"Young Master!" Nagato cried out in surprise and joy. He quickly pulled out the kunai and began stopping Shippu's bleeding.
Yahiko's face changed drastically, first in shock, then sinking back into a gloomy expression.
"Thank you," Yahiko sighed, shaking his head. "It's useless. What Hanzo wants is my life. Only by killing me can we exchange for Konan's safety."
Hearing that, Nagato beside him stiffened, and his eyes dimmed.
What should we do?
Konan was in Hanzo's hands, being used to threaten Yahiko and Nagato. They were forced to do whatever Hanzo demanded—or Konan would die.
Though the three weren't related by blood, they had relied on each other since childhood. Their bond was like family.
"Bullshit!"
Shippu shouted angrily, his voice booming and making the two of them tremble. They turned their confused eyes toward him.
"Young Master?" Nagato murmured.
"Demigod? You think you're worthy?!" Shippu turned his head toward Hanzo and raised his middle finger before hurling something forward with force—a middle-aged man unconscious, landing face-first in a puddle.
The man groaned, slowly opening his eyes. At first disoriented, he saw the bodies soaked in blood all around him and panicked.
"AAAAAAAHH!"
"Hanzo, save me!"
"I don't want to die!"
This middle-aged man was none other than the Daimyo, the supreme ruler of the country Rain Village belonged to.
As the Daimyo tried to crawl away, Shippu kicked him back into the puddle, leaving him covered in mud and blood.
"Hanzo the Salamander! If you don't want anything to happen to the Daimyo, hand over Konan." Shippu held a kunai against the Daimyo's throat and sneered. "If the Daimyo dies, chaos will erupt in this country. What resources will you have left to support Amegakure?"
"The only future for Amegakure will be collapse and ruin!"
Hanzo's brows furrowed deeply, a glint of coldness flashing in his eyes.
In the one-country-one-village system, the country controlled the economy, while the village held military power—they were interdependent. If anything happened to the Daimyo, national unrest would follow.
And the village would not escape an economic collapse.
Yahiko and Nagato exchanged shocked looks—they never expected Shippu to kidnap the Daimyo!
Looking at Shippu's back, Yahiko murmured.
"Yahiko, you're noble. You were willing to trade your life for Konan."
"But then what? What will happen to Nagato and Konan? Will they carry on living burdened by grief and guilt?"
"You're too selfish!" Shippu's voice cut in, low and firm.
His words struck Yahiko like a hammer, shaking him to the core. Yahiko staggered and nearly fell.
"You're a good brother—but a terrible leader."
After saying that, Shippu ignored the stunned Yahiko and looked toward Hanzo in the distance. Rain poured down his face as he stared coldly at his enemy.
This man is dangerous. Not to be underestimated.
"Hand over Konan! Or else—" Shippu growled, applying more pressure to the kunai at the Daimyo's throat.
The Daimyo shrieked in terror.
Hanzo took a deep breath.
He gave a subtle signal. The Amegakure ninja nearby caught on and tried to sneak up on Shippu.
"Heh."
Without hesitation, Shippu slashed.
Slice!
A spray of blood burst forth—the sharp kunai sliced across the Daimyo's left ear, making him wail in unbearable pain.
"You dare?!"
Hanzo's face twisted with rage, his brows furrowing tightly.
"I suggest you stop with the tricks," Shippu said coldly.
Who knew how long it had been—ever since Hanzo was hailed as a "demigod" of the ninja world, no one had ever dared threaten him.
He had always been the one deciding others' fate.
Even the Legendary Sannin of Konoha had shown overwhelming strength during the Second Ninja War—but had it not been for Hanzo sparing them, they would've died on the battlefield.
Now, Hanzo was furious beyond reason.
Seeing this, Shippu narrowed his eyes and said, "You're smart. You know the right choice to make."
Shippu and Hanzo locked eyes—sharp against sharp, unyielding.
After a long silence, Hanzo suddenly laughed.
His facial muscles twitched slightly as he ground his teeth and said, "Fine. Young man, I agree to exchange hostages with you."
Upon hearing that, Yahiko and Nagato were overjoyed.
Their eyes fixed on the scene.
Their hearts pounded violently.
"It's been a long time since I've met a young man like you. I admit, you have more guts than even the Legendary Sannin!" Hanzo's sharp gaze fixed on Shippu. He continued, "When I say 3, 2, 1—we release at the same time."
"Fine."
As Hanzo slightly lifted the sickle he held at Konan's neck, Shippu removed the kunai from the Daimyo's throat.
The Daimyo and Konan ran frantically back to their respective sides, visibly shaken.
"Konan!"
"Yahiko! Nagato!"
The three members of Akatsuki embraced each other with excitement.
"Don't get too happy yet. The real show's just starting," Shippu muttered with a smirk.
Hearing that, the trio turned toward Hanzo—
And in the next moment, their expressions turned weird.
SMACK!
A crisp, loud slap echoed in the air.
To everyone's shock, the Daimyo slapped Hanzo across the face!
The Daimyo glared, shouting, "Hanzo! You said the guards you gave me were more than enough to ensure my safety—this is what you meant? I nearly got killed!"
"You useless fool! You call yourself a demigod? What good are you!?"
"If you can't manage Amegakure properly, then step down! I'll appoint someone else—"
Before he could finish—
Slash!
A flash of cold light!
The Daimyo clutched his slit throat as blood gushed uncontrollably. He couldn't even finish his sentence before collapsing in a pool of blood, eyes wide in disbelief.
Hanzo the Salamander had just killed him!
Hanzo trembled with rage, his eye twitching. The palm print on his cheek was clear and red.
As if it weren't enough, Hanzo raised his blade again, releasing poisonous gas.
In the blink of an eye, the Daimyo's corpse melted into a pool of sludge, steaming with heat!