I, who just wanted to be lazy, was forced to become the Hokage.

Chapter 520 The Hidden Rainman!

The sky was dim, and a light drizzle was falling.

A group of ninjas wearing straw raincoats were moving quickly across the muddy ground, making no noise whatsoever.

These ninjas all wore gas masks, and the headbands on their foreheads revealed their true identities—Amegakure!

At the Akatsuki organization's base.

After receiving Jiraiya's message, Yahiko and his two companions immediately dropped off their guests and sped to the highest point of the base.

Nara Rinka and Jiraiya found two rain cloaks nearby and followed behind the three first leaders of the Akatsuki.

boom!boom!

At the same time, the other ninjas in the Akatsuki organization also sensed the arrival of the uninvited guests and quickly sent out a notification signal. The piercing signal echoed throughout the entire Akatsuki base.

In no time at all.

One by one, ninjas dressed in black robes emerged from the base and gathered together.

These ninjas also wore forehead badges bearing the insignia of Amegakure—four vertical raindrops engraved on a shiny iron plate.

(The current Akatsuki members do not have the lines on their headbands indicating their status as rogue ninjas, nor do they have the crimson clouds on their robes.)

At first glance.

The number of ninjas remaining in the Akatsuki's base is now greater than the number of the attacking group!

Just as Nara Rinkaku said before.

After several years of development and expansion, the Akatsuki organization is now quite large and powerful.

Nara Rinka's "Kagura Mind's Eye" had long since enveloped the Akatsuki members, giving him a general understanding of their strength levels.

If we use Konoha ninjas as a benchmark, the average level of Akatsuki members should be "genin".

On the contrary, the Amegakure troops on the other side, who seemed to be acting aggressively, all had members whose minimum skill level was that of a senior Chunin, clearly indicating that this was an elite Amegakure force.

Within this elite force, the leader possessed an enormous amount of chakra.

In Nara Rinka's perception, the opponent's chakra level was almost equal to his own!

Kage-level chakra!

In this way, the identity of the leader of the group of ninjas on the other side became clear.

The current leader of Amegakure—Hanzo the Salamander!

"What a coincidence!"

Nara Rinkachi watched the approaching Amegakure forces, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Jiraiya and I had only just arrived when Hanzo of the Salamander from Amegakure arrived with his ninja forces..."

"I came to the Land of Rain using the Shadow Blade, so my whereabouts cannot be exposed."

"So, Jiraiya's whereabouts were leaked? Or... is someone else pulling the strings behind the scenes?"

Nara Ranka's suspect is none other than Black Zetsu, who has never shown his face!

He was certain that Kuro would never abandon Nagato, the host of the Rinnegan.

However, this filial son did not appear in Nara Rinka's perception.

If Black Zetsu had observed Nara Rin and Jiraiya's arrival beforehand, and then ran to Amegakure to deliver the message...

That's not impossible.

Moreover, given Black Zetsu's cunning and deep-seated schemes...

In addition, there were accumulating conflicts between the stagnant Amegakure and the ever-growing Akatsuki organization...

It's not entirely impossible that Hanzo the Salamander would personally lead his troops here.

Nara Rinka briefly recalled the story from the normal timeline.

If we calculate the timeline, it was probably within the last two years that Shimura Danzo, in league with Hanzo of the Salamander, killed Yahiko...

(The exact time of Yahiko's death is unknown, but it is inferred to have occurred at the end of the Third Shinobi World War, around 50 or 51 in Konoha.)

"Shimura Danzo's joint operation with Hanzo of the Salamander is presumably aimed at expanding Konoha's war advantage within the Land of Rain..."

Nara Langui's thoughts suddenly began to wander.

"But Hanzo the Salamander also chose to team up with Danzo Shimura. What does that mean? Has that salamander's skill level really declined to this extent?"

"But if I remember correctly, Hanzo of the Salamander didn't die in Nagato's attack."

"After Yahiko died, Nagato went to great lengths to create six clones before finally killing Hanzo of the Salamander. That must have taken quite a while..."

"This is so confusing!"

While Nara Rinkazu was deep in thought.

Jiraiya, whose perception was equally strong, also noticed a particularly outstanding and familiar chakra within the opposing force.

"It's Hanzo the Salamander!"

Jiraiya, who had fought Hanzo the Salamander before, immediately reminded his three disciples.

"Everyone, be careful!"

A person's name, a tree's shadow.

Although Hanzo of the Salamander could certainly find many opponents throughout the entire ninja world.

However, considering only the Land of Rain, Hanzo the Salamander's reputation is so formidable that it is enough to make people tremble at the mere mention of his name.

The moment they learned that the leader of the group of ninjas who had suddenly attacked was Hanzo of the Salamander.

A heavy pressure suddenly arose in the hearts of Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.

The original three leaders of the Akatsuki organization were all like this.

Not to mention the other ordinary members whose average level is only at the genin level.

"I can help."

Nara Rinka's voice pierced through the rain and reached the ears of Yahiko and the other two clearly.

"That ninja unit on the other side should be the most elite force in Amegakure."

"Once this force is dealt with, the Akatsuki organization will be able to control Amegakure and even the entire Land of Rain."

"This is a rare opportunity."

Nara Rangsuke's words had a hint of taking advantage of the situation.

However, he originally came to the Land of Rain for Nagato's Rinnegan.

In fact, given the ninja's style of doing things, Nara Rinka could have simply gouged out his eyes and left.

After all, even at the Six Paths level, gouging out people's eyes is a common practice (lol).

However, Nara Rinka was still willing to pay a certain price for it.

What was that saying again?

Lord Nara was kind-hearted and couldn't stand people taking things for free.

Jiraiya stood to the side without moving, hesitating whether or not to speak.

In fact.

Given the relationship between Jiraiya, Yahiko, and the other two, he certainly wouldn't stand idly by.

Moreover, with his current strength, stopping Hanzo the Salamander would actually be quite easy for him.

However, Jiraiya had to consider Nara Rinka's attitude.

If he were to speak up now and choose to stand on the same side as the Akatsuki, it would inevitably feel like he's going against the Hokage...

No matter how you put it.

Jiraiya still strongly identified with his identity as a Konoha ninja.

Yahiko and the other two also looked at Nara Rinka.

In the end, it was Yahiko who spoke.

"grown ups."

Yahiko laughed heartily.

"We, Akatsuki and Amegakure, have dealt with each other many times. Perhaps Lord Hanzo has come for some other reason this time?"

"For example, negotiating peace with the Akatsuki?"

Nara Rinka chuckled.

"From now on, you and the Rain Village will jointly govern the Rain Kingdom?"

"In that case, it would really be a wonderful thing~"

Nara Ranke shook his head, ignoring Yahiko, and walked to Nagato's side, raising his hand to pat him on the shoulder.

"I will protect your eyes for you."

After saying this, Nara Rinka stepped aside, handing over the reins of the situation back to Yahiko.

Yahiko secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

To be honest, he was still a little worried that the Fourth Hokage might just run away with Nagato...

Yahiko forced him to shift his gaze to the Amegakure forces that were getting closer and closer.

Just when he thought this Rain Village unit would come all the way to the Akatsuki organization.

The group of ninjas suddenly stopped in their tracks.

Followed by.

The tall ninja in the lead raised his arm and slammed it heavily onto the ground.

"Spiritual communication!"

As a plume of white smoke rose, a gigantic salamander appeared before the Akatsuki members.

Immediately following was a thick cloud of purple poisonous mist spewed from the mouth of the salamander.

"Poison spray!"

(End of this chapter)