The air around the battlefield suddenly stilled — like the pause before a storm, or the moment before a blade drops.
Ashina, Genka, and Tosho — bloodied, barely standing — unsealed something ancient from scrolls bound in bone-white wrappings.
They pulled out three masks.
Not ordinary masks.
Each one bore the haunting expression of the Shinigami — featureless, blank, mouths frozen in a rictus scream.
The moment they lifted them, a sudden wave of chakra dread flooded the field.
Even the enemy commanders stopped cold.
Onoki's eyes widened.
"Those… they're not bluffing…"
The Mizukage took a slow step back.
"Fools… they would invite death?"
The Third Raikage scowled, but even he paused.
"They'd trade their souls just to take us with them."
Genka, his voice hoarse but steady, spoke through the battlefield with a chakra echo:
"We have no illusions of survival. Only duty."
Ashina raised his mask slowly.
"Let the world know — Uzumaki will never fall quietly."
---
At Akashi's command, messengers ran through the bloodied streets and sealing towers.
Three massive towers began to hum. Each bore one of the ancient family glyphs — Ashina, Mito, and Sen.
They pulsed once…
Then again…
And then—
Fwooom.
The entire village was engulfed in spiral patterns of crimson light. The seal etched into the very bones of the land — one that took generations to weave — activated.
Barrier Seals expanded into the sky, redirecting Kage-level jutsu.
Erosion Seals flared under enemy battalions, slowly eating away their chakra reserves.
Karmic Retaliation Seals linked every enemy wound back to their own actions.
Explosions of light danced across the enemy lines.
One battalion from Kiri collapsed in agony — every slash they'd inflicted now echoed on their own skin.
Onoki rose higher, sweating.
"Their ancestors were mad geniuses…"
Mizukage snarled, "This is no longer a siege… it's an execution field."
---
From atop the central tower, Akashi Uzumaki stood — blood on his knuckles, cloak billowing, his Emperor Eye glowing softly.
He watched as the seals unfolded like a grand tapestry, hundreds of years in the making.
He whispered to himself:
"This… is Uzu's true heritage."
A messenger knelt behind him, panting.
"Orders, Uzukage-sama?"
He didn't hesitate.
"Begin Phase 3. Activate the chakra lattice. Redirect remaining reserves to the front line, and prepare the Inner Sanctum seals."
"Yes, sir!"
Akashi turned his eyes east — toward the cliffs.
He could feel Sakumo there. Watching.
And somewhere deeper in the shadows…
He could feel another presence. Not just watching.
Waiting.
---
Inside the enemy's temporary command shelter:
Onoki slammed his palm into the table.
"This war is no longer strategic — it's personal. They've humiliated us!"
Raikage's fists crackled with thunder.
"And lost their lives in the process."
Mizukage paced.
"No. They've drawn us in deeper… and now every step costs us."
Onoki snarled.
"We must break their will. Or burn with them."
But outside their tent, some of their own shinobi began to retreat.
Fear of the Shinigami. Fear of the cursed seals. Fear of a village that was supposed to die… but refused to kneel.
---
The moment was sudden.
A ruthless elite jōnin from Kiri — masked, blade coated with corrosion seals — infiltrated the city's interior during a lull in frontline combat.
He reached the healing compound, breaking through a weakened barrier.
Inside, Akashi's mother, Lady Natsumi Uzumaki, was tending to the wounded, unaware of the death stalking toward her.
But Akashi felt it.
His Emperor Eyes flared.
"No—"
He vanished in a blur, using every ounce of chakra-enhanced speed.
The Kiri ninja's blade slashed downward—only to be caught mid-swing by Akashi's bare hand.
Blood trickled from his palm, but his gaze was ice.
"You've made a mistake."
The Kiri elite smirked. "You're just a boy with fancy eyes."
In a moment, Akashi's personality sharpened. Calm, focused, merciless.
He twisted the blade and let go, precisely hitting the enemy's wrist tendons using Emperor Eye muscle prediction. The man's grip faltered.
Akashi spun, chakra-loaded heel smashing into the man's ribs — crack — launching him through the wall.
Outside, civilians and shinobi looked up as the battle continued in full view.
Akashi emerged, walking.
The Kiri elite struggled to rise.
"What are you?"
Akashi's gaze narrowed.
"I am the will of Uzushiogakure."
He delivered a final, spiraling punch infused with chained fūinjutsu, sealing the man's chakra network on impact.
Silence followed.
His mother rushed out and hugged him tightly, eyes wide with worry.
"Akashi—are you alright—?"
He held her close.
"You're safe. That's all that matters."
---
The commanders — Third Raikage, Mizukage, and Onoki — watched the defensive seals' grip tighten across the field.
Each had lost hundreds.
Their men grew hesitant. Morale was breaking.
Against their instincts, they agreed:
A ceasefire negotiation — to be held in the center of the battlefield, no man's land, within a stabilized neutral zone.
A round table of stone was raised by Onoki's Doton. The flags of the villages stood behind their leaders.
Akashi arrived last — in full Uzukage attire, cloak flowing, Emperor Eyes dim but pulsing.
Behind him stood Ashina, his father and two surviving council members. They sat with dignity.
Mizukage sneered first.
"You've proven yourselves. But at what cost? Lay down your arms, and your people may live."
Raikage added:
"This battle will destroy all sides. Your village is bleeding. Surrender honorably."
Onoki's voice was colder:
"Or we crush you with our full might."
Akashi looked at them all. Then leaned forward slowly.
"We know why you wage this war."
"Uzu was once allied to Konoha. We bled for them. We sealed beasts for them. And they left us to die."
He looked to the horizon.
"This is not Hashirama's Konoha. This is Sarutobi's."
Then turned back.
"We will not serve anyone. Uzu stands free. We are no longer your tool—or ally. We are our own nation."
Ashina nodded in solemn pride.
Akashi continued.
"Withdraw your armies. Leave our soil. And we will not pursue you."
Onoki narrowed his eyes. "And if we refuse?"
Akashi's Emperor Eyes flashed.
"Then you'll see the final layer of seals. And this time… no one will walk away."
The Kage were silent.
For the first time… they hesitated.
---