The rain fell steadily around them as Hanzo's question hung in the air, each droplet seeming to carry the weight of death itself.
The four Konoha shinobi could feel something ethereal tugging at their very essence, as if their souls were being gently but inexorably drawn toward the imposing figure before them.
"Life." they answered in unison, though each voice carried its own distinct tone - Tsunade's firm and determined, Dan's steady and clear, Jiraiya's with a hint of defiance, and Orochimaru's intrigued.
Hanzo's eyes narrowed behind his respirator. "Life you choose, and yet..." The ghostly shapes around him swirled more intensely. "I sense hesitation. Before I decide whether or not to claim your souls, tell me why you have come to my borders."
The grip on their souls tightened slightly, not painfully but with unmistakable authority. Under the influence of this strange power, they found themselves compelled to absolute truth.
"Konoha proposes an alliance with Amegakure." Tsunade stated, her voice steady despite the overwhelming pressure. "We come as diplomatic envoys under the direct authority of the Third Hokage."
"An alliance?" Hanzo's voice carried a note of dark amusement. "And why, pray tell, should I consider such an offer from Konoha?"
Jiraiya stepped forward, his usual bravado tempered by the gravity of the situation. "Because this could be the beginning of real peace between our villages. A chance to end the cycle of conflict that has plagued our lands for generations."
A sound emerged from behind Hanzo's respirator - a laugh, but not one of joy. It was a sound that carried decades of bitter experience and hard-earned wisdom.
"Peace?" Hanzo's voice cut through the rain like a blade. "Let me tell you about peace, young Shinobi. Let me tell you about how this war truly began."
The ghostly shapes around him coalesced into more distinct forms, like fragments of memory given physical form.
"Do you know why the Second Great Ninja War erupted? The history books will tell you it was about resources, about territorial disputes, about the balance of power. But the truth?" Hanzo's eyes seemed to burn with inner fire. "The truth is that Konoha could not tolerate the growth of Amegakure. Neither could the other great Nations nor the Daimyo. For this system was set up with the sole purpose of oppressing the smaller nations whilst the larger ones dominate."
The Konoha shinobi stiffened at this accusation, but under the influence of Hanzo's soul-binding power, they could not deny the ring of truth in his words.
"We were becoming too strong, too independent. 'A nation without a Daimyo' was akin to a blind swordsman in their eyes. Only the Land of Iron is similar to us in nature, but the deep history and their Shogun prevent them from being targets. The same is said of the Priestess in the Land of Demons." Hanzo continued.
"Your precious Danzo Shimura and his ROOT operatives orchestrated attacks on our borders, carefully designed to look like Sunagakure aggression. Oh, everyone knew it was Konoha behind it - but by then, war was inevitable. Luckily, the rat poked the hornets net too much."
Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed. "If you knew this, why didn't you expose Konoha's deception?"
"Because it wouldn't have mattered." Hanzo replied simply. "The war was coming regardless. Konoha, Suna, Iwa - none of you could accept a truly independent Amegakure. We were meant to be your battlefield, your buffer zone, never your equal. We are a mere pawn that should never step out of line, a sheep that should never dare run from it's shepherd."
The rain seemed to grow heavier as Hanzo's words hung in the air. The Marines around them remained perfectly still, their discipline unwavering despite the tension.
"So I ask you now, bound by the power of absolute truth." Hanzo's voice took on an otherworldly quality, "Will Konoha truly allow Amegakure to exist as an equal? Will you accept our strength, our independence, our new path?"
Under the soul-binding effect of Hanzo's power, none of the Konoha shinobi could answer with certainty. Jiraiya opened his mouth, then closed it, unable to speak the words he wished he could believe. Orochimaru's face remained impassive, but his silence spoke volumes. Dan's hand tightened around Tsunade's, his uncertainty clear.
Hanzo nodded slowly, as if their silence had confirmed something he already knew. "Your hesitation is answer enough. Once again, I will spare you - not out of mercy, but because death would be too easy a fate for those who cannot face their own truth. But I grow tired of allowing you three to live, and this time you even have a straggler. The next time I meet any of you on an opposite battlefield from me, you will meet your ends."
Jiraiya and Orochimaru both flinched slightly, remembering their previous encounter with Hanzo, when he had spared their lives in similar circumstances. The shame of that memory, combined with their current inability to refute his words, weighed heavily upon them.
"Return to your Hokage." Hanzo commanded, his voice carrying the authority of his new position. "Tell him that Amegakure has chosen a different path. We are no longer the battleground where hidden villages settle their disputes. We are the harbingers of a new era. And if he has issues, we can see who is truly closer to the Divine."
The ghostly shapes around him began to dissipate, the grip on their souls loosening slightly. The Konoha shinobi felt the compulsion of absolute truth fading, but the impact of their inability to answer Hanzo's question lingered.
Just as it seemed the encounter was over, Tsunade took a step forward. The Marines tensed, but Hanzo raised a hand, stopping their reaction.
Unlike her companions, Tsunade's eyes showed no fear as she met Hanzo's gaze directly. "Before we leave, I request to speak with Garp."
The rain continued to fall, each drop marking the seconds of tense silence that followed her bold request.
~
The peaceful afternoon at Garp's home was interrupted by a presence that made the air static. Garp, who had been enjoying watching Kaya experiment with the Seven Swords while munching on rice crackers, felt his eye twitch in annoyance.
Rising from his comfortable chair with a grunt of irritation, he made his way to the front door. "Stay inside." he told his grandchildren, though the gleam in his eyes suggested he wasn't entirely displeased by this interruption.
As Garp stepped onto his porch, his imposing frame filling the doorway, he found himself face to face with one of the most legendary figures in the shinobi world, a person whose stature and nature would fit better in his world, not the Shinobi World.
The man proclaimed by many to be invincible in combat, possessing an Unstoppable Spear and an Impenetrable Shield.
The ThirdRaikage, the man hailed by many as the Almighty.
A stood in his front yard, his massive, muscular frame crackling with barely contained energy and excitement.
"MONKEY D. GARP!"
A's voice boomed across the yard, his face split by a wide, battle-hungry grin.
"The man who changed Ame and decimated the forces of Iwa! The warrior who trained the youngsters that defeated the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!! I have traveled far to meet you!! You don't know how troublesome it was to make it here."
Garp's expression remained neutral, though his eyes narrowed slightly. "You're interrupting my family time."
If anything, A's grin grew wider. "Family time can wait! This... this is destiny! Two of the strongest warriors in the world, meeting in glorious combat! I am known as having an Invincible Shield and an Unstoppable Spear. They rumor that you can rival me!! Let's find out!!
Our battle will be LEGENDARY!!"
The Raikage's enthusiasm was almost palpable, lightning beginning to dance across his dark eyes as his excitement grew. His muscles tensed, his body unconsciously preparing for what he clearly expected to be the best fight of his life.
Garp sighed heavily, but there was a glint in his eye that hadn't been there before. It had been a while since he'd had a good punching bag, and the Raikage was said to be one of the most durable shinobi alive...
He didn't expect much from the man, but he was hoping that he could really impress him and allow him to go all out.
"You know." Garp said conversationally, casually cracking his knuckles, "if you wanted to test yourself against me, you could have sent a letter first. Made an appointment. Hanzo thinks they make things more organized."
A threw his head back and laughed. "Letters? Appointments? That's not how warriors like us operate! We-"
"Let's see how much you can do." Garp muttered, cutting off the Raikage's enthusiastic speech.
Before A could even send the signals through his neurons to mold his chakra to activate his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Garp vanished from the porch.
The Raikage suddenly felt a hand envelop the entire bottom half of his face, with them travelling a good distance from the house nearly instantaneously and into mid air.
The next instant, Garp threw the man downward with immense force.
"Blue Hole!"
The impact was catastrophic. The air itself seemed to compress around the point of contact before exploding outward. A's body, caught completely off guard, was driven into the ground with such force that it created a massive crater.
The impact sent shockwaves through the surrounding area, rattling windows and shaking trees. Inside the house, Nagato raced towards the door while Kaya paused in her seal analysis to sigh. "Grandpa's going to have to fix the yard again..."
For a moment, silence fell over the battlefield. Then, from the depths of the crater, came the sound of deep, booming laughter. Lightning erupted from the impact zone like a geyser of pure electricity.
The Third Raikage rose from the crater, his body now fully encased in his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, his eyes wild with battle lust, and his face split by a feral grin.
"EXCELLENT!" A roared, his voice carrying the rumble of thunder. "THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS HOPING FOR!"
Garp, still standing in the same spot where he'd landed after delivering his punch, allowed himself a small smirk.
'Maybe this might be fun.'
~
[AN: Hey Everybody!!! I know you guys missed me. But I'm back so do- wait, put the chair down, I promise I'm back for real this time.
Life updates, so, I kinda disappeared due to the fact I was interning with my local DA's Office, an Advocacy Group, and worked as a Shift Leader at Wendy's all at the same time this semester. This was while I was still in school. My Summer's apparently going to be jam-packed too, so I'm writing a plethora of chapters so that it can automatically continue without me.
Honestly, I missed you guys. I missed writing. I missed reading the comments on your chapters. You guys have been with me since I was a Junior in High School, and now I'm a Junior in College. So let's keep enjoying the ride.
Question: Who wins in a fight, Sage Mode Naruto or Alive Hashirama?
Read Chapters Ahead at www.p@treon.com/KillerDJ2023