"Patriarch!"
The Senju shouted in disbelief. Their leader — Senju Hashirama — stood before both armies, hands lowered, shoulders steady. No one understood what they were seeing. Why would he choose surrender?
"The Warring States era has dragged on too long," Hashirama said, voice carrying through the smoke-filled forest. "Ever since my childhood, I've watched relatives, friends, even strangers fall one by one. I thought the cycle would continue until I died the same way."
His expression tightened, old grief flickering across his face.
"But then Konoha appeared. A village willing to reshape the Land of Fire… and the world. Konoha represents the hope people cling to, the end of blood-soaked fields. The Senju must choose that hope."
He lifted his chin.
"So today, I end this war on behalf of the Senju clan. With this… the Warring States period ends."
His final words rang like a judgement.
"I ask all Senju shinobi — lay down your weapons. This is my last command as your patriarch."
Silence hit the battlefield like a genjutsu.
Senju.
Konoha.
Every breath froze.
A single metallic clang shattered it.
A kunai hit the ground.
"This damn war… is finally over!"
A middle-aged Senju collapsed to his knees, sobbing openly. His parents, his wife, his children — all dead to the endless fighting. He'd been a tool of war, nothing more. He never had the strength or rank to oppose it.
Only numbness.
Only survival.
Only grief piled on grief.
"Ended…"
More Senju let their weapons fall. Some shook. Some cried. Some just stared at their own trembling hands, as if finally realizing they were alive.
They understood one thing clearly:
With the Senju surrendering, Konoha's unification of the Land of Fire could no longer be stopped.
They had fought too long, lost too much. Even the strongest Senju warriors were exhausted in places no jutsu could heal.
From Konoha's side came a stunned whisper:
"We… won?"
Then the forest erupted.
"We won! We won!"
The cheers broke over the treetops like thunder.
Hashirama turned toward a young boy standing beside him — Amamiya Shinsuke. The shock on the kid's face made him look even younger.
"Young man," Hashirama said softly, "even if our hands are stained with Konoha blood… will you accept the Senju as comrades?"
"Join… Konoha?" Shinsuke stammered.
"Of course. The Senju will join Konoha."
Shinsuke swallowed, then straightened his back.
"The patriarch always said: no matter the past hatred, once someone joins Konoha, they are family. That's… the Will of Fire."
"The Will of Fire…" Hashirama repeated, eyes softening. A faint, relieved smile touched his lips. "Raizen… your dream really did come true."
October 12.
A date that would shake the entire shinobi world.
In the forest of Changlin, the mighty Senju clan surrendered at the height of victory. The Land of Fire trembled. With the Senju joining Konoha, only the Uchiha clan stood in resistance.
Unity crept closer.
But unity never came without blood.
The coalition camp of Senju and Uchiha was boiling. Senju shinobi gathered their gear, preparing to withdraw. Around them, Uchiha surrounded the camp in cold silence.
"Hashirama," a familiar voice cut in, "have you decided?"
Uchiha Madara stepped forward, Sharingan unlit but burning regardless.
"I've been lost for more than ten years," Hashirama admitted. "Caught between dreams and war. Today… I make my final choice."
Madara held his gaze for a long, heavy moment.
He saw it: the fire in Hashirama's eyes — the same childish dream they once shared.
"So this is your answer." Madara finally exhaled. "Very well."
He raised his arm.
"All Uchiha — stand down! Let the Senju pass!"
"Patriarch?!"
The Uchiha shouted in panic.
If the Senju left, the coalition collapsed.
If the Senju joined Konoha, the Uchiha would be alone against the rising village.
"Move." Madara's voice cracked like lightning. "That is an order."
His killing intent rolled across the camp, and the Uchiha reluctantly stepped aside.
Hashirama bowed his head slightly as he passed.
Madara didn't return the gesture.
But he smiled — quietly, painfully.
"Hashirama… you finally found yourself again. This is who you truly are."
Behind him, voices rose.
"Patriarch, why didn't you stop him? With the Senju gone, how do we resist Konoha?!"
Madara didn't turn.
His eyes followed Hashirama until his figure disappeared over the ridge.
"The Uchiha have never feared power," he said slowly. "Even without the Senju, even if Konoha's strength grows… the Uchiha remain the Uchiha. We do not bow. We do not break. We fight even if it costs our lives."
His voice hardened, echoing through the camp.
"Uchiha must win."
A roar answered him.
"Uchiha must win!"
The night trembled with their defiance.