Silence.
The entire battlefield fell into complete stillness, broken only by the slow, cold wind that swept across the scarred earth.
The rain of the Land of Rain—which had stopped entirely during the battle, driven away by the overwhelming chakra and heat of conflict—began to fall again. Softly at first, then steadily. Each drop seed to wash away so of the blood, so of the destruction, so of the madness.
"Captain."
Ragnar's voice ca slowly, hoarse and tired. The word carried weight far beyond its simple aning.
Hatake Sakumo looked at the boy—no, not a boy anymore. After everything that had happened on this battlefield, Ragnar had proven himself sothing far beyond his years.
"You've done enough, Ragnar." Sakumo took a deep breath, the weight of his next words pressing on his chest. "As much as I might wish otherwise... we truly cannot kill the Tsuchikage at this mont."
Ragnar stared at him for a long mont. Then, without another word, he sheathed Yama.
The mont the blade slid ho, his body seed to lose all its remaining strength. He swayed—then began to fall.
"Lord Ragnar!"
The little slug's anxious voice pierced the air as Ragnar's consciousness began to fade.
And then—warmth. Softness. An embrace that caught him before he could hit the ground.
Tsunade had appeared in an instant. She held the fallen Ragnar in her arms, and in her eyes, a trace of profound pity welled up.
He's still so young. To have gone through all this... to have endured so much...
Her heart ached in ways she couldn't express.
On the ground, the Tsuchikage Onoki watched this scene unfold. Despite everything—despite his broken body, his fractured spirit, his utter defeat—a small smile crossed his bloodied features.
"So... Rakshasa is human after all. Hah..."
And it was true. Until this mont, Ragnar had shown no weakness, no timidity, no crack in his perfect facade. He had seed like sothing beyond human—an invincible god of war.
But now, seeing him collapse from exhaustion, seeing him held in Tsunade's arms... the ruthless Rakshasa beca sothing else. Sothing mortal.
"Tsunade." Hatake Sakumo's voice was quiet but firm. "Take care of Ragnar."
"I will." Tsunade's voice was equally firm. She held Ragnar closer, one hand pressed to his chest as she continuously fed Yang-natured dical chakra into his failing body.
Then Sakumo turned. His eyes fixed on the Third Tsuchikage, and his voice turned to ice.
"Tsuchikage. You have two choices now. Die here and now. Or surrender and end this war."
The White Fang blade slid from its sheath. Cold murderous intent radiated from Sakumo's form.
If Onoki refused, he would die. One strike. Finished.
Yes, it was the sa act—killing a Kage. But Ragnar killing the Tsuchikage and White Fang killing the Tsuchikage would have two completely different results.
In Konoha, Ragnar had shallow foundations. Few connections. No political backing beyond what individuals could provide. Even with his power, he couldn't influence the village's direction. Killing a Kage would instead plunge him into endless turmoil—jealousy from others, endless troubles, political machinations.
Even the generous Third Hokage could not turn a blind eye to soone who had murdered a fellow Kage, regardless of the circumstances.
Sakumo saw Ragnar as Konoha's future. As his own successor in spirit, if not in na. He would not let that future be destroyed.
But if he killed the Tsuchikage? The result would be different. He was Hokage direct lineage. Captain of Konoha ANBU. Konoha's second spiritual pillar after Sarutobi Hiruzen. The White Fang of the ninja world, with status and reputation beyond question.
Of course—this only mattered if the Tsuchikage chose not to surrender.
"White Fang..."
Onoki's weak voice erged from his broken body. Despite everything, a glimr of understanding remained in his eyes.
"Truth is... I would have preferred to die by Rakshasa's blade."
His blood-stained face managed a weak smile.
"You're doing this to protect him, aren't you?"
Sakumo's expression didn't change. "Think what you want, Onoki. The outco cannot be changed."
"No... the outco cannot be changed." Onoki's voice grew weaker. "I know sothing of Rakshasa's background. He's not—"
The White Fang blade pressed against Onoki's throat.
"Do you truly believe I won't kill you?"
The murderous intent in Sakumo's eyes was absolute. The cold steel against his neck was undeniable.
Onoki stared at him for several long seconds. Then, finally, his spirit crumbled.
"Iwa Ninja Village... surrenders. We withdraw completely from the Land of Rain."
Sakumo withdrew his blade.
"Prepare to sign an armistice and surrender agreent."
Without another word, he turned and left. The Konoha ninja followed.
Nearby, the Third Kazekage had also surrendered unconditionally. The battle had beco aningless. Losses exceeded gains. Why continue?
On the distant mountaintop, Uchiha Madara watched the scene unfold without a word. Then, softly, he spoke:
"Let's go."
He vanished into the rain without leaving a trace.
The Konoha force moved toward their camp. Along the way, few spoke. Though they had won the war, they showed little joy. Perhaps they had seen too much cruelty. Too many lives withered.
As they approached the camp—
A figure erged from the rain. An Uchiha ninja, covered in blood, his expression that of a man who had survived disaster. He spotted the Konoha forces and rushed forward.
"Hatake-sama!"
Sakumo's brow furrowed. "Report."
"Lord Hatake! While you were engaged with Sunagakure and Iwa ninja at the front—Sansho Hanzo led the elite forces of Rain Ninja Village in a sneak attack on our camp! They've retaken the positions we previously occupied!"
Sakumo's heart sank. "I assigned forces to monitor the Rain ninja. What happened?"
"Hanzo acted personally! We couldn't stop him, my lord!" The Uchiha ninja's eyes seed to flicker with sothing—evasion, perhaps. He wasn't telling the whole truth.
Sakumo studied him for a long mont. Anger rose, but he suppressed it.
The Uchiha team had no shortage of elite Jonin. For Hanzo to easily break their defenses and retake our positions... they must have been negligent. They gave the Rain ninja an opportunity.
But now was not the ti for recrimination.
"Gather the scattered Uchiha forces," Sakumo ordered. "Don't let the Rain ninja pick you off one by one."
"Yes, my lord!" The Uchiha ninja retreated quickly.
Sakumo's eyes darkened as he considered the situation. Hanzo's timing was perfect—waiting until Konoha was exhausted from their battle with two other great villages, then striking when they were weakest.
He can truly tolerate. Waiting until this mont...
The positions were lost. They couldn't be retaken easily. But they had to try.
Sakumo's voice cut through the rain:
"Orochimaru. Tsunade. Jiraiya. Step forward."
The three Sannin-in-training imdiately moved to his side. Even Tsunade, who had been tending Ragnar on a wooden cart, ca forward.
Sakumo looked at each of them in turn. His next words were deliberate, weighty:
"You three are currently Konoha's finest elite ninja. I'm assigning you a mission: retake our positions. Even if your opponent is Sansho Hanzo—the man they call a demigod—can you do it?"
"No problem, Captain!" Jiraiya's response was imdiate, almost eager. He still rembered being poisoned by Hanzo's salamander last ti. The mory rankled.
"Hehe." Orochimaru's signature sinister smile spread across his features. His tongue flicked out, licking his lips. "I've long wanted to witness the power of Sansho's salamander for myself."
Tsunade hesitated for just a mont. She glanced back at Ragnar's unconscious form on the cart. Then her eyes hardened with determination.
"I can do it."
"Good."
Sakumo nodded, a rare flicker of pride crossing his features.
"This is your ti. The mont for you to make your nas known to the world."
(End of Chapter)
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