Chapter 77 - The Death of Yahiko
The sky over the Land of Rain was a permanent gray, choked with heavy clouds that never parted. Rain fell as it always did—relentless and cold—drenching the soil and seeping into every crack and crevice of the war-torn country. Beneath this eternal curtain of water, betrayal quietly moved in the shadows.
After leaving Akatsuki's temporary base, Sakata Shuichiro moved swiftly and silently through the rain-laced forest, his soaked cloak fluttering behind him. Despite the cold, he felt nothing but the heat of anticipation.
His mission—carefully planned and painstakingly executed over several months—was about to reach its climax.
When he finally reached Root's hidden outpost nestled within the Land of Rain's mountainous ridges, he was immediately brought to the interior chamber, where a lone masked operative awaited him.
"I've spoken to Yahiko," Sakata reported, his voice low and steady, hiding the adrenaline that coursed through his veins. "He took the bait. He believes Hanzo is genuinely offering peace. All three—Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato—are preparing to enter the Rain Village."
The Root operative remained silent for a moment. A flicker of interest passed behind the blank mask. "And Kazane?" he asked.
"He encountered them just before I returned. The meeting was brief. Kazane warned them to turn back. But Yahiko… he's desperate to prove his dream is valid. He wouldn't listen."
A pause.
The Root ninja gave a nod of approval. "Understood. Wait here. I'll inform Lord Hanzo."
Without another word, he vanished into the downpour with a muffled swish of his cloak, leaving Sakata alone in the silence of the underground chamber.
---
Rain Village – Hanzo's Fortress
Inside the massive stone stronghold at the center of the Hidden Rain, Hanzo the Salamander stood by a large circular window, watching the downpour hammer against the glass. His breathing was steady but muffled by the filtration mask permanently fixed to his face. His gaze was unreadable beneath the visor—but behind it, his mind churned with violent anticipation.
The sudden swirl of wind signaled the arrival of the Root agent. Kneeling before the warlord, the masked figure relayed the report.
"Lord Hanzo. Akatsuki's leader, Yahiko, has accepted the offer. He will arrive at the gates this afternoon with his closest companions—Konan and Nagato."
Hanzo turned slightly. The air shifted around him—thickening with malice.
"So, the rats are finally stepping into the trap," Hanzo muttered. His voice was distorted through his breathing apparatus, low and ominous.
"I will give them a warm welcome they'll never forget."
The Root operative remained still, awaiting further instructions.
But then came something else—something that made Hanzo's eyes narrow behind the mask.
"There's more," the agent said.
"Kazane of the Hatake clan was spotted inside the Land of Rain. Our men report he made contact with Yahiko and his team just hours ago."
At the mention of the name, Hanzo's fists clenched around the hilt of the weapon strapped to his back.
"That boy again…"
His breath grew heavier, venom lacing every syllable.
"Kazane… meddling in matters far beyond him. If he intends to interfere with this plan, I'll deal with him myself."
"Shall we set another trap, my lord?" the Root agent asked, voice calm and emotionless.
Hanzo shook his head slowly.
"No. First, we finish off Yahiko and his little rebellion. Kazane is powerful, yes—but even he can't protect all of them. Once I've crushed the Akatsuki, he'll have nothing left to stand on. One target at a time."
"As you command."
The Root operative vanished once again.
---
Root's Outpost – Return to the Shadows
Back at the secret base, Sakata was still seated quietly, meditating beside a candle's flickering flame.
When the Root ninja returned, his voice carried finality.
"Sakata. The arrangements have been made. This afternoon, you will lead Yahiko and his companions to the designated location inside Rain Village. Once they cross that threshold, your mission will be complete."
He paused, then added with a rare note of satisfaction, "You've served Root well."
A cold breeze drifted through the stone corridors.
Sakata bowed his head, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in a rare smile.
"Yes, sir."
After months of ingratiating himself into Akatsuki, enduring their idealism, their naivety, their blind hope—he would finally cast the knife they'd never see coming.
They think this is the beginning of peace…
But it will be the grave of their dream.
As he slipped into the shadows once more, he welcomed the coldness that came with the rain.
It reminded him that hope was for the weak.
And that in the world of shinobi, dreams were just another way to die.
---
Meanwhile...
Kazane moved through the mist-shrouded forests of the Land of Rain, the persistent drizzle hissing softly against the fabric of his cloak. The atmosphere was heavy—drenched in silence, sorrow, and the faint scent of blood and rusted metal.
Earlier that day, he had met Yahiko's trio.
More accurately—he had tested them.
And the result?
Disappointing.
"So that's the wielder of Madara's Rinnegan?" Kazane thought, recalling Nagato's trembling frame.
"His willpower is so fragile, he couldn't even stand firm under my killing intent. To think this boy would one day shake the world…"
His lips curved in disdain.
"Do all powerful eye wielders need trauma to awaken their strength? Uchiha, Hyūga, Rinnegan… it's all the same. They need suffering to be useful. Tch."
Still, his little test hadn't been a complete waste.
Just before leaving, Kazane had sensed something.
A faint fluctuation in the air.
His Observation Haki caught the anomaly instantly—someone, or something, had been lurking nearby.
Without hesitation, Kazane released a casual wave of sword energy toward the forest behind where Yahiko formerly stood, once more.
His blade struck true.
The ground cracked. Roots were torn apart.
A dying screech echoed from beneath the soil.
The creature's form—white, twisted, half-plant, half-human—convulsed violently before melting into a puddle of black sludge.
"A White Zetsu…" Kazane muttered.
So they were already moving.
He hadn't even sensed any chakra from it. Had it not been for his Haki, the spy would've gone unnoticed entirely.
"Well, that confirms it. My Observation Haki can pierce even their camouflage. That's one less thing I'll have to worry about moving forward."
He cracked his neck and exhaled deeply.
"Now then, time to wrap this up. The old man wanted intel on Hanzo's troop movements—but I'm no scout, and I don't care for subtlety."
Kazane smirked to himself.
"I'll just walk right into Rain Village, grab Hanzo by the throat, and ask him directly."
---
Inside Rain Village – Hanzo's Compound
The compound at the heart of Amegakure was fortified like a fortress. Iron gates, watchtowers, layered seals, and loyal guards ringed the structure like teeth around a beast's mouth.
Inside, Hanzo the Salamander stood over a long table in a private war room, his sharp eyes reading over a map of the region. His expression was unreadable behind the armored mask that covered his face, filtering the poison that seeped from his very breath.
He didn't trust his enemies.
But he trusted poison.
The only companion that never betrayed him.
Years ago, he had undergone an experimental procedure—implanting the venom sac of a giant black salamander into his own body. It had turned his breath into a lethal miasma and made him immune to nearly every known toxin.
Now, that gift would serve him once again.
"Lord Hanzo," a Rain ninja entered with a low bow. "Preparations are complete. The banquet hall has been sealed."
Hanzo turned his masked face toward the man.
"Good. And the serving dishes?"
"As per request, it has been prepared."
Hanzo nodded slowly, his voice gravelly.
"Excellent. Once they arrive, we'll entertain them with ceremony… then send them to the afterlife."
He walked to the window, watching the gray rain beat against the glass panes.
"How poetic," he murmured. "To toast peace and die in the same breath."
Another ninja entered soon after, cloak soaked from the rain.
"Lord Hanzo. The Akatsuki delegation has entered the village. They are being escorted to the banquet hall."
Hanzo's fingers drummed slowly against the table, the sound rhythmic—anticipatory.
"Let the traitor be their guide."
He meant the Rain ninja who had been secretly leaking information to Yahiko—the perfect tool for false trust.
"And once this is over… ensure he follows them into the grave."
"Yes, my lord."
---
Moments Later – Inside the Banquet Hall
The grand doors of the hall creaked open, revealing Yahiko and his companions.
They entered slowly, warily.
Yahiko walked ahead, head held high despite his exhaustion. His spiky orange hair was damp, and his robe clung to his skin from the endless downpour.
To his left, Nagato kept a careful watch on their surroundings. His eyes—gray, rippling rings of the Rinnegan—gleamed softly in the torchlight. But his steps were tentative, his form thin, fragile.
To Yahiko's right walked Konan. Her quiet presence was like a blade hidden within silk—blue-haired, solemn, and ever-watchful. A single purple paper flower sat neatly above her ear, untouched by the rain.
Hanzo sat at the head of the long table, clad in dark armor, mask glinting in the dim lighting.
"Welcome," he said, standing slowly.
"From the moment you entered this village, peace has already begun. Let us drink to this alliance!"
He gestured toward the table, now filled with carefully arranged dishes and crystal goblets of dark wine.
Yahiko nodded, though his expression remained cautious.
"This peace means a lot to us, Lord Hanzo. Thank you for agreeing to speak."
Hanzo chuckled softly, raising his glass. His movements were deliberate, calm—too calm.
"To new beginnings."
Yahiko hesitated.
Then, slowly, he raised his glass to match.
"To peace."
Nagato followed, though unease flickered across his face. His Rinnegan darted between Hanzo and the doors behind them.
Only Konan refused to touch the glass.
"I… prefer not to drink," she said quietly, still not trusting the other party.
But Hanzo had already lifted his mask slightly and sipped from his own glass which came from the same bottle of wine.
Seeing this, Yahiko relaxed and drank his wine.
Nagato followed suit.
The moment the bitter liquid touched their tongues, Hanzo's eyes gleamed behind the mask.
The game had begun.
And none of them knew it yet.