Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 196: Consequences
---The Battle End---
"Please don't kill me!" begged a shinobi who was trying desperately to run away, his voice trembling with terror.
Setsuna had gone on a rampage after injuring the Raikage. In a single brutal move, he severed both of the Raikage arms, ensuring the man would never again form his deadly chakra spear. The Shinobi who escorted Raikage grew eerily quiet after that, broken only by the sounds of fear and disbelief.
The Tsuchikage had already passed out after being punched directly by Setsuna Susanoo. The sheer impact had buried him deep into the ground. The Mizukage and Kazekage fared no better, they too had collapsed after being beaten by Setsuna.
When the remaining shinobi saw that all of their strongest leaders had been utterly defeated, their morale shattered like glass. Some threw down their weapons and surrendered on the spot. Others attempted to flee, only to stumble in fear. A few even wet themselves, paralyzed by the sheer terror of facing the monstrous force that was Setsuna.
What was meant to be a coordinated assault had turned into a horrifying example of dominance. The battlefield no longer echoed with war cries, it echoed with desperation, pleas for mercy, and the crumbling pride of defeated Shinobi.
---Madara POV---
"Madara-sama, something bad has happened!" said White Zetsu urgently, his voice filled with unease.
Madara, who had been sleeping inside his hidden chamber, connected with the shell of the ten tails, slowly opened his eyes. The usually calm expression on his face shifted as he sensed the distress in White Zetsu's tone.
"What is wrong, White Zetsu?" asked Madara, sitting up and turning his sharp gaze toward the creature.
"Uzushiogakure managed to defend their village. Your old friend, Uchiha Setsuna, protected it single-handedly. Not a single person on his side was injured," White Zetsu reported quickly.
"What?" Madara's eyes widened in disbelief. For a moment, he remained silent, processing the shocking information. There was no Black Zetsu beside him.
"Uchiha Setsuna? Are you saying he did this alone?" Madara questioned, his tone now serious.
"Yes. He used the full power of the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu and unleashed dozens of fully-armored Susanoo. He wiped out all the invaders, including high-ranking shinobi from the Four Great Village," said White Zetsu, still in disbelief himself.
Madara frowned, his brows furrowing deeply. "Did you see him inside the island, or was he fighting from the outside?"
"We saw him inside the island. The moment Root shinobi betrayed Uzushiogakure and opened a path for the invading forces, Setsuna appeared. At the same time, the barrier that once protected the island collapsed. It allowed us to witness everything," White Zetsu explained further.
Madara clenched his fists slightly, deep in thought. He had always known that Setsuna was talented, but for him to fend off an entire alliance alone? That was something even Madara had never anticipated and even if he himself in his prime would lost, maybe if he had kyuubi he could beat them. Madara felt a sense of unease stirring in his chest.
"Interesting," he muttered, his expression unreadable. "Very interesting."
---Konoha Reaction---
"What? They survived?" Hiruzen exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief as he read through the report handed to him. The Hokage rarely showed such emotion, but this news had clearly shaken him. Even Danzo, who stood nearby, couldn't hide his surprise—his usually stern expression faltered, and his mouth opened slightly, a rare display of shock.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," the Jonin confirmed, bowing his head respectfully. "Uchiha Setsuna managed to defend Uzushiogakure and successfully repelled the invading forces. There were no reported casualties on their side."
"Alright… Thank you. You may go now," said Hiruzen, waving his hand slightly. The Jonin bowed again and exited the room.
Before Hiruzen could even discuss with Danzo, the man spoke first to him.
"Hiruzen," Danzo said flatly, "I heard what happened in Uzushiogakure."
Hiruzen remained silent for a moment, his jaw clenched as he tried to control the frustration building inside him. Danzo, however, continued without pause.
"It seems we underestimated the Uchiha residing in that village," Danzo muttered, clicking his tongue in irritation. "Especially Uchiha Setsuna. I didn't think he was capable of this level of power and he is older than us."
Hiruzen finally spoke, his voice cold. "Danzo, you were the one who told me that it was safe to proceed. You assured me they wouldn't pose a threat. Now look at what has happened. What are we going to do if Uzushiogakure retaliates?"
Danzo didn't flinch. "Hiruzen, don't panic. Weren't you the one who told Lady Mito and the others that most of the shinobi were out on missions when Uzushiogakure asked for aid? You said it was too late to call them back."
Hiruzen slammed his hand on the desk. "Damn you! You arranged those missions the very day Uzushiogakure requested help. You orchestrated this!"
Danzo raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by the outburst. "And why are you angry at me? You were the one who gave the official order to help the other village to destroy Uzushiogakure. I merely executed your order and now I become your victim."
"You always twist things to serve your own agenda," Hiruzen growled. "You manipulated the situation to push for your goal of becoming Hokage, you are the one who convinced me that destroying Konoha is a good thing for the village. I should never have listened to you."
Danzo's\\ expression remained calm, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "You can try to deny it all you want and accused me non stop, but the responsibility lies with you, Hiruzen. You're the Hokage. The final decision was yours."
"Get out," Hiruzen snapped. "Get out before I lose control and kill you myself."
Danzo smirked, clearly unfazed by the threat. "As you wish," he said smoothly, turning on his body and walking out of the office.
Left alone, Hiruzen sat back in his chair, rubbing his temples in frustration. The consequences of their actions were beginning to unfold, and he knew deep down that the storm had only just begun.
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