"Konoha, once a proud part of the Land of Fire, now finds itself locked in civil strife, leaving countless corpses littering the ground and rivers of blood flowing through the streets.
Thankfully, the culprit behind all this—Uzumaki Heiyan—has already been slain. The Protective God of our Land of Fire has put an end to his crimes.
Therefore, let's end this destructive internal conflict!
Now, lay down your arms and open the gates! As long as the Konoha ninja surrender their weapons, I, speaking on behalf of the Daimyo, guarantee that not a single prisoner will be executed!"
Appearing on the giant screen, the Fire Daimyo bore a sincere and righteous expression as he addressed the villagers inside the city walls, attempting to persuade them into surrender.
Powered to full capacity, the sound amplification system broadcasted his voice across every corner of the Leaf Village, echoing repeatedly within the city's walls.
The effect of these words was immediate.
Influenced by the Daimyo's words, many Konoha ninja and villagers began to waver.
After all, surrender meant receiving the Daimyo's assurance of safety—at least for those not directly involved in the resistance. But if Konoha chose continued resistance, there would likely be only one outcome—complete annihilation.
"The Lord Daimyo speaks the truth. Thinking carefully, it's all Heiyan Uzumaki's fault! If he hadn't harbored such enormous ambitions, repeatedly defying authority and humiliating the Daimyo's Mansion, even plotting to overthrow the Daimyo's rule, things never would've reached this extreme!"
"We ordinary Konoha villagers are nothing but victims caught up in this war, pulled into it by Heiyan Uzumaki. Why should we die for him?"
"Hurry up and let the Fire Army in. Our noble Daimyo is a benevolent ruler who'll certainly spare us innocent civilians. This way, everyone can return to the peaceful lives we used to have."
"..."
From whispering quietly at first to gradually growing louder voices, murmurs among the city walls and shelters within the village soon swelled into an unstoppable wave of opinion.
Meanwhile, those villagers still loyal to Heiyan and holding firm stances found themselves locked in intense conflict with the surrender faction, condemning the latter as cowardly opportunists willing to survive at any cost.
Faced with this volatile situation, one ninja finally asked,
"Lord Hokage, what should we do now?"
Standing atop the city wall, the ninja all turned toward Hiruzen Sarutobi, waiting for this Third Hokage to respond to the Daimyo. After all, as the leader of the Leaf Village, his declaration carried the greatest weight and earned the most trust from the villagers.
Hiruzen's face remained cold and severe.
At this moment, he recalled the exact scene from a year ago in the Hokage office—when he had informed Heiyan of his decision to abandon Uzu Country, their ally. He could clearly remember how the younger man had turned away, deeply disappointed.
Later, on the battlefield of Uzugakure, Heiyan had proven Hiruzen's mistake through a fierce battle fought with his very life.
Now, Heiyan had given everything to protect the village, ultimately sacrificing himself on foreign soil.
Thinking of this, pain gripped Hiruzen's heart.
This time, he would definitely not disappoint Heiyan—not again. Not even in death.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and stepped forward, sternly addressing the Daimyo on the screen.
"The Daimyo's Mansion has repeatedly oppressed Konoha with covert and underhanded schemes, completely forfeiting any moral authority. All your lofty words are nothing but blatant lies! If Konoha surrenders, we will surely die—and far sooner than otherwise. Therefore, as the Third Hokage, I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, swear here and now to fight to the very end alongside Konoha's people against the Daimyo's Mansion, until the last of us falls!"
These powerful words rang out like a great bell echoing through the skies of Konoha.
The Daimyo's expression instantly changed. He hadn't expected Hiruzen to be this strong-willed and determined, so openly stripping away his false mask.
For many of Konoha's citizens, these words were equally earth-shattering, awakening them from delusions and completely shattering their illusions about the Daimyo's Mansion, forcing them to face reality.
Although a minority still favored surrender, their position no longer carried any weight.
"Capture Konoha! Spare no one!"
The Daimyo spoke again. His face twisted in rage, his voice nearly a roar.
"Charge!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The army of the Land of Fire mounted relentless assaults on Konoha's city walls, like crashing waves upon a shore.
The fierce battle erupted once more.
Cries of battle, clashing steel, and explosions echoed across the fields. Thick smoke and flames shot into the sky as this war quickly escalated into a fiercely heated stage.
And indeed, it proved true.
The Daimyo underestimated the determination of Konoha's ninja. After a series of reforms, Konoha had risen from the ashes like a phoenix. Many ninja had mentally freed themselves from their reverence and dependence on the Daimyo's Mansion, and had begun to resist.
Faced with invasion by the Daimyo's forces, they realized it was better to die gloriously in battle than to surrender and die in disgrace.
Moreover, Heiyan's death ignited the fighting spirit of countless Konoha ninja, causing them to risk their lives recklessly, growing fiercer and more courageous in combat.
Half a day passed.
The attacking side not only failed to make progress, but also suffered heavy losses. Eventually, even with the Daimyo personally commanding and promising greater rewards, the soldiers of the Land of Fire refused to charge anymore.
The army had no choice but to retreat and once again halt hostilities.
On the city walls.
Taking advantage of the enemy retreat, Fugaku, Hiashi, Tsunade, and others gathered together immediately.
Was Heiyan truly dead? Was there any possibility of survival?
Everyone repeatedly analyzed and discussed this, with Fugaku and Hiashi refusing to believe this tragic news. Meanwhile, Tsunade had been silent since then, saying nothing, her entire being seeming lost.
Hiruzen approached with a heavy heart, offering comfort to everyone while reminding them that especially at times like these, they must quickly pull themselves together.
As those still alive, they absolutely could not allow Heiyan's sacrifice to be in vain. Instead, they should inherit his final wish—to protect the villagers of Konoha, especially the next generation of children.
This is the Will of Fire.
Another day passed.
Still no word from Heiyan. The people of Konoha had already tried every possible method but still couldn't establish contact with him.
Only now did everyone finally come to terms with the cruel reality of Heiyan's death.
In a wooded area midway down a distant mountainside:
"Sorry, but I can't reveal myself just yet," Heiyan murmured, standing on a tree branch and gazing at Tsunade and others atop the city walls.
He had to remain hidden until his grand plan to seize the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path was complete, pretending he was truly dead.
Certainly, this didn't mean Heiyan had to lie dormant like a corpse, helpless and unable to act while Konoha was under threat.
He turned to face the Fire Daimyo's Mansion.
Currently, the only way to resolve the crisis threatening Konoha was to strike directly at its source—by eliminating the Daimyo's Mansion.
However, before dealing with the Daimyo, Heiyan had to ensure Madara Uchiha couldn't pose any critical threat to Konoha.
Though he had learned through the Demonic Statue that Madara's Elephant Path could no longer use Outer Path—Edo Tensei, losing his most powerful technique, Madara remained an unprecedented formidable foe for Konoha.
If the people of Konoha were unable to resist the upcoming assault by Madara, then as a last resort, even if it meant abandoning his fake death plan, Heiyan would have no choice but to intervene.
Right at that moment—
Here he comes!
According to Heiyan's perception, a familiar chakra signature emerged from the east and was rapidly approaching Konoha.
A solitary figure silently cleared Konoha's Wood Release wall on the village's flank, evading detection by all the guards as he infiltrated the village interior.
Not long afterward,
Outside the restricted library room.
Bang! Bang!
Two Anbu guards fell to the ground without offering any resistance, victim to the Rinnegan's genjutsu.
Madara Uchiha's lips curled upward as he calmly walked into the library, picking up various ninja scrolls and flipping through them.
Soon enough, he found what he sought—the Scroll of Seals.
In Madara's eyes, those sealed forbidden techniques—ones that no one was allowed to study or use—were Konoha's most valuable treasures.
Hmm? This jutsu is here too?
His gaze locked onto a particular page within the Scroll of Seals.
[Impure World Reincarnation].
"What a despicable and sinister ninja art. Only someone like Tobirama Senju—with no shame or restraint—could create something like this."
He commented.
[Impure World Reincarnation] summoned deceased souls from the Pure Land of the afterlife, attaching them to sacrificial vessels to resurrect them as grotesque puppets twisted by the caster—a horrifying technique that played with the dead.
"Who are you?!"
Suddenly, a startled voice rang out behind Madara, as an Anbu ninja arrived upon discovering the anomaly.
Hearing this, Madara turned around, casting a mocking glance at the Anbu ninja.
"Perfect timing."
Without hesitation, he extended a hand and activated Universal Pull, immediately capturing the ninja and seizing him by the throat.
"Immediately tell me where the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is."
Madara's Rinnegan emitted a wave of ocular power, employing genjutsu to interrogate him.
The Anbu soon broke under the pressure.
"Kushina Uzumaki… Another member of the Uzumaki clan, huh? So these people really are natural-born tailed beast vessels."
Madara muttered Kushina's name, then casually tossed aside the Anbu member before taking the Scroll of Seals and leaving the restricted library chamber. He strode directly toward a refuge deep within the village.
Three minutes later.
Boom!
The shelter door exploded open from a powerful kick by Madara. Upon entering, he immediately saw only a handful of people inside this small refuge—several Anbu ninja guarding a red-haired girl no older than ten.
"Intruder! Alert!"
The Anbu squad captain, seeing Madara, grew serious and instantly ordered his men—one pair to notify the Hokage and another to evacuate Kushina, while the remaining stayed behind to face the enemy.
However, within merely ten seconds, all members of that Anbu squad had been knocked down, losing their fighting ability.
This sudden turn of events didn't scare Kushina. Remaining calm, she immediately tried communicating with the nine-tails sealed within her, hoping to borrow its power to activate Semi-Tailed Beast Transformation so she could defeat this mysterious opponent.
Yet the usually arrogant and lazy nine-tails now shouted at Kushina in an extremely terrified voice: "Run! Now!"
Before the nine-tails' words faded.
[Universal Pull]!
A gravitational force yanked Kushina off the ground. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't break free, helpless as she flew straight toward Madara.
Just as Kushina was about to fall into Madara's grasp.
Whoosh!
With a sharp whistling sound through air, an arrow shot through the doorway at lightning speed, aiming directly at Madara.
"Huh?"
Frowning slightly, Madara sidestepped, dodging the arrow. The very next second—
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Three figures rushed in one after another from the entrance, standing protectively in front of Madara.
It was Tsunade, Fugaku, and Hiashi.
They had anticipated Madara might attack Konoha and quickly arrived upon receiving intel reports.
"Kushina, get out of here now," Tsunade commanded without turning back, her eyes locked tightly on Madara before her.
"Big sister Tsunade, please be careful."
Kushina whispered softly. She knew staying would only slow them down, so without hesitation, she decisively turned and fled through the shelter's back exit.
Watching Kushina escape, Madara didn't try to stop her. Instead, he studied the three opponents facing him with clear amusement.
"So it seems you've figured out who I am?" Arms crossed, he asked casually from his spot.
"Nonsense!" snapped Hyuga Hiashi. "Today is your day to die, Madara Uchiha!" Drawing his bow, he aimed directly at Madara.
"We're here to avenge Heiyan and use your head for his memorial rites. Besides, since I'm about to inherit leadership of our clan, it's time we settle accounts between our Uchiha clan and yourself—the traitor."
Fugaku Uchiha stared coldly at Madara.
Tsunade clenched her fists tightly, saying nothing, but her eyes burned with fury—even fiercer than Hiashi's or Fugaku's.
"If that's settled..." Madara still seemed indifferent, "then let me see what you've got."
Without finishing his sentence, his hands moved rapidly through hand seals. Immediately afterward, he opened his mouth wide.
[Fire Release: Dragon Flame Release Song Technique]!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Four lifelike fire dragons flew out of Madara's mouth, attacking the three of them from above, below, left, and right. This jutsu had a 100% hit rate—there was no way to avoid it except by enduring the blow directly.
"Let me handle this!"
Fugaku stepped forward without hesitation and drew the blazing war fan from his back. Gripping it with both hands, he swung it forcefully forward.
[Uchiha Return]!
*KABOOM!*
The four fire dragons slammed into the blazing war fan's surface and Fugaku forcefully reflected them back, fusing them into one massive fire dragon that lunged at Madara with claws bared.
"That war fan you're holding is a counterfeit—it's even the same one I gave you before. Don't tell me you've already forgotten?"
Madara mocked him with a sneer, first taunting Fugaku before removing the authentic blazing war fan from behind his back. He mimicked Fugaku's movement and swung it forward with full strength.
[Uchiha Return]!
An identical move.
*KABOOM!*
The massive fire dragon changed direction again, flying straight back at Fugaku and the others. After being reflected twice, its power had grown to an absolutely terrifying level, nearly filling the entire refuge as scorching flames spread across every inch of space.
It looked as if the fire dragon itself had gotten angry—fuming from being batted back and forth like a shuttlecock between the two men, delaying its original mission to finish off Fugaku and call it a day.
[Uchiha Return]!
Not willing to give up, Fugaku tried pulling the same move again—attempting to reflect the fire dragon back.
Unfortunately, this time, he was destined to fail.
*KABOOM!*
Amid the violent clash, the blazing war fan in Fugaku's hands caught fire from the fire dragon's intensity and quickly turned to ash.
Yet even after destroying the war fan, the fire dragon continued forward without slowing, preparing to incinerate Fugaku, Tsunade, and Hiashi until not even their bones remained.
Just then, Tsunade sprang into action.
"Haaa!"
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