The Land of Wind, Sunagakure.
Karura led the army back to the village. She reported everything she had encountered to the Third Kazekage, Granny Chiyo, Ebizō, and the other high-ranking officials of the Sand Village.
The Red-Hot Habanero. The Crimson Flash.
A Jinchūriki of the One-Tail.
And the terrifying Tailed Beast Bomb.
The Third Kazekage was horrified. He had never imagined that the death of the previous One-Tail Jinchūriki, Fenfu, was linked to Konoha.
Furthermore, the Red-Hot Habanero had infiltrated their forces undetected.
Just the thought of that woman—now a perfect Jinchūriki—slipping into Sunagakure and launching a Tailed Beast Bomb was terrifying.
If she attacked them directly, Sunagakure would be wiped off the map.
The Third Kazekage shuddered at the thought.
But what unsettled him even more was the fact that this woman had gained full control over the One-Tail's power.
She was already a perfect Jinchūriki.
Sunagakure had spent years attempting to tame Shukaku, yet they had never succeeded. And now, a foreign kunoichi had stolen that power for herself.
Upon hearing Karura's report, the Third Kazekage's expression darkened. He had no reason to doubt her. Karura was the princess of Sunagakure, an Elite Jōnin, and one of the village's strongest shinobi. She had no reason to lie.
Moreover, the Sand Shinobi under her command had seen it firsthand.
They had watched as the Red-Hot Habanero obliterated an entire mountain with a single Tailed Beast Bomb.
That was the raw, unfiltered power of a tailed beast.
The war council chamber fell into silence.
The Third Kazekage. Granny Chiyo. Ebizō.
All of them wore grim expressions.
Finally, the Third Kazekage exhaled slowly.
Like Iwagakure and Kumogakure before them, Sunagakure would withdraw from the war.
Konoha was simply too powerful.
And the rumors—they only made matters worse.
The Third Raikage had not been the only one responsible for Iwagakure's crushing defeat. A member of the Uchiha Clan had played a part as well.
And that Uchiha wielded the Mangekyō Sharingan.
The techniques he had used were even more terrifying than the Third Raikage's legendary strength.
The Third Raikage was a man who prided himself on his unbreakable defense and unstoppable offense.
Yet even he had not fought alone.
The Third Kazekage could not shake the feeling that Kumogakure and Konoha had joined forces behind the scenes. That their so-called "conflicts" were nothing more than a smokescreen.
And now, with the knowledge of the Red-Hot Habanero's power, there was no reason to continue this war.
Like the Third Tsuchikage, the Third Kazekage decided to retreat.
With that, the primary players in the Third Great Ninja War had dwindled.
The only two great nations still locked in battle were the Land of Fire's Konoha and the Land of Water's Kirigakure.
A true clash of fire and water.
The heart of this war.
Karura had withheld one crucial detail from the Kazekage—something the Red-Hot Habanero had told her personally.
That once the war was over, she planned to lead a coup in Konoha.
But Karura had no way of knowing if Kushina was serious or merely bluffing.
Or if she had some hidden agenda.
It was not worth mentioning.
But the things she had seen with her own eyes? The One-Tail's power, the Tailed Beast Bomb?
Those were undeniable facts.
In the end, pulling out of the war would benefit Sunagakure greatly. They could focus on rebuilding and strengthening their forces.
After the meeting, Granny Chiyo returned home. As soon as she arrived, she saw Sasori controlling his puppets, "Mother" and "Father."
Sasori, ever perceptive, glanced at her.
"Grandmother, is the war ending?"
"Yes," Chiyo replied. "Our shinobi will no longer be sent to the battlefield."
Sasori narrowed his eyes. "Good. These puppets are too weak."
In the past, he had wanted puppets for companionship.
Now, he craved power.
Three days later, as Iwagakure and Kumogakure withdrew, Sunagakure officially announced its retreat.
The news spread across the entire ninja world.
The conflicts between smaller nations and minor villages were insignificant.
Only two major players remained:
Konoha and Kirigakure.
The battle that would decide the fate of the Third Great Ninja War was upon them.
Land of Fire. Konoha. The Hokage's Office.
Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen read the latest report and grinned from ear to ear.
"Excellent. Sunagakure has withdrawn."
Now, Konoha had only one enemy left: Kirigakure.
If Konoha could crush them, the war would end in their favor.
And history would forever remember the Land of Fire as the nation that stood alone against the rest of the world—and won.
Such a victory would be unprecedented.
Hiruzen could already see it.
His name would be etched into history as the Hokage who led Konoha to its greatest triumph.
No other leader could boast such an accomplishment.
The Third Hokage—the one who singlehandedly guided Konoha to victory against the other four great nations.
The strongest Hokage.
Stronger than the First. Stronger than the Second.
After all, how many of Konoha's citizens had actually seen Hashirama Senju in battle?
Who was left to remember the strength of Tobirama Senju?
But him? Everyone would see his glory firsthand.
The Eternal Hokage.
This was the Will of Fire.
He didn't need a genjutsu like Kotoamatsukami.
He knew how to control hearts and minds in other ways.
By the time this war ended, the entire village would worship him.
Danzo wouldn't stand a chance.
No one would challenge him.
Hiruzen chuckled to himself as he sipped his tea.
While his subordinates fought and bled on the battlefield, he merely observed.
And when victory arrived, he would claim the credit.
Only one obstacle remained.
Sarutobi Yaomaru, of the Sarutobi Clan, had been tasked with leading Konoha's forces against Kirigakure.
He had to ensure that the final battle belonged to the Sarutobi Clan.
He had not expected Sunagakure to surrender so soon.
But Uzumaki Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto had proven themselves.
"As expected of Tsunade's disciple.
As expected of Lady Mito's chosen successor.
As expected of the Uzumaki Clan.
As expected of the Uchiha Clan."
Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction.
With Sunagakure out of the picture, he issued one final command:
Kushina Uzumaki, Mikoto Uchiha, and Hikari Hyuga were to reinforce the main forces on the Kirigakure front.
Konoha's entire army would now converge upon one battlefield.
The final battle of the Third Great Ninja War was about to begin.
The commander leading the charge?
Sarutobi Yaomaru.
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