Day 220
After neutralizing several small raids orchestrated by Tsuchi No Kuni, Madara and Sakura had managed to glean crucial information about the upcoming waves of planned attacks. Intelligence was scarce among the shinobi, outside of their immediate mission. However, one of them had whispered that the Land of Rain could be the next target.
That was ample enough to prompt Madara to leave the territory of Fire, resolutely sailing westward, specifically targeting the second metropolis of the Land of Rain. Going directly to the capital would have been imprudent, not because of the vigilance of the shinobi loyal to Konoha, but because it would have been an unnecessary expenditure of energy, revealing their presence to the wrong people earlier than planned.
Furthermore, during their travels through the different elemental nations, Sakura and Madara had cleverly redirected several villages towards Heiwa, either by saving them or by skillfully influencing them. Madara had his own way of bending the wills of populations according to his own designs.
No objections were raised regarding the use of the Sharingan when an attentive crowd was within sight. Madara took advantage of this to reinforce the underlying threat, ensuring that these villages would join Ta No Kuni and its capital, Heiwa, as quickly as possible.
Currently, Madara and Sakura were traversing one of the largest agglomerations of the Land of Rain, a vassal of Hi No Kuni. They were inexorably approaching their next step.
"Do you genuinely think this is the best approach, Madara-san?" whispered Sakura as they made their way through the crowd.
"Absolutely," affirmed Madara as passersby parted in their wake. Their weapons were conspicuously visible, as was Madara's towering stature, making him easily recognizable.
"Why specifically here?" insisted Sakura, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings for any imminent attacks.
"Because I have gained a particular mastery of my sensory affinity," replied the brunet, almost at the city's edge. It was bordered by a modest wall, offering only two points of entry. To ninjas, such fortifications seemed insignificant, incapable of holding them back.
"I thought this ability was inherent and could only be naturally developed," remarked the young woman, surprised.
"The Sharingan has its own advantages," added Madara, with an air of mystery surrounding him, giving a slight smile.
"What do you mean?" pressed the medic.
They reached the main gate, where many guards eyed them warily and apprehensively. Few people had the chance to see ninjas, let alone know what they looked like. The officer decided that the tall brown-haired man must probably be a shinobi... or at the very least, a samurai, judging by the swords at his belt.
"Manipulation, illusion, security... With these three elements, I can make anyone talk," began the Uchiha, stopping in the middle of the grand gate and partially blocking the passage of civilians. "I can make my target believe they are safe at home, or use their own memories to compel them to reveal information to a trusted confidant."
"You've hijacked the abilities of a sensory shinobi?" affirmed Sakura, more than asking a question. It was obvious to her that this was what he had done. "What is the extent of it?"
"When we are in uninhabited lands: kilometers. And the more chakra a person has, the easier they are to detect," revealed Madara, his gaze fixed straight ahead as he removed his long cape, further exposing his weapons to the surrounding people.
At the sight of this gesture, the civilians backed away, and the soldiers firmly gripped their weapons.
"Hey there!" interjected the officer, approaching the two warriors accompanied by a dozen men. "No conflict in this city!"
Madara and Sakura remained silent, focused on the horizon, blatantly ignoring the individuals around them.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!" the man exclaimed, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Put away your weapons if you value your physical integrity," threatened Madara, emitting a slight murderous aura. This was enough to make the surrounding men step back.
"How many are they, master?" asked Sakura, resuming her role as apprentice to the people around.
"They are just over a hundred... it seems the Tsuchikage is going on the offensive," replied Madara, observing a cloud of dust in the distance, a sign that a troop was heading their way.
"What are you doing?!" exclaimed the officer, displeased with the turn of events.
"We're saving your hides!" retorted Madara, advancing as he addressed the young woman with pink hair. "If a shinobi gets too close to the city, Sakura-san, take them down!"
"Understood!"
"But what's happening?!" ordered the man, disoriented, before a steady toll of bells rang throughout the city: they were under attack!
Madara progressed slowly as civilians rushed to the city gates to seek shelter behind the ramparts and soldiers.
Everyone ignored the Uchiha, but no one jostled him, as if his mere presence was deterrent enough.
The fight would have certainly been more expedient if the young woman had accompanied him, but he harbored the urgent desire to test her skills. With Sakura's extraordinary abilities, Madara Uchiha had restored the power of his second Sharingan and intended to exploit every ounce of its power.
As the forces of the Land of Earth approached, Uchiha Madara unleashed his Dōjutsu.
They were just over a hundred, Madara assessing a significant number of Chunin and Genin among them. Due to regulation rules and their chakra reserve, he estimated the presence of six Jōnin. Probably the leaders of this attack.
The patriarch took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly to calm his body. Suddenly, he spotted them! A hundred meters ahead of him, they were running straight towards him. The brunet also set himself in motion, first slowly, then gradually accelerating.
They were only twenty meters away... ten meters... at this distance, every shinobi from the Land of Earth had spotted the man charging towards them. Madara could read the surprise in their eyes, and most importantly, the incomprehension. After all, who would have the suicidal audacity to charge an armed force composed of shinobi? But this incomprehension played into Madara's favor, as he was about to exploit it.
A dozen projectiles headed towards him, he veered his course to the right while drawing one of his weapons to place it at neck level. He managed to deflect one, two, three kunai before lowering his blade towards the left side of his body. Two more clinks were heard as two shuriken struck the Uchiha's blade. In two movements, he had neutralized the attack of ten enemy soldiers.
Five meters away, Madara calculated the ideal trajectory to reach the one standing in front of him. It was one of the leaders! Two meters... one meter! The Jōnin raised his arm, shouting a war cry, but to Madara's trained eyes, he seemed terribly slow. He shifted all his weight to the side to avoid the blade, then decapitated the shinobi with a smooth motion.
The first blood was spilled!
Counter-attacks, elegant dodges, aerial acrobatics—Uchiha Madara was as elusive as water slipping through fingers. His eyes absorbed so much information in advance that no ninja could hope to compete. He seemed capable of slowing down time itself, moving at will in this deadly ballet. A parry followed by a graceful and fluid movement towards an opening offered by a third party, slicing off an arm before decimating another opponent. A dodge, then Madara contracted his abs to lean back, forcing the assailant to plunge his blade into the shinobi behind him.
That was the danger of a well-trained Uchiha: every attack directed at him could turn against the attacker... or even against another.
Barely twenty seconds had passed, and already more than forty ninjas had lost their lives.
"Squad 3, continue towards the city!" shouted what seemed to be one of the leaders of the attack. "Genin, stay back and provide support! The others overwhe—"
The Jōnin didn't have time to finish his sentence as an enemy emerged before him, driving a kunai into his throat. Madara didn't linger, withdrawing the sharp weapon from the flesh, finishing the Jōnin with a precise move.
Meanwhile, on the small city wall, the soldiers were astounded. A single man was decimating, single-handedly, an armed force of shinobi. It was inconceivable, terrifying to think that a human being could accomplish such feats.
"Archers! Get ready, the enemy is approaching!"
But at the bottom of the wall, twenty meters from the entrance, Sakura paced nervously, her gaze fixed on the battle... waiting. When she saw a dozen shinobi approaching, she reacted immediately.
In front of the city entrance, a crossroads housed a large menhir, acting as a directional sign. Under the astonished gaze of the soldiers, Sakura seized the monumental stone, lifting it above her head before hurling it with all her might towards the approaching shinobi.
Two of them were caught off guard, instantly succumbing to the deafening impact of the menhir crashing to the ground.
Expanding her chakra with brilliance, the young woman clearly signaled to the ninjas in front of her that they would have to defeat her before claiming entry into the city.
"Chief? What do we do?" asked an archer, his bow drawn and an arrow ready to be shot.
"Wait!" shouted the officer, watching the young woman charge towards the enemies. He wanted to see for himself the extraordinary capabilities of this person, while in the distance explosions and cries rang out. He expected a lot, but never such devastation from this woman.
She moved with unmatched agility and ease, evading each enemy attack with disconcerting ease. No deadly blade was needed, her fists were more than enough. Every parry, every block, every punch from Sakura was fatal. Each contact meant the loss of a limb or a life.
With impressive flexibility, Sakura swept her last opponent who collapsed to the ground. He then saw the woman with pink hair directing her fist towards him, and everything turned black. The released energy traveled through the soldier's body before spreading into the ground, cracking the earth for several meters.
In less than ten seconds, Sakura incapacitated the entire squad 3. Only one child, with brown hair and chocolate eyes, seemed to escape her relentless judgment, petrified before the woman with pink hair, simply by her imposing presence...
"Put away your arrows," said the officer after a moment still in shock from what he saw. This man in the distance, as well as his apprentice at their doorstep, were exceptional beings and they were saving their lives.
"Your name!" demanded Sakura with a cold tone to the young girl.
"M-M-Mina," replied the young brunette completely frightened.
"You stay here, if you try to escape, I'll kill you! Am I clear enough?" explained Sakura, emanating her intention to kill.
"Y-Yes... very clear!" quickly responded the young girl who even if she had wanted to, wouldn't have dared to attempt to escape.
After leaving the young woman alone, Sakura calmly walked towards the Uchiha, who continued to wreak havoc. There were almost no more enemies left, the confrontation now resembling more of a cat and mouse game, with the last survivors opting for flight rather than fight.
"Who... who are you?" stammered a panicked man, stepping back as the brunet approached, a bloodied weapon in hand.
"Your executioner," replied Madara, plunging his blade into the ninja's body, who only had time to meet the gaze of two Sharingan. It was one of Madara's pleasures: making his enemies understand who he was just before taking them into death.
"How do you feel, Madara-san?" asked Sakura, joining the Uchiha as he cleaned the blade's edge.
"I've rarely felt better," declared the Uchiha, a smile on his lips.
"No eye pain?" inquired Sakura, circling around the bodies to stand in front of her patient. Without waiting for his response, she placed her hands on his face to examine his eyes.
Madara made no move to push Sakura away; he appreciated these rare moments of closeness between them. Her soft and delicate skin caused a pleasant shiver in him, as he plunged his jet-black gaze into the emerald eyes of the young woman, his hands glowing with green chakra.
The young woman blushed at the intensity of the brunet's gaze. As always, he fixed her in a way that no one else had ever dared. It was troubling for Sakura, who felt helpless in the face of this unique expression. If it had been just a simple glimmer of desire, she could have ignored it... but there was something else. Something deeper, more intense, and Sakura feared the consequences of what Madara was trying to communicate to her.
"It seems that the healing was successful. The use of your Dōjutsu has had no adverse effects," Sakura declared after a moment. "Did you use a Genjutsu?"
"No," Madara replied, sheathing his weapon while sensing a chakra source near the wall, much higher than that of a civilian. "But it seems we have a prisoner."
"Sort of," the young woman replied, heading towards the city alongside the Uchiha. "We can say that war is about to break out."
"Indeed. I think it's time for us to reveal ourselves," added the Uchiha, approaching the young woman who trembled like a leaf upon seeing the two figures responsible for the death of all her comrades.
Madara grabbed the young Mina by the neck, lifting her off the ground. She struggled, trying in vain to free herself, her eyes filled with panic.
"Look at me!" ordered Madara, activating his two Sharingan. The tomoe spun rapidly as the young brunette, frozen by the brunet's Genjutsu, ceased all agitation. "You will return to your Kage and explain what happened here. You can only describe that there were only two of us."
"At your command," Mina replied hesitantly. Madara released her, and she walked away in the opposite direction of the city to fulfill her mission.
Once the informant was out of sight, Madara and Sakura headed towards the city gates, where all eyes were on them, mingling fear and respect. Respect for having saved lives, fear for their undeniable power in case of hostility.
"Open the gates," ordered Madara.
The officer hesitated under the weight of the crowd's gaze. Should they open the gates or not?
"If we had had hostile intentions, you would already be dead," declared Madara, understanding their apprehensions.
Finally, the officer relented. "Open the gates," he said, recognizing the truth in the brunet's words.
As the gates opened, an enthusiastic crowd welcomed the two shinobi, applauding and shouting their gratitude. Sakura responded with a graceful smile and a few waves, while Madara calmly walked through the crowd, which parted before him.
They headed towards the city's central square, almost the entire population following them. After all, this day was going to become a celebration, a day of gratitude for being saved from the invaders. In the center of the square stood a large fountain, and Madara, channeling his chakra into his legs, jumped to the top to be visible to all.
"People of Ame No Kuni!" he exclaimed in a loud voice, capturing the crowd's attention, which ceased their cheers to listen. Madara activated his Sharingan, plunging his audience into subtle illusions. Each of his words would sow an idea, making those who listened believe that what he said was the absolute truth, and that they should act accordingly. "Today, the Land of Tsuchi No Kuni attempted to invade you! To plunder your wealth and eliminate you! Where are your allies when your homeland is attacked? They hide in their comfort, leaving you to your fate, deceived by their promises of alliance."
"This is outrageous!" exclaimed a member of the audience, immediately echoed by many others.
"While Hi No Kuni ignores its vassals for its own interest, Ta No Kuni comes to your aid!" continued Madara. "What happened today is just the beginning! Tomorrow, more enemies will come, and the day after, even more! But there is a place where you will be safe, protected by people like us! You will be welcomed by those who care about your protection, about your future!" His gaze swept the crowd, capturing everyone's attention.
"Where is this place?" asked a voice in the crowd, eager to respond to Madara's illusions.
"Heiwa! The capital of Ta No Kuni!" Madara announced forcefully. "A place of peace where war is forbidden, where neutrality is valued while the rest of the world is engulfed in conflict! The choice is yours: leave for Heiwa and live... or stay here and die tomorrow! For we will leave here tomorrow! With these words, he descended from the fountain, leaving the idea deeply implanted in the minds of the crowd.
He had laid the powder, lit the fuse, and his speech had been the spark that triggered a chain reaction. Nothing is more powerful than the crowd effect, and numbers attract numbers. No one wanted to die, and the idea, amplified by Madara's Genjutsu, had been enough to create, in just three hours, the largest caravan ever seen in the Elemental Nations, gathering more than a thousand people and as many resources as possible.
"Please, take this, ma'am," said Sakura, handing a small wooden stick on which Fūinjutsu characters shimmered.
"What is this?" asked the woman, holding her baby in her arms.
"It's to protect your child. Place it in his swaddle, and it will keep him safe during your journey," Sakura lied, thus prompting the mother to take the object.
It was a creation of Madara and herself: a combination of Fūinjutsu and Genjutsu seals. As long as the object was held, everyone nearby was rendered invisible to the world's eyes. Anyone approaching would be irresistibly compelled to go elsewhere.
"Thank you so much," said the mother, taking the stick and placing it in her son's blanket.
"Once you approach Heiwa, throw the stick on the ground and break it," added Sakura, ensuring no trouble for the capital.
"Thank you very much."
"Onward, everyone!" shouted the officer.
In fifteen minutes, the second largest city in the Land of Rain was deserted, leaving Sakura and Madara alone in the center.
"Tell me, Sakura-san, would you be tempted by a Ninjutsu duel?" Madara asked with a smirk.
"Here?"
"Exactly here... We need to make this place a true battlefield before dispersing the Earth shinobi throughout the city," explained Madara, starting to form hand seals.
Day 225
"What's new?" asked a man to his colleague as he finished climbing the ladder.
They were currently at one of the observation posts in Heiwa. This location provided a very good view of the entire valley. It was while waiting for the watchtowers to be set up on the surrounding hills.
"Nothing worth our attention to report," replied the man in his twenties before sitting on a small stool provided for this purpose. He placed the binoculars he had used to observe the surroundings on the wooden ledge. "How about you?"
"Yes... still surprised by how things are turning out, but I won't complain," replied the man in his forties, who still found it difficult to see everything changing, but at least he had a job to feed his family.
"It's still better than what we've experienced in the past," said the younger one, recalling the provincial wars.
"As you say, youngster," nodded the older man before taking the binoculars himself.
He brought the object to his right eye before directing the lens towards the Eastern road. The main road was traveled by residents here and there. There were also a few carts, as well as a cavalryman from the army on patrol: nothing unusual to report.
"How's your wife?" asked the soldier while opening his water skin and bringing it to his lips.
"She's doing well, now that our children are independent she's been requested at the Daimyō's request," explained the man before directing the binoculars towards the southern road.
"Oh really?"
"Yes, it seems our lord has set up some kind of medical group... probably they need manpower for I don't know what," he explained before delicately adjusting the lens of his instrument. The southern road stretched for several kilometers and passed through many villages before reaching Heiwa.
There were the same types of people using the southern road. There was nothing abnormal, and he was about to put down the binoculars when something caught his eye. In the middle of the valley, there was someone walking briskly towards the capital. Except that this person had a hooded cape, his face completely concealed.
"Potential suspect coming from the south," he said to his colleague, who raised his head.
"Should we send a group for inspection?" asked the young man who had learned over time to trust his colleague's suspicions.
The man in question said nothing, his gaze fixed on the individual who did not slow down his pace. Then, at one point, a strong gust of wind caused the vagabond's cape to flutter, and at the same time part of his hood. For a moment, the soldier caught a glimpse of the man's face, accompanied by a glint of light.
"Damn!" cursed the soldier before turning hastily to the outpost bell.
CLANG CLANG CLANG
It was a very small bell that could only be heard within a hundred meters. Anyone near the outpost turned around, especially those stationed on the main gate of the wall.
"NUKENIN!" shouted the middle-aged man before immediately returning to his post to monitor the deserter's actions. It was their luck, they were in no way prepared for this kind of threat. The country of Ta No Kuni had no Shinobi force except for Sakura and Madara. But they were both outside the country.
After the sentinel's announcement, the city teemed with military activity, and many soldiers climbed to the top of the half-built walls armed with bows and crossbows.
"How long until the target gets here?" shouted someone below.
"In about thirty minutes he wi... Damn! He's gone!" panicked the man as the Nukenin disappeared from his field of vision. He scanned the road with his binoculars hoping to find him. There! He seemed to have made several quick movements on the road. About fifteen minutes, chief!
"Alert Suzuki-sama!" ordered the officer to a man on horseback who galloped through the streets of the city. "I want three dozen archers placed up there! Crossbowmen placed here and here! And evacuate the civilians from the main gate!"
As soon as the orders were given, everyone sprang into action. It was the first time they had faced this kind of threat, and almost none of them had faced a Shinobi. Ninjas were just a legend, a myth for civilians, but for soldiers, it was a reality. They were quickly made to understand that such individuals existed and that they were capable of anything.
Many soldiers serving Ta No Kuni even saw their Daimyō and Suzuki using some E-rank techniques during the provincial wars. Proof that all this really existed.
After ten minutes of preparation, Suzuki arrived on the back of his war horse dressed in his combat armor, his sword drawn. Extreme concentration could be seen on his face: he hoped with all his heart that this deserter ninja did not come to eradicate the city.
"Close the gate!" ordered Suzuki before advancing as a line of soldiers formed up. "Everyone on alert!"
Then everyone waited for the threat to approach, in fear. Everyone could now see him, even more so when he raised one of his hands to his neck level. He undid the lace holding the cape to his garment before discarding the garment which he threw to the ground. Those close enough could see that he was indeed a Shinobi: his armor, his weaponry, and his forehead protector were evidence of his condition.
He was a former ninja from Tsuchi No Kuni, the Land of Earth, his forehead protector was barred at the symbol and he would be at the city gates in less than thirty seconds.
"Halt!" shouted Suzuki, but the deserter acted as if he hadn't heard anything and continued to walk.
His face was neutral, even though his gaze fell on all the soldiers facing him. With one glance, he understood that none of them seemed to know how to use Shinobi arts: it would be so easy to annihilate them all.
"I said: HALT!" Suzuki shouted this time and the man stopped in front of everyone less than ten meters away. "What do you want!"
No response.
The deserter walked along the wall and the surroundings slowly, he counted and this did not reassure Suzuki in the least. Then, after making the circuit, he raised his right hand to his head.
"Not another move! Or you'll be dead before you realize what's happening!" threatened Suzuki, who only received a black look from the protagonist. He released some of his killing intent, paralyzing much of the army facing him. When he was sure that no one would be able to shoot at him, the ninja resumed his movement.
The deserter from Tsuchi No Kuni undid his forehead protector before seizing it with a full hand before stretching it forward. He remained like this for a few seconds before dropping it to the ground.
"I come for the true peace promised by Uchiha-sama!"