Chapter 19: The Salamander's Compromise
Knowing the enemy's approximate location, Akatsurugi didn't hesitate. He shot forward, the Ryūjin Jakka in his hand now sheathed in a layer of roaring flames. It was a poor imitation of the sword's true, sealed power—a low-budget version. If I could achieve even the initial release of Ryūjin Jakka, he thought with a flicker of frustration, why would I need to rely on the Flame-Flame Fruit's ability like this?
The blazing sword descended, its fiery aura tearing through the lingering steam. A Kiri shinobi, his face now visible, stared in panic. He hadn't expected Akatsurugi to be this strong, this fast.
He desperately raised his kunai to block. It was a futile gesture. The kunai shattered upon contact with the empowered blade. The searing heat that followed was unbearable, and the Kiri shinobi fell moments later.
A translucent wisp of energy was drawn into Ryūjin Jakka. Akatsurugi no longer found this strange.
With the caster's death, the Hidden Mist Jutsu dissipated, though the steam from Akatsurugi's earlier attack still hung heavy in the air, albeit less obstructively.
Uchiha Kagami appeared beside him. "Good," he assessed. "Your reaction speed and ninjutsu application were both excellent." He was visibly pleased with Akatsurugi's progress. The only lingering concern was Akatsurugi's single chakra affinity, which made him predictable. But that was an innate limitation.
While a Jōnin could perform ninjutsu of other natures, the chakra cost was exorbitant. Most stuck to their primary affinities in combat.
Kagami then pointed out some shortcomings, particularly Akatsurugi's lack of large-scale area-of-effect ninjutsu. That, however, was a matter of chakra reserves. With enough chakra, even a technique like Great Fire Annihilation was possible.
For now, Akatsurugi could only build his reserves gradually. His natural capacity was already decent, though it couldn't compare to the monstrous levels of the Senju or Uzumaki clans.
Thus, master and disciple continued their journey through the Land of Rain, hunting for the elusive Swordsmen. Akatsurugi was curious—had Uchiha Kagami awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan? He was, after all, a man said to have transcended clan prejudices. But a shinobi's ultimate techniques were private. He wouldn't ask.
Meanwhile, in Amegakure, within the Land of Rain, Hanzo of the Salamander slammed his fist on a table in fury. These major villages were despicable, treating his country as a battlefield with utter disregard. Countless Rain civilians had become collateral damage.
But all Hanzo could do was vent his rage. Compared to the great villages, his Amegakure was insignificant, a mere speck they ignored.
So what if Hanzo possessed Kage-level strength? Could he single-handedly destroy a hidden village? Unfortunately, no.
"Leader," a Rain shinobi reported, kneeling. "Shinobi from Kirigakure are outside, requesting an audience."
Hanzo frowned. Kiri shinobi meant trouble. But he couldn't refuse. He met them outside the village. A man carrying a massive sword stood waiting, his expression unreadable.
When Hanzo appeared, the man spoke, his tone flat. "Hanzo. Assist Kirigakure in locating the Konoha shinobi, Uchiha Kagami."
Their intelligence was good. They knew about the new arrival, though Akatsurugi was a minor detail. The primary target was Uchiha Kagami—former personal guard of the Second Hokage, a Konoha elder. Capturing him would be a severe blow to the Leaf.
Hearing this, Hanzo's face remained a stony mask. "Impossible. Amegakure cannot afford to provoke Konoha."
It was a simple fact. If he helped Kiri today, Konoha's forces could obliterate Amegakure tomorrow. Hanzo wasn't a fool.
"Are you certain?" the man asked, his voice still devoid of emotion. Four other figures emerged from the mist behind him, each bearing a distinct, legendary blade.
The Ninja Swordsmen. All five of them. If these five joined forces, Hanzo would likely die here. The other Rain shinobi? They were irrelevant in the Swordsmen's eyes.
"The Swordsmen," Hanzo muttered, his mood grim. Their full presence meant they were serious. If he didn't comply, there would be consequences.
But offending Konoha was suicide. Just because the First and Second Hokage were dead didn't mean Konoha was weak. Its reputation as the strongest village wasn't unearned.
He had to compromise. "I can lend you fifty shinobi," Hanzo conceded, his voice tight. "They will remove their forehead protectors."
He would give them men, but they wouldn't be officially from Amegakure. It was the most he could offer. If the Swordsmen weren't satisfied, he would have no choice but to fight.
"Acceptable," the man with the Executioner's Blade nodded. Pushing Hanzo to a corner served no one's interests.
Reluctantly, Hanzo returned to mobilize fifty shinobi, making the situation painfully clear to them. They were to die before admitting their origins.
As long as there was no admission, there was plausible deniability.
With the fifty Rain shinobi in tow, the Kiri forces used them without ceremony—as cannon fodder. The Rain shinobi could only seethe in silent resentment as they aided the search for Uchiha Kagami.
With the local knowledge of the Rain shinobi, the Kiri team soon pinpointed Uchiha Kagami and Akatsurugi's location. They dismissed Akatsurugi as insignificant, but Uchiha Kagami commanded their full attention.
A trap was set.
Uchiha Kagami and Akatsurugi remained unaware.