eyes turned to Hayashi. A master of sealing techniques was no small concern. Iwagakure's decision to send such a ninja suggested that should anything happen to Roshi, Fūga was there to ensure the safety of the Four‑Tails.
Ōnoki remained vigilant.
I've been dealing with exams lately, so updates have been a bit slower than usual.