"Oh, I have been underestimated."
Orochimaru's expression did not change.
"Soft Physique Modification."
In an instant, Orochimaru's body became unnaturally pliable. He twisted and contorted, avoiding most of the gold dust.
Even so, several strands still pierced his body.
"Tch."
Orochimaru looked down. His abdomen and thigh had been struck.
Blood slowly seeped from the wounds.
"Orochimaru."
Seeing him injured, both Minato and Jiraiya showed concern.
"I am fine," Orochimaru said calmly. "Keep attacking."
"Once Rasa dies, Sunagakure is finished."
After speaking, he took the initiative and charged at Rasa again, with Minato and Jiraiya following closely behind.
This time, their assault became even more ferocious, leaving Rasa barely able to respond.
Wounds rapidly accumulated across his body.
"Damn it…"
Rasa gasped heavily, resentment and unwillingness filling his eyes.
"Am I really going to lose…"
He turned his head and looked toward Sunagakure behind him, at those gazes filled with hope.
"No."
"I cannot lose."
"I am the Kazekage. I cannot let Sunagakure be destroyed by my hands."
Rasa took a deep breath, preparing to fight to the very end.
But at that moment.
Minato appeared behind him once more.
This time, Rasa failed to react.
A kunai pierced straight through his back.
"Ah."
Rasa let out a miserable scream. His body went limp, and he collapsed to his knees.
"Rasa-sama."
The Sunagakure shinobi struggling to resist the Konoha assault cried out in despair.
"It is over."
Orochimaru walked forward, the Kusanagi Sword in his hand gleaming with cold light.
"Rasa-kun, you have lost."
Rasa raised his head and looked at Orochimaru, unwillingness filling his eyes.
"Konoha…"
He whispered weakly.
"You will regret this."
"After annexing Sunagakure, the entire shinobi world will never forgive the Land of Fire."
"That is a matter for the future," Orochimaru sneered.
"At least right now, the Land of Fire is victorious."
"And we are the victors."
"Goodbye, Rasa-kun."
Orochimaru raised the Kusanagi Sword.
With a flash of cold light, the blade pierced straight through Rasa's heart.
Rasa.
The Fourth Kazekage.
Once again collapsed into a pool of blood.
His eyes remained open.
They were fixed in the direction of Sunagakure.
Filled with unwillingness and despair.
Thud.
His body fell heavily onto the top of the wall.
He was not completely dead yet and still twitched faintly.
Blood flowed down the stone bricks at the village gate.
Drip. Drop.
It splashed onto the massive character for Sand at the entrance.
Dyeing it crimson.
The wind stopped.
The battle was short, yet Sunagakure was left with only a little over nine hundred shinobi capable of fighting.
All of them stared upward stiffly, gazing at the corpse.
That had been their sky.
But now, the sky had fallen.
"That has to be… a Substitution Jutsu, right?"
A young chūnin spoke shakily, unable to believe what he was seeing.
No one answered.
Rasa's pale face hung lifelessly above them.
The scattered gold dust lay dull and lusterless on the ground.
"Kazekage-sama."
Heart wrenching cries erupted.
In that instant, despair turned into madness.
"Kill them."
"Fight Konoha to the death."
"Avenge Rasa-sama."
Reason shattered.
The Sunagakure shinobi, eyes bloodshot, screamed wildly. Clutching shuriken and kunai, some even fumbled their hand seals as they charged forward recklessly.
The crowd surged ahead.
They tried to smash through Konoha's defenses with their own bodies.
Tragic and absurd.
"They truly do not know their place."
Orochimaru stood above, mockery filling his expression.
He had no intention of moving.
Below him.
Uchiha Fugaku raised his hand and was the first to form hand seals.
Behind him, dozens of Uchiha clan members followed in unison.
"Fire Release, Great Fireball Technique."
Dozens of fireballs crashed simultaneously into the charging Sunagakure forces.
Boom.
The front line of Sunagakure shinobi was instantly reduced to charred corpses by the searing heat.
Before the stench of burning flesh could spread, it was overwhelmed by the smell of scorching devastation.
Immediately after, Konoha's main force surged forward.
"Fire Release, Great Flame Technique."
"Lightning Release, False Darkness."
"Wind Release, Great Breakthrough."
An overwhelming storm of ninjutsu rained down upon Sunagakure.
This was no longer a battle.
Sunagakure's once proud puppet corps was shattered before it could even be deployed.
Broken parts and severed limbs flew everywhere.
Screams drowned out the howling wind.
In the blink of an eye, the main gate collapsed.
Konoha shinobi stepped over Sunagakure corpses and poured into the village.
The smell of blood was suffocating.
Deep within the village.
"We cannot hold them."
"Elder, Defense Line A has been completely wiped out."
"Chiyo-sama cannot be contacted. Where is Ebizo."
A messenger covered in blood shouted desperately.
Ebizo stood at the shelter entrance, leaning on his cane.
The explosions outside echoed endlessly.
His hands trembled so badly he could barely hold the cane.
It was over.
Completely over.
If they continued fighting, Sunagakure would not even be able to preserve its lineage.
"Stop shouting."
Ebizo's voice was hoarse, like dry paper scraping together.
"Elder…"
"Pass down my order."
Ebizo closed his eyes, nearly biting through his lip.
"Everyone… disarm."
"That is surrendering."
The messenger broke down in tears.
"If you do not want Sunagakure to be completely wiped out, then do it."
Ebizo struck the messenger's leg with his cane, shouting until his voice cracked.
"Hurry. Tell everyone to stop fighting."
"Tell Konoha we surrender."
The order spread.
Clang.
The first kunai hit the ground.
Then came the sound of countless weapons dropping.
The surviving Sunagakure shinobi knelt amidst the ruins, burying their heads in the sand.
Crying echoed everywhere.
It was over.
"Orochimaru."
Minato had already changed out of his combat attire and into his ceremonial robes.
"Have the Barrier Sealing Squad take their positions immediately. No one is allowed to leave."
"Anyone who leaves the village without permission will be killed."
"Understood."
In such a formal setting, Orochimaru restrained himself and nodded.
He walked forward, stepping on the sticky ground. The Kusanagi Sword still dripped with blood.
He casually flicked the blood away and sheathed it.
"Jiraiya-sensei."
Minato continued.
Jiraiya was squatting on a collapsed wall, staring blankly at the corpses scattered everywhere.
"Do not zone out."
"Go pacify the civilians. Tell them that as long as they remain obedient, the Land of Fire will not kill civilians."
Minato sighed.
"But if anyone hides shinobi or plays tricks…"
He made a slashing gesture across his throat.
"You know what to do."
Minato was kind by nature, but this was war. He understood what could not be compromised.
Jiraiya opened his mouth, then let out a long sigh.
"Alright."
Minato ignored him and walked straight toward the Kazekage Building.
Inside, Sunagakure's high ranking officials waited to be judged.
"Everyone, follow me," Minato said.
"Let us go to your conference room and talk properly."
Inside the Kazekage Office.
The seat that once belonged to Rasa was now occupied by Minato.
"Do not be nervous."
Minato forced a smile, trying to ease the tension.
"The war is over. From now on, we are family."
The Sunagakure officials twitched at the corners of their mouths.
Only a fool would believe that.
"From today onward, Sunagakure will no longer exist in the shinobi world."
Several elders looked up sharply.
Ebizo spoke urgently.
"Hokage-sama. You promised to preserve…"
"Listen to me first."
Minato interrupted him.
"The structure of Sunagakure Village is abolished. It will be renamed the Land of Fire Wind Division."
"All of you will continue managing what you handled before."
"Finances, mission assignments, and personnel transfers must all be reported to Konoha."
"Thirty percent of annual revenue will be handed over to the Land of Fire."
Thirty percent.
This was not drawing blood. This was skinning them alive.
One elder could not hold back.
"That is impossible. If we give up thirty percent, what will the villagers eat. We cannot survive."
Pfft.
Cold light flashed.
The elder clutched his throat as blood poured through his fingers.
He collapsed, eyes wide open.
Orochimaru appeared beside them.
At some point, a kunai had appeared in his hand, spinning lightly around his finger.
"Hokage-sama is informing you," Orochimaru said calmly.
"He is not negotiating."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Is there anyone else who feels they cannot survive. I can help them find relief immediately."
Dead silence.
Ebizo felt ice run through his body.
Staring at the corpse on the ground, he did not dare utter a single word.
"Very good."
Orochimaru leaned against the wall.
"It seems everyone has reached an agreement. Hokage-sama, please continue."
Minato frowned slightly but said nothing.
He simply conveyed Arashi's orders without omission.
On this day.
Sunagakure.
One of the Five Great Ninja Villages.
Became history.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
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