Day 371
The fateful hour had arrived. A decision had to be made about the future of this devastating conflict.
All the Elemental Nations had been deeply scarred by the war. Beyond the tens of thousands of dead, the balance of these nations was severely compromised. Uzushio had been wiped off the map, Suna was under siege, as was Iwa, and Kumo had faced an internal rebellion orchestrated by the Gold and Silver Brothers, who were mysteriously found dead under strange circumstances.
Among the Kage who had participated in the conflict, only the Nidaime Kazekage survived. All the other Nidaime had perished, and the war had sown such confusion that no one knew who was fighting whom anymore.
Only the Land of Fire and the Land of Water seemed capable of continuing the conflict, having gained the upper hand over their enemies. However, attacking the hidden villages would have been suicidal, leading to unsustainable human losses.
The solution was obvious: an armistice.
With Tobirama having designated Hiruzen Sarutobi as his successor, the new Sandaime Hokage proposed a truce to his enemies. Messages of peace were sent to the various Elemental Nations.
However, peace came at a price. The Leaf's Kage imposed strict conditions, aimed at repairing the war's damage in favor of his country.
Kumo had no choice but to accept, their deceased Nidaime Raikage having signed a peace treaty that was found stained with blood but still valid.
For Suna, the armistice was a godsend. The deceased Mizukage had imprisoned the Kazekage's family, preventing any rebellion.
Iwa, on the other hand, accepted the treaty bitterly. Without allies and after the defeat of their elite troops at the hands of Tobirama Senju, they had few options.
Thus, without a clear victory, the First Great Shinobi War came to an end.
The Elemental Nations entered into peace, preparing to rebuild. Messages were sent to announce the armistice and restart the economy, a crucial aspect to avoid revolts and massive exoduses.
The only country spared by this disaster was the Land of Rice. Having maintained strict neutrality by paying off its neighbors and forbidding any military access, it seemed to be rewarded for its prudence. However, the truth was much more complex. The Land of Rice aimed to become the largest country among the Elemental Nations, an essential hub of commerce. Its reputation was to grow like a rumor, attracting interest and curiosity.
As the armies returned home, enjoying the benefits of peace, Tsunade Senju was among the shinobi making their way back. Alongside Orochimaru and Jiraiya, she had participated in numerous assaults, though often assigned to less dangerous missions due to their youth. Hiruzen Sarutobi would not have tolerated losing his students, sparing them from the worst horrors of the conflict.
As the Leaf shinobi passed through the village gates, relief was palpable on their faces. They had finally returned home, alive. Tsunade, like those who had journeyed with her, headed towards the Senju compound, hoping to find her family and friends. They were the last troop to return, and she had not seen them since the beginning of the war.
As she approached her home, a feverish impatience seized her. She ran down the path, calling out with a voice full of hope:
"Mom! Dad!"
She reached her house, hurriedly opening the door and removing her sandals at the entrance. Her voice betrayed her urgency:
"Mom! I'm home!"
But the interior of the house held an unexpected discovery. Silence reigned, a complete absence of life. The furniture was in place, but a fine layer of dust covered the surfaces and floor. A dull anxiety began to rise within her. The house had been empty for a long time.
"Mom?" she called, her voice trembling.
The silence answered her desperate call. She began to search the house, but it was evident that her parents were no longer there. Leaving her home, she moved towards the other houses in the compound, hoping to find answers.
But the Senju district was deserted. The streets were silent, the houses closed. Only the wind and a few birds disturbed the eerie calm. Not a single sign of life, neither her cousins nor her friends, no one. Tsunade realized with horror that the entire Senju clan seemed to have vanished.
No one.
The absence of life around her was overwhelming. She understood the magnitude of her loss. The war had taken more from her than she could have ever imagined.
Her entire clan.
She realized the terrible truth: she was the last Senju. She would never see her family again. This realization overwhelmed her with grief.
"Mom," Tsunade softly cried.
She fell to her knees in the middle of the street, hugging herself. Tears flowed freely, and she sobbed, inconsolable.
In her distress, she did not notice the approach of a figure. A pair of arms enveloped her, holding her with unexpected gentleness. Through her tear-filled eyes, she saw white hair.
"I'm here, Tsunade," Jiraiya whispered, his voice devoid of its usual humor. There was only sincerity and comfort. For the first time, she allowed herself to lean into the arms of the boy she had always considered a heartless fool. Today, there was no teasing, no childishness. The loss of her clan forced them to transition from the carefree days of youth to the responsibilities of adulthood. She clung to his clothes and let her sorrow pour out in loud sobs. Jiraiya remained kneeling, unwavering, silent, offering only the comfort of his presence.
They shared this moment of silent mourning, one in the arms of the other, united in pain.
"Why?" Tsunade murmured when her sobs subsided.
"I don't know..."
"Why this damn war!" she cried, grief piercing her voice. Jiraiya tightened his arms around her, trying to offer what comfort he could. He wished he could erase her pain, annihilate the heartache she was experiencing. He understood her suffering, but he couldn't fully put himself in her place. Orphaned at a young age, he had never known the loss of loved ones.
"Because adults are stupid," he murmured, gently stroking her hair.
"If I had been stronger... maybe...," she began, her voice breaking with despair.
"It's not your fault, Tsunade!" Jiraiya interrupted. "You're amazing and very talented. You did your best during this war... you couldn't have done more... you couldn't have known... no one could have predicted this... and...," he searched for words to comfort her, but she cut him off.
"If I had been like her... this wouldn't have happened," Tsunade murmured.
The last of the Senju, crying against Jiraiya, had a revelation. The image of a woman with pink hair imposed itself on her mind. Why was this woman appearing to her now? Perhaps because she embodied everything Tsunade wished to be: powerful. If she had had the same skills, she could have saved her clan and the members of her village. If she had been stronger, she would have changed the course of the war.
"What's stopping you from being like her?" Jiraiya asked softly.
"What do you mean?" Tsunade asked, pulling back slightly from his embrace to look him in the eyes.
He didn't answer immediately, simply gazing at the young girl with such tender and understanding eyes that her heart skipped a beat. Slowly, he wiped the tear stains from her cheeks with an unprecedented gentleness.
"This woman saw a brilliant future in you. What you're trying to do is admirable. I have no doubt that you will succeed... you already have that strength within you, Hime. You achieve everything you set your mind to," Jiraiya assured with a slight smile. His voice, usually nonchalant, was imbued with surprising wisdom, leaving Tsunade wondering if she had misjudged him all these years.
"I'm scared, Jiraiya," she finally admitted.
"I know you'll make it, Tsunade. And I'll help you become as strong as that woman," Jiraiya replied with unwavering certainty.
"What's the point of continuing with no one around..." Tsunade sighed, lowering her eyes, grief overwhelming her again at the thought of achieving everything without her family there to see it.
"Tsunade, look at me," Jiraiya gently demanded, perceiving all the sorrow in her gaze. She looked up, once again meeting his eyes. "You're not alone. You have us, your team. We're here for you... I'm here for you, Tsunade... I can be your family...," he said with palpable sincerity. Tsunade knew he was telling the truth, that he wasn't just trying to comfort her. He was promising that he would always be there for her, because she was already everything to him.
Day 390
The war had been over for a month, and the countries, still wounded, were assessing their losses, asking questions, and forming hypotheses. That evening, in a district of Konoha, a meeting was held in a place reserved for crucial discussions concerning the village and, more specifically, the clan.
"Gentlemen, I have gathered you here tonight because there are crucial points to address. As clan leader, it was impossible to ignore the arguments one of our own presented to me yesterday," began the last leader of the Uchiha clan, designated after Madara's death.
He swept the assembly with his gaze. Despite the war, many were present, thanks to the Sharingan that had minimized their losses. Their faces were stern and grim. These meetings were never a good sign, and the tension was palpable.
"No need to remind you that everything said tonight is punishable by death if anyone reveals it," he added unequivocally. Several grimaced at this reminder, not fond of being reminded of their obligations to the clan.
"Why is Kagami here then?" one of them spat, glaring at the person in question, who remained impassive.
"Yes! Why is he here? It's well known that Kagami always puts the village's interests before those of the clan!" added another Uchiha, supporting the first remark.
The tension rose a notch, the Uchiha heating up even before the topic was addressed.
"Because he is the one who asked to convene the council tonight," replied the leader, inviting Kagami to stand before sitting down himself.
Kagami, a personal student of the Nidaime Hokage, stood and swept the assembly with his gaze. Some looked at him with suspicion, others with curiosity, while the majority maintained neutral expressions, waiting to form an opinion.
"I don't deny the accusations. You all know, I have always placed the village before my family. But recent events have made me reconsider. Is Konoha truly capable of ensuring our safety? Not just individually, but as a clan?"
A heavy silence followed his words. Everyone knew how Konoha had treated the Uchiha since the village's founding. Despite the peace established at Konoha's creation, the Uchiha had never been fully integrated. Their loyalty had been questioned after Madara's attack, and the Nidaime Hokage had never fully trusted them.
"What do you mean?" asked Izumi Uchiha.
"How do we explain the disappearance of Mito Uzumaki? She lived in the heart of the village and, overnight, no one hears from her anymore. The same for Uzushio: how did Konoha arrive too late to prevent its destruction? Some will say I was wrong to follow Tobirama Senju, and they would be right. Yet, he failed to keep his promises to his ally, nor to protect Mito, heir of a prestigious clan."
The Uchiha began to think intensely about these revelations. Some crossed their arms, displaying a frown.
"What are you trying to prove?" asked one of the elder Uchiha.
"Who's to say Konoha won't do the same with the Uchiha clan? Maybe Madara was right, and we should have followed him..."
"Who are you?" suddenly exclaimed a man, standing abruptly.
"What do you mean?" Kagami was puzzled.
"The Kagami I know would never give such a speech. He would never adhere to Madara's vision of taking up arms against this village he helped build. How can you change your mind so suddenly?" his interlocutor declared, several members of the assembly nodding in agreement.
"I haven't turned my coat, as you seem to think. I am still the same. And without wanting to offend you, I am not like most of you, staring at my navel and believing myself superior to other clans in the village. I see things others do not see, said Kagami, raising his voice. I analyze situations, contexts, stakes, and risks. That's what drives me to think beyond my family, beyond the village. And although I am a Shinobi, I hate war. Yes, I hate fighting, especially for personal interests. Some say I protect the village before my family, but still... I love my parents, my sister, and every member of my clan. It's also to protect them that I am willing to make sacrifices, even putting my family before the village. Considering all these points, I hope to preserve those I love and bring about lasting peace."
"Admittedly," conceded the Uchiha who had asked the last questions. "What elements have you gathered to change so much?"
"Before answering, I would like to ask another question: who among us could rival Uchiha Madara?"
Everyone was surprised by this question, but Kagami's attitude showed he was serious. Murmurs arose in the assembly. Everyone knew the power of their former leader.
"No one," eventually said the clan leader, who hadn't reacted since Kagami began speaking.
This statement silenced the murmurs, and a cold silence fell over the room.
"Then who, in the world, could oppose him?" Kagami continued, taking advantage of the silence.
"Hashirama," replied a man in the room quickly.
"Certainly, but Hashirama Senju is dead. Apart from him, no one can rival Madara. So, if we had to face Uchiha Madara together, would we stand any chance of winning?"
"Where are you going with this, Kagami?" asked Izumi, completely lost.
"Where am I going with this? During the war, I had a lot of time to observe, think, and analyze. Firstly, numerous guerrilla activities occurred, not only on our territory but also in other countries. Secondly, these guerrillas seemed to be instigated by a mysterious duo. Thirdly, the techniques used by one of them quickly allowed me to eliminate many candidates for the identities of these two people."
The clan members began to understand where Kagami was heading.
"Are you implying that..."
"I'm not implying, I'm stating it!" Kagami interrupted.
"You can't be serious, it's impossible!" objected one of them, even though Kagami hadn't given any specific indication.
"If it's improbable, then answer me this. Who in all the Elemental Nations is capable of a Katon Ninjutsu on the scale of a village? Who can hold an army at bay alone? Who can annihilate a city with a single technique? Just one person is capable of all that!"
"Madara is dead!" exclaimed a member.
"But no one ever found his body. What proves to us that Uchiha Madara isn't out there, continuing his fight?"
Kagami paused, letting the weight of his words settle in.
"If I called for this exceptional meeting, it's to protect not only my village but also my family and my clan. Because if Madara is behind the destruction of Uzushio, and with a single technique he managed to accomplish that, what would stop him from doing the same to Konoha?"
A heavy silence hung in the air, minds seeking answers to the questions Kagami had raised.
"So, what do you propose, Kagami? If Madara is alive, why hasn't he contacted the clan? Why hide?"
"Maybe he wants us to find out on our own..."
The meeting continued for another hour, each member grappling with numerous questions. For if their former leader was alive, it was likely that those who had dared to defy him would have to face the consequences. And many feared the terrible wrath of Uchiha Madara, known for not forgiving easily.
[I hope you are still enjoying this story, and I thank you for your support.]