Naruto: I, the villain template, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 203 Your Highness, don't they have flesh and blood, parents and brothers?

Outside the capital of the Land of Rain, in Daimyo Prefecture.

Hanzo looked at the world blurred by the heavy rain and felt as if the whole world was filled with the sound of the tide.

It's as if you can still smell the blood and gore in the torrential rain.

Click! Click!

As Hanzo was lost in thought, the gates of the Daimyo Mansion slowly opened behind him.

"Lord Hanzo."

Hearing soft whispers behind him, Hanzo turned around and was momentarily stunned.

A group of young girls knelt on either side of the door, forming a heavenly path leading to the world of crystal.

"Lord Hanzo, please follow me."

A middle-aged man dressed in elegant and colorful clothes, with loose and long robes embroidered with family crests, smiled and said calmly, "Your Highness has been waiting for a long time."

Hanzo recognized the man; he was one of the daimyo's "retainers," a direct samurai under the daimyo's command, and the daimyo's most relied-upon source of military strength. He was usually given territory and a certain number of samurai subordinates.

At the same time, it is also one of the "peace faction" today.

Thinking of this, Hanzo's expression darkened slightly, and he followed the man into the Daimyo's mansion without saying a word.

Upon entering Daming Mansion, one can see winding corridors and soaring eaves in the front courtyard, a scene of extravagance. Further in, the courtyard is filled with blooming trees and flowers.

It's hard to believe that in the land of rain shrouded in gloom, there is such a place, which is like a paradise compared to the outside world.

"These are flowers and plants transplanted from other countries. They are characterized by their cold and flood resistance and blooming year-round."

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Hanzo looking on with astonishment. A hint of disdain flashed in the man's eyes as he casually introduced the varieties as he walked away, saying, "His Highness really likes the feeling of vitality, so he specially found these varieties."

"..." Hanzo paused for a moment before speaking, "Even if they are resistant to cold and waterlogging, these flowers and plants wouldn't survive in the Land of Rain."

It rains all over this country, and because of the constant rainfall, the Rain Country has abundant water resources.

For the Land of Wind, which is perpetually arid, this might be something to be envious of the Sand Village ninja.

But in fact, like the Land of Wind, the Land of Rain is also poor. The Land of Wind has no shortage of sand, while the Land of Rain has no shortage of water. Some suffer from drought, while others suffer from floods. Neither is suitable for growing crops.

"Indeed, he probably only has about a month to live."

The man smiled slightly and said calmly, "However, it doesn't matter. If it dies, we can just replace it."

Behind him, Hanzo's expression darkened, and his mood became increasingly gloomy.

But soon they walked through the corridor and entered the hall.

The vibrant colors filled the vast hall, the seamless glass floor like glazed tiles reflected dazzling light, and the vermilion corridors climbed the four walls.

Besides the warriors standing guard at the palace gates and around the palace, there were also many high-ranking officials and their immediate family members, all dressed in fine clothes with fair complexions, and the luxurious decorations gave their faces a touch of bright gold and pink.

A young man sat at the head of the round table, surrounded by girls who chattered sweetly around him.

The thighs, barely concealed by the sheer fabric, were dazzling in the light, and the deliberately wide sleeves allowed the breeze to pass freely, revealing glimpses of the inner genitals.

The refracted light shone on the girls' alabaster skin, as if it were coated with a thin layer of gold. The half-hidden paintings on the wall evoked ambiguous and lewd words, and at a glance, it was as if one was in a world of gold dust.

"..."

Before tonight, Hanzo boasted that he had seen the world, the hot springs of the Land of Hot Springs that made people linger, the geisha houses that made people party every night and have fun, but all of that had fallen into disarray under the dazzling colors.

These girls, all old enough to be his daughters, knelt there in semi-transparent clothes, their faces adorned with the brightest rouge and the most delicate pink makeup, their smiles and rosy cheeks indistinguishable as genuine or feigned.

This was indeed the first time he had ever witnessed such a scene; at least in the past two or three decades, he had never seen anything so extravagant and wasteful, causing him to frown and avert his gaze.

"Haha, Lord Hanzo, we've been waiting for you for a long time!"

The young man stood up enthusiastically, waved, and said with a smile, "Please sit down, please sit down, and try our newly developed dishes."

"Your Highness Iseibi," Hanzo forced down his turbulent thoughts, bowed respectfully to the young man seated at the head of the table, and began, "I've come here to..."

"Eh, Lord Hanzo."

Before he could finish speaking, Isisi interrupted him, waving his hand and saying, "Everyone has been waiting for you, that's why we haven't started eating yet. Sit down first, and we can talk while we eat."

Upon hearing this, everyone else in the room turned their gazes toward him, some smiling and nodding in agreement, some scrutinizing him secretly, and others looking at him with disdain.

"……yes."

Hanzo paused for a moment, hesitated, and finally sat down in an empty seat. He responded to the smiles and gestures of the strangers beside him and looked at the large round table in front of him, which was covered with a spotless tablecloth.

Just then, two white arms, as white as ivory, reached out from behind. One hand held the teapot high, while the other flicked the sleeve, pouring tea from a height into the teacup placed in front of Hanzo. The tea tips tumbled, dispersed, and swirled inside the pot.

"Thanks."

Hanzo said something subconsciously, then turned his head and saw a girl with heavy makeup but still unable to hide her naivety, her face full of flattery and surprise, her head bowed timidly.

He then realized that behind each person present, just like him, stood a chef and a girl.

The chefs could still stand there, but the girls could only kneel beside them. Their waists and hips, as smooth as water, were glistening with dew, and their skin, as fine as if it had been polished, outlined words of extravagance and desire.

"Haha, Lord Hanzo, don't be so formal."

Seeing this, the retainer sitting next to him smiled, casually placed his hand on the leg of the girl beside him, and said, "She's just a maid. If you want her, I'm happy to part with her."

Compared to the timid girl beside Hanzo, the girl next to him seemed more composed.

Even though he was about to be handed over like an object, he just smiled without showing any disgust and nodded generously in response to Hanzo's gaze.

"Alright, let's begin."

While Hanzo was lost in thought, Isebi, who was sitting in the first seat, clapped his hands.

The elderly chef behind him stepped forward, first turning to bow slightly to Isisi, and after Isisi nodded in acknowledgment, he turned to begin the next part of the "food performance".

Before him, various condiments were laid out on the edge of a white tablecloth. He gently dipped a silver spoon into a black condiment cup, scooped out some, and then precisely and quickly drew an arc on the huge white tablecloth.

The chefs behind the others meticulously followed suit, drawing an inverted arc with overlapping strokes. The sweet-smelling black seasoning spilled onto the white cloth with each spoonful and stroke, creating graceful arcs that overlapped and extended into a fishbone shape.

Once the fish skeleton is formed, carefully prepared red berries and pink flesh are sprinkled on it to create "flesh and blood".

Every scale and feather is drawn with lifelike precision and fluidity. The silver spoon dances across the table without spilling a drop. The skillful and elegant "painting technique" creates a scene of fish leaping over the dragon gate on the tablecloth, completing this pre-dinner dessert.

Clap clap! Clap clap clap!

When the first dish was served, the first person clapped, and then a round of applause followed.

"The first dish, Fish Leaping Over the Dragon Gate, please enjoy," the old chef said respectfully in a soft voice.

Looking at the dish, which was almost an art form, Isisi nodded in satisfaction and smiled at the old chef beside her, "Not bad, not bad, is this fish?"

The old chef bowed his head and explained, "This is a drunken crab dish made with red fruit wine, Shaoxing wine, and a secret blend of spices. The crab meat comes from red crabs from the eastern waters of Konoha. Red crabs are plump and full of roe during this season, making them incredibly delicious."

As they talked, Isisi picked up a piece and tasted it. The aged sweet fruit wine, paired with other flavors, perfectly masked the slight fishy smell of the crab meat, and the sweet and sour taste also served as an appetizer.

"Excellent!" Isisi's eyes lit up as he praised, "You have lived up to my promise in promoting you to the position of Grand Cook of the Grand Kitchen, responsible for managing all the affairs of the Grand Kitchen."

The Grand Steward was not only responsible for the royal family's food arrangements, but also for supervising and managing officials at all levels under the Grand Steward's Office to ensure the supply and quality of court food. This position was usually held by a high-ranking member of the nobility.

Now, the job has been given to a cook from a common background, which speaks volumes about his skill and ability.

"I dare not betray Your Highness's trust."

The old man bowed his head respectfully with great gratitude. Isisi smiled and looked away, turning to look at the others seated, unaware of the coldness in Isisi's cloudy eyes.

Looking at the crowd in front of him, feasting and praising the food with relish, Hanzo, who had just returned from the front lines, felt a sense of disillusionment and unreality.

"Lord Hanzo?" The girl beside him held a piece of crab meat in one hand and presented it to his mouth with the other.

But the aroma of the girl and the food that filled his nostrils made him feel nauseous and vomit more than the bloody smell of the battlefield. His whole body trembled slightly involuntarily, and he subconsciously raised his hand to slap away the arm that was being offered to his mouth.

"what!"

The force exerted in her moment of distraction left a red mark on the girl's arm, causing her to fall backward to the ground with a cry of pain.

In an instant, the once bustling hall fell silent, and everyone's eyes turned to look at it, their expressions varied.

Upon seeing this, the girl turned pale with fright and instinctively covered her mouth.

Hanzo also came to his senses. Meeting everyone's gaze, he simply stood up, bowed to Ishibi, and said, "Your Highness, I am but a rough man, truly unworthy of such honor. I have only one request; may I ask what it is?"

Upon hearing this, Ishibi gave him a deep look, but instead of answering, she sighed and said, "What a pity that you, Hanzo-sama, have no heart to enjoy such delicious food and beautiful scenery."

"However, before you speak, I also have a question. I wonder if Lord Hanzo could answer it for me?"

Hanzo's mood sombered slightly, and he said, "Please speak, Your Highness."

"I'm curious." Isebi smiled, but there was no smile in her eyes. "What exactly did you say when you faced Chiyo's Sand Village army all by yourself?"

"...I just went to ask for something."

"What?"

"An explanation," Hanzo said softly. "I want them to give an explanation for their massacre of the civilians of the Land of Rain."

Isisbi sneered, "So what? Will they give it to us?"

"No." Hanzo shook his head.

"So you made your move?" Ishibi stood up and said coldly, "As the leader of Amegakure, making a move is tantamount to declaring war. You can't be unaware of that, can you?"

"..."

Looking at the silent Hanzo, Ishibi narrowed her eyes slightly and continued, "Alright, let's leave that aside for now. I'm asking you, are you confident you can defeat the Third Kazekage?"

"..." Hanzo remained silent.

"Yes or no?" Ishibi's face darkened, and she said coldly, each word distinct, "Hanzo, what are your chances of winning?!"

Faced with the relentless pressure from the daimyo, Hanzo closed his eyes and frankly stated, "At most, fifty percent."

Bang! !

The sudden sound of shattering echoed in the hall, causing the kneeling girls around to tremble.

"madness!"

Isisi slammed the cup in his hand to the ground, shattering it, and shouted angrily, "If the Rain Kingdom hadn't been constantly subservient to the Five Great Nations all these years, it would have perished long ago!"

"And you've ruined all of that! After a year of fighting, besides driving Sunagakure out of the country, you've accomplished nothing. The 10,000 Rain Ninja selected with the nation's full strength are demoralized and afraid to fight! And now you're telling me you only have a 50% chance of winning?!"

Hanzo opened his eyes and hurriedly said, "Your Highness, look outside. Everyone in Amegakure harbors a deep hatred for Sunagakure, and that hatred is growing stronger."

"If you can provide enough supplies, we will win the next battle. We will break through the Wind's defense line and surely restore everyone's confidence in the war!"

"Hatred? What use is that?" Isisi pointed at Hanzo and said coldly, "Hatred can't change the course of the war. Your incompetence is a fact. You think you can break through the defenses you couldn't before by just eating your fill?"

After saying that, he paused, his tone softening, and advised, "Lord Hanzo, that's enough. You've already achieved great success and shown the great nation the power of our Rain Country."

"Continuing this war is pointless. The little hope you bring will only turn into greater despair. It would be better to negotiate a ceasefire with the Land of Wind and exchange it for sufficient benefits."

Upon hearing this, Hanzo's body trembled violently. He looked at Ishibi in disbelief and blurted out, "Ceasefire? Interests? Is this how Your Highness defines this battle?"

"I know you don't want to accept it, but war is ultimately about politics and the exchange of interests!"

Isisi stated bluntly, "A ceasefire would mean losing some honor, but at least your men would survive and live better lives. They all have flesh and blood, parents and brothers, don't they?"

"..."

Hanzo stared at Ishibi in astonishment for a long time. After a moment, he gave a bitter smile, shook his head, stepped back, turned around, and bowed his head, saying, "In that case, please forgive me, I shall take my leave now."

Looking at his broad back, Isis said with a grim expression, "If you continue like this, you'll make this feat a laughingstock!"

Hanzo paused, then turned his back to him and said calmly, "Thousands of Rain Ninja and tens of thousands of civilians have already died at the hands of the Five Great Nations."

"Your Highness, please tell me, don't they have blood, flesh, parents, and brothers?"

(End of this chapter)