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This was not only Hanzo's concern, but also the concern of all high-ranking officials in the remaining three Great Nations.
Konoha was simply too powerful now.
Whether it was military, economic, political ecology, or the combat power of top-tier individuals.
Since the era of One Nation, One Village, the entire Ninja World had never seen a Village as powerful as Konoha now. They could even cast aside the economic supply of Daimyo and nobles, relying on an advanced capital financial system to truly achieve a Village against a Nation, and even more than one Nation.
They completely disregarded the Daimyo group, which had been inherited for thousands of years.
For other Villages that still adhered to old ways and clung to outdated practices, what did this amount to?
An anomaly.
After Konoha accomplished the feat of devouring Hidden Mist in a single day, the danger of this anomaly reached an unprecedented level, forcing everyone, even though they knew they were no match, to forcibly mobilize all their troops and pretend to be ready for a Great Ninja War.
It was like a hedgehog, targeted by a tiger, suddenly curling up in an instinctive reaction, raising its quills high.
However, their throwing Hanzo out as a messenger also subtly represented another signal.
—You concede verbally this time, give us a promise of peace, and seeing that we can't defeat you right now, we'll let you off the hook for the time being, and this matter will pass.
After all, everyone still needed time.
In Hanzo's own view, this was already a quite lenient appeasement measure, even bordering on weakness, completely unlike the demeanor expected of a Great Ninja Village worthy of being named alongside the Five Great Nations.
However, what he had not expected even more was this.
Namikaze Minato, who had maintained a humble and gentlemanly demeanor since entering the room, speaking calmly and courteously, suddenly composed himself and slowly put down his teacup after hearing Hanzo's question.
"Lord Hanzo."
"After the Hidden Mist civil war, your willingness to trust us and engage in direct talks with Konoha shows a sincerity that I greatly appreciate."
"However, I do not like the distrust expressed in the tone of your words."
Namikaze Minato slowly raised his head as he spoke. This little sun, who was always as warm and gentle as water, narrowed his eyes, looking directly at the old man with eyes as sharp as a hawk, causing a familiar chill to rise on the loose, aged skin of Hanzo's neck.
It was as if a Kunai had already been placed at his throat.
His sharp tone was quite severe, almost a reprimand from a junior.
The moment Hanzo heard his words, a surge of irritable anger first rose in his heart.
However, after meeting the other party's confident eyes, that dull, sluggish spirit, weakened by decay, immediately subsided.
This person did not only represent himself.
This Special First Class Jonin Namikaze also represented the powerful Konoha, and the invincible Sawara Kiri, who supported that Village.
Only his tone remained much darker:
"It is a well-known fact in the Ninja World that Lord Sawara Kiri personally led troops to intervene in the Hidden Mist civil war—and this is just one example!"
"Since Special First Class Jonin Namikaze has made it clear, then this old man will not beat around the bush with you!"
"Who in this Ninja World knows how many hidden agents like Yagura Karatachi Lord Sawara has planted in various Villages? Who dares to be sure that their own Village won't suddenly be ambushed by Konoha due to some internal conflict one day?"
Namikaze Minato placed both hands on the table: "Setting aside some issues in your words, Lord Hanzo, when have the Five Great Ninja Villages ever had a definitive peace treaty? They are merely armistice agreements. If there were restrictions on when to deploy troops, wouldn't that be tying our own hands?"
"Secondly, what does Konoha have to do with the casualties within Hidden Mist Village? Konoha merely fulfilled its responsibility as a Great Nation by relocating and protecting the remaining Hidden Mist villagers affected by the war."
"Lastly, Lord Hanzo asks when Konoha will stop, but Konoha would also like to ask, if our Village falls into chaos and Sawara Kiri dies, can other Villages guarantee they will never send troops to ambush us?"
"What a joke!"
The two exchanged words, both confronting each other.
But if one observed carefully, one would find that there was actually not much anger in their expressions; they were merely trying to gain an advantage in momentum to secure sufficient negotiation leverage for their respective Villages and Nations.
Before setting off, Namikaze Minato had already been instructed.
In this Hidden Mist Village incident, they had already gained the largest share of the pie due to their foresight.
However, the Land of Water was vast, and Hidden Mist Village's secret treasures were countless. There was never a reason for one person to monopolize all good things in this world.
Behind this military pressure, there was the greedy faces of other Great Nations and small Nations trying to get a share of the pie from Hidden Mist Village's fall.
Hanzo, this chess piece, was the prelude to their probing.
Therefore, wherever they could not yield, they absolutely would not yield.
However, as the tit-for-tat process gradually unfolded, Hanzo's expression, on the contrary, became more relaxed.
'Sure enough, Konoha has no intention of further escalating the war.'
'At the same time, they don't plan to monopolize the Land of Water's profits either, do they?'
'That brat Sawara Kiri, even with such strength, is still so cautious.'
Hanzo thought to himself, and the process of verbal pressure between them also seemed a bit more relaxed.
Just as he was estimating the time, intending to end the conversation at an appropriate moment and also give a decent explanation to those behind him.
"Boom—!!"
A violent explosion suddenly came from afar of this iconic Amegakure tower.
Almost the instant the sound rang out.
The atmosphere, which had just become a bit more harmonious a second ago, suddenly solidified.
Namikaze Minato, who had just been about to pick up his tea for another sip, first paused, then abruptly threw down the teacup in his hand, retreated to the corner, placed one hand on his waist to draw his distinctive three-pronged Kunai, and looked at the old man opposite him with cold, sky-blue eyes.
"Hanzo?!"
"Special First Class Jonin Namikaze, a misunderstanding!"
It wasn't just Namikaze Minato; Hanzo himself was startled.
This was partly because the older he got, the more timid he became, and partly because the current timing was too sensitive.
Konoha and the other three Great Nations were currently deploying troops to the borders, and a war could break out at any moment. At least, the situation looked quite critical, and the Ninja World was a powder keg ready to ignite.
Under these circumstances, for Konoha to send a high-ranking cadre to a location outside the Land of Fire to negotiate with them was already a very difficult move in itself.
If anything happened to such a person, even if they weren't dead or crippled, just a slight injury would be the top headline news across the entire Ninja World this year.
Hanzo was well aware of this.
However, years of hardship and experience allowed him to maintain considerable composure even in such an emergency.
Before Namikaze Minato could even ask, he had already shouted loudly towards the door: "Who dares to be so presumptuous outside?! Where are the Amegakure Anbu? Go and apprehend them quickly!"
As he shouted, the Amegakure leader's guards outside had already reported back loudly:
"Lord Hanzo, someone is breaking in!"
The moment he heard this, Hanzo's entire mind instantly cleared a bit, and he spoke rapidly:
"How many enemies? What is their origin?"
Although Amegakure Village was a small Village, it was fully equipped. The barriers, traps, and guarding strength in the direction of the main gate were the strongest.
The very act of daring to break through the main gate already indicated that the opponent's strength should not be underestimated.
Even Namikaze Minato, who had deliberately feigned an agitated reaction, gradually calmed down after hearing the other party's words—according to the 'secret manual' Sawara Kiri had taught him, anything that occurred during negotiations could be used as a bargaining chip in the negotiation itself.
However, this matter today... he probably shouldn't get too involved, right?
Apparently, Mr. Minato was still too honest.
"Enemies, three in total." The Anbu outside lowered his voice, his gaze subtly glancing towards Namikaze Minato.
Hanzo's expression froze.
After a moment's pause, he finally spoke with some apology:
"Special First Class Jonin Namikaze, please wait a moment."
"This old man will be right back."
Namikaze Minato looked at him suspiciously.
As a Ninja in his prime, Namikaze Minato could easily tell that this 'demi-god' of his youth had now decayed beyond recognition.
Presumably, he had enjoyed himself greatly over the years and hadn't taken much care of his body.
He wondered how much of his former ability, from when he 'bestowed the title of Sannin,' he still possessed.
But he repeatedly agreed aloud:
"No worries, Lord Hanzo, urgent matters take precedence."
However, Hanzo himself apparently didn't notice Namikaze Minato's gaze. Upon hearing this, he merely nodded slightly, then, led by a group of Anbu, strode quickly towards the direction from which the news had come.
It seemed he had been too complacent for too long.
To the point where the Ninja World was about to forget his name?
"Hmph!"
By the time Hanzo, led by a group of Anbu, arrived at the main gate of Amegakure Village.
What met his eyes was already a spreading expanse of yellow earth.
Large areas of cement, laid to prevent rainwater from turning into mud, were completely overturned like peeled skin. Even the parts that remained on the ground were covered with large, unsightly cracks.
Dozens of Amegakure Ninja responsible for guarding the gate, some wielding swords, some carrying blades, stood in various stances, encircling the three young people, who looked to be around twenty years old, completely surrounding them.
However, no one dared to take a step forward first.
The reason was simple.
Hanzo's gaze shifted downwards.
Then, he saw a series of tragically disfigured corpses lying quietly at the feet of the red-haired young man at the very front.
Some had their bodies crushed, others were cut by sharp weapons, and some had no external injuries, dying in various ways.
"Ah, you finally came out."
"Hanzo."
Yahiko, walking at the front, spoke calmly, his voice cold.
In this life, the three youngsters, due to many intertwined reasons, not only experienced the most tragic period of the Sand, Earth, and Fire Great Nations rampaging through the Land of Rain during their most difficult childhood years, but also lost their teacher Jiraiya, who should have taught them life's principles and explained the difference between ideals and reality.
As a result, even after joining the Moon Organization later and receiving relatively systematic training, they did not exceed the strength range of small Village Ninja.
At the same time, their views and ideologies were far more radical than what was shown in the original storyline.
—People, after all, are animals formed by accumulated experiences.
Therefore, Yahiko, for this culprit who ruined the Village and caused him to wander in his country for half his life, if not hating him to the bone, then at least wanting to tear him limb from limb.
"You really made us search for a long time."
"We thought you wouldn't come out."
As they spoke, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato exchanged glances.
Information correct, prepare to act.
However, Hanzo paid no attention to the three of them whatsoever.
"What an arrogant brat."
"Do you think you can come and boss me around just because you learned a few shoddy tricks outside?"
"Ignorant."
His voice was muffled under his respirator, and his eyes under his goggles didn't even bother to look at them after the first glance.
The reason was simple.
The appearance and attire of these youngsters immediately revealed them as locals of the Land of Rain.
Most likely, they were just like before, those annoying brats who shouted about revenge and other foolish things at him.
He had killed at least eighty, if not a hundred, such people in his life.
At most, these brats were slightly more capable.
Furthermore, with Namikaze Minato earlier and these three damned brats now, he was already full of anger and also needed to vent a little using this opportunity.
Hanzo glanced at his subordinates around him and silently removed his anti-poison protective gear, piece by piece.
The surrounding Amegakure Ninja very consciously moved away, one by one.
Until finally, Hanzo shed all his clothing, and even in his breathing, a faint hint of purple smoke could be seen in the air.
"Is this the rumored Salamander Poison?"
"Going all out right from the start, old man."
Yahiko looked at him calmly, his hand suddenly holding a Kunai in reverse grip, his other hand pressing his fingers into his sleeve.
Hanzo's voice was cold:
"Ah, going all out."
"Don't worry, it won't take too much of your time."
As he spoke, a bloody smile spread across his face under the respirator.
It seemed Amegakure Village's Ninja education level was indeed limited.
Namikaze Minato sat in the tea room, releasing his senses to perceive the Chakra reactions of the three individuals who had appeared at the main gate of Amegakure Village.
Their Chakra reactions were not strong enough to be astonishing, yet they forced dozens of people here to be utterly helpless.
If they were in Konoha, these people probably wouldn't even be able to enter Ninja High School.
But precisely because of this, a strong individual like Hanzo stood out so prominently in this Village.
However, almost the instant the confrontation began.
Namikaze Minato's eyes suddenly widened.
The next moment.
"Whoosh—!!"
The air carried a sharp whistle that traveled hundreds of meters, and a slender figure suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, transformed into an arrow released from a bowstring, smashing with a crash into this tower that stood tall like a sharp spike.
Namikaze Minato looked up at the ruins.
He saw Hanzo's body deeply embedded in the bricks, tiles, and rubble.
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