"Stop!"
A voice rang out from the distance.
Everyone turned toward it.
A tall man was rapidly approaching.
His hair was silver-white, and a massive ninja blade was strapped across his back.
"It's Lord Kakuzu!"
The Takigakure shinobi shouted excitedly.
Kakuzu was a legendary ninja of Takigakure.
He had once accepted a mission to assassinate the First Hokage himself.
Though he had failed, merely surviving an encounter with the First Hokage was proof of his extraordinary strength.
"Kakuzu, you came at the perfect time."
Shibuya felt as though he had found a lifeline.
"Quickly, stop him!"
Kakuzu landed in front of everyone.
His green eyes locked onto Sasuke.
"Kid."
"Let Fū go."
"Another fool rushing to his death."
Sasuke lowered the Kusanagi Sword.
"Since you're in such a hurry, I'll send you on your way first."
"Arrogant brat!"
Kakuzu roared.
His body immediately began to transform.
Black tendrils burst from every part of his body.
At the same time, four masked monsters emerged from his back.
"Earth Grudge Fear!"
This forbidden technique allowed Kakuzu to steal hearts, extend his lifespan, and gain the chakra nature affinities of his victims.
"Fire Release: Searing Migraine!"
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"
Four different elemental attacks erupted simultaneously and surged toward Sasuke.
The combined power was astonishing.
Yet Sasuke merely spoke two words.
"Preta Path."
Every technique vanished into his outstretched palm.
All chakra was absorbed.
Everything became nothing.
"That's impossible!"
Kakuzu's eyes widened in shock.
"How can you absorb so many different chakra natures at once?!"
"Because what I possess..."
Sasuke slowly raised his other hand.
"...is the power of a god."
"Chibaku Tensei."
A black gravitational core appeared above Kakuzu's head.
A tremendous force immediately began dragging his body upward.
"Damn it!"
Kakuzu struggled desperately.
It was useless.
The attraction force was overwhelming.
The four masked hearts were dragged upward as well.
Under the crushing force, they shattered into pieces.
"Lord Kakuzu!"
The Takigakure shinobi cried out in despair.
But it was already over.
Together with Earth Grudge Fear, Kakuzu was sealed inside the massive sphere.
"Does anyone else wish to resist?"
Sasuke turned toward the remaining Takigakure shinobi.
No one answered.
If even a legendary ninja like Kakuzu had been defeated so effortlessly, what chance did ordinary shinobi have?
Fū stared at the giant stone sphere imprisoning Kakuzu.
Tears flowed down her face.
She released her Seven-Tails transformation and returned to human form.
"I'll go with you."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"But please don't hurt the others."
"A wise decision."
Sasuke nodded.
"Shibuya."
"As agreed, dissolve Takigakure."
Shibuya slowly closed his eyes.
Then he shouted toward the gathered villagers:
"From today onward, Takigakure is officially dissolved!"
"Everyone... leave."
"Go find a new life."
The villagers wept.
They embraced one another.
Then gradually dispersed.
A ninja village that had existed for centuries vanished from history just like that.
Kumogakure
Raikage Tower.
A lay in his hospital bed.
His face was dark and grim.
The latest intelligence reports filled him with both anger and fear.
In only two days, three ninja villages had been completely erased from existence.
"Mabui."
"What reactions are we seeing from the other villages?"
A asked.
Mabui opened the intelligence report in her hands.
"Sunagakure and Iwagakure are remaining silent."
"It appears they intend to stay out of the situation."
"And the smaller villages?"
A's gaze sharpened.
"Most of them have already surrendered to the Divine Court voluntarily."
Mabui's voice trembled slightly.
"They're afraid of ending up like Amegakure."
A clenched his fists.
His knuckles cracked loudly.
This was reality.
Before absolute power, pride, history, and honor became meaningless.
"Lord Raikage."
An ANBU operative suddenly appeared.
"Uchiha Sasuke has arrived outside the village."
"He demands that the Four-Tails and Eight-Tails be handed over immediately."
A's heart skipped a beat.
Although he had anticipated this moment, actually facing it was an entirely different matter.
"Tell him to wait."
A forced himself upright.
"I'll speak to him personally."
"Lord Raikage, your injuries haven't fully healed yet—"
"Enough!"
A roared.
"I am the Raikage!"
"Even if I die, I'll die with dignity!"
He struggled to his feet.
His body was still weak.
But the fighting spirit in his eyes burned fiercely.
Outside Kumogakure.
On a wide open plain.
Sasuke stood alone.
Beside him was Fū.
The Seven-Tails Jinchūriki had already surrendered completely and obediently followed behind him.
"Lord Sasuke."
Fū spoke cautiously.
"Kumogakure's shinobi are very strong."
"Are you sure you don't need reinforcements?"
"No."
Sasuke didn't even turn around.
"Kumogakure alone cannot change anything."
At that moment, the gates of Kumogakure opened.
A emerged with a group of elite Cloud shinobi.
Though their numbers were impressive, tension and fear were visible on every face.
"Uchiha Sasuke."
A stopped before him.
Though still injured, his presence remained imposing.
"We meet again."
"Lord Raikage seems to have recovered well."
Sasuke replied indifferently.
"I hope your attitude has recovered as well."
"Recovered?"
A sneered.
"You think I'll obediently hand over Killer B and Roshi?"
"This is not a request."
Sasuke's expression remained unchanged.
"It is an order."
"The Divine Lord's patience is limited."
"Do not test his bottom line."
"Bottom line?"
A's voice rose.
"I'll tell you what a bottom line is!"
"Killer B is my brother!"
"Roshi is my comrade!"
"If you want to take them away, you'll have to step over my corpse!"
Lightning Release chakra erupted from A's body.
Blue lightning crackled violently around him.
"Lord Raikage!"
The Cloud shinobi were inspired by his determination and drew their weapons.
"Since that's your decision..."
Sasuke sighed softly.
"I had hoped to grant you a dignified ending."
"Apparently I expected too much."
His right hand slowly rose.
The Rinnegan began to spin.
"Wait!"
A familiar voice suddenly echoed from within the village.
Everyone turned.
Killer B was running toward them.
Unlike the others, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki showed no fear.
Instead, there was an unusual excitement on his face.
"Yo, yo!"
"Big bro, calm down, don't be so tense!"
"Let me talk to this handsome fellow instead, yo!"
Killer B said in his characteristic rap-like rhythm.
"Killer B!"
A roared.
"Go back!"
"This has nothing to do with you!"
"Big bro, chill out, yo!"
Killer B walked up beside him.
"You gotta look at the situation, yo!"
"If we keep clashing head-on, more people are gonna die, yo!"
A looked at his younger brother.
His emotions became complicated.
Killer B had always been like this.
At the most critical moments, he somehow remained the calmest person present.
"But—"
"No buts, big bro."
Killer B patted A on the shoulder.
"We lost already, yo."
"There's no shame in admitting defeat, yo."
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