A Transmigrator’s Story in the Hyuga’s Main Branch

162. Rain of Deceit: The Ambush Against Akatsuki (1)

Finally reaching the summit of a secluded hill, a while later, Danzo and his smaller contingent of Root operatives discreetly met with Hanzo's much larger group.

Both groups were clad in typical Amegakure shinobi attire, complete with identical masks to maintain the guise of uniformity required for this mission to succeed.

For this particular mission, Danzo also assumed the role of Hanzo's advisor to further mask his true identity, blending in seamlessly with the rest of the entourage. 

As they prepared for the arrival of their key "guests," Hanzo acknowledged Danzo with a curt nod—an exchange that Danzo internally scoffed at.

Concealing his disdain, he thought with smug anticipation, 'Just wait until you witness the extent of my capabilities; you'll realize your era has indeed passed.'

Danzo was poised to demonstrate the full breadth of his power, confident that it would firmly establish his superiority over Hanzo.

Hanzou, from the Hattori Clan in the rain-soaked Land of Storms, founded the Village Hidden in the Rain and became its first leader.

His clan survived the Warring States Era through a unique alliance with a toxic salamander, which protected the clan in exchange for sustenance.

Following the salamander's death, Hanzou had its venom sac implanted in his body, making him lethally toxic and immune to other poisons.

This adaptation allowed him to bond with Ibuse, the salamander's offspring. He gained notoriety for his solo missions and ability to manipulate various toxic effects in battle.

Known as Hanzou of the Salamander, he constructed the Village Hidden in the Rain to withstand constant storms, uniting the land's scattered ninjas under his leadership after the First Shinobi World War.

Revered as powerful as any Kage, Hanzou's leadership helped his village endure as a formidable stronghold, and he became known as the strongest shinobi outside the five great ninja villages. 

However, as Hanzo exchanged nods with Danzo, his mind was also a whirlwind of strategic calculations.

Despite the outward semblance of calm, he harbored deep frustrations with Danzo's recent conduct, no, his conduct ever since the war started.

Danzo had repeatedly faltered on his commitments to help unify Amegakure, often citing other engagements or poorly executing his part of their agreements and not appearing in person ever since the war started.

Now, as Danzo finally appeared in person, he carried himself with a subtle arrogance that suggested he felt Hanzo should be grateful for his mere presence, as if he were somehow superior to Hanzo and his shinobi, not even mentioning his persistent failures from before.

Internally, Hanzo bristled at this demeanor and wanted to see where that confidence came from, but he restrained himself from confronting Danzo directly, not just because of the "guests" who were about to arrive. There was an even bigger picture to consider there.

Throughout the ongoing war, despite numerous opportunities to betray Konoha, Hanzo remained neutral and then gradually shifted towards an alliance, largely because Konoha continued to defy expectations by not only surviving against all odds but seemingly thriving against the combined might of the other great shinobi villages over time. The only thing preventing them from totally dominating and closing this world war was their inner discord.

Hanzo was most impressed by Konoha's resilience and the constant emergence of new powerhouses of various styles within its ranks.

His decision to originally align with Konoha was even further validated when he learned of their burgeoning alliance with Sunagakure just recently.

His initial bet to side with them was mainly due to his familiarity with and good impression of their Sannin trio, whom he fought and named during the previous world war and his overall intuition. And that initial bet paid off many times over. 

With Amegakure positioned between Konoha and Suna, fostering strong ties with Konoha could potentially lead to a tripartite alliance that would significantly bolster Amegakure's geopolitical standing since Konoha and Suna are now reconciled, and Konoha is seemingly leading that dynamic.

Such an alliance would be crucial in the regional dynamics, especially against their mutual neighbor, Iwagakure, which remained a constant threat.

Hanzo's long-term vision was clear: to elevate Amegakure to a recognized power among the great shinobi villages. This status had long eluded them but seemed increasingly attainable with Konoha's support. The probability of longer-term peace and rebuilding for this war-torn village wasn't too far off. 

However, the persistent thorn in his side was the Akatsuki. The organization's ideology and the charismatic allure of its leaders continually undermined his efforts to stabilize and unify his village.

The trap set for the Akatsuki leaders on this rain-soaked hill was more than a tactical maneuver; it was a crucial step towards eliminating a major obstacle to his plans.

The organization known as Akatsuki was the brainchild of three war orphans from Amegakure.

Each of the founders brought a unique strength to the table: one had considerable combat skills, another possessed a charismatic allure, and the third, a girl, was particularly astute and tactical.

Their efforts to maintain anonymity meant that Hanzo knew little about their personal details, but he was acutely aware of the influence they wielded.

Akatsuki was established with a noble, albeit idealistic, mission: to forge peace within their war-torn homeland, which frequently found itself ensnared in the conflicts of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, from both inside and outside.

This vision resonated deeply with many within Amegakure, drawing a significant following of like-minded ninjas.

Over time, Akatsuki's reputation spread beyond the village's waterlogged borders, garnering attention and admiration from far away.

However, despite their peaceful intentions, Hanzo viewed them as a threat to his control and legacy.

As he aged, his priority shifted increasingly towards maintaining his power, often at the expense of other pursuits.

Seeing an opportunity to neutralize what he perceived as a growing challenge to his authority, Hanzo devised a plan under the guise of diplomacy.

Not every member of their group was like their leader. Many shinobi joined their organization simply because they hated him and his rule over the Amegakure.

Recently, he kept hearing more and more legitimate reports about some of their subcommanders attacking his own subposts in the outskirts of Amegakure, for example, for no reason. 

Eventually, he "reached out" to Akatsuki, offering a total ceasefire and agreement between them to facilitate peace talks between Konoha, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and their village.

For this meeting, Danzo adopted the disguise of "Kanzō," a mediator ostensibly aligned with Amegakure's interests. He was the one who wrote the entire "script" for Hanzo mostly too.

The ruse was convincing, crafted with just enough sincerity to appeal to Akatsuki's leadership, particularly to the orange-haired "leader" among them, who was known for his idealistic and hopeful nature.

They agreed to meet with Hanzo and "Kanzō" at a secluded location with minimal security, believing in the possibility of a genuine breakthrough.

Hanzo's manipulation had worked—Akatsuki leaders, led by their ideals, entered a situation far from the diplomatic parley they had envisioned. 

Soon, the air was thick with tension as Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato finally approached the designated meeting spot—a secluded clearing just outside Amegakure.

The area was eerily quiet, the relentless rain of Amegakure muffled by the trio's heavy anticipation. Yet, they saw no one at first. 

As they entered the clearing, the trap was sprung. Hanzo, along with Danzo, no longer disguised as Kanzō and a contingent of hidden Root and Amegakure ninjas swiftly surrounded them, strongly outnumbering the Akatsuki members they brought with them and gradually killing them with advanced tactics.

Before the trio could react, Konan was swiftly captured, her body ensnared by a few skilled Root operatives who previously somehow successfully operated from within the Akatsuki's own ranks for some reason, despite not arriving there for very long and joining the organization not too long ago too.

Even Danzo, who was himself present here, wondered how Akatsuki could be so bad and easy to defeat by such tactics. Or did his operatives really get that good over time?

No, it was more so that Akatsuki was bad, as they agreed to this kind of bogus plan in the first place. It was probably not due to his organization's skill.

The suddenness of the ambush shocked the trio, but they had little time to process or respond effectively.

Hanzo stepped forward, his demeanor cold and calculating. He issued an ultimatum to Nagato, holding Konan at knifepoint. The demand was chilling: Nagato was to kill Yahiko, or Konan would die.

This brutal choice was designed to shatter the bond between the Akatsuki leaders and force Nagato into a compromising position that would end their resistance to Hanzo's rule.

Yahiko, understanding the gravity of the situation and unwilling to let Nagato bear the burden of such a decision, took matters into his own hands.

With a determined yet peaceful expression, he moved swiftly, impaling himself on Nagato's kunai.

His final words were of unwavering faith in Nagato. He deeply believed that Nagato would indeed change the world, even in the face of such betrayal.

The scene was chaotic. Nagato, overwhelmed by grief and fury at his friend's death and the manipulation they had all suffered, summoned the last of his strength.

He managed to retrieve Konan from their captors, utilizing some moves no one managed to see clearly at the time, but not without cost.

In the process, his legs were severely damaged by explosive tags Hanzo placed as a trap up the hill, and other injuries were inflicted during the skirmish, leaving him crippled.

Hanzo watched from a distance, his expression a mix of satisfaction and wariness. He had underestimated the bond between the members of Akatsuki and their commitment to their cause.

Similarly, when Yahiko took his own life to spare Nagato the horror of having to make an impossible choice, Danzo felt a twinge of irritation mixed with reluctant admiration. 

Yet, in the next second, as the situation rapidly escalated with Nagato's intense grief fueling his actions, both Danzo and Hanzo instinctively sensed a palpable shift in the atmosphere.

Their seasoned instincts as veteran shinobi alerted them to a surge of unfamiliar and powerful chakra emanating from Nagato.

Moments before, they had witnessed the boy using an unusual technique to safeguard his female companion, and now his actions seemed even more ominous.

Nagato, his expression a mixture of pain and resolve, placed his hand firmly on the wet ground. His voice echoed with determination as he invoked, "Gedo Statue!"

This call signified the summoning of something immense and potentially catastrophic. Hanzo and Danzo, realizing the gravity of what was about to unfold, tensed in anticipation.

Behind Nagato, Konan and the lifeless body of Yahiko were laid out, a poignant reminder of the stakes at hand.

Nagato's actions were not just a response to the immediate threat but a manifestation of his deep-seated desire for protection and retribution. 

Recognizing the threat, Hanzo and Danzo simultaneously gave the command, their voices sharp and urgent in the charged atmosphere.

"Everyone, attack him now!", They shouted, directing their forces to intervene before the boy could complete his menacing summoning.

The urgency of their order reflected the critical need to disrupt Nagato's actions.

They hoped to prevent whatever formidable force he was about to unleash upon them, giving them an edge.