The Land of Rain was in chaos. Ai struggled to lead and rally the Cloud Ninja's troops, attempting to break through and escape towards the Land of the Moon.
Tobirama sheathed the blood-stained kunai, surrounded by the bodies of over a dozen Cloud Ninja floating in the water. His gaze fell on the scorched remains of Danzo and Genjiro, their souls lost. He began to say something but ended up sighing, giving Danzo's shoulder a pat.
"This disciple of mine may be narrow-minded, but he has sacrificed much for Konoha."
On the Cloud Ninja side, Ai fended off a group of pursuing Uchiha ninjas, sending them flying. Finally, Cloud Ninja turned to Konoha.
The Uchiha ninjas, frustrated and facing difficulties in the hostile Land of Rain, gritted their teeth. Tobirama, however, halted the pursuit of other troops.
"Damn, these guys..."
The Uchiha pursuit was in vain, resulting in losses. Uchiha glanced back at the dying Konoha ninjas, muttering curses under his breath.
"Aiko, how is C?"
"Master C is seriously injured but not in mortal danger. Given his robust physique, he can recover with medical ninjutsu. However..."
Aiko frowned, observing C, now under the control of medical ninjas, asleep.
Genjiro and Danzo had given his all, nearly killing C outright. The wounds on C's face and chest were severe, potentially leaving him disfigured. Plus, he had lost an eye, a significant blow.
"Damn, Tobirama's ruthlessness in raiding the Land of Rain caught me off guard. I was too careless," Ai lamented. "As the younger brother of Senju Hashirama, he's indeed formidable. But Uchiha, don't let him gloat. Konoha must pay the price! And C's severe injury must be kept secret. The Golden Horn and Silver Horn must not know!"
"Yes, Raikage-sama!"
After Cloud Ninja withdrew from the battlefield, he rested his team and cautiously returned to the Land of the Moon. Instead of immediately negotiating peace, he sent Aiko and a team back to the village to monitor the Golden Horn and Silver Horn, while he guarded C, hopeful for a swift recovery.
Initially planning to negotiate peace and then deal with the Golden Horn and Silver Horn, Ai found himself unable to handle the brothers alone. To ensure they wouldn't escape, he decided to act with C.
With C gravely injured, Ai feigned weakness, prolonging the conflict. He aimed to eliminate the brothers and their forces at once.
Under the constant pressure of external threats, the Golden Horn and Silver Horn might relax. Nevertheless, Ai vowed never to initiate an attack again. Though peace was not yet official, it seemed the first Ninja World War had concluded.
.....
"Teacher, we're heading back to the village."
"Haha, I'm eager to find out what happened in my absence. Danzo, any news?"
In the forest, a massive army approached Konoha, Tobirama at the forefront, surrounded by a crowd, maintaining a calm expression. Perhaps due to optimism about the war, Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed relatively relaxed. The battle between him and Raikage in the Ninja World War had ended in a draw, and Sarutobi Hiruzen's name had spread across the ninja world.
Danzo's countenance betrayed no emotion. Since Genjiro's demise, he resembled a still pond, concealing all beneath its surface.
While lacking Sarutobi's illustrious track record, Danzo remained free from glaring errors.
Over two months had elapsed, and a tacit understanding seemed to persist between Cloud Ninja and Konoha. Tranquility reigned, and no further hostilities occurred along the border of the Land of Rain and the Land of the Moon.
In this period, Ai awaited C's recovery from injury to discreetly return and dismantle the golden horn and silver horn.
As per Aikoi's report, the golden horn and silver horn exhibited no suspicious behavior. Tobirama closely monitored the Uchiha clan's activities, attempting to provoke them intentionally.
Yet, the Uchiha remained silent. They appointed a new clan head, a man named Fumito, likely a mere puppet.
The Great Elder Uchiha Takumi secluded himself, rumored to spend his days strolling with birds and sipping tea, seemingly detached from worldly concerns.
"Sensei, it appears the Uchiha clan has truly given up. Aside from quarrels seeking vengeance for Uchiha Kagami, they've refrained from any actions. The second elder, Uchiha Feng, even prevented some restless youths from causing trouble."
Danzo spoke in a hushed tone, "Sensei, you purposely kept the reason for summoning Kagami Uchiha vague. However, these individuals haven't acted, and those from Cloud Ninja, I believe..."
Danzo trailed off, shooting a discreet glance at Sarutobi beside him.
"Hmph, Uchiha Takumi's inaction may imply sincerity, but it doesn't mean he harbors no resentment towards me. Impossible. I've consistently worked to diminish the Uchiha clan's influence in the village, diverting them from political power. How could he be unaware? His forbearance stems from shrewdness; he recognizes the futility of challenging me. Hah..."
Tobirama sneered, his disappointment with the Uchiha's lack of troublemaking evident.
Sarutobi's expression turned awkward. He glanced at a few Uchiha ninjas in the team behind him, wanting to say something but hesitating.
Previously, a covert group of Cloud Ninja had clandestinely shared information with the Uchiha, a fact Tobirama was aware of.
Konoha's enchantment ranked supreme in the ninja world, equipped with advanced technology from the whirlpool clan. Entering unnoticed without special methods was impossible, making it far superior to the Cloud Ninja.
Ai suspected that the unwitting provocation occurred under Tobirama's watchful gaze.
However, Tobirama showed no intention of intervening, eager to witness the Uchiha's choices.
It was evident that Tobirama held deep-seated bias and animosity towards the Uchiha, harboring a desire to completely eradicate them. This sentiment had profoundly influenced Danzo as well.
In the heart of the Uchiha clan, the true helm rests, and the elder, Uchiha Takumi, maintains an air of calm. Perhaps, he is aware of the deceptive nature of the army promised by the envoy from the Cloud Ninja. In the shadows, Tobirama might be observing his every move with a cold and watchful eye.
The Uchiha clan currently faces its historical nadir in terms of strength. The Uchiha dragon, rumored to have awakened the kaleidoscope, is now a mere shadow of its former self. Perhaps, they are not the same entity.
This vulnerable moment in the Uchiha's history presents an opportunity for Tobirama to strike. Rather than swelling with bravado and taking unnecessary risks, the Uchiha clan appears to be remarkably self-aware.
Tobirama has returned to Konoha, opting for an early post-war rest. Despite the overall victory in the war against the Cloud Ninja, Konoha suffered losses, particularly in terms of two high-caliber combatants.
Uchiha Kagami, a figure Tobirama trusts, is not taken advantage of during this delicate time.
To the relief of Konoha, the anticipated coup d'état by the Cloud Ninja did not materialize. Furthermore, the return of Tobirama seems even more improbable now. The spies from the Cloud Ninja have been systematically eliminated.
Although Cloud Ninja aimed to dethrone Konoha from the top five nations, they couldn't even breach the borders of the Fire Nation. It became a source of shame for them.
Fortunately, C's injuries are nearly healed, and the time for dealing with the golden horn and the silver horn is approaching.
Ai let out a sigh. On this day, he finally dispatched a messenger to Konoha, seeking peace.