Two days earlier
More than a week had passed since Sakura unleashed carnage on the contingent from Konoha. The funerals of the innocent villagers had been held, and the entire city mourned for several days. Sakura's anger and grief had gradually subsided, and she felt less determined to burn her former village to the ground.
Of course, she did not forgive their actions, but she now sought justice. In one way or another, she wanted justice to be served, preferably without violence.
However, there was one crucial point on which she hadn't changed her mind: Hiruzen Sarutobi had to answer for his deeds. She knew that the Jônin, marked with her explosive seal, had likely already caused destruction in Konoha or would do so soon. She had no regrets. It was her way of sending a clear message to the Hokage: you don't attack her country without suffering the consequences. That was how the world worked, both in the Sengoku era and the one she had left behind—an eye for an eye.
That's why they had summoned the military council to announce their departure for the Hidden Leaf Village, determined to settle the score.
"Going to Konoha means revealing Heiwa's existence to the world, which…" Suzuki began, only to be cut off by Sakura.
"Yes, and it's about time the Elemental Nations realize that Ta No Kuni is not to be underestimated!" she replied confidently.
"But... does this mean you plan to announce Madara's return?" Suzuki asked hesitantly.
"Exactly," Madara answered, arms crossed.
"And he's not the only one who survived their betrayal!" Ashina added, his gaze cold.
"What do you plan to do once you're there?" Suzuki inquired.
"War!" Ashina and Madara answered in unison, their voices leaving no room for doubt about their intentions.
"Seek justice," Sakura added after a brief pause. Her tone was calmer, but she shot a loaded look at her husband, revealing their disagreement. "We will resort to war only if Konoha refuses to opt for a peaceful solution."
"Sakura! With all due respect, you're not seriously considering negotiating with them after the assassination attempt on Hashuba and their intrusion on our lands!" Ashina cried out indignantly.
"I'm fully aware of that, Ashina-san!" Sakura retorted firmly. "But Ta No Kuni mustn't act like the other nations. I did what was necessary to protect our people, and all I ask for is reparation! Hiruzen Sarutobi will be held accountable, and everything depends on his response. I don't rule out conflict, but we are better than them and should not stoop to the barbarity they've shown."
"And you, you have nothing to say?" Ashina asked Madara, surprised by his silence.
As Heikage, Madara was responsible for military decisions. He understood Sakura's reservations well. From the moment they met, she had been clear: she didn't seek conflict unless it was unavoidable. All peaceful options must be explored before drawing swords.
"War is inevitable, but I'm curious to hear Konoha's justifications," Madara finally replied.
"So what do we do? Invite Konoha to a roundtable?" Ashina scoffed, perplexed.
"We leave for Konoha tomorrow, on a diplomatic mission," Sakura announced.
"Diplomatic?" Ashina chuckled darkly. "Nothing is ever diplomatic, and you know that, Sakura! That coward of a Hokage owes me a reckoning!"
"And how exactly do you plan to achieve that, ancestor?" Madara inquired with a raised brow.
"I want him to know that I'm still alive! And that my clan is as well! If Konoha attacks us, we will be ready!"
Thus, despite differing views on how to resolve the issue, the Daimyô of Ta No Kuni, the Heikage, and the Uzukage decided to depart for Konoha the next day. Ashina suggested using a concealment technique to hide their approach, hoping to catch their enemies off guard.
When they arrived in front of Konoha's great gates, Sakura focused her chakra and, with a simple movement of her arm, smashed the doors violently, causing them to explode in a loud crash, raising a thick cloud of dust.
All eyes turned toward the destroyed gate, from which emanated a dense gray fog. Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Uchiha clan were the first to guess who stood behind it.
After a few moments, three silhouettes emerged from the dust. Slowly, their forms became clearer, revealing first Madara Uchiha and Ashina Uzumaki.
The shock was immediate. How could these two men, long believed to be dead, still be alive?
Ashina Uzumaki should have perished with his clan during the First Great Shinobi War. Moreover, hadn't he harbored a deep hatred for the Uchiha, who had tried to destroy Konoha by releasing the Kyûbi? Mito Uzumaki, Ashina's own daughter, had sacrificed herself to seal the Nine-Tails, so why was he now walking alongside Madara?
But it was the third figure that drew the most attention. Standing between the two men was a woman, small in stature but whose presence commanded respect. Though she didn't radiate the same killing intent as her companions, it was clear she was not to be underestimated. No one recognized her, but her official attire left little doubt — she was a Daimyô. And her pink hair was an unforgettable detail.
Whispers spread among Konoha's ninjas. Could this woman be the mysterious warrior spotted during the previous war? The head of the Nara clan, eyes wide with realization, understood immediately. It was her—the target of the assassination ordered by Hiruzen Sarutobi. Her appearance here, alongside Madara and Ashina, meant only one thing: war.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was thinking quickly, searching for a way to save his village and its people.
As the dust settled, revealing the destroyed gates and the bodies of fallen shinobi, Sakura, on her part, wondered what had become of the wise man she once knew. How could he have planned and endorsed such acts?
She had always respected him, even admired him, for he had represented the Will of Fire. But today, with a heavy heart, she sought justice.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi!" she called out in a strong voice before either of the men could speak.
"Who do you think you are? Don't you know who I am?" Hiruzen retorted, trying to intimidate her.
"Oh, I know exactly who you are, Third Hokage," she responded calmly. "But is this how Konoha speaks to a Daimyô? Where is the respect and deference due to the Daimyô of Ta No Kuni?"
The murmurs among Konoha's ninjas grew louder. This woman, a Daimyô?
"Why attack my village?" Hiruzen demanded. "Neutrality was signed before the last war."
"You're only reaping what you sowed, Hiruzen," she replied coldly.
"Sowed? You're the ones attacking Konoha! What are your motives?"
"Our motives? Considering your actions, I'm not sure explaining them would change anything… but perhaps having this conversation could open your people's eyes to who you really are."
"You speak as if your word is truth."
"No, but I strive to make it as just as possible," she said, meeting his gaze. "Our goal is simple: to bring peace and justice to this world. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Justice? Really? In what way is what you've been doing since the beginning just? You attacked villages during the last war, pillaged the Elemental Nations, and eradicated Uzushio! Don't deny it!" Hiruzen said, outraged.
"Oh, I see," Sakura whispered with icy calm. "War is noble when you wage it, isn't it? Is that your idea of justice? You find it just to kill to protect your lands. Tell me, Hiruzen, what did those people think when they saw Konoha's shinobi turn their villages into battlefields? All to preserve your resources, your borders. Do you find it just to exploit weaker countries to enrich Konoha?" she retorted, her voice rising with each sentence.
"We didn't start the First Great War!" Hiruzen immediately countered.
"Perhaps…," Sakura admitted, fixing him with a cold stare. "But where was the justice when you targeted my family? My friends? My country?"
Everyone's eyes turned to Sakura, the audience hanging on her every word. What was she talking about? What crime had Konoha committed against her and her country?
"So this is how Konoha dispenses its 'justice'?" Sakura continued indignantly. "You justify your actions by invoking food shortages, you invade weaker nations under the guise of protecting your own. You attacked the wrong nation, Sarutobi!" she added, her tone sharp.
Seeing himself cornered, Hiruzen tried to divert attention and turned to Ashina.
"Why? Why have you allied yourself with them?" he asked, gesturing toward Madara and Sakura.
"Why wouldn't I?" Ashina replied coldly.
"But… this man attacked Konoha! He unleashed the Nine-Tails, and your daughter…"
"SHUT UP!" Ashina exploded. "Don't speak her name after what Konoha did to my clan!"
"But we didn't do anything!" Hiruzen defended vehemently.
"Exactly, you did nothing!" Ashina hissed. "Where was Konoha when its enemies surrounded us? Where was Konoha when they were annihilating us? Where was Konoha when my daughter Mito DISAPPEARED? And you dare ask me why?!"
Silence fell. Every shinobi present began to doubt, murmurs rising as they processed these revelations.
"While your predecessors betrayed their allies for their own interests, these two — Madara and Sakura — saved my people!" Ashina continued with palpable intensity.
Suddenly, hundreds of figures materialized on Konoha's walls, their hair as red as blood. Everyone looked up, stunned: the Uzumaki clan, thought to be extinct, was very much alive.
"I owe them a great deal... so you can shove your worthless alliance where I think," spat Ashina, unleashing part of his murderous intent.
"It's not what you think! We were engaged elsewhere and couldn't rescue you in time!" Hiruzen tried to justify himself.
"Your excuses mean nothing! You have no moral compass! Since when does a Kage order the assassination of a lord?" Ashina roared, his eyes full of contempt.
"What are you talking about?" Hiruzen replied, trying to feign ignorance.
"Don't play innocent! You're Hokage, so own your actions! Tell your Shinobi how you sacrificed one of their own to try to kill a Daimyo!" Ashina shouted.
Immediately, the Hyuga clan turned their inquisitive gazes towards Hiruzen, demanding explanations. A murmur of indignation rose. What assassination mission was he referring to?
"Lies!" Hiruzen protested, struggling to maintain his calm.
Without a word, Ashina pulled out a scroll from his belt, unrolled it, and in a puff of smoke, made a severed head appear. Grabbing it by the hair, he brandished it for everyone to see.
"It wasn't easy to get answers, but after some... "encouragement," he eventually talked. Thanks, Hiruzen, you gave me a fine opportunity to acquire a rare Dojutsu," Ashina sneered, tossing Nao Hyuga's eyeless head at the feet of the Konoha ninjas.
"Sacrilege!" the Hyuga cried out, horrified to see a member of the Soke so profaned.
One Hyuga attempted to attack, but Ashina released such a murderous aura that they all instinctively stepped back.
"You shouldn't have entrusted us with the design of the cage seal!" he taunted with disdain.
"Stop!" Hiruzen shouted, fearing the situation would spiral out of control.
Taking advantage of the tension, Sakura spoke again, her eyes fixed on Hiruzen.
"Tell me, Sarutobi, isn't there an agreement that no Shinobi has the right to attack a Daimyo? Since when do you so blatantly disregard the laws between nations, just because someone else succeeded where you failed?"
"What would a woman understand about these matters?" Hiruzen spat with contempt.
"A woman?" Sakura repeated with icy disdain. "And you? Do you think you were justified in condemning me to death to protect your interests? Is that your "justice"? Ah, what beautiful justice Konoha has!" she mocked, her emerald eyes glowing with anger.
"Nonsense! Hashuba Shota is the Daimyo of Ta No Kuni! There was never any talk of changing leadership!" Hiruzen retorted.
"Whether it's me or my predecessor, you tried to assassinate us, and now you'll face the consequences!"
"Is that a threat? Do you think you're powerful because of your title?"
"Powerful? Aren't I the one who annihilated your contingent of a thousand men? That very contingent you sent to invade MY lands?" she replied coldly. "By the way, how's your commander?"
At the mention of the thousand men slaughtered, the crowd was shocked. The Konoha shinobi began to question their Hokage's true intentions.
Sakura then realized that she was standing before a man different from the one she had once respected. Like Pain before her, she understood that peace, as fragile as it may be, sometimes had to be seized by force.
"Nobuo didn't deserve to die like that! You call me cruel, but you're no better than I am!" Hiruzen shouted.
"NONE of my villagers deserved to die either, Hiruzen! Ta No Kuni has only ever sought peace, and you trampled on our neutrality for your own interests!" Sakura replied, her voice as sharp as a blade.
Hiruzen was cornered, with no more arguments to counter Sakura. He knew full well she was right. Not only had he ordered the assassination of a Daimyo, but he had also attacked a country without any proof that it posed a threat to Konoha. He had acted out of a mere desire to eliminate an obstacle that was prospering in a way he deemed unnatural. Yes, his goal had been to protect the village, but in truth, he was guilty of everything she accused him of.
Before he could respond, everyone's attention turned to Uchiha Madara, who suddenly stepped forward, imposing silence. Until now, he had contented himself with listening, but this conversation had confirmed what he had always thought of Konoha, regardless of who held the reins. His gaze swept over the crowd, pausing briefly on his own clan.
"Have you made your choice?" he asked in a deep voice.
A heavy silence fell. Everyone wondered what choice he was talking about. Suddenly, movement stirred in Konoha's ranks. Slowly, dozens of figures separated themselves to stand behind the trio. As the members of the Uchiha clan joined their revered leader, the crowd, stunned, began to murmur in protest. Hadn't they rejected Madara and his ideas when he rose against the village?
"Tch... It's hardly surprising coming from a clan led by a traitor," Sarutobi spat, boiling with rage at seeing his most powerful force betray him.
The ranks behind him were restless. The clans of Konoha did not approve of this defection. Insults flew, but they ceased immediately when a man stepped forward toward the Daimyo of Ta No Kuni.
"Enchu?" Hiruzen asked, stunned to see one of his closest advisors joining his enemies.
The head of the Nara clan had heard enough. For him, there was only one possible choice left : protect his clan. He was even pleased that he had already begun establishing closer ties with the Uchiha a few days earlier.
"I'm sorry, Hokage-sama, but seeing all this, it's clear that the Will of Fire is gone. Hashirama Senju's precepts have been betrayed. You know me, I never make a decision lightly, and today, I know I'm making the right choice."
"The right choice?" Sarutobi choked, realizing he was losing. "You'd rather betray your village and join a man who sought to destroy it? Don't forget who Madara is, Enchu! Traitors never change, they remain traitors their whole lives. Is that really what you want for your clan?"
"I'd rather be a traitor in your eyes and save my own than sacrifice my clan because of your mistakes. I know how to recognize those who can truly guarantee our safety, and that's no longer Konoha," Enchu replied, joining the Heiwa group. No sooner had he positioned himself behind them than the members of his clan followed.
Hiruzen, in shock, watched in horror as not only the Nara but also the Yamanaka and the Akimichi followed suit.
"So that's how it is? You break our bonds of friendship after everything the Sarutobi have done for you for generations?" he asked, desperate.
"This has nothing to do with the bonds between our clans, and you know it well, Hokage-sama," replied the head of the Yamanaka. "You still have the chance to make the right choice, too."
"The right choice?" Sarutobi roared. "You speak of the Will of Fire, but where is it now? Is this how you honor the legacy of Hashirama and Tobirama Senju? The values they left us?" He tried, hoping to guilt them and stop the exodus.
"Precepts?" Madara interjected, his deep, icy voice cutting through the assembly. "You speak as if this idea of a village was born solely from the Senju clan... Let me remind you, Sarutobi. Konoha isn't the fruit of an utopia, but of the blood shed by the Uchiha and Senju clans. The difference between Hashirama and me is that I realized, too late, that it was a mistake. Two clans that deeply hate each other can't coexist forever without eventually destroying one another. So, stop glorifying the values of one man! Remember what truly built this village!"
Hiruzen, unable to deny the reality of these accusations, felt a heavy weight fall upon his shoulders. His incompetence was now exposed for all to see.
"What do you intend to do now?" he continued bitterly. "Take over the whole village? Or perhaps all of Hi no Kuni?" he added with a touch of irony, though he knew the situation was slipping from his grasp.
"As I've already told you, Ta no Kuni seeks only peace and justice. For the wrongs you have inflicted upon my people, I demand reparation! To start, stop treating the Uchiha as traitors. They simply chose to follow their leader. Since Madara no longer belongs to this village, he has every right to claim the presence of his men."
"Let them go, all of them! If they wish to perish following their leader's madness, so be it! The Uchiha are no longer part of Konoha!"
This remark provoked a sharp tension in the ranks. The Shinobi who remained loyal to Hiruzen reacted with approval: they fully supported their Hokage.
On the Uchiha side, their faces hardened. They finally understood the true nature of the village's residents toward them. They had never been truly accepted.
"If that's your opinion, Konoha has indeed fallen low," Sakura added, disappointed by her former Hokage's attitude.
"Your opinion matters little to me! Tell me instead what your country seeks to negotiate with my village!"
"What is most valuable to you?"
"The village," Hiruzen replied immediately, as if it were obvious.
"In that case, hand over the scroll of your village's forbidden techniques, and I will consider justice served."
"Absolutely not!" Sarutobi protested, categorically refusing to part with such a precious scroll.
"If this scroll is in our hands, you won't be tempted to use those dangerous techniques."
"Don't speak of what you do not understand!"
"Very well, then I will apply justice as it is practiced between nations: I will force you to watch as your men perish under my hand," Sakura proposed seriously.
"If it's war you're seeking, we are ready to fight!"
"We won't stand idly by!" Ashina intervened, determined to avenge his daughter and make this village pay for everything it had taken from him.
Sakura remained impassive in the face of the Uzumaki's intervention and continued:
"The choice is yours, Hokage."
Hiruzen opened his mouth to reply but held back. Giving up the scroll would save the village, but at the cost of greatly weakening it, especially with the three main clans of Konoha threatening to defect. Fighting this army of Shinobi would also be disastrous, even suicidal, especially with Madara and Ashina on the opposing side. Those two seemed eager for battle, but they were merely supporting the Daimyō in her quest for justice.
Who was this woman, capable of achieving such a feat?
Suddenly, an idea crossed the Sandaime's mind — a solution that could save both his people and the secrets of the Senju clan.
"What if I let those who wish to join your country do so? Anyone who decides to stay here will do so of their own free will."
Everyone turned a surprised gaze toward the Hokage.
Sakura hadn't expected such a proposal, but she immediately understood that it was a chance to avoid a bloody conflict while sparing innocent lives. In her eyes, this solution was the fairest, in line with her values.
"Agreed. Let all those who wish to join our country, civilians or military, do so of their own free will, without regret. We will welcome them with kindness, as we have done for so many others, and they will find peace and security behind our walls."
During the next hour, under the supervision of the Uzumaki, a portion of Konoha's inhabitants was evacuated. The civilians who had sought refuge were told they had the opportunity to leave the village for another, the one that rumors praised. They didn't have time to gather their belongings; they had to choose now, to stay or to leave forever.
Once the group was gathered around Sakura, it was surprising to see that a few Shinobi had also decided to leave the village, under the astonished and incredulous gaze of their former companions.
"There you have it," Hiruzen said through clenched teeth. "Now leave my village and let us be in peace, you who claim to want it so much."
As everyone regrouped, Sakura organized their return to Heiwa with a few simple instructions. Enchū Nara also spoke with the Daimyō of Ta no Kuni, explaining that the civilians of the Uchiha clan and the other three clans had already been evacuated discreetly, thanks to their Genjutsu techniques. They had managed to leave the walls of Konoha unnoticed.
"You are truly worthy of your clan's reputation, Enchū-san," Sakura praised, admiring the Nara's tactical intelligence.
"I merely analyze the facts and make the most appropriate decisions to protect my own."
"Very well. Gather your people and begin the journey to Heiwa."
During this waiting period, the Shinobi who remained loyal to the Leaf had to contain their rage. They watched their companions leave the village, unable to intervene. The tension was palpable, exacerbated by Madara's imposing presence.
He didn't even need to express his intention to kill. His mere presence was enough to inspire fear. Sakura stood beside her husband, motionless and silent.
"We are ready to leave," she stated simply.
The man nodded without a word but didn't move. Sakura understood then that he wasn't done with Konoha yet. She knew him too well to ignore the patience he had shown up until this moment.
"Madara?"
After a few seconds, he finally turned toward her.
"Go ahead, Sakura. I have one last thing to do here."
"Madara...,"she tried, though she already guessed what was about to happen.
"Sakura, do you remember our discussion about peace and what men like me must do to achieve it?"
The pink-haired kunoichi nodded. She knew she couldn't stop him from doing what he was about to do. She had already saved as many lives as possible, but that was the way of life. It was cruel, merciless, and even all the goodwill in the world couldn't stop men determined to fight for their destiny.
"Be careful,"Sakura murmured simply before turning. "Ahina-san, come. Recall your men... We're leaving."
Ashina glanced at Madara and immediately understood. He ordered his troops to retreat. They all left Konoha's lands without looking back.
Once he was sure everyone had left the village, Madara turned one last time toward Hiruzen and his men.
"The Daimyō of Ta no Kuni has obtained justice... But there is one more issue. You owe me, Hiruzen,"Madara said, letting his murderous intent erupt.
"I owe you nothing!"retorted the Sandaime Hokage, defensively.
"On the contrary. As the Daimyō said, you attacked the wrong person. For ordering the assassination of Sakura Uchiha, my wife and Daimyō of Ta no Kuni, I condemn you and your village to death!"declared Madara before forming the Ram sign. A colossal amount of chakra began to gather around him.
A titanic gust of wind erupted, preventing anyone from approaching. All bore witness, both fascinated and terrified, to the manifestation of the legendary power of the Uchiha patriarch.
"Susanoo!"pronounced Madara, activating the third form of his Sharingan, with the tomoe swirling frenetically.
The chakra around him slowly materialized, first in the form of a gigantic royal blue skeleton that enveloped his body. The creature continued to grow until it reached about ten meters in height. However, Madara did not use the complete form of his Susanoo. Only the ribcage was formed, but even that offered impenetrable protection.
"Attack him!"ordered Hiruzen.
Waves of Ninjutsu were launched at Madara, but each technique seemed insignificant against the immense colossus of chakra. None could shake him. Completely ignoring the deluge of attacks, Madara made the Ram sign again.
Madara never forgave. He rarely gave second chances. Today, he would show the world what it cost to attack his clan, his family, his wife. He wasn't just winning a battle; he was eradicating any future threat.
Madara's hair began to float violently as the amount of chakra reached overwhelming proportions. He was activating one of the ultimate abilities of his Rinnegan.
As everyone desperately tried to stop his Susanoo, the sky began to darken. The gazes turned upward, and what they saw froze them in terror.
"What is that…"
"It's impossible…"
A gigantic sphere of rock floated in the sky, radiating colossal energy. Sakura, like many Shinobi, turned toward Konoha, which they had just left. She immediately recognized the technique. She remembered too well the meteorite Madara had summoned during the Fourth Great Shinobi War. But this time, the sphere was smaller, just enough to target the Leaf Village.
As everyone raised their eyes to the titanic mass, Madara quickly moved away from the village, deactivating his Susanoo while shouting to the last survivors of Konoha:
"Konoha and its inhabitants die today! Let this be an example to those who dare attack Heiwa!"
The meteor descended at a staggering speed. Nothing and no one could stop it. No Shinobi powerful enough was present to attempt the impossible and repel this assault. The air vibrated more and more as the sphere drew closer to the ground, pulled inexorably.
It was too late to flee, though some desperately tried to escape their grim fate.
Then the impact occurred. A cataclysmic explosion shook the earth, instantly obliterating everything that made up the village. In just a few seconds, Konoha no Sato was reduced to a smoking ruin. No living being had survived.
From afar, those who had chosen to leave the village witnessed its destruction. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and the roar of the impact echoed in the air, leaving no doubt about the outcome.
Konoha had been annihilated.
[As always, thank you so much for your support.]