"Mhm, you've arrived. You must have set out early this morning. Have some lunch here and rest first—then I'll take you to see Hanzo-sama."
Ameyu nodded and led Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan into a room.
A table full of food had already been prepared.
It wasn't luxurious—but it was plentiful.
The three were momentarily stunned.
They had assumed they would dine together with Hanzo.
Ameyu, as if expecting this, explained:
"You've likely heard some of Hanzo-sama's stories. His body is… special. Even his breath carries poison."
"To avoid harming others, he always eats alone."
"He also didn't want to disturb your meal, so he chose not to meet you beforehand."
"Please forgive any inconvenience."
Realization dawned on them.
They had indeed heard rumors—
That Hanzo was a living poison source.
"Not at all! Hanzo-sama is very considerate!"
Yahiko quickly replied.
"Then please, eat. No need to hold back."
Ameyu invited them to sit.
At first, they were reserved—
But hunger soon took over.
Before long, they relaxed and began eating freely.
Ameyu himself barely ate, eventually setting down his chopsticks and simply watching them.
Yahiko, now more at ease, asked curiously,
"Ameyu-senpai, when did Hanzo-sama start paying attention to Akatsuki?"
Ameyu answered honestly:
"We monitor all forces active in the Land of Rain. In fact, I was the one who first reported your existence to him."
Yahiko set down his chopsticks.
"…And what did he say?"
Nagato and Konan also looked over.
Ameyu smiled.
"He said your ideas are immature—but your intentions are good."
"More importantly, you act on your beliefs."
"That makes you… valuable."
"You are new blood for Amegakure. That's why he wished to meet you."
Yahiko's eyes lit up.
Even Nagato and Konan showed clear joy.
Recognition from Hanzo—
It validated everything they had done.
Afterward, Yahiko asked many more questions, mostly about Hanzo.
Ameyu answered all of them patiently.
By the end of the meal, the atmosphere had grown warm.
The three felt far more at ease—
And even a little reluctant for it to end.
Afterward, under their eager anticipation, Ameyu brought out three specially made respirator masks.
"Even though Hanzo-sama has his own precautions, it's best you wear these—just in case."
The three complied without hesitation.
"Alright… let's go meet Hanzo-sama."
Ameyu led them toward Hanzo's office.
"Hanzo-sama, the leaders of Akatsuki have arrived."
Outside the office, Ameyu knocked formally.
"Let them in."
A low, hoarse voice came from within.
Ameyu opened the door slightly and stepped aside.
"You may go in. I'll wait here."
Yahiko nodded.
Exchanging glances with Nagato and Konan, he took a deep breath—
And stepped inside.
The others followed.
The door closed behind them.
Unnoticed—
On a distant rooftop, two figures observed silently.
One wore a spiral mask.
The other was half black, half white, half-submerged in the ground.
"Obito—"
"Call me Madara."
"…Very well, Madara-sama. Are we just watching from here?"
Black Zetsu asked.
Obito scoffed.
"That's Hanzo. Get too close and you'll be discovered. Can you guarantee otherwise?"
Zetsu fell silent.
The poison saturating the ground alone made infiltration difficult.
"What if Hanzo discovers Nagato's Rennegan?"
Zetsu asked again.
"…Wouldn't that be ideal?"
Obito chuckled darkly.
"With his experience, Hanzo won't ignore those eyes."
"Nagato may not win—but if he pushes himself, escaping won't be a problem."
"This might finally let him taste real pain."
Zetsu thought of the strange summon Nagato had used.
"…Then I'll leave it to you."
—
Inside the office.
"Hanzo-sama!"
The three bowed respectfully.
Hanzo looked up from his documents and smiled faintly.
"So—you are Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan."
"Please, sit."
"Th-thank you!"
Yahiko tried to suppress his excitement as he sat.
Nagato and Konan followed.
As Nagato lowered himself, he glanced at Hanzo through his hair—
Just once.
But that single look sent a chill through his entire body.
He clenched his teeth, hiding the reaction.
Hanzo spoke directly:
"I became interested when I heard of a group in the Land of Rain pursuing peace."
"That is why I invited you."
"You honor us!" Yahiko replied quickly.
"It is our privilege to meet you!"
"No need for modesty," Hanzo said calmly.
"I am merely someone who walked this path before you."
Then—
"I hear your ideal is to achieve peace without relying on extreme force. Is that correct?"
"Yes," Yahiko nodded.
"Explain it to me."
Yahiko's eyes brightened.
"Many wars and conflicts are unnecessary!"
"They can be resolved through dialogue!"
"Of course, I know it's difficult."
"The strong rarely listen to the weak."
"So ideally—every nation should possess some level of strength."
"Enough to sit as equals."
"To communicate, negotiate, and form alliances that maintain order."
"This strength isn't for war—"
"But for balance and protection."
Yahiko wasn't entirely naïve.
He understood that weakness invited aggression.
That ideals alone weren't enough.
Balance—
Required power.
Hanzo smiled.
"…A fine ideal."
Yahiko beamed—
But before his smile could settle—
Hanzo added:
"…But still too immature."
"…What?"
Yahiko froze.
Confused—and unwilling to accept it.
"Hanzo-sama… what am I missing?"
Hanzo replied calmly:
"Your vision is beautiful. Reality is not."
"Do you know what happened when the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, distributed the Tailed Beasts?"
Yahiko shook his head.
Hanzo explained:
"Each great village now possesses one or two Tailed Beasts."
"Most were given to them by Hashirama."
"He likely hoped mutual fear would prevent war."
"But what happened instead?"
"They only increased destruction."
"Your idea is no different."
"The world… is far more complex."
Yahiko's ideal was more grounded than Naruto's future philosophy—
But still too idealistic for reality.
It might bring peace to one nation—
But not the world.
I Am Uchiha Ren
Yahiko's face flushed red, then pale.
He wanted to argue—
But didn't know how.
His upbringing had limited his perspective.
Even with Jiraiya's guidance—
Three years was not enough.
What he had reached on his own was already remarkable.
Hanzo softened slightly.
"Do not lose heart."
"If you continue this path, you may still bring temporary peace to the Land of Rain."
"I once sought the same."
"When words failed—"
"I chose to show the world our strength."
Yahiko's eyes widened.
"You mean… when you declared war on the Land of Fire, Earth, and Wind?"
Hanzo nodded.
"They would never listen to a small nation."
"I knew we could not win."
"But I still declared war."
"All for a chance… to be heard."
"…But I failed."
Silence filled the room.
Yahiko's ideals—
Had been inspired by that very act.
Hanzo had nearly succeeded—
But lacked the power to finish it.
"…Hanzo-sama…"
At that moment—
Nagato spoke.
"Does true peace… even exist in this world?"
Compared to Yahiko—
Nagato's vision reached further.
Toward the entire world.