Chapter 494: Konoha Keeps Its Grudges, No Matter How Long Ago They Started

When it came to Konoha, one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, Amegakure had never been in a position to negotiate as equals. It didn't have that standing in the past, and it certainly didn't now.

Small villages remained small villages, even if they had a "Demi-God" like Hanzō of the Salamander. His reputation might have been formidable, but it didn't translate into real influence.

Unless Hanzō could dominate the entire ninja world like Hashirama Senju once did, he was just another ninja.

Watching Takuya's smiling profile, Hanzō sighed.

"I never imagined the child I met back then would grow so much. But I am curious—how does someone like you, who has a strained relationship with Konoha's leadership, manage to coexist with them so well?"

"…"

Do you have to be so blunt, old man?

The Rain ninja accompanying Hanzō broke into a cold sweat.

Talking about such a sensitive topic in Konoha, as their guests no less—was that really appropriate?

But Hanzō didn't seem to care if his words offended Konoha or if Takuya reported them.

"That's my own business," Takuya replied with a calm smile, his gaze steady. "You don't need to concern yourself with it."

This old fox is still playing games even at his age. Too bad he picked the wrong person.

For others, such a remark might provoke a strong reaction. But for Takuya?

Why would I waste energy on something so trivial?

Anyone who interacted with Konoha's leadership already knew about Takuya's poor relations with the Third Hokage and his allies. It was no secret.

Still, just because it was common knowledge didn't mean he'd entertain the topic with outsiders like Hanzō.

"That said, it seems your Amegakure has been limited in its development since the war," Takuya remarked, changing the subject.

Hanzō looked up at the overcast sky and sighed. "The scars left by war take a long time to heal."

"Perhaps," Takuya replied, uninterested in prolonging the conversation, and continued leading the way.

The problem with Amegakure was simple: poverty. The wars had devastated the Land of Rain, and Hanzō had taken too much from the daimyo's coffers to fund his military efforts.

After the war, the daimyo's estate was too drained to offer further support. Without external aid and given the harsh environment of the Land of Rain, Amegakure had few sources of income.

The fact that the village had managed to survive this long was impressive, mainly thanks to Hanzō's reputation. Without him, Amegakure's situation would have been much worse.

Even though the village didn't have much to offer, the reality was that even scraps were valuable to someone. If not for Hanzō's presence, other forces would have swooped in to carve up what little remained of Amegakure.

Still, part of Amegakure's stagnation stemmed from internal issues. The war had shaken Hanzō's resolve, leaving him far less focused on the village's development. On top of that, the Akatsuki's growing influence had fragmented Amegakure's resources.

As long as Hanzō was alive, the village could maintain its fragile foothold in the ninja world. But once he was gone, its future looked bleak.

Takuya stopped in front of a two-story building with a courtyard, designated as Amegakure's lodging.

"This is where you'll be staying. To minimize friction and for easier management, all visiting groups are housed separately. It's not intended to target Amegakure specifically."

"Food and supplies will be delivered at regular intervals. If you have any requests, you can inform our staff," Takuya explained as he led the group inside.

After settling the Rain ninja, Takuya prepared to leave. Monitoring the situation from a distance was sufficient as long as Amegakure didn't cause trouble.

The Rain ninja weren't given any special treatment. Their accommodations were the same as those for other smaller villages, grouped together with other minor nations.

Konoha wasn't about to elevate Hanzō's status unnecessarily. If it had, they wouldn't have assigned Takuya to greet him in the first place.

"Lord Hanzō, Konoha isn't taking us seriously at all!" one of the Rain ninja complained as soon as the doors were closed. "They've put us in such poor accommodations!"

In the Rain ninja's view, Amegakure might not be on par with the Five Great Nations, but it was still leagues ahead of most minor villages. Their lodgings should have been placed after those of Suna or Kumo, not lumped in with smaller villages.

Hanzō cast a cold glance at his subordinate. "Do you want to stay somewhere better?"

"N-No, Lord Hanzō. I wouldn't dare."

Sensing his leader's displeasure, the ninja quickly bowed his head, sweat dripping down his back.

"Hmph," Hanzō snorted, closing his eyes and falling silent.

He didn't need anyone to remind him that Konoha didn't regard Amegakure as equals. That much was already clear to him.

The fact that Takuya had been assigned to receive them was proof enough. It was a warning: Stay in line. If you cause trouble, Amegakure will face consequences.

Hanzō hadn't come to Konoha out of genuine goodwill to congratulate Tsunade on becoming the Fourth Hokage. He was here only because the daimyo's persistent requests left him no choice.

Now that he was here, what did it matter if Konoha looked down on them? Amegakure and Konoha weren't even in the same league. Making a scene would only bring further humiliation.

Takuya didn't care what Hanzō thought. This was Konoha's arrangement, not his personal decision. If Hanzō had grievances, he could take them up with the Third Hokage and the Elder Council.

Honestly, given Hanzō's reputation, Amegakure deserved better treatment. But his history with Danzo was likely the reason for this slight.

Even though Danzo was now a missing-nin, he had once been a high-ranking Konoha official and the Hokage's advisor. Hanzō's past actions, which almost led to Danzo's death, had been a slap to Konoha's face.

If you don't respect me, why should I respect you?

Did Hanzō think Konoha had forgotten just because time had passed?

Some grudges don't fade—they simply wait for the right moment to be addressed.

As Takuya strolled through the rainy streets, umbrella in hand, he noticed the streets were nearly empty. Winter rain had a way of keeping most people indoors.

Unbeknownst to him—or so they thought—three small figures followed stealthily at a distance.

When Takuya entered a small restaurant, the trio didn't hesitate to follow him inside.

They were none other than the Akatsuki leaders: Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.

What they believed was a covert tailing operation was easily detected by Takuya's sensory abilities.

Just because his eyes were covered didn't mean he was unaware of his surroundings. His powerful sensory skills were as sharp as a second pair of eyes.

"Should we go in?" Yahiko asked, scratching his head and glancing at his two companions.

"Yes!" Konan answered immediately, unwilling to miss the opportunity to meet Takuya.

After all, while they were in Konoha now, who knew if they'd get another chance to see him?

Nagato, ever the quiet one, nodded slightly in agreement. His long hair draped over his face, hiding most of it, leaving only the lower half visible.

"Alright, let's go in. You think Sensei won't scold us, right?" Yahiko asked nervously.

"Stop wasting time!" Konan snapped, shoving Yahiko forward.

Compared to the fear of being scolded, Konan was more worried about Takuya's eyes.

Seeing him at the village gates had filled her with joy and excitement.

But when she noticed the cloth covering his eyes, her heart sank.

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DO NOT FORGET POWER STONE AND CHATTING