[Konoha2] Chapter 106: Stepping into the Light — Hanzō's Decision!

The battle between the two Kage was undoubtedly spectacular and skillful—completely different from those with overpowered hacks.

Unfortunately, both sides were holding back.

Ultimately, neither side wanted to fight to the death and let Amegakure benefit from their loss.

So in the end, it all felt a bit anticlimactic.

Both parties withdrew and sent envoys to negotiate peace.

But none of this had anything to do with Hajime.

He wasn’t yet in a position to be part of such decision-making.

So after the withdrawal, Hajime went to find Tsunade.

“How's your Yin Seal training going?”

Tsunade shook her head.

“Too busy lately. I’ll probably have to wait until the war ends to start training.”

That made sense. She wasn’t just a medical ninja—she had considerable combat ability too.

So she often wasn’t used solely in a medical capacity.

Hajime thought for a moment and suggested,

“You could start training with shadow clones. Even if it’s just accumulating experience, it’ll help you get right into it later.”

Tsunade was tempted, but still shook her head.

“I’m not as crazy as you. Besides, the memory feedback from shadow clones isn’t easy to endure.”

“Especially for me as a medical ninja—I absolutely cannot afford to lose focus while treating someone. Chakra control issues could be fatal.”

Hajime nodded.

“You’re right.”

Tsunade’s situation was definitely different from his.

“How's your Wood Release coming along?” Tsunade asked.

Hajime smiled.

“I can’t hold it steady yet, but I’m close.”

The Spore Technique wasn’t something left behind by Hashirama—it was a Wood Release secret technique Hajime had developed himself. Even more so since he was planning to use it as the foundation for time-space ninjutsu.

So it had to be self-developed.

Suddenly, Tsunade asked,

“You didn’t start learning sealing techniques just to seal tailed beasts, did you?”

Hajime nodded—then shook his head.

“Not just tailed beasts.”

Zero-Tails, the Dragon Vein… and Ōtsutsuki!

Just as they were talking, Inuzuka Ryou leapt over.

“Captain, Lord Danzo is summoning you!”

Hajime nodded and waved to Tsunade.

“I’m off.”

Tsunade nodded, watching him go.

“Tsunade… don’t tell me you’re interested in that guy?”

Jiraiya suddenly appeared from behind a large tree.

Tsunade turned her head, ponytail whipping through the air.

“Go die!”

Boom!

The tree exploded and collapsed as Jiraiya fled in a panic.

Not far away, Orochimaru stood on a branch, smiling.

“Idiot Jiraiya...”

Just seeing it was enough—did he really need to ask?

Hopeless!

...

Inside a wooden cabin, Danzo looked at Hajime.

“Once the peace treaty with Iwagakure is signed, you’ll be responsible for escorting the Third Hokage back to Konoha.”

Hajime immediately raised his head.

“Lord Danzo, the Third Hokage’s actions are too weak—he’s no longer fit to be Hokage. You’re the true hope of Konoha. Let me eliminate him on the way back!”

Danzo’s eyelid twitched.

“Hajime, you’re being too extreme.”

He wanted to—but now wasn’t the time!

Besides, Hajime was too exposed.

If the assassination were discovered, he wouldn’t be recognized by the rest of the village.

“Now’s not the time,” Danzo said sincerely.

“Our strength still isn’t sufficient.”

“Our influence isn’t enough to silence all dissent.”

Hajime picked up on the deeper meaning—

Hiruzen’s reputation was still too strong.

But—Danzo, I gave you the opportunity, and you didn’t take it!

Hajime sighed inwardly and lowered his head.

“Yes, Lord Danzo. I was too impatient.”

“You were thinking for my sake,” Danzo replied, not blaming him.

“Once we return to Konoha, you’ll officially be removed from the Root division.”

“Just follow the original plan.”

“Yes, understood!” Hajime quickly replied.

...

After Hajime left, Danzo furrowed his brows in thought.

He’d thought Hajime, this sharp blade of his, might be slipping out of control. But unexpectedly, he remained just as aggressive and loyal.

But… a blade too sharp can cut the hand that holds it.

“I must be prepared to abandon him if necessary.”

Danzo was reluctant—especially now that Hajime was becoming stronger by the day.

But he was also becoming hard to handle.

“Wood Release...” Danzo muttered, unconsciously clenching his fist.

...

“Finally… a moment to breathe.”

Back in his own cabin, Hajime let out a long sigh.

Root was just too busy.

But more importantly—

He had stepped out from the shadows into the light.

“Still, I can’t give up my Root identity.”

“Light and darkness must coexist. Without the tools of darkness, how can one enjoy the warmth of the sun safely?”

Hajime didn’t care that his hands were dirty.

He could just wash them.

The peace talks with Iwagakure progressed swiftly and smoothly—

Because both sides shared common goals.

The terms were simple: mutual withdrawal and no further attacks.

Most importantly, the Four-Tails would only be returned after Hajime ’s death.

Second, Konoha agreed not to target the Five-Tails—as long as its jinchūriki did not attack Konoha.

...

When Hajime learned the details from Danzo, he knew immediately—

this wasn’t true peace.

It was merely a strategic truce to control the scale of the war.

January 9, Year 37 of the Konoha Calendar.

Hajime removed his Root battle gear.

As a regular Konoha shinobi, he joined an ANBU team to escort Hiruzen Sarutobi out of the Land of Rain.

***

Amegakure.

Hanzō frowned as he read the intel his subordinates had delivered, silently sighing to himself:

“What a pity...”

Both the Tsuchikage and Hokage had shown up, yet the war ended abruptly, and both sides withdrew.

And Konoha had not only killed the Four-Tails jinchūriki, but also seized the Four-Tails.

Iwagakure hadn’t even tried to hide this news.

After all, they had already taken the initiative to send the information to Kumogakure and Sunagakure.

But the fact that Konoha and Iwagakure didn’t go all out and exhaust each other was bad news for Amegakure.

On the River Country front, things had gone very smoothly—they had already taken 99% of the territory.

All that remained was formal recognition by the Daimyō of the Land of Rivers, and Amegakure would effectively span two countries.

However, Sunagakure’s passive behavior made Hanzō very wary.

He sensed that Sunagakure might be planning a direct invasion of the Land of Rain.

“I absolutely cannot remain passive!”

A firm look appeared in Hanzō’s eyes.

He would go personally to the Land of Rivers to persuade the Daimyō—and strike first to gain the upper hand.

Just then, a Rain ninja rushed in.

“Lord Hanzō! The Land of Iron has refused to sell us any ninja tools!”

Hanzō stood up abruptly.

“What’s the reason?!”

“This decision came from the samurai of the Land of Iron—so no merchants are willing to sell us ninja tools anymore.”

“We haven’t fully confirmed the reason yet, but it might be related to our previous assassination of one of their nobles.”

Amegakure was infamous for assassination.

And yes, they had previously accepted a mission to assassinate a noble from the Land of Iron—and succeeded.

The Land of Iron was different from other nations. Its strength still lay primarily with samurai.

Of course, their samurai weren’t ordinary warriors—they could use chakra.

“Excellent...”

Hanzō’s eyes turned icy cold.

“I’d like to see what those samurai are really made of—to think they dare treat us like this!”

(End of Chapter)