The Hidden Leaf Village lay in ruins. Smoke curled up from the remains of buildings, and the once-bustling streets were now littered with debris and the remnants of the lives that had been destroyed. Tsunade moved through the chaos, her heart heavy as she surveyed the devastation.Reaching the makeshift medical tent, she was greeted by the tired and battered faces of the surviving shinobi. The sight of her brought a momentary relief.
As she began issuing orders, the sound of approaching footsteps caught her attention. Kakashi Hatake, normally calm and composed, wore a grim expression.
"Tsunade-sama, I've rounded up what's left of the shinobi forces," he reported, his voice laced with exhaustion. "We need to secure the perimeter and start rebuilding, but… we don't have enough hands."
Tsunade met his gaze, her voice firm despite the uncertainty that gnawed at her. "Let's do what we can, Kakashi. We can't afford to lose hope now."
Kakashi nodded and turned to leave, Tsunade stopped him with a question that had been haunting her since the battle began. "Kakashi, what about Naruto? Have you heard from him?"
Kakashi's expression softened slightly, offering a glimmer of reassurance. "He should be on Mount Myōboku. Lord Jiraiya made early preparations to protect him."
Tsunade clenched her fists, a mix of relief and frustration washing over her. Naruto was their strongest hope, and while he was safe, the burden of the village's recovery weighed heavily on her shoulders.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the village, Sasuke and his allies gathered, watching the smoke rise from the Hidden Leaf. The destruction they had wrought was a testament to their power, but Sasuke's expression remained cold and detached.
Orochimaru, who had just arrived, observed the scene with twisted satisfaction. His serpentine eyes gleamed as he addressed Sasuke. "You've certainly left your mark, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke didn't turn to face him as he replied, his voice devoid of emotion. "I didn't come here to leave a mark."
Sasuke's gaze shifted to the Kazekage, who stood nearby with his daughter, Temari. "It's time for us to separate," Sasuke said, his tone final. "You can leave, Temari. I think you need to return to your village and settle the fruits of your victory."
The Kazekage, reluctant to continue, gave a nod. Temari, after exchanging a few words with her and prepared to depart. With that, the Sand Village forces began their journey home.
Orochimaru, too, decided it was time to leave, his twisted grin never faltering. He and his followers melted into the shadows, leaving Sasuke alone with his own allies.
Sasuke, now alone with the women in his group, turned his attention to the Yamanaka and Hyuga clans. He had already spoken with the Hyuga about their departure, but the Yamanaka were more resistant. Ino and her father, Inoichi, were embroiled in a heated argument about leaving the village.
Not wanting the argument to continue, Sasuke swiftly knocked them out with a precise strike. He gestured to the Hyuga clan members, who reluctantly carried the unconscious Yamanaka family. Together, they began the trek toward Sasuke's established stronghold.
As they walked, a portal opened, and Kaguya Otsutsuki emerged from her own dimension. She floated beside Sasuke, her otherworldly presence almost serene in contrast to the devastation around them. "What are you going to do now?" she asked, her voice soft but curious.
"Nothing," Sasuke replied, his tone as cold as ever. "There's nothing left to do. Only two people remain that I can kill at any time."
Kaguya's eyes narrowed. "Do you no longer care about the possibility of being killed by Hagoromo?" she inquired, her voice holding a subtle challenge.
"I could train you to become a little stronger, to ensure you defeat him," Sasuke suggested.
Kaguya dismissed the idea, "Training isn't necessary. If anything, I should focus on acquiring the Ten Tails," Kaguya said, her eyes glinting with ambition. "If you truly want to train, you should train them," she added, pointing to the Hyuga clan.
Sasuke's gaze followed her gesture. "I'll train them according to their wishes, but you, Kaguya, are the one who truly needs training. You have strength, but doesn't know how to use that."
Both of them chatted and made some future plans on the way back to the castle.
==
Back in the Hidden Leaf Village, as night fell, the stars began to appear in the sky, offering a faint glimmer of hope amidst the darkness. Tsunade sat alone in the medical tent, poring over reports. Her head throbbed as she read through The reports were grim. Sasuke's curse had left the injured unable to heal, causing many to die from blood loss. The medics were forced to resort to primitive methods—stitching wounds and forcibly stopping the bleeding. The longer they delayed treatment, the more lives they would lose.
As the first light of dawn broke, the surviving shinobi gathered in what remained of the central plaza. Their faces were etched with exhaustion and sorrow, the weight of the previous day's devastation heavy on their shoulders.
Tsunade stood at the front of the group, her expression a mix of determination and weariness. She knew they were on the brink of collapse, but she couldn't allow that to happen.
Kakashi stepped forward, his face set in a grim expression. "Tsunade-sama, the remaining forces are here. But… I've confirmed that the Yamanaka and Hyuga clans are missing."
A murmur passed through the gathered shinobi. The betrayal of two prominent clans was a blow they hadn't anticipated, fear and uncertainty gripping the hearts of the survivors.
Suddenly, a familiar voice broke through the tension. "This isn't the time for despair." The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stepped forward, his face showing the signs of age and the toll the battle had taken on him. His missing hands were a stark reminder of his failures, yet his eyes still held the resolve.
The crowd fell silent as Hiruzen continued. "I know there will be many who hate me for what has happened, but we must unite. We must break this evil curse that plagues us."
Tsunade turned to Hiruzen, her voice laced with respect and authority. "What do you suggest we do? Sasuke has left us crippled, and we don't have the resources to continue like this."
"We still have hope," Hiruzen replied, his voice steady. "Don't forget about Mount Myōboku and the Sage of Six Paths." The mention of the Sage seemed to calm the crowd, offering them a glimmer of hope.
Tsunade looked around at the remaining shinobi, their resolve hardening. As they began to disperse, each with a task to complete.
Hiruzen stayed behind, his eyes scanning the devastated village. He closed his eyes, memories flooding back of how he had been forced to kill his own son. Now, without his hands, he felt useless, a relic of a bygone era. As he stood there, he couldn't help but wish that he had died in the battle, sparing him the pain of facing the consequences of his actions.