Land of Rain.
Torrents of rain poured relentlessly from the skies. On a long stone bridge arching over a vast lake sixty kilometers outside Amegakure, Yahiko's group met with Hanzō of the Salamander. Water streamed down their faces as the young leader of the Akatsuki and Amegakure's most feared shinobi regarded each other, the giant salamander looming silently behind Hanzō.
"Such remarkable youngsters"
Hanzō's voice, muffled slightly by his mask, carried a trace of genuine admiration. The youth of the Akatsuki members clearly surprised him. Then, without warning, he extended his hand. Yahiko blinked in confusion before slowly reaching out to meet it. Their palms touched, and when nothing unexpected occurred, the Akatsuki members watching nearby relaxed slightly.
Yahiko released a quiet breath.
"It is an honor to meet you, Hanzō-sama."
If they were to perform, they had to see the act through to the end. Hanzō's next words, however, carried no trace of warmth.
"Brat, you should already understand my intention. What will you choose?"
Though Yahiko often appeared naive, he remained steady whenever others' safety was involved.
"If the Akatsuki can help bring peace to this world, we will not shirk our duty."
"Then I can spare myself a lengthy speech. Standing here in the rain is foolish. Let us talk over there."
"Very well."
Inside a remote village in the Land of Rain, time passed as the two sides sat together and discussed the details of their proposed cooperation. Throughout the conversation, Hanzō watched Yahiko closely. He saw the boy's sincere heart and pure hope for peace, and for a fleeting moment, he saw his own younger self reflected in those eyes.
A sudden pang of regret stabbed at him. If only things had been different. If only this boy could truly join Amegakure and be trained under his guidance, perhaps he could lead the village toward a new future.
But it was too late for that now.
"One last question. I've heard you're quite familiar with the Kazekage of Sunagakure."
Yahiko looked confused but answered with honesty.
"No, I've only met Rasa-sensei by chance a few times. We can't be considered close."
A cold glint passed through Hanzō's eyes.
"That's not important. Are you confident you can persuade him? The current Kazekage is formidable. Convincing him to attend the Five Kage Summit won't be easy."
Yahiko had no real certainty. All he could offer was a quiet reply.
"I will do my best."
"I understand. Then our discussion ends here for today. Once you have news, contact me again."
"Yes. We'll take our leave, Hanzō-sama."
As Yahiko and his group disappeared into the rain, Hanzō stood still, watching them vanish. His expression grew increasingly conflicted.
"What a pity. Are the preparations complete?"
"Rest assured, Hanzō-sama. We've set up an ambush along their return route. The kunoichi named Konan is already in our custody, and the Konohagakure shinobi have eliminated all Akatsuki members sent as backup."
"Hmph!"
It was at this point that Hanzō fully understood why Danzō had suddenly become involved with the Land of Rain. It wasn't just to damage the reputation of the new Hokage or to sabotage the Five Kage Summit. Danzō also sought revenge on the Kazekage. But Hanzō no longer cared. Things had progressed far beyond the point of no return.
"Begin the operation."
On the road back to the Akatsuki base, a rare atmosphere of relief settled over the group. Smiles appeared on faces that had been tight with tension. Before this meeting, they had all felt uneasy, especially after Rasa-sensei's cryptic warning. But everything had gone far smoother than expected. The once-legendary demigod, Hanzō of the Salamander, had been surprisingly cooperative.
"No wonder I admired him when I was younger."
Yahiko turned toward Nagato with a hopeful smile.
"Nagato, the peace we've been striving for so long… we're finally seeing a glimmer of hope!"
Seeing Yahiko so full of joy, the usually reserved Nagato allowed a faint smile to form on his lips as well. Behind them, the rest of the Akatsuki exhaled almost in unison, letting go of the tension they'd carried since their journey began.
"Once we return, I'll personally go to Sunagakure. I'll do whatever it takes to persuade Rasa-san."
But just then, a wave of intense unease surged through Yahiko. His gaze caught the faint flicker of a spark on the ground.
Yahiko's pupils contracted in alarm as he shouted.
"Watch out!"
His warning came just in time but it was already too late. The calmness of the meeting, the illusion of progress, had lulled the Akatsuki into a dangerous sense of security.
Boom!Boom!Boom!
Explosions ripped through the valley without mercy. The thunderous blasts echoed off the mountains, sending fire and earth skyward. Thick smoke engulfed the terrain, clouding vision and spreading panic. But even as the detonations ended, the assault did not. A downpour of kunai followed, whistling through the air like a rain of steel, falling fast and fatal.
When the smoke finally cleared, Yahiko, shielded by Nagato's body, took in the horror around them.
"What… is happening?"
The companions who had journeyed by their side now lay scattered across the ground, their bodies torn and shredded by steel. Limbs missing. Blood was soaking into the dirt. Eyes wide open, unblinking, staring into nothingness, as if even in death they couldn't accept what had happened.
Nagato, who had protected Yahiko with his own body, now stood trembling. The Rinnegan in his eyes, those divine ripple-patterned eyes, quivered as he stared at the devastation, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.
Footsteps echoed across the valley floor.
Yahiko turned, his heart racing, and saw the figures closing in from all directions. Dozens of shinobi encircled them, weapons ready. And at the center, leading them, stood a face they had just recently come to trust, Hanzō of the Salamander.
"What!?"
Yahiko's eyes widened in disbelief. His breath caught. Emotions surged within him: shock, fury, grief.
They had spoken of peace. They had come to cooperate. Why this sudden betrayal? Was everything they said a lie?
So this had been the plan from the start?
Hanzō stepped forward, his eyes cold beneath the mask as he spoke.
"Why? If you want a reason, there's only one. The Land of Rain has no need for the Akatsuki. To me, your existence is a nuisance."
"!!!"
The truth struck like another explosion. Everyone understood now. There had never been a genuine offer of peace.
"So all that talk just now… it was all fake? For the sake of Amegakure's peace…"
"Of course it was fake. It was all a play to make you let down your guard. Brat, you're too naive. Do you really think someone like you could change this world soaked in hatred? Don't be ridiculous. To the five great nations, the Land of Rain is just a tool. Something they remember when they need it and forget when they don't. Even if the Five Kage Summit happens, nothing will change"
Yahiko bit down on his lip so hard it bled. His fists trembled. The peace they had yearned for, waited for, believed in, it had been right in front of them. Now, in an instant, it was slipping through his fingers like water in the rain.
But there was no time to mourn.
His expression changed the moment he saw her. Amegakure's shinobi dragged someone forward, forcing her to her knees.
It was Konan.
The person he cherished most. Her wrists bound, her hair soaked, her face streaked with water and blood.
"Yahiko, run! Don't worry about me! Hanzō and Konoha are working together… Kyūsuke, Daibutsu, and everyone else…"
Her voice cracked as tears blended with the rain falling from the heavens. Yahiko's eyes shrank again. His face turned pale, his heart freezing in his chest. The words echoed in his ears like thunder.
But Hanzō offered no time for farewell.
A kunai stabbed into the ground between them.
"That red-haired one… use him to kill Yahiko. Then I'll let this woman go… and maybe you too…"