Salamander Hanzō took the initiative to lower his posture, looking at Renya with sincere eyes.
Next, he explained the hardships the Land of Rain faced, struggling to survive in the cracks between the Four Great Nations.
He expressed his desire to gain a chance to breathe by forming an alliance with Konoha.
A faint, barely noticeable exhaustion lingered in his words.
Amegakure truly had no options left.
If Konoha refused the alliance, the country might face annihilation.
Renya's gaze remained calm, as if he didn't care about any of that.
"An alliance?" Renya's voice was flat as he interrupted what Hanzō was about to say.
"You can temporarily repel the joint forces of three nations, so you do have some strength… but with all due respect, in front of the Three Great Shinobi Villages, Amegakure is hardly enough to be considered an ally worth Konoha's attention—more like a burden needing protection."
His words were utterly blunt, reducing Amegakure to nothing.
It was indeed the truth; Amegakure could never stand against three great nations.
Forming an alliance with Konoha would only make them a burden.
"But I said before, as long as you can move me with sincerity, I can consider it."
"Poison Master, are you questioning my sincerity and Amegakure's sincerity?"
Salamander Hanzō's expression darkened slightly. He had just said so much with great difficulty.
So this guy didn't listen to a single word?
It felt like Renya had no intention of forming an alliance and was only toying with him.
For a moment, he felt humiliated, yet he couldn't just turn around and leave.
Amegakure couldn't let go of this only opportunity.
"Questioning?" Renya tilted his head slightly, a mocking curve lifting his lips. "No, I'm simply stating a fact."
"Konoha does not need valueless allies. There is no such cheap thing in this world as gaining the protection of a great power simply because your situation is difficult."
He withdrew his foot from the table, then got up and stretched lazily.
"You want an alliance? Fine. But you need something that can move me—or something that can prove your worth to Konoha."
"Move… you?"
Salamander Hanzō's voice grew deep.
Weren't all the promises he made earlier enough?
"Exactly. Tell me." Renya met his gaze. "Amegakure— or should I say you, Salamander Hanzō—besides this war-ravaged land, what else can you offer Konoha?"
"Is it a unique intelligence network? A fortune so vast Konoha cannot refuse?"
"Or is it your exceptional personal charm?"
Each word stabbed straight into the fragile heart he tried to conceal.
Renya wasn't wrong.
Amegakure had nothing to offer now…
"Since you have nothing, I think this alliance ends here."
Seeing Hanzō fall silent, Renya decisively stood and walked toward the door.
"I can't offer the bargaining chip you want, Poison Master. The only reason I have to give you is that I simply want to end this damned war! To drive out every last invader from my country!"
Salamander Hanzō looked at Renya's back with bloodshot eyes, speaking through clenched teeth.
"That is my sole objective! That is my entire worth! If Konoha is willing to help me achieve that goal, then Amegakure will be Konoha's firmest ally from this day forward."
"For the rest of my life, all my strength will belong to Konoha—until death!"
Hearing this, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Renya's eyes.
So the man wasn't an idiot.
"If you still think that's not enough, then leave now!" Salamander Hanzō's gaze hardened. "No matter what, Amegakure will fight alone until the very last moment. Not a single Amegakure shinobi will ever kneel and beg for peace!"
He finished speaking and fell silent, only staring stubbornly at Renya's back.
Nara Mikage was shaken by Hanzō's resolve.
He never expected a small country like the Land of Rain to have such a strong-willed leader.
If the matter of the alliance had been entrusted to him, he would have agreed without hesitation after hearing such words.
Unfortunately, the Hokage entrusted full authority over this matter to someone else.
Nara Mikage subconsciously looked at Renya, curious whether he was moved by Hanzō's words.
The coldness and mockery on Renya's face gradually faded.
The current Hanzō truly was a fine leader.
If he had stayed like this in the original story, he wouldn't have been swayed by Danzō's few poisonous remarks.
Renya turned around to look at the man before him who possessed the purest of convictions.
Hanzō hadn't offered any tangible benefits. What he offered was something far heavier than any bargaining chip:
—A leader's conviction and a nation's dignity.
Such conviction, in itself, was a powerful "value."
"Your words have succeeded in moving me. I hope you can uphold what you've promised."
"Salamander Hanzō, I acknowledge your resolve." Renya's expression grew solemn. "Konoha agrees to form an alliance with Amegakure."
"From this moment on, Konoha and Amegakure are allies. Konoha will provide the necessary support and assist Amegakure… in completely driving out those unwelcome marauders."
He subconsciously ignored the fact that Konoha was also among the invaders.
But what did that matter?
Even the leader of Amegakure hadn't mentioned it.
Salamander Hanzō's tense body seemed to loosen slightly for an instant—a brief release under immense pressure.
"Poison Master, Amegakure will forever remember this pact."
There was no enthusiastic handshake, no fake smile.
Inside this narrow tent, the two formed an alliance.
A timely favor was far more meaningful than embellishing an already glorious moment.
Amegakure would surely never forget this.
Such an alliance was far more useful than one forced after being beaten into submission.
And it indirectly recruited a Kage-level powerhouse.
Maybe later Renya could trick him into helping Madara-sama capture the tailed beasts…
But that was a matter for the future.
The news of Amegakure and Konoha forming an alliance quickly reached the other three nations.
...
"Damn it, Konoha really found an ally!"
Inside the Iwagakure commander's tent, Tsuchikage Ōnoki's face turned ashen.
Konoha was already troublesome enough, and now they had another ally.
Though Amegakure was a small village, its leader Salamander Hanzō was an exceptionally difficult opponent.
If not for Hanzō's resistance, Amegakure would have fallen long ago.
Now that the two villages had joined forces, this was terrible news for them.
"Looks like we need another ally."
Ōnoki's eyes flickered.
Since the Three Great Shinobi Villages had difficulty opposing Konoha, then they needed more partners.
Among the big villages not yet involved in the war, only Sunagakure remained.
He knew well the Kazekage's intentions—he simply wanted to swoop in later and pick up the scraps.
As long as he could coax the Kazekage into joining, they would have a huge chance of defeating Konoha!
Even though the Land of Wind was the poorest of the Five Great Nations, it was still a major power.
Better to have them than not.
After all, one more village meant one more source of strength.
Ōnoki immediately began drafting a letter inviting Sunagakure to join them in opposing Konoha.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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