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With Kirigakure's retreat, the immediate crisis facing the Land of Whirlpools had finally subsided.
However, the cost was severe, as countless Uzumaki clansmen had perished or sustained grievous injuries, and the nation's strength had diminished by at least thirty percent. If another enemy were to invade, even Konohagakure might not be able to send reinforcements in time.
Aware of the ever-looming threat posed by Kirigakure, Mito made a firm decision. She would remain in the Land of Whirlpools, standing resolute beside her daughter to safeguard their homeland.
A handful of clansmen stayed behind to maintain the settlement, while the majority, under Uchiha Izuna's leadership, made their way back to Konoha.
"Rest assured, as long as I am here, Kirigakure will not be allowed to step foot into the Land of Fire," Mito promised Konoha with unwavering determination.
"I will also stay and assist my mother," Uchiha Nagisa expressed her wish.
If her brother was defending Konoha from Sunagakure, then she would stand beside her mother to safeguard the Land of Whirlpools.
Their family was now divided between two battlefronts, one confronting Sunagakure and the other resisting Kirigakure. Their contributions to the war effort were beyond dispute, ensuring that no one could criticize them for negligence.
During this conflict, her mother had suffered severe injuries. In the heat of battle, Little Cutie, overwhelmed by desperation, had unexpectedly awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Fortunately, under Mito's patient guidance, she was not consumed by the negative emotions that often accompanied such an awakening. Nevertheless, she had become noticeably more composed than before.
Perhaps she had finally realized that she, too, bore the responsibility of protecting her family.
"Very well, I leave the matter of Kirigakure in your hands," Izuna said before leading his forces away, leaving the mother and daughter to aid Uzumaki Ashina in cleaning up the aftermath of the war.
---
Konoha Year 12, March
Kirigakure held a grand funeral for the First Mizukage. Throughout the proceedings, they repeatedly lodged official protests, demanding that Konoha surrender those responsible for his death.
Their demands were utterly absurd. Yayoi did not even bother to acknowledge them.
The moment she received the so-called "official letter," she crumpled it into a ball and tossed it into the trash without a second thought.
Surrender their people?
If not for the current complexities of the situation, Konoha would have every reason to launch an invasion of the Land of Water for their blatant betrayal of an ally.
By mid-March, with Konoha remaining unresponsive, Sunagakure grew increasingly restless.
Reto, the Kazekage, personally issued a public statement, demanding that Konoha formally apologize for its actions in the Land of Whirlpools and hand over the so-called "murderers"—Uchiha Izuna and Uchiha Nagisa.
If Konoha refused, Sunagakure would reserve the right to take military action.
It was a blatant distortion of the truth and an unparalleled display of shamelessness.
To make matters worse, the Raikage immediately echoed these sentiments, seizing the opportunity to launch an aggressive smear campaign against Konoha.
Despite Konoha's rescue efforts, the narrative had been twisted beyond recognition. Many now believed that the Uchiha clan, driven by old grudges, had deliberately orchestrated the downfall of the Land of Whirlpools under the guise of intervention.
This method of deception was crude and unsubtle, yet disturbingly effective.
People were quick to pass judgment, stubbornly clinging to their preconceived notions regardless of any counterarguments.
It is the nature of fools to hastily form conclusions and refuse to let them go.
The Raikage, despite his outwardly brash and straightforward demeanor, had a keen understanding of human nature.
By manipulating public perception in this way, even if Konoha were to one day conquer the Land of Lightning, the so-called "defenders of truth" would continue to resist them, willing to lay down their lives in opposition to perceived tyranny.
It was a cunning move, undeniably sinister in its implications.
Yet, Yayoi simply did not care.
In response to the relentless accusations from Sunagakure and Kumogakure, she issued Konoha's official reply:
"Konoha does not fear war. If you wish to fight, we shall meet you on the battlefield."
This resolute declaration left no room for doubt. To anyone with a discerning eye, war was now inevitable.
Whether Konoha could emerge victorious against the combined might of Sunagakure and Kumogakure remained uncertain.
Yet the greatest concern was not these two villages alone, but the force lurking behind them.
Should the Shinobi Sect choose to intervene, Konoha would find itself at a severe disadvantage in terms of high-level combat power.
Winning this war would be an immense challenge.
---
Konoha Year 12, Late April
Without any prior declaration, Kumogakure launched a sudden invasion, deploying a massive force to storm the Land of Fire's borders in an attempt to catch Konoha off guard at the very start of the war.
Unfortunately for them, the defense was spearheaded by the Senju clan.
Against the renowned master of battlefield tactics, Senju Tobirama, the Raikage's scheming proved utterly ineffective.
Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation!
Possessing unparalleled speed, the Raikage sought to overwhelm his foes, but Tobirama countered by summoning Edo Tensei bodies marked with Flying Thunder God seals to engage him.
What ensued was a battle of sheer speed, with the two warriors clashing in a high-stakes contest of agility and reflexes.
Their combat was so intense that ordinary shinobi dared not even approach the battlefield.
Meanwhile, the main forces of Kumogakure surged forward like a tidal wave, relying on their overwhelming numbers to secure victory.
Thus began a colossal battle involving over 15,000 shinobi, one of the largest conflicts in the Shinobi world history.
Summoning Technique: Monkey King, Enma!
Fighting alongside his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen demonstrated the immense strength that would one day earn him the title of the Third Hokage.
Through sheer willpower and relentless combat prowess, he proved beyond doubt that he was in no way inferior to Uchiha Haruto.
"Damn it, this guy fights like he doesn't care about his own life!"
A young and handsome Danzo gritted his teeth in frustration. Lacking sufficient strength, he could only struggle to keep up, providing support from behind.
More than once, he had the urge to charge forward and prove his worth, but when the critical moment arrived, he always hesitated at the last second.
"Damn it all!"
Uchiha Kagami glanced at Danzo, noting the frustration on his face, but remained silent. He continued playing the role of an assistant, fully aware that his importance could never compare to that of Hiruzen.
After all, it was Hiruzen whom Tobirama truly valued most.
If there was any hope of changing Konoha's future, it would have to come from Hiruzen.
---
Konoha Year 12, May
The battle with Kumogakure was fierce. The enemy had dispatched over ten thousand shinobi, while Konoha had sent only around five thousand, the majority of whom belonged to the Senju Clan.
Yet, the Senju of the Forest possessed extraordinary strength. Even with fewer numbers, they could still hold the Kumogakure army at bay.
However, the key to achieving victory did not lie in this battle. It was in the west, where Sunagakure was making its move.
As the war against Kumogakure raged on, Sunagakure mobilized its forces and advanced toward Konoha's western borders.
In response, Konoha reinforced its army with two thousand more shinobi, bringing the total to six thousand. This force then launched a counterattack, pushing deep into the Land of Rivers.
As the commander, Izuna had never been fond of passive defense. He much preferred to take the initiative and strike the enemy first.
This trait was shared by the entire Uchiha clan.
Among them, Haruto led the elite forces left behind by his father, wielding them like a razor-sharp spear that tore through the enemy ranks.
By the time Sunagakure realized what had happened, Haruto's army had already pierced straight through their formation.
"Hahahaha! This is exhilarating!" he roared with laughter, finally experiencing the sheer thrill of unrestrained battlefield combat.
His father's so-called invincible legion was truly as formidable as the legends claimed. Their mastery of lightning-fast surprise attacks was unparalleled, executed with such precision that it was nothing short of an art form.
Although Haruto was the nominal commander, in truth, he was still learning the intricacies of warfare from his seasoned subordinates.
They taught him invaluable battlefield knowledge, such as when to launch a surprise attack, how to recognize a well-disguised trap with a single glance, and the subtle shifts in enemy formations that signaled impending danger.
Through firsthand experience, Haruto had finally grasped the true nature of war.
Thanks to the unparalleled performance of the invincible legion, Konoha's western forces, despite having only half the numbers of Sunagakure's army, launched an overwhelming assault, crushing the enemy through sheer strategic brilliance.
When news of this astonishing feat spread, the entire ninja world was left in shock. A single thought lingered in the minds of all who heard it.
Was Konoha's military strength truly this terrifying?!
Even with two major Hidden Villages joining forces, they still couldn't gain the upper hand.
It became evident that even without the God of Shinobi, Konoha retained the strength to maintain its position as the most powerful hidden village in the world.
While tensions at the frontlines ran high, the Hokage, Yayoi, remained remarkably composed at the rear.
Despite the ongoing chaos, the battles between the three great factions had yet to escalate into an all-out war. For now, they remained within the phase of probing attacks, a measured testing of each other's capabilities rather than an attempt at total annihilation.
From the very beginning, Konoha had never regarded the alliance of the two hidden villages as a true threat.
The real enemy was not the obvious adversaries standing in the open, but the unseen forces lurking in the shadows—the Shinobi Sect.
Yayoi understood this reality all too well. As long as she and the hidden Uchiha Madara remained passive, the Shinobi Sect would not make a direct move in the war.
Those self-proclaimed righteous hypocrites would not dare to launch a large-scale massacre against Konoha's shinobi.
The only measure they could take was to restrict the involvement of super-shadow-level combatants, ensuring that such warriors could not wantonly slaughter opponents on the battlefield.
She herself counted as one of these powerhouses. Uchiha Madara, without a doubt, was another key target in their sights.
Beyond them, there was also a strong possibility that Haruto would become a primary focus of their countermeasures.
As for the village itself, it was in no immediate danger.
Even if the worst came to pass, and Hashirama, the "half-dead camel," were to make his move, Yayoi highly doubted that the Shinobi Sect possessed anyone capable of standing against him.
In the end, this war would be decided by Konoha's fundamental military strength.
Since the outcome hinged on that, there was little reason for Yayoi to dwell on matters beyond her control. Rather than wasting time and energy on pointless concerns, she chose to dedicate herself to her research, utilizing the Shadow Clone Research Method to accelerate the completion of her current projects.
That had been her plan, at least, until an unexpected guest arrived at her doorstep.
The visitor was escorted by the leader of the Fūma Clan.
Yayoi had only a vague understanding of this particular existence.
She was aware that the strange entity known as Black Zetsu had once collaborated with Kyosuke. Even now, there remained the possibility that some unknown agreement still bound them together.
A sinister chuckle echoed through the room.
"Kehehehe… Having trouble dealing with the Shinobi Sect, are you?"
"If you desire it, I can take care of those troublesome pests for you."
"My price is simple. I need you to use the Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion to slice that bothersome moon in half."
That was Black Zetsu's proposition.
At present, its plan to gather the Tailed Beasts had completely collapsed.
Forget the fact that its existence had been exposed. Its ultimate target, Uchiha Madara, had now ascended to a level comparable to the Sage of Six Paths, all without even relying on the Ten Tails.
Black Zetsu could not help but suspect that Hagoromo Otsutsuki had done this intentionally. It was as if he had deliberately ensured that the plan would never succeed.
After all, if Madara had already achieved this level of power through his own means, why would he take the immense risk of absorbing the Ten Tails, knowing full well that his body could be possessed by an external will?
Without a clear method to carry out its original resurrection plan, Black Zetsu had no choice but to explore alternative measures.
While observing Yayoi's battles from the shadows, a new idea suddenly took shape. It would leverage the power of the Tenseigan to break the seal in the simplest and most destructive way possible.
By utterly destroying the moon itself.
Even without a complete Ten Tails, Kaguya's strength might not return to its absolute peak. However, she would still possess a Divine Flame level body, an existence beyond the limits of ordinary lifeforms.
She might not be able to fight effectively…
But at the very least, she would be indestructible.
As for how she would regain her full strength, there was always another option.
In the worst-case scenario, mother and child could simply flee the Earth and search for another planet where they could cultivate a new Divine Tree.
Black Zetsu distinctly recalled that Isshiki had hidden a small Ten Tails somewhere. With Kaguya's extraordinary mastery of space-time ninjutsu, tracking down Isshiki's secret dimension would not be a difficult task.
It was, by all means, a solid plan.
Unfortunately, Black Zetsu had severely miscalculated one thing. Kaguya's obsession.
After suffering such a humiliating defeat on Earth, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya would never simply run away. If she were truly freed, she would inevitably rekindle her battle against her two beloved sons.
And the outcome was already predetermined.
She would without a doubt be sealed away once more. The Divine Flame level Body, while granting an immortal existence, came at a heavy price.
Maintaining such a form required an immense amount of chakra. That was why all Ōtsutsuki sealed the Ten Tails within themselves as an endless power source.
Without the Ten Tails functioning as a battery, Kaguya would be unable to unleash her true strength. Her combat experience was already lacking to begin with.
Without her full power, she would only fall faster. Because of this, Black Zetsu had sought to flee the planet and wait out the lifespans of its enemies.
Then, one day in the distant future, when all of them had long since turned to dust…
It and its mother would return once more.
..
..
[IMAGE]
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[Chapter End's]
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