Chapter 50: The End of an Era, The Dawn of Peace
The news of Sunagakure's defeat spread through the shinobi world like a shockwave. In the camps of Iwagakure and Kirigakure, commanders stared at their reports in stunned disbelief. So fast? They knew the Sand was the weakest of the Five Great Villages, but they had expected them to hold out longer, to bleed Konoha white.
In Kirigakure, a rescue force was still fighting its way through Iwa's defenses in the Land of Rain to reach their trapped comrades. They hadn't even succeeded yet, and the Sand had already collapsed?
On the front lines in the Land of Hot Water, the Third Raikage fought with primal fury. Danzō, a Kage-level shinobi in his own right with his mastery of Wind Release and fuinjutsu, was still thoroughly suppressed by the Raikage's overwhelming power. But when the news from the south arrived, Danzō's forces found a second wind. The strategic landscape had shifted. Would Kumo dare continue its offensive now?
The Third Raikage, upon hearing the news, let out a weary, frustrated sigh. Weak allies. He had hoped the Sand would tie Konoha down for at least another year. But this? It was a total rout.
He had no choice but to order a general retreat. To continue would be to face the entirety of Konoha's military might, now freed from its southern front. And that Konoha ninja, Akatsurugi... he was a problem the Raikage was not yet prepared to solve.
A tense, unspoken truce settled over the continents. The First Shinobi World War, which had been prolonged by Akatsurugi's interference—allowing Tobirama Senju to live months longer than in the original timeline—had finally run its bloody course. It was the 20th year since Konoha's founding. The war had lasted too long, exhausting every village involved.
With Suna broken and Kumo withdrawing, Konoha, wise to the costs of overextension, made no move to pursue. The message was clear: everyone was done fighting.
News of the ceasefire between Konoha and Kumo spread, and like dominoes, Iwagakure and Kirigakure quietly withdrew their forces back to their own territories.
The First Shinobi World War ended not with a grand treaty, but with a collective, exhausted sigh.
An era of recovery began. Sunagakure, as the defeated party, was presented with harsh demands by Konoha. Their response was a defiant sneer and a challenge to invade the desert if they dared. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, could only seethe in silence; Konoha truly lacked the stomach for another campaign.
Akatsurugi returned to a Konoha he barely recognized after years of war. Kosuke Maruboshi's house felt cramped with the addition of Kato Ei, so Akatsurugi used his battlefield earnings to purchase the property next door, establishing a home of his own.
"Lord Akatsurugi," an ANBU agent appeared before him, bowing respectfully. "The Hokage requests your presence."
The agent's demeanor was notably humble. Akatsurugi was now an ANBU Captain, and internal whispers suggested his stellar war record would soon see him promoted to lead one of Konoha's three main ANBU brigades.
Time to divide the spoils, Akatsurugi thought as he entered the Hokage's office.
Konoha's F4 were all present. "Akatsurugi, come, sit," Hiruzen said with a warm smile. "Your contributions on the battlefield were pivotal. Without you, this war would have dragged on. After discussion with the elders, we have decided to appoint you as Captain of the Third ANBU Brigade. What do you say?"
The three ANBU brigades operated independently, answering only to the Hokage. Akatsurugi knew the Second Brigade would eventually become Danzō's Root, and the Third might fade into obscurity. But with this appointment, he had no intention of letting that power slip away. In Konoha, power was necessary to avoid being manipulated by the very system that preached the "Will of Fire."
"I serve at the Hokage's command," Akatsurugi replied without hesitation.
Hiruzen nodded, pleased. "Akatsurugi, for your distinguished service, is there anything you desire?"
"Hokage-sama," Akatsurugi said, seizing the opportunity, "I wish to study Fuinjutsu. May I have access to the village's archives on sealing techniques?"
Hiruzen was momentarily surprised, then smiled. "A prudent request. I will have the relevant scrolls delivered to you."
Akatsurugi left the office satisfied. He had gained rank, power, and the means to address his greatest weakness. The Flying Thunder God Technique demanded a deep understanding of fuinjutsu, and he was finally in a position to acquire it.
In the years of peace that followed, Danzō established his Root organization, burrowing deep underground to weave his shadows. Konoha entered an era of quiet development.
Two years prior, the Third Hokage had taken on three disciples: Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya. Now eleven years old and genin for two years, they were the pride of their generation.
To celebrate the newfound peace, the Five Great Villages agreed to hold a joint Chunin Exams. After much debate, the neutral Land of Iron was chosen as the venue—a stage for villages to showcase their recovered strength without the overt hostility of war.
The Third Hokage took the exams seriously. He personally entered his three students and appointed Akatsurugi as the lead Jonin commander for Konoha's contingent.
Akatsurugi accepted the mission without complaint.
Konoha's team consisted of nine genin, led by three jonin:
Under Akatsurugi: Tsunade Senju, Orochimaru, Jiraiya (Age 11).
Under Akimichi Kōsuke: The new Ino-Shika-Chō trio—Nara Shikakin, Akimichi Marube, Yamanaka Arima (Age 15).
Under Uchiha En: Three promising Uchiha clan members—Uchiha Megumi, Uchiha Mizuki, Uchiha Matsu (Age 13).
The stage was set. The fires of war were banked, but the embers of rivalry still glowed. The first post-war Chunin Exams were about to begin.