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[Konoha2] Chapter 54: Konoha Cannot Allow Someone This Powerful to Exist!
🕑 Added 2025-05-25 20:48:14 +0000 UTCAll the prisoners were handed over to Amegakure for further interrogation. At the same time, as a proper shinobi village, Ame’s intelligence division began operating at full capacity.
Meanwhile, Hajime Hoshita and his group were temporarily housed by Amegakure, quietly awaiting their intel.
...
At Dusk—
The ANBU squad escorting Take Kamishiro finally returned to Konoha, immediately reporting to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen was slightly surprised after hearing the report. He then ordered the ANBU to send Kamishiro straight to the Interrogation Division.
The intel Hajime had extracted earlier was relatively limited. Now, Kamishiro had to be subjected to a full-scale interrogation to determine just how much classified village information he had leaked to other shinobi villages.
Afterward, Hiruzen summoned Danzō. Once he explained the situation in the Land of Rain, he said seriously, “Hajime did very well. However, if we’re to work with Hanzō, someone with more authority needs to step forward.”
Though Hajime had overstepped his authority a little, Hiruzen was broad-minded enough not to mind.
Looking at Danzō, he said solemnly, “Danzō, go there yourself.”
“This is a good opportunity to gauge just how ambitious Hanzō really is.”
Danzō nodded and stood up. “I’ll depart immediately.”
...
Back in Amegakure – Inside a Room—
While Hajime sat calmly in meditation, Daichi Shimura was clearly uneasy. After a moment of hesitation, he finally couldn’t help but ask, “Alpha, are we just going to sit here and wait for Ame’s intel?”
The moment he spoke, the rest of the Root members, including Inuzuka Ryo, also looked toward Hajime.
Hajime slowly opened his eyes and glanced at Ryōma Aburame.
Ryōma instantly understood and said, “No one is eavesdropping nearby.”
Only then did Hajime turn to Daichi Shimura and say, “Our strength is limited. Unless we want to contact Konoha’s intelligence network—but doing that would be detrimental to our cooperation with Amegakure.”
“Besides, we don’t have the authority to mobilize the village’s intel resources.”
He had used his strength to suppress Daichi and the others, but that didn’t mean he could casually command the Konoha agents stationed in the Land of Rain.
And as he’d just explained—
Doing so would likely provoke hostility from the Rain-nin.
It's one thing for Amegakure to know Konoha has agents in their territory—it’s another thing entirely to blatantly flaunt it in front of them.
Moreover—
Hajime continued, “Don’t worry. Lord Danzō should be arriving soon.”
“Once he’s here, he’ll naturally make the decisions.”
Daichi looked relieved, exhaling deeply. The burden on his shoulders suddenly felt much lighter.
...
Time passed quickly.
A full night went by in the blink of an eye.
Just as Hajime predicted, Danzō arrived swiftly.
He traveled through the night and arrived at Amegakure by 7 a.m., immediately meeting with Hanzō.
Half an hour later, Hajime and the others were summoned and finally met with Danzō.
“Alpha, you did very well this time.”
In front of all the Root shinobi, Danzō didn’t hold back his praise of Hajime.
Though he wasn’t as magnanimous as Hiruzen, he still appreciated competent subordinates.
Of course, he also had the capability to destroy any talent that might one day threaten Konoha.
Facing Danzō’s praise, Hajime bowed his head humbly and replied with apparent emotion, “It’s all thanks to your guidance, Lord Danzo.”
“Hanzō was willing to cooperate precisely because I serve under you.”
Danzō was very pleased with that answer. He waved his hand for the others to leave, keeping only Hajime and Daichi in the room before asking in a low voice, “What do you two think of Hanzō’s decision to cooperate with us?”
Daichi looked at Hajime, then thought for a moment before saying, “Lord Danzō, I believe the reason Hanzō chose to work with us is that he wants to create an illusion for Iwagakure—to intimidate them.”
Danzō gave no response, merely turning to Hajime. “Alpha, what do you think?”
Hajime lowered his head slightly and said, “Lord Danzō, I believe Hanzō harbors great ambition.”
Danzō raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“What makes you say that?”
Hajime replied, “Although Hanzō is known as the ‘Demi-God,’ compared to the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Amegakure is still relatively weak.”
“Yet his uncompromising attitude toward Iwagakure shows that he does not fear them.”
“It may appear that I persuaded Hanzō to cooperate with us—but a few words from someone like me should not have been enough.”
“That Hanzō agreed so easily means he already had that intention.”
Danzō nodded slightly, motioning for Hajime to continue.
Hajime said, “It’s true that Hanzō wants to use our village’s reputation to pressure Iwagakure—to create the illusion of an alliance.”
“But I believe there’s another layer to his motive: he’s also trying to show us goodwill, to cloud our judgment.”
Danzō’s eyes lit up at that.
Daichi frowned in confusion. “Alpha, I can understand showing goodwill. But what exactly does he want to mislead us about?”
Hajime calmly analyzed, “Hanzō, the so-called ‘Demi-God,’ the leader of Amegakure—if I were him, I wouldn’t be satisfied with Amegakure remaining in its current state.”
“Why shouldn’t he be called the Rain Kage? After all, he bears the title of Demi-God—second only to the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi.”
“The Land of Rain borders the Land of Earth and the Land of Grass to the north, the Land of Birds to the west, the Land of Wind to the southwest, and the Land of Rivers to the southeast.”
“If Amegakure wants to rise as the sixth great shinobi village and stand equal with us in Konoha, it needs to take over the mission volume of three countries: Grass, Bird, and River.”
“And that would mean going up against us, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure—the three major villages.”
“Because none of us would ever allow Amegakure to grow stronger.”
“Ten, if you were Hanzō, which country would you target first?”
Daichi thought for a moment. “The Land of Rivers.”
“Of the three, both the Land of Birds and the Land of Rivers lack their own shinobi villages, but the Land of Rivers is far wealthier.”
“Capturing the Land of Rivers would allow him to expand his power much faster.”
Hajime nodded. “Exactly. I think the same.”
“The Land of Birds isn’t rich enough. The Land of Grass has Grass Ninja Village and is also more defensible than offensive for Amegakure—trying to take that first would alert the major villages and waste valuable time.”
“But the Land of Rivers was historically part of the same territory as the Land of Rain. Its waterways are heavily connected—by following the rivers downstream, Amegakure could quickly seize key strategic points.”
“However, if Amegakure tries to take the Land of Rivers, neither we nor Sunagakure would allow it.”
“Still, because Sunagakure is located in the Land of Wind, their reaction wouldn’t be as fast as ours.”
“Hanzō’s cooperation with us is a way to lower our guard and make us underestimate him.”
Danzō asked, “Alpha, in that case, what do you suggest?”
Hajime replied, “Lord Danzō, if we cooperate with Hanzō, we can also lower his guard.”
“And Hanzō, along with Amegakure… Konoha cannot allow another powerful shinobi village to rise nearby. Nor can we allow anyone to become the next ‘God of Shinobi,’ surpassing even the Hokage!”
To put it bluntly: Konoha cannot tolerate someone that formidable existing at its borders.
> “How can one sleep soundly when another slumbers beside their pillow?”
“Since Hanzō is ambitious, why not help inflate that ambition?”
Hajime’s voice grew colder, more sinister. “Fan the flames of his ambition, then drag him down into the mud—break his spine, and ensure he never dares to covet the meat at Konoha’s table again.”
“We can encourage him to make a move on the Land of Rivers. Once he does, we strike immediately, turning the Land of Rain into a battlefield.”
“And by then, not just us—both Iwagakure and Sunagakure will act against Amegakure too.”
“Against the three great shinobi villages, even the Demi-God Hanzō won’t stand a chance.”
Danzō gave a slight nod, just as a knock sounded at the door. Inuzuka Ryō’s voice came from outside:
“Lord Danzō, Kuroame from Amegakure is here. They’ve gathered enough intel on the Iwa-nin. We’re ready to strike.”
A cold glint flickered in Danzō’s eyes. “So his ambition truly runs deep. It seems he’s been preparing for this for a while.”
Hajime nodded in agreement. “As expected of Lord Danzō. If we hadn’t been waiting for your arrival, we likely could’ve made our move last night.”
Amegakure’s strength wasn’t insignificant.
There was no way they didn’t have a grasp on Iwa-nin activity.
With the Iwa-nin captives from the day before, it wasn’t hard to trace their movements.
That said, starting today might mean Iwagakure has already begun to catch on.
But of course—
For Hanzō, this operation wasn’t about how many Iwa-nin he killed. The real value was in the act itself.
“Let’s move.”
Danzō turned and walked out.
Hajime and Daichi followed him closely, one on each side.
Outside, they met with Kuroame, a Jonin from Amegakure. At his command, several Rain-nin vanished in a blur, speeding off in all directions.
Hajime could tell—they were relaying orders.
In other words, Amegakure had already tracked the Iwa-nin and laid the groundwork. All that remained was to pull the trigger.
Once the messengers were gone, Kuroame said to Danzō, “Those were just small fry. The real target lies ahead. We’ll need your people to act together.”
Danzō replied sternly, “Of course. We’ll give it our all.”
Kuroame nodded and then leapt forward.
Danzō followed instantly, with Hajime and the other Root shinobi close behind.
They left Amegakure, heading north—crossing rivers, traversing open plains, and entering mountainous terrain.
Moving swiftly through the forested slopes, Kuroame suddenly came to a halt.
Just then, several Amegakure ninja emerged from their hiding places ahead.
“Kuroame-sama, three Iwa-nin have left the base.”
Kuroame didn’t hesitate. “Force them out. Launch the attack.”
“Yes!”
The Rain-nin vanished once more.
Kuroame followed, and Hajime’s group moved in behind him. Before long, they reached the summit and looked down into a valley below.
Hajime narrowed his eyes, spotting the Rain-nin swiftly closing in on the area.
Suddenly, a sharp whistle rang out—the battle had begun.
Rain-nin clashed with Iwa-nin sentries, but more Rain-nin broke through and charged into the valley.
Shhh! Shhh! Shhh!
A volley of kunai rained down, embedding in the mountain walls.
BOOM!
A series of explosions shook the terrain, collapsing part of the cliffside and revealing a hidden cave entrance.
Shhh! Shhh! Shhh!
Rock bullets shot out in rapid bursts from within, tearing through trees and striking down Rain-nin who couldn’t evade fast enough.
But many Rain-nin were prepared with ninjutsu.
RUMBLE!
Powerful torrents of water surged forward, flooding into the cave system.
Then, high up on the cliff face, a stone gate creaked open—and Iwa-nin warriors burst out.
Seeing this, Danzō gave the order. “Attack!”
The Root shinobi, Hajime among them, said nothing as they disappeared from where they stood.
As the battle began, Hajime’s eyes followed Kuroame, who also leapt into action. Water gathered beneath his feet, transforming into a surging river that swept down the cliff, pulling an Iwa-nin into its current and slicing him apart with ease.
A formidable Water Style user!
Time to get back to work after a good meal!
(End of Chapter)
