The moment word spread that Senju Hashirama had led his entire clan to join Konoha, the shinobi world felt like it had been struck by lightning.
Everyone understood what it meant: the endless war in the Land of Fire was finally reaching its end. This day would be carved into history.
With the Senju clan's arrival, Konoha's power surged beyond anything the region had ever seen.
And now, the only force left resisting across the Land of Fire… was the Uchiha.
Inside the Uchiha strongholds, emotions rippled like a storm.
They all knew — even if no one dared say it aloud — that their clan could not withstand Konoha's combined might.
But as long as Uchiha Madara's shadow loomed over them, the clan continued to resist out of raw pride and fear.
In contrast, the Konoha camp exploded with celebration.
At the front of the lines, Amamiya Raizen stood waiting with every available Konoha shinobi, eyes fixed on the distant treeline.
"Here they come!"
A young Konoha ninja shouted, barely containing his excitement.
Raizen lifted his gaze.
A wave of red armor — two, maybe three thousand Senju shinobi — thundered toward the camp.
At their head strode Senju Hashirama, resolute and unmistakable.
The Senju halted before Raizen.
"Welcome to Konoha, Hashirama," Raizen said, offering his hand.
"Mm."
Hashirama clasped it firmly.
That simple gesture felt heavier than any jutsu.
In that instant, the Senju clan had officially joined Konoha.
"Long live Konoha!"
"Long live the Senju!"
The entire camp roared with relief and triumph.
Hashirama couldn't help smiling at the sight — honest, unfiltered, hopeful faces.
"Come," Raizen said, gesturing toward the command tents. "Let's talk inside."
Once in the strategy room, they got straight to the point.
"Hashirama," Raizen began, "what about relocating your civilians? Where do you want them placed?"
Hashirama paused, then shook his head.
"With the war on Uchiha imminent, moving our people now is reckless. Let the families remain where they are until the final battle is over."
"That's reasonable," Raizen replied.
A few days ago, Senju and Konoha were enemies.
If the Senju civilians marched directly into Konoha territory now, they would face suspicion, fear, maybe even hostility.
Raizen wouldn't force that on anyone — and Hashirama wouldn't risk his people.
Better to fight together first, let shared bloodshed build trust, and then merge the clans once tempers on both sides had cooled.
"For now," Raizen continued, "your fighters will integrate into our ranks. You'll command the Senju forces personally."
"Understood," Hashirama said.
It was an adjustment period.
Trust couldn't be manufactured overnight.
"Then tonight," Raizen announced, "we hold a banquet to welcome the Senju into Konoha."
The camp erupted into cheers.
Night fell, and the celebration raged.
For the first time in months, laughter replaced tension.
Senju and Konoha shinobi mingled freely, trading cups and stories, letting old grudges dissolve in warmth and sake.
But Raizen did not order an immediate attack on the Uchiha.
He knew better than that.
The Uchiha's resentment toward the Senju's sudden withdrawal burned hot.
If Konoha struck now, they would fight like cornered beasts.
Raizen decided to wait — let hatred cool into fear.
Once resentment faded, the Uchiha would finally understand the real threat before them: Konoha united.
And then… they would break.
So while the world expected Konoha to launch a crushing offensive, Raizen held the army still.
Ten days passed.
No attack.
No movement.
Inside Uchiha territory, the shift was seismic.
At first, Madara's presence kept morale barely intact.
But as days slipped by, that confidence decayed.
The truth was undeniable: compared to Konoha, the Uchiha were a single proud beast staring up at a mountain.
Even worse, fear spread like a virus.
"The Senju surrendered… should we follow?"
"We can't win this war."
"Does Madara-sama really expect us to destroy ourselves?"
Voices of doubt grew louder.
Even the elder council began whispering about surrender.
Madara felt the betrayal like a blade, but even he couldn't silence the tide forever.
"...It can't continue like this," Madara muttered in private.
"Uchiha and Konoha must settle this once and for all."
He chose to attack — not out of confidence, but desperation.
If he could ignite the clan's hatred again, maybe he could steer them away from collapse.
Thus, the Uchiha launched their first strike on Konoha across the ridge mountains.
The moment Raizen heard, he knew the final confrontation had arrived — and this one wouldn't be a skirmish.
"This time," Raizen declared, "we go with everything. We end this war."
Three days later, he recalled every Konoha shinobi, rallying them for the decisive assault.
The Uchiha were stunned when they learned Konoha's entire army was marching toward them.
With no allies left, Madara gathered every fighter his clan had, preparing for the inevitable storm.
And so, in the ridge mountains, the final battle between Uchiha and Konoha erupted.