Konoha, reported by the Fourth Hokage at the start.

Chapter 42 Demigod of the Ninja World

At this time, in the Rain Village of the Land of Rain.

Hanzo the Salamander listened with a gloomy expression as his subordinates reported on the events that had occurred in the country recently.

"Lord Hanzo, we can no longer allow the three hidden villages to continue to run rampant on our land."

"In just this month, the number of civilians who died as a result of the battle between the three great hidden villages' ninjas has exceeded one hundred."

"These people are all civilians of our Land of Rain. They did nothing, they were eating at home when suddenly a water jutsu attack came, the whole house was destroyed, and the people died."

"They should not become victims of the struggle between the three hidden villages."

Inside the office, Hanzo's five trusted subordinates were all filled with intense hatred.

They hate the ninjas from the hidden villages of those great powers who don't treat their small country like human beings.

After listening to his subordinates, Hanzo remained silent for a long time before making a decision. He ordered three of his five subordinates to take his letters to the three great hidden villages of Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Konoha, and present them to their respective Kage.

If possible, Hanzo still hoped that this matter could be resolved peacefully; he genuinely did not want to resort to force.

Because no one knew the strength of the five hidden villages better than him.

In his youth, in order to enable the Land of Rain to stand on the same level as the Five Great Nations, he traveled among the Five Great Nations and other smaller countries, striving to improve his strength and challenge all sides.

Ultimately, his immense strength was recognized throughout the ninja world, earning him the title of demigod.

He thought that becoming a demigod in the ninja world would allow the Land of Rain to join the ranks of the Five Great Nations.

However, an individual's strength is ultimately limited.

He is only a demigod in the ninja world, not a god of the ninja world.

Therefore, the Land of Rain is still the Land of Rain. Even if it becomes more powerful, the Land of Rain's influence has not increased.

Finally, he understood.

Only by producing more powerful individuals like him in the Land of Rain can the Land of Rain gain the right to engage in equal dialogue with the Five Great Nations.

So over the years, he has been working hard to train more ninjas.

As it turned out, his approach was correct.

Under his tutelage and influence, Amegakure produced a large number of Jonin who met the standards of the Five Great Hidden Villages, and also had a decent number of Chunin and Genin of the lower ranks.

Although he was not yet as strong as any of the Five Great Hidden Villages, with the unique geographical environment of the Land of Rain and the poison of his salamander, he believed that no one in the Land of Rain could defeat Amegakure as long as they were within the Land of Rain.

But now, his confidence is being challenged.

"Let's wait and see!"

Hanzo sighed inwardly. As a demigod in the ninja world, his confidence was not to be challenged, but as the leader of Amegakure, he had to consider the villagers and the people of the Land of Rain.

If they rashly start a war with the three hidden villages, even if they win in the end, the biggest losers will be the Land of Rain itself.

If it's possible to avoid fighting, then try to avoid fighting.

But when it really comes down to fighting, Hanzo won't hesitate. His title of demigod in the ninja world isn't just for show; it's something he truly earned by traveling to various countries and fighting his way through the world.

half a month later.

The envoy who went to the three hidden villages brought back a reply from Hanzo regarding the shadows of the three hidden villages.

The letter included statements from the Kazekage, Tsuchikage, and others, including the Third Hokage, who all expressed their respect for Hanzo, the demigod of the ninja world.

This also shows that Hanzo the Salamander's strength was indeed recognized by the Five Kage.

Ninjutsu, taijutsu, swordsmanship, body-flickering techniques, summoning techniques, including poison making, as well as combat experience and combat talent.

In every aspect, Hanzo of the Salamander had no weaknesses and reached the pinnacle of the ninja world.

None of the five Kage of the five great nations dare to claim they can definitively defeat Hanzo.

The Third Hokage, Onoki, and the Third Kazekage all showed a certain degree of respect to such a powerful figure who was at the pinnacle of the ninja world.

But... it's just a matter of respect.

The three Kage remained completely silent about Hanzo the Salamander's demand that they withdraw all ninjas from the Land of Rain.

They simply stated that they had given orders for the village ninjas within the Land of Rain to avoid harming civilians during battles.

If there is any damage to the building, they can also provide compensation if it was caused by them.

Aside from Konoha's indication that they would withdraw from the Land of Rain as soon as Sunagakure and Iwagakure withdrew, there was no other indication that Konoha would withdraw.

Neither Sunagakure nor Iwagakure mentioned withdrawing.

This left Onoki, who was far away in Iwagakure in the Land of Earth, somewhat puzzled.

"What's the situation in Sunagakure?" Onoki asked one of his ANBU ninja subordinates.

"Report, Tsuchikage-sama, we haven't yet discovered why Sunagakure is in the Land of Rain," the ANBU ninja honestly replied.

Onoki was even more puzzled.

Their purpose in mobilizing ninjas on the border to enter the Land of Rain was to draw Konoha's attention and provide cover for their annihilation of the Uzumaki clan.

Besides Iwagakure, Kumogakure and Kirigakure are also putting pressure on Konoha in various small countries bordering Konoha to attract attention.

The three of them had a perfectly good plan to hide in the village.

Now that Sunagakure has suddenly pulled this stunt, it makes it seem like they've conspired with them too.

While having one more Sand Village wouldn't be a bad thing, it would actually make it easier to wipe out the Uzumaki clan.

But it also means one more person will get a share of the pie.

The three hidden villages have already been divided up quite a bit, and Onoki doesn't want another one.

This is also what the Raikage and Mizukage meant.

So here comes the question.

What does it mean that Sunagakure suddenly intervened in the Land of Rain?

not understand.

Onoki didn't understand.

To avoid any unforeseen events that he couldn't react to, he could only have the Anbu keep a close eye on Sunagakure's every move.

After the hidden villages of the three kingdoms of Fire, Earth, and Wind refused to withdraw their ninjas from the Land of Rain, the atmosphere on the ninja continent increasingly steered towards a ninja war.

In fact, it has come to this point.

All the hidden villages realized that a ninja world war was inevitable, and they were all making preparations in secret.

Meanwhile, an old man hiding in the shadows was also secretly watching everything that was happening in the ninja world, especially the Uzumaki clan in the Land of Whirlpools.

The old man's pair of purplish-blue eyes, each with a black circle around another black circle, awaited their container.

Leaf.

All ninjas and major ninja clans felt the approach of war.

Basic supplies such as ration pills, explosive tags, kunai, and shuriken are being actively stockpiled.

The various ninja clans that possess secret techniques are also actively stockpiling related secret technique materials.

Everyone was prepared for war.

Within the Uchiha clan, everyone, including the clan leader, was like a hungry wolf that had just seen blood, their scarlet eyes revealing a bloodthirsty gleam as they licked their lips.

Everything the Uchiha clan once lost, they will win back in this Fourth Shinobi World War.

All the ninjas of the Uchiha clan were looking forward to war.

root base.

While everyone else was preparing for war, Danzo was engrossed in his Sharingan and Li Yao's physical experiments.

However, his experimental results were not ideal.

With the one-year deadline he had agreed upon with Hiruzen approaching, Danzo still hadn't gotten the answer he wanted from Li Yao's cells and chakra.

Even now, he still hasn't been able to break the state where Li Yao's chakra is unaffected by illusions.

In Laboratory No. 1, Danzo looked at the Sharingan in the glass chamber solution and the Li Yao brand cell solution in the test tube next to it.

He looked at it for a long time and pondered for a long time.

Finally, he sighed and admitted his defeat.

He conducted every experiment he could think of, but to no avail.

It was around this time that Danzo realized his talent in this area might actually be... rather ordinary.

He needs someone with research talent to help him achieve what he wants.

Danzo also set his sights on this person.

However, with war looming, we can only discuss it later.

Danzo turned and left, exiting Laboratory One. Just as he was about to walk out, he casually swept the door of Laboratory Zero aside.

It was with this sweep that Danzo suddenly had an inspiration.

"Since ordinary methods can't destroy the chakra ninjutsu state on that child, wouldn't the First Hokage's cells, with their terrifying corrosive abilities, be able to destroy it?"

Imagine the scene where, after transplanting the First Hokage's cells, the body's cells are drained, the chakra is completely devoured, and finally, the body turns into a tree.

Danzo became increasingly convinced that his inspiration was working.

(End of this chapter)