Ti flew by, and in the blink of an eye, over a month had passed.
The war in the Land of Fire not only did not subside but intensified.
The Second Prince, Tsuyoshi, with the support of Iwagakure, captured seven cities in the north.
The Third Prince, Takashi, with the support of Kumogakure, captured six cities in the east.
The Fourth Prince, Rito, with the support of Sunagakure, captured six cities in the four directions.
The Fifth Prince, Ko, with the support of so nobles, captured three cities in the south.
The territory of the First Prince, Kyu, rapidly shrank.
The once prosperous Land of Fire was now filled with ruins everywhere.
The Sarutobi, Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado clans were now re empty shells.
The Shimura clan's ninjas were almost completely wiped out on the eastern front, with only 37 people remaining.
The Utatane clan suffered heavy casualties in the northern mining dispute, with only 29 people remaining.
The Mitokado clan also saw its ninja numbers sharply decline to 31 due to years of continuous warfare.
Even the strongest Sarutobi clan had fallen from its peak of 1,587 mbers to less than 187.
Late at night, the remaining mbers of the Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado clans secretly gathered.
The Shimura clan head sat in a corner, his left arm empty. "We cannot go on like this. If we continue to defend, all three of our clans will perish. It would be better to escape the Land of Fire under the cover of night and seek refuge in the Land of Earth. At least that way, we can save the lives of our clan mbers."
The Utatane clan head frowned, her voice filled with hesitation. "But if we leave, what about our industries in the Land of Fire? We have served the Land of Fire for generations. Wouldn't deserting now make us traitors to our clan?"
The Mitokado clan head slamd his hand on the table, his voice agitated. "The Land of Fire is beyond saving. The five princes are slaughtering each other, and Hiruzen only cares about protecting his own clan, completely disregarding our lives. Last month, the Mitokado clan requested assistance, and he only sent ten ninjas, who all died. If we don't leave now, we will all die."
Silence fell over the warehouse, and the hesitation on the faces of the three clan heads gradually turned to despair.
Finally, the Utatane clan head sighed. "Very well. For the sake of our clan mbers, even if we bear the stigma of desertion, so be it. Tonight, at the third watch, we will break through the North Gate. The guards there are my old subordinates and will let us pass."
But they did not know that the contents of this secret eting had been overheard by a spy planted by Hiruzen.
In the early hours of that morning, Hiruzen received a report from his spy.
Upon hearing the news that the Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado clans intended to desert, he slamd the brush in his hand onto the table, his eyes filled with cold killing intent.
"To desert in the nation's most critical ti is an absolute disgrace to the Land of Fire. Issue an order to assemble the National Defense Allied Forces and imdiately proceed to the North Gate to intercept the people of these three clans."
A Sarutobi elder beside him quickly tried to dissuade him. "Clan head, please reconsider. The Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado clans have lost so many people fighting for the nation. Perhaps we should try to persuade them, there might still be room for reconciliation."
Hiruzen sneered, "Since they decided to desert, they have already lost their loyalty to the Land of Fire. If we let them leave, it will not only shake the morale of other clans but also reveal the Land of Fire's weaknesses to enemy nations. At that point, the Land of Fire will truly be finished."
— — —
At 1 AM, three thousand ninjas of the National Defense Allied Forces assembled at the North Gate.
Hiruzen, clad in black armor, stood at the very front of the team.
Soon, the mbers of the Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado clans appeared on the path leading to the North Gate. They mostly brought along elderly and children, their steps hurried, their faces full of vigilance.
Hiruzen's voice rang out in the night, carrying an undeniable authority, "Stop! Where are you trying to escape with your clan mbers?"
The Shimura clan head's heart tightened, knowing their plan was exposed. He shielded his clan mbers behind him and shouted, "Hiruzen, we have given so much for the nation. We are only trying to preserve a few embers for our clan. Why must you pursue us to the last?"
Hiruzen's eyes were cold as he said, "By choosing to desert when the nation needed you most, you are traitors to the Land of Fire."
The Mitokado clan head shouted, "Hiruzen isn't going to leave us a way out. We might as well fight. Every person who escapes is a victory. Everyone, scatter and run!"
He quickly ford hand signs.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!
A giant Water Dragon rose from the ground, charging towards the National Defense Allied Forces.
"Kill them! Anyone who resists, kill without rcy!"
Hiruzen snorted coldly, raising his hand to form hand signs.
Fire Release: Fire Dragon Fla Bullet!
A massive burst of flas erupted, instantly evaporating the Water Dragon, and steam perated the night.
The ninjas of the National Defense Allied Forces imdiately charged forward, engaging in fierce combat with the mbers of the three clans.
Although the mbers of the three clans had the will to resist, many were elderly, weak, won, and children, and their Chakra was insufficient. They were quickly forced to retreat step by step.
The Shimura clan head, wielding his remaining right arm, cut down two ninjas but was struck by Hiruzen's Fire Release and fell to the ground, his clothes stained with blood.
"Our clans have known each other for hundreds of years... Why... We just want to live..."
He muttered, his eyes filled with unwillingness, and eventually lost consciousness.
The Utatane clan head looked at her fallen clan mbers, her heart filled with despair. She knew they couldn't win this battle.
She turned to the clan mbers behind her and shouted, "You all, hurry and go! I'll hold them off!"
With that, she charged towards the Allied Forces, unleashing her final Ninjutsu, and ultimately fell beneath a flurry of blades.
The Mitokado clan head, with the remaining clan mbers, tried to break through from the side but was surrounded by the Allied Forces' ninjas.
A commander shouted, "Lay down your weapons and surrender!"
The Mitokado can head looked at the elderly and children around him and finally dropped the sword in his hand, his eyes filled with tears of humiliation.
The battle quickly ended. Apart from a few who died in battle, the remaining mbers of the three clans were all captured.
That morning, Hiruzen held a trial assembly in the capital's plaza. The captives from the Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado clans were tied to pillars, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers.
Hiruzen stood on a high platform, his voice booming. "The Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado clans, in the nation's ti of crisis, did not think of repaying the country but instead chose to desert. This is a heinous cri. I declare that all captives from these three clans shall be executed as a warning to others."
In the crowd, several elders of the Sarutobi clan suddenly stepped forward and bowed.
"Hiruzen-sama, please show rcy. Although the three clans have erred, they have served the Land of Fire for many years. It would be better to spare their lives and let them atone for their sins through ritorious service."
Hiruzen's eyes were cold as he said, "Atoning for their sins through ritorious service? Deserting when the nation needed them most is the most shaful act. Such people are not fit to remain in the Land of Fire, much less atone for their sins through ritorious service. Execute the order."
With a single command, blades flashed, and the screams of the captives echoed across the plaza.
The Sarutobi elders watched this scene, their hearts filled with helplessness.
Ever since Shinnosuke and Konohamaru's death, Hiruzen's behavior had beco increasingly ruthless and fanatical.
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