After bombing the retreating Iwa shinobi, Kūga drifted away from the battlefield without a backward glance. What he did to the fleeing Iwa shinobis... it was brutal, but that's war.
In a place where survival was dictated by strength, compassion was just another casualty.
He wasn't in this for peace or noble ideals—he cared about Konoha, and Konoha alone. He didn't like the ideae of war, but if it had to come, especially now, he'd make sure the world understood one thing: Konoha isn't here to mess around.
Flying over the landscape, Kūga couldn't help but smirk. The way things were going, this war would be over sooner than anyone expected—thanks to him.
His clothes flared behind him in the wind as he picked up speed, his eyes on the familiar village coming into view. He would never tire of the sensation of flight, the freedom it brought him.
As Konoha's rooftops finally appeared below, Kūga spotted the group of shinobi who had fought alongside him in the Land of Hot Springs. They were racing back, their excitement palpable as they neared home.
Kūga shook his head with a smile before shifting course, soaring over the village and further into the Land of Fire's dense, verdant interior.
After a few minutes, he saw it: the Capital of the Land of Fire. Spread across a vast landscape, the city sprawled in every direction, much larger than Konoha itself. He took it all in, the sheer scale reminding him just how old this place was, how rooted it was in the history of the land.
Long before Konoha, this capital had been the heart of the Land of Fire.
.
Kūga hovered above the entrance to the Capital for a moment before letting himself drop, landing lightly just in front of the gates. The Capital's walls were sturdy but not as tall or imposing as Konoha's, more suited for elegance than defense.
As he approached, a pair of guards, clad in traditional armor, quickly moved to intercept him, both nervous and wary.
One of the samurai stepped forward, clearly trying to mask his unease. "Halt. Identify yourself," he demanded, eyeing Kūga with a mixture of suspicion and bewilderment. They had never seen anyone descending from the sky like he had, and their rigid stances betrayed their nerves.
Kūga paused, a faint smirk on his face. He took in the guards' stiff expressions, clearly unused to handling anyone quite like him.
"Kūga Seiryu," he replied simply, his voice calm and easy. The name didn't seem to register with them, as the guards exchanged uneasy glances.
"Seiryu?" the second guard repeated, brows knitted. "Never heard of you. Where did you say you were from?"
"From Konoha," Kūga replied, not bothered in the slightest by their lack of recognition. He knew he hadn't exactly been present for Konoha's formal introductions with the Land of Fire's higher officials.
These guards would have no reason to know him. Turning his back to them, he pointed to the Konoha symbol embroidered boldly across his black cloak.
The two guards took a few steps back, eyeing the symbol with a mix of uncertainty and recognition. "So... you're a citizen of Konoha," the first guard said slowly, still wary. "What's your business in the Capital?"
Kūga raised a brow, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "A tour," he replied nonchalantly, as though it were the most obvious answer in the world.
"A... tour?" The guard exchanged another glance with his partner, visibly taken aback. The stranger's relaxed manner and his unusual outfit made it impossible for them to figure out if he was a dignitary, a merchant, or some eccentric performer. They finally stepped aside, giving him a hesitant nod.
With a small, knowing smile, Kūga gave them a quick nod and strolled into the Capital, leaving the baffled guards to wonder just who exactly they had let through the gates.
.
As the Konoha and Suna shinobi packed their gear and prepared for the journey home, Hashirama and Reto, the First Kazekage, stood together, sharing a final exchange on the edge of the battleground. The dust had settled, and both leaders looked over the horizon, knowing that their alliance had once again proven its strength.
Reto nodded respectfully to Hashirama, a hint of relief in his expression. "Thank you, Hashirama. Without Konoha's support, this fight with Iwa would have been far more difficult. My people are grateful to yours."
Hashirama shook his head, a warm smile on his face. "No need to thank me, Reto. After all, this is what our alliance is for. Besides, your forces handled the minor villages brilliantly. None of us could have done this alone."
Reto chuckled, glancing back to his shinobi with a look of pride. Then, his tone turned curious as he looked back at Hashirama. "There's one thing, though. I heard from some of my shinobi that a wide-scale ninjutsu decimated the retreating Iwa forces… was that your handiwork?"
Hashirama sighed, giving a soft laugh. "No, that would be Kūga Seiryu," he said, almost as if apologizing. "He has a habit of showing off, as you've likely noticed."
Reto chuckled in understanding, shaking his head. "Well, he certainly knows how to leave an impression." He extended a hand toward Hashirama. "Farewell, my friend. Until next time."
"Farewell, Reto," Hashirama replied, clasping the Kazekage's hand firmly.
As the two leaders parted, the Konoha and Suna shinobi began the journey home. Reifū joined the Konoha ranks, looking back once at the fading figures of the Suna shinobi before pressing forward, her thoughts focused on the return to Konoha.
.
At Madara's camp, the exhausted Konoha forces stood in silence, some nursing wounds, others watching as their fallen comrades were gently laid onto stretchers. They had done wave after wave of ambushes and skirmishes, and the toll it had taken was visible on their faces. Word had come that Iwa had finally retreated, and while victory was theirs, the weight of the losses cast a shadow over their triumph.
Madara took in the scene, his sharp eyes scanning the injured and the able. With a steady voice, he commanded, "Take turns carrying the stretchers. We won't reach Konoha quickly, but our mission is complete."
The able-bodied shinobi nodded, even in their weariness. Each of them understood this was their last duty on the battlefield before heading home, and it filled them with a bittersweet determination.
They quietly divided into groups, taking up positions beside those who couldn't walk, lifting the stretchers with a gentleness rarely seen in combat.
Kenta, caught in a wave of emotion, glanced down at his hands. His fingers were scratched and bruised, and he clenched them tightly. 'If I were stronger, maybe only a few of us would be injured…' he thought, guilt twisting his gut. 'If I were strong like Madara-san… or Kūga…' The thoughts weighed on him, feeling almost unbearable.
Izuna noticed the young shinobi's despair. He stepped over and placed a reassuring hand on Kenta's shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. "Hey... you can't change what's already happened," he said with a small, encouraging smile. "Be grateful you survived your first ever war. That alone is a gift from Kami. But if you want to protect people, get stronger. Train harder. That's where your focus should be."
Kenta nodded, looking down, his gaze thoughtful as he absorbed Izuna's words. His hands clenched again, this time with determination rather than regret.
Madara, watching the quiet exchange between his brother and Kenta, nodded approvingly before turning to address the rest of the shinobi. His powerful voice broke the silence, carrying strength and resolve.
"Let's go! I'll lead in front. Anyone who can still fight, take the rear and stay alert. We're going home!"
At his command, the shinobi picked themselves up. Despite their weariness, there was a spark of relief and pride in their movements. As they started the long march back to Konoha, they took turns helping one another, sharing the weight of the stretchers and giving each other supportive nods.
They talked quietly, some sharing light-hearted jokes or reminiscing about home to keep spirits high. Others walked in silence, stealing glances at the sun dipping below the horizon, their minds filled with thoughts of rest and recovery.
Izuna fell in beside Madara, both of them taking occasional looks back at their troops. Seeing their comrades in the back assisting one another, the brothers exchanged a silent nod. They had a bittersweet win, but the respect they held for each shinobi's resilience ran deep.
.
As Kūga strode through the bustling streets of the Fire Capital, his white hair and confident gaze drew more than a few glances. He caught sight of several women in the crowd casting shy smiles or even blushing outright as he passed, but he simply gave a slight nod before moving on, hardly noticing the attention.
Today, his focus was on business, not social distractions. His leisurely stroll was purposeful but relaxed; he was in a good mood after recent successes and, for now, there was no rush.
Finally, after a few minutes, he spotted the sign he'd been looking for: "Capital Bounty Office." It was nestled close to the barracks, likely for security reasons.
As he stepped inside, Kūga noticed samurai and ashigaru casually chatting around tables, some sharpening weapons, others resting after duty. The air held a hint of incense and leather, mixed with the faint, metallic tang of armor.
A samurai behind the counter looked up as he approached, his expression a mix of curiosity and faint boredom. "Whaddya need?"
Kūga flashed a friendly, almost mischievous smile. "I'm just here to receive some bounty."
The samurai raised an eyebrow. "Oh… got lucky, eh?"
Kūga gave a half-shrug and tossed him a scroll. "Sure. Though, I couldn't get all the heads myself. Had to let my subordinates have their share, too." He watched the samurai catch the scroll, flipping it open with an idle curiosity.
"Other heads?" the samurai asked, eyeing him skeptically. "How many are in here?"
Kūga sat on an old, worn sofa across the room and crossed his legs, replying casually, "More than 800, I'd guess."
The samurai's eyes widened, nearly dropping the scroll as he processed what Kūga had just said. "Eight… hundred?" His tone was incredulous as he straightened up, staring at Kūga in shock.
Kūga just chuckled, unbothered by the reaction. "Go ahead and check if you want, though I'd suggest doing it outside. Don't want to clutter the office."
The samurai blinked, then sighed, realizing this wasn't some kind of joke. He motioned toward the door leading to an open area behind the building. "Right… follow me."
Kūga rose from the battered sofa and followed him, the other samurai and ashigaru looking on in curiosity. "Who exactly are these people?" the samurai asked as they stepped outside into the sunlight.
"Kumo shinobi and mercenaries," Kūga replied easily. "The remnants of an army that thought they'd be taking Konoha's heads."
"Ah, so this is all from the Konoha-Iwa-Kumo war?" the samurai said, eyebrows raised. "How was it?"
Kūga grinned, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Let's just say… there'll be a Kage Summit in a few weeks."
They reached a clear area, and the samurai set the scroll down, applying a touch of chakra. With a puff of smoke, an astonishing sight was revealed—hundreds of severed heads lay there in orderly rows, each unmistakably the visage of a shinobi. The other samurai and ashigaru crowded around, jaws dropping as they took in the sheer number of fallen.
The initial shock turned to stammering. "D-Did you… kill all of them?"
Kūga laughed, waving a dismissive hand. "Yeah there're still more, but I gave them to my subordinates. A reward, let's say, for following orders."
The samurai looked at him, still half-stunned. After a pause, he nodded in acknowledgment and turned toward the office. "Stay here; we'll prepare your bounty."
As the samurai turned to leave, his eyes widened in recognition. He froze, staring at Kūga with a mix of fear and disbelief. "Y-You're… you're that guy from the wanted poster!" he stammered, pointing a trembling finger at Kūga.Kūga merely raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Tell me about it," he replied nonchalantly.The samurai, still visibly shaken, handed Kūga a piece of paper. It was a wanted poster, and Kūga's face was plastered across it, a chilling warning beneath his image.Warning: Flee on SightKūga, the White ApocalypseWanted for: Unleashing unprecedented devastation upon Kumo, resulting in 2000+ shinobi casualties.Reward: 45,000,000 RyoDescription: White-haired, blue-eyed male. Carefree and mocking demeanor. Wields mysterious, non-chakra energy.Approach with extreme caution. Engagement not recommended.Legendary Status: Kūga, the White Apocalypse, is a shinobi of unmitigated terror. His appearance signals the dawn of destruction, leaving only ruin in his wake. With an unyielding laugh and an air of nonchalance, he unleashes havoc upon his enemies.Kūga whistled softly as he finished reading the poster. "Would you look at that. Well… I'm not surprised."The ashigaru gulped. "This… this would make you the most wanted man in the world. Your description's a real terror."Kūga chuckled. "I suppose it is. But don't worry, I'm not here to cause trouble. I just need my reward and I'll be on my way."It took some time to arrange the funds, and eventually, the samurai returned, a scroll heavy with the promised amount. "Nine hundred million ryo," he said with a deep bow, still processing the feat Kūga had managed. "It's all we can offer for now. It's… quite the bounty."
Kūga accepted the scroll, pocketing it with a satisfied nod. "Thank you." With a final nod to the samurai, he turned and made his way back toward the main gates, ready to head back to Konoha.
As he passed through the gates and lifted off into the sky, a powerful sonic boom echoed through the capital, leaving the people below in awe as Kūga disappeared into the clouds.
.
As Kūga soared through the sky, an eagle flew towards him, prompting him to halt mid-air.
The eagle landed on his shoulder, revealing a scroll tied to its leg. "What've you got there, friend?" Kūga asked, curiosity piqued.
He untied the scroll and read its contents while suspended in mid-air.
"To Kūga Seiryu,
All Konohagakure forces have arrived. Your immediate return is requested. Details will be discussed in the Council Room.
Sincerely,Council of Konohagakure no Sato"
A smile spread across Kūga's face as he produced a treat from his cloak and fed the eagle.
With a swift nod, the eagle took flight, returning to Konoha. Kūga chuckled, lingering in the air for a moment before following.