This is my ninja journey

After waiting for three consecutive days, just when even Otonashi thought Hanzō would retreat knowing the difficulties, news suddenly came from the Hidden Rain Village.

"Hanzō agreed!" Yahiko suddenly pushed open the door, his face brimming with excitement, his eyes filled with excitement seeming to say, 'You thought too much.'

Otonashi ignored him, slowly putting on his bamboo hat. Anyway, no matter how excited Yahiko was, he couldn't go. The location he arranged was by a river a hundred li away, also some distance from the Rain Village, practically a midpoint.

It was a riverbank composed of gravel, making it difficult to hide people, and crossing that river was the border of the Land of Grass.

"Aren't you surprised?" Yahiko raised an eyebrow.

"It's within expectations. My reply letter put Hanzō on the spot (lit: roasted him on the fire). I was ninety percent sure he would agree."

"Why?"

Otonashi, walking towards the door, stopped, turned back, and said, "A long-famous senior facing an invitation from a youth—do I even need to say whether he'll go or not?"

Fame is a burden. If 'Akatsuki' had refused, fine, at worst he could send troops to annihilate them. But if an invitation was issued, Hanzō not going would prove he was weak.

And a weakened old wolf is not qualified to lead a ninja village.

Yahiko paused, really wanting to lift Otonashi's robe to see if a fox tail was hidden behind him. This was too cunningly strategic.

The two went out the door. In that cavity, over thirty ninjas were already geared up and ready, divided into three teams, looking intently at the newcomers.

Otonashi waved the envelope, recalling Hiashi Hyuga's tone, and said, "Hanzō of the Salamander has sent an invitation for talks. However, we still cannot let our guard down. Perhaps he is looking for an opportunity to annihilate us completely, so we will proceed according to the original plan."

No one spoke. After this period of brainwashing, caution had infected everyone.

"Nagato, Konan, and I will go to the meeting. Command is left to you, Yahiko."

"Okay, you guys be careful." Yahiko understood the bigger picture. As a half-crippled person, going would just be a burden; it was better to help with his brain.

Nagato and Konan didn't object either, perhaps feeling grateful for Otonashi's arrangement.

Otonashi paused for a moment, seeming to think about any omissions in the entire plan.

Konan's paper manipulation jutsu is extremely versatile and easy to upgrade. The power of her ninjutsu is directly proportional to the investment; the richer, the stronger. Just need to replace the paper with explosive tags.

And Nagato relies entirely on those Rinnegan eyes, which have become much more proficient during this time. His potential is limitless.

As for himself, he had practiced less during this time, but instructing so many ninjas was also a rare experience, deepening his understanding of ninjutsu.

"With the strength of three people, dealing with the aged and frail Hanzō shouldn't be too difficult."

Feeling confident, he recovered from his momentary lapse, and said to Jōsuke and Daibutsu, "The rest divide into two teams and patrol the periphery. If you encounter enemies, launch a signal flare first, then fight and retreat towards the assembly point."

"Okay." The two immediately nodded and asked, "Enemies include?"

"Ninjas from all forces. That place is remote; they are definitely coming for a sneak attack."

"Understood."

Otonashi then made several other arrangements, such as having the cook Shinsuke and a few others stay behind at headquarters. Once fighting broke out, they would activate the traps here. Anyway, he wasn't planning on returning to headquarters; whoever came to raid the house would be unlucky.

After交代 (explaining/handing over) everything, he formed a seal. A puff of white smoke rose, and he had already transformed into Yahiko. He extended his hand to the side, and Konan obediently handed over a gleaming cross-shaped spear (jumonji yari).

This... is this still a ninja?

Yahiko himself found this scene very strange. Since when did he become this kind of muscular man holding a long spear?

"You even know this?"

"Every ninja has their strengths."

"What about you?"

"I know a little bit of everything."

Otonashi swung the cross-shaped spear, seeming to awaken muscle memory. His father had taught him not only swordsmanship but also naginata and spear techniques, though he hadn't used them for many years.

Whether on the front lines or in ANBU, who the hell fought with long weapons? He only thought of this temporarily after seeing Daibutsu's naginata.

Anyway, with the ninja tactics of this world (outside of ANBU), clearly succeeding in an ambush but insisting on jumping out to intercept, it seems like what weapon you use doesn't matter.

His swordsmanship was too recognizable. Since he was using Yahiko's appearance anyway, who knew what abilities this nameless nobody had.

With the long spear in hand, his entire aura changed, seemingly tinged with the flavor of iron and horses (battle).

"Move out!"

With a wave of his hand, the crowd responded affirmatively and filed out.

At the top of the canyon, Uchiha Obito watched the ninjas departing in several teams and the two Yahikos, his pupils couldn't help but turn cold.

Still so cautious. He found no opening to strike. After watching for a long while, space distorted, and he disappeared without a trace.

........

The sky was gloomy, not a trace of sunlight visible. Dark clouds rolled in the black sky, and the sound of winter thunder could be faintly heard.

At the northernmost tip of the Land of Rain, a great river, hundreds of meters wide, rushed past. On the bank stood a solitary figure.

Just as stated in the invitation letter, Hanzō came alone, but his face was as overcast as the clouds in the sky.

'These damn brats.'

He gripped the kusarigama behind his back. With his caution, he shouldn't have appeared here. Who knew the brats' methods were so insidious?

If he didn't come, others would think he, the dignified 'Demigod', was afraid of a few nameless nobodies. But from these methods, he also understood a truth.

Such clever people cannot be left alive! And this is the last chance to kill them!

Once today passed, judging by the opponent's methods, they would surely publicize it widely. How would he dare to make a move then? His lifelong reputation would likely be ruined in an instant.

'Luckily, they left this old man some opportunity.' Hanzō glanced at the rushing river behind him, his killing intent fully revealed.

Time passed minute by minute. Almost exactly at the agreed time, three blurry figures appeared on the riverbank.

Two men and one woman. The person in the middle held a cross-shaped spear over a zhang (approx. 3.3m) long, giving Hanzō a somewhat familiar feeling. After a few seconds, the three stopped ten meters away, their gazes all fixed on Hanzō's face.

"Where is that Pain?" Hanzō asked in a hoarse voice, clearly having done his homework.

"The three of us can decide the negotiations," replied the 'Yahiko' in the middle.

Sure enough, they held back.

His brow couldn't help but furrow. Since it was so, he couldn't be bothered to say more, trying to speak in a gentle voice: "You are too cautious. This old man sincerely invites you to become a bridge towards peace."

Perhaps the script had been arranged long ago. Konan and Nagato stood like wooden sculptures without speaking. Instead, the 'Yahiko' in the middle chuckled lightly.

"Teacher once taught us not to listen to what others say, but what they do. Your coming alone already shows your sincerity."

Otonashi spoke glibly, directly pulling out a white paper from his clothes and throwing it over: "Since you have sincerity, we don't need to waste time. Let's sign the agreement first."

Under Konan's control, the white paper flew over slowly as if it had wings. Hanzō reached out and caught it, glancing at it before falling silent.

These bastards are too careful. Once written in black and white, the two sides effectively formed an alliance, far more valid than a hundred verbal agreements.

Sure, he could tear it up at any time, but Hanzō bet that within three days, copies of this agreement would appear on the desks of the leaders of the five great ninja villages.

At that time, even if he killed these few brats, the five great ninja villages would definitely use the opportunity to cause trouble.

'Did they calculate that after the Third Great Ninja War, none of the villages achieved results?' He narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking deeply.

He had remained neutral until now precisely to avoid being drawn into the war. Those ninja villages that lost many people but gained nothing would be happy to recoup their losses elsewhere. At least the Land of Fire, Earth, and Wind had long wanted an opportunity to swallow the Land of Rain.

Hanzō wasn't afraid of one country, but if several major powers reached a unified opinion using this opportunity, he couldn't stop them even with three heads and six arms.

A Demigod was ultimately not a god, let alone an increasingly aged Demigod.

Sure enough, there's a trick.

Otonashi had already seen the clue from this momentary hesitation. He gave Nagato a look, and the latter quietly took half a step forward.

"What's wrong, Lord Hanzō? Is something amiss?"

"Some clauses this old man feels are not good. We might need to discuss them." Hanzō said amiably. Seeing the three standing like pillars on the riverbank, he couldn't help frowning: "What? Can't we even make changes?"

"All clauses can certainly be discussed, however—" Otonashi looked at Hanzō of the Salamander by the riverbank and said with a smile:

"Why don't you come over here?"