"You have the nerve to call out?"
The Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hōzuki, angrily scolded the Second Tsuchikage, Mū, even going so far as to cut him off mid-sentence. "The dead don't get to talk!"
"You..."
Mū was so furious he felt a headache coming on.
In the end, he had no choice but to step down from the battlefield. The mont his strategy was completely read by Shigen, his plan had already failed. If this had been a real battle, he would have died. It was only because of Shigen's rcy that he had been spared.
"Next..."
"Only two remain."
Shigen was satisfied with his progress. His gaze turned toward the Second Kazekage, Shamon, and the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu, as he prepared to accept his next task.
"To be honest..."
"We don't stand a chance against Lord Shigen."
"I might as well just surrender now. No need to end up like the bandage man!"
Gengetsu imdiately raised both hands in surrender, completely unconcerned that he had barely contributed in this fight. He simply and decisively chose to give up.
"..."
Shigen's eyelid twitched.
The speed at which this Second Mizukage surrendered was so fast that Shigen didn't even have ti to accept the task of defeating him!
But...
He still had a chance.
The Second Kazekage, Shamon, was an honorable man and couldn't bring himself to act as shalessly as the Mizukage.
Without hesitation, Shigen accepted the mission to bring an end to the First Shinobi World War and then focused entirely on Shamon.
"Surrendering would bring disgrace to the title of Kage..."
Shamon glanced at Gengetsu with clear dissatisfaction at his decision to yield so quickly.
"Then keep fighting!"
Gengetsu retorted bluntly.
"..."
Shamon shook his head, then turned to face Shigen. He lowered his head respectfully. "Even before this battle, Sunagakure was prepared to accept your vision of peace."
It was obvious.
With Mū defeated, they had no chance of winning.
Even if Gengetsu still had a few tricks left, against Shigen's seal-less jutsu, he wouldn't have an opportunity to use them.
As for Shamon...
In this artificially created storm, his sand techniques were useless. He didn't believe that he and Gengetsu together could stand against Shigen.
After all...
Their fighting styles countered each other.
Given the circumstances, the odds of victory were negligible. Instead of bringing disgrace upon all three of them, it was better to let Mū alone bear the humiliation of defeat while the others retained their dignity.
"Is the war... really over?"
Soone finally asked the question on everyone's mind.
Although the alliance between Kumogakure and Konoha hadn't made any statents yet, with Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure choosing peace, it would be inappropriate for Kumogakure and Konoha to continue fighting—especially when they had been the ones advocating for peace in the first place.
"It's only the end of the First Shinobi World War..."
Uchiha Madara couldn't resist dampening their enthusiasm. He watched as the surrounding shinobi celebrated, then glanced at Mū and Gengetsu, who were still trying to shift the bla onto each other. "The next war isn't far off."
"I'm satisfied just to have seen this one co to an end."
Shigen sighed, as if lanting the uncertain future of the shinobi world.
Even so...
The peace ceremony was conducted with due solemnity.
Mū, Shamon, and Gengetsu formally announced to all present that their villages would withdraw from the war.
[SSS-Rank Mission: Bring an end to the First Shinobi World War by defeating the war's instigators—Mū, Shamon, and Gengetsu—and convincing them to end the war willingly. Mission complete. Reward: SSS-Rank Chakra (Approx. 1000 Cal).]
Though the reward felt sowhat lacking...
At least he had accepted the mission in ti.
If Shamon had spoken even a little later, the task might have disappeared entirely, or worse, he might have accepted it without being able to complete it.
That would have been troubleso...
After all, Shigen had no way of reversing ti.
Regardless...
The mission was done.
Peace was about to return to the shinobi world, with only Kumogakure and Konoha's final stance remaining uncertain. Would they choose to withdraw as well?
"Kumogakure has always wanted peace."
The future Third Raikage imdiately agreed. He had the authority to make such a decision on the battlefield, and his imnse strength and status ensured his words carried weight within Kumogakure.
In comparison...
Konoha's situation was far worse.
Though Sarutobi Sasuke wanted to announce Konoha's acceptance of peace—believing it was also what the Second Hokage desired—he lacked the authority to make such a decision.
All he could do was order Konoha's forces to withdraw to the Fire Country's borders to avoid provoking the other villages.
However...
Sarutobi Sasuke wasn't too worried.
Because Tobirama would soon receive word of what had transpired in the Land of Grass.
Far away in Kumogakure, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, had already received the news. He and the Second Raikage were given the peace announcent by a Kumogakure ssenger.
Of course...
There were also so less pleasant updates.
For instance, the future Third Raikage had suggested reconsidering the alliance between Kumogakure and Konoha. During the historic battle that decided the war's outco, Konoha's conduct had been disgraceful—its exploitation of Shigen, a revered dical shinobi, was seen as completely dishonorable.
"Dishonorable..."
The Second Raikage's expression darkened.
In Kumogakure's culture, this was a severe accusation.
To put it bluntly...
A shinobi labeled as dishonorable would be ostracized, and no one in the village would want to associate with them.
This was ingrained in Kumogakure's way of life.
Since the Raikage lineage required sworn brotherhood to train in their most powerful techniques, a person without a strong sense of loyalty or honor could never beco Raikage.
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other Konoha representatives felt deeply embarrassed.
They had grown so accustod to Shigen's kindness that they never considered it wrong to take advantage of him. Now, however, they were being openly condemned for it.
Moreover...
According to Kumogakure's report, the battle had been a grand spectacle.
Every other village had vowed never to exploit Shigen's neutral dical camp, yet Konoha shinobi had remained silent, too ashad to speak.
Even though Shigen had won the duel and prevented the need for the dical camp, Konoha's reputation had plumted from the peaceful ideals of the First Hokage to utter disgrace.
The impact of that day had been so significant that the Second Raikage couldn't suppress the news even if he wanted to.
All of Kumogakure had turned against Konoha.
Their whispers and disdain reached the ears of the Konoha shinobi, making it impossible to ignore.
In such an atmosphere...
No one from Konoha could bear staying any longer.
Even Kumogakure didn't want them around anymore.
The Second Raikage still valued honor.
Though he saw no need for an alliance, out of respect for the First Raikage's will and Hashirama's legacy—and because Kumogakure had originally proposed the alliance—he went through with the ceremony.
However...
It was an unpleasant experience.
Many in Kumogakure opposed the alliance, believing it would stain their village's reputation. Then, just as the tensions were peaking, an event occurred that no one had expected—or perhaps had anticipated all along.
Kinkaku and Ginkaku, the two veteran elders of Kumogakure, led their forces in a coup.
Using the legendary weapons of the Sage of Six Paths, they struck down the Second Raikage.
Tobirama, too, was ambushed by the brothers, grievously wounded, and forced to flee with his escort squad.
It wasn't entirely surprising.
The Second Raikage had never truly consolidated his power.
As two of Kumogakure's most powerful figures, Kinkaku and Ginkaku had never fully submitted to his rule.
Now, with the village outraged over the Konoha alliance, the brothers seized their chance.
And their coup was an overwhelming success.
Their only regret...
Was that Tobirama escaped.
But not for long.
The chase had begun.
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Powerstones?
For 20 advance Chapters: /michaeltranslates
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