Chapter 88.3- One Thousand Hands

“Now that we all know what we’re doing here and what our individual roles are. We can get to the first order of business. Which is?” I prompted.

“The war” Shikahime filled the silence.

“Indeed. We wiped Iwa off the map so they won’t matter. But Kumo, Suna, and Mizu remain standing. What are we going to do about that?”

“Your letter to Suna hasn’t received a response yet, so we can’t tell if they want to proceed with the war or not. Mizu has stopped their attacks on our coast. Either because they have decided the push back they were receiving made it not worth it, or because they have abandoned he war effort as a whole once they realised that Iwa and Kumo were going to be pulling back one way or the other. Kumo is dead silent. Chances are they should have received some information about their Kage’s demise. Either from those we were unable to capture or from the lack of progress updates” Shika said, and I nodded.

There was still one piece on the board unaccounted for though.

“And Ame?”

“I have gone through the reports from the survivors of the Battle of the Rains” She said, and I liked how she avoided mentioning my Cousin or her teammates by name. They were the only survivors, after all.

“From what they were able to notice, the Land of Rain still remains fractured into split clans. If this Amegakure you anticipate has been formed then it will still be in its early days”

“I see. That gives us an opportunity there. What do you suggest?” I asked.

“The land of Rain is a key buffer state between us, Stone, and Sand. The fact that Stone is off the table means that it and Rivers are important because they are our buffers with Sand. Allowing the rise of another power there could prove beneficial. But only if it is a power we can either influence or preferably control entirely.”

“And if it is a power entirely hostile?” I posed.

“Then it would be a threat. An alliance between them and Sand would give another of the Great Five a straight path to attacking our territory, which has never been the case. Even without an alliance, the Land of Rain possesses a strong industrial base. Steel, electricity, machinery, technology, their civilian populace produces all in droves. And then there is the large food potential. The only thing preventing Rain from rising to one of the Five is their size.”

“Tell me what you would have me do, Shika. In plain words”

“Hanzo the Salamander must either be eliminated or brought to heel. The latter would be preferable as a compliant Rain would be a useful ally, but the former would still be better than having a hostile but united Rain”

“Then it shall be done. Give me a month and I’ll bring you his head. Now on to the next order of business. Kumo. What are we going to do about that can of worms?” I asked.