shadow hokage dark moon

Chapter 65: Hanzō of the Salamander

As Konoha organized its ninja forces in preparation for war, the great nations of the shinobi world were also secretly strategizing their next moves.

First was Sunagakure in the Land of Wind.

Upon learning that Hanzō of the Salamander had declared war against them, the Third Kazekage was furious.

His gaze was cold as he pondered his next move.

Although Sunagakure was not the strongest among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, it was certainly not a small nation like Amegakure that could afford to provoke them lightly.

He resolved to give Hanzō and his forces a harsh lesson.

To accomplish this, he summoned one of the village's most revered figures—Chiyo, a master of puppet jutsu and medical ninjutsu.

Chiyo commanded great respect in Sunagakure.

Not only was she skilled in various secret techniques, but she also possessed extensive battlefield experience.

The Third Kazekage believed that Chiyo's involvement would ensure that Hanzō understood the consequences of declaring war on Sunagakure.

He ordered Chiyo to lead a formidable Sand ninja force straight toward the Land of Rain.

Meanwhile, in the Land of Earth, the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, was also making calculations regarding the war.

The Land of Earth was barren and lacking in resources. Compared to the fertile Land of Fire, Iwagakure's harsh environment made survival much harder—vast stretches of rock and desert made farming difficult, and food and supplies were always a concern.

Thus, to secure more resources and counter Konoha's expansion, Ōnoki decided to send troops into battle.

He hoped that through this war, Iwagakure could expand its territory, gain new resources, and simultaneously weaken Konoha, thereby maintaining the power balance between the two villages.

Iwagakure's forces quickly assembled.

These well-trained ninja were equipped with powerful weapons and specialized in Earth Release techniques, granting them the ability to manipulate the terrain to devastating effect.

Ōnoki himself took direct command of this army.

He was convinced that with Iwagakure's strength, they could secure a decisive victory in the upcoming conflict.

In the Land of Lightning, the Third Raikage, A, closely monitored the war's development.

Due to the vast geographical distance between Kumogakure and Amegakure, direct intervention in the war was impractical.

Unlike the other Kage, A was known for his aggressive expansionist policies and his ambition to increase the power of the Land of Lightning.

Although he was eager for conquest, he was also pragmatic—he understood that acting recklessly could lead to unnecessary losses.

Thus, A chose to remain on standby, adopting a wait-and-see approach.

He knew that patience would yield greater rewards in the long run.

Instead of sending forces immediately, he focused on strengthening Kumogakure's military and preparing for future opportunities.

He believed that a perfect moment would eventually present itself—and when it did, he would strike without hesitation to claim victory for the Land of Lightning.

Meanwhile, in the Land of Water, the Third Mizukage adopted an entirely different strategy.

Situated on an isolated island, Kirigakure was naturally shielded from the war-torn conflicts of the mainland.

To the Mizukage, the war between Amegakure and the other great nations was not of immediate concern.

Instead, he saw this as an opportunity for Kirigakure to recover and strengthen itself.

He made a decisive choice—to focus entirely on internal development rather than getting entangled in the war.

After all, no matter how fiercely the mainland shinobi fought, the impact on Kirigakure would be minimal.

By avoiding unnecessary conflict, Kirigakure could preserve its strength and ensure the well-being of its citizens.

The Mizukage understood that a period of peace and preparation would allow Kirigakure to emerge even stronger when the time came.

At the same time, in Amegakure—

Hanzō of the Salamander stood atop the tallest tower in the Hidden Rain Village, gazing over his domain.

The ceaseless rain fell gently against his armor, reminiscent of the countless battles where blood had splattered upon him.

This land bore the weight of his leadership, along with the burden of his dreams for peace.

The Land of Rain, positioned at the heart of the shinobi world, had always been a battlefield for the great nations, suffering endless cycles of destruction.

As the leader of Amegakure, Hanzō could no longer tolerate this reality.

He understood that the only way to secure the Land of Rain's future was through strength.

Hanzō had already defeated the samurai of the Land of Iron, proving that Amegakure was not to be underestimated.

That moment had planted a seed of ambition in his heart—one that had grown into an unshakable resolve.

"The Land of Rain will no longer be a pawn for other nations!"

He had decided that through war, he would reshape the shinobi world's power structure.

Once, Hanzō had admired Hashirama Senju, dreaming of becoming a figure like him—someone who could unite the world through strength.

But unlike Hashirama, Hanzō lacked the overwhelming power to single-handedly dominate an era.

Still, his determination never wavered.

If he won this war, the Land of Rain could finally escape its fate as a battleground for stronger nations.

Declaring war against Konoha and Sunagakure was not a reckless move—Hanzō had thought long and hard before making this decision.

Yet, deep inside, he knew this war would be his most challenging battle yet.

Victory would mean a future where the Land of Rain controlled its own destiny.

Failure would doom Amegakure to continued oppression under the great nations.

"I will wield the sword of the Land of Rain to carve out land for its people."

Hanzō knew the road ahead was fraught with peril, but he had no choice.

This was his duty as the leader of Amegakure—his final gamble for his people's survival.

Even if he failed to become a legend like Hashirama, he hoped that his efforts would bring lasting change to the Land of Rain.

As the rain continued to fall, Hanzō's grip on his blade tightened, his gaze steeled with determination.

The war had begun.

No matter the outcome, he would lead Amegakure down this path, without regret.

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You can read advance chapters ahead on patreon.com/fishkiss69, I will upload 1 extra chapter every day there.

THANK YOU

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