Even just holding him back had exhausted the Ino–Shika–Chō trio.
Nara Shikaku was equally fatigued, but more than anything, he was relieved.
"We won."
"Yes! We actually won!"
Inoichi Yamanaka and Akimichi Choza exchanged a weary smile.
They pushed themselves upright and walked toward Tsunade.
"Chiyo! It's over!"
The Third Kazekage looked coldly at Granny Chiyo.
At this point, Sunagakure had completely lost the right to continue fighting.
"This old woman understands," Chiyo finally replied after a long silence, lowering her head.
The Third Kazekage exhaled quietly. From this moment on, he would be the one to lead Sunagakure.
Truth be told, he understood Chiyo's grief. Both her son and daughter-in-law had been killed by Konoha—anyone would have gone mad with hatred.
But sympathy was one thing. The Kazekage had long coveted Chiyo's position and power within the village.
"All units—retreat!"
The Third Kazekage's deep voice carried across the battlefield.
One after another, the Sunagakure shinobi lowered their heads, shoulders heavy with defeat.
They knew the truth.
The war was over. And they had lost.
The Kazekage cast one last glance toward Tsunade, the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, and Aoyama Ryuyun—who stood there proud and unyielding, like a lion surveying his domain.
"Konoha's geniuses are truly terrifying," he muttered under his breath.
Though White Fang had fallen, Konoha had produced another monster—a swordmaster capable of felling a Tailed Beast.
There would be time for negotiations later. Konoha would demand reparations; that much was certain.
The Third Kazekage said nothing more. Turning on his heel, he departed with Chiyo and the surviving Sand shinobi.
As for the One-Tail Shukaku—its loss was not a permanent concern. A Tailed Beast, composed purely of chakra, would inevitably re-form in time. They would simply track it down and seal it again once it revived.
When the last of the Sand shinobi had vanished over the dunes, only Konoha's forces remained on the field.
Sensing every eye upon her, Tsunade raised her arm high and shouted,
"Victory!"
The battlefield erupted into thunderous cheers.
"Victory!"
"We won!"
"The war is finally over!"
"Hahaha! We can go home!"
Yes—home. That word alone was enough to bring tears to some eyes.
The Second Shinobi World War, which had raged for years, was finally at an end.
And amidst the stories that would be told of this war, one name would echo for generations:
Aoyama Ryuyun—the Golden Lion of Konoha.
The man who had cut down a Tailed Beast with his blade.
At last, Tsunade had the time to rush to him. Without giving Ryuyun the chance to speak, she immediately began channeling green chakra into her hands, scanning his body for injuries.
Only when she confirmed he was truly unharmed did she finally let out a long breath.
"You scared me half to death, you know?"
When Ryuyun had clashed head-on with the Tailed Beast Bomb, Tsunade's heart had nearly stopped.
Thankfully, he'd prevailed.
Understanding her concern, Ryuyun only smiled.
"I'm the Golden Lion—how could I fall here?"
"You're so full of yourself." She rolled her eyes, though her relief was obvious.
At that moment, Nara Shikaku, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Akimichi Choza approached, their expressions filled with respect.
"Lord Liu Yun," they greeted in unison.
Such was the power of strength—it commanded respect without words.
In this world, authority meant nothing without might. Only the powerful were worthy of reverence.
And Aoyama Ryuyun had proved himself beyond doubt.
He had felled a Tailed Beast with his swords alone. That placed him well within the ranks of Kage-level shinobi—and among them, he was by no means inferior.
No one found it strange that Shikaku and the others addressed him so formally. Even Tsunade couldn't help but feel proud.
See? she thought smugly. This is the man I chose.
"Haha, just call me Liu Yun," Ryuyun replied casually, waving a hand.
Shikaku understood perfectly. He'd be a fool not to seize the goodwill of someone this powerful.
With a smirk, he added, "If you ever have the time, Liu Yun, visit the Nara compound. I have some fine tea you might enjoy."
"Definitely," Ryuyun replied with a grin.
It was easy to converse with sharp men.
Tsunade, however, rolled her eyes again. She was still getting used to how effortlessly he handled politics and people.
"We'll rest for a day," she said finally. "Then return to Konoha together tomorrow."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Nara Shikaku immediately took on the responsibility of drafting the formal battle report and sending it to Konoha.
---
In the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face lit up as he read the report.
"Good! Very good!"
Even Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, standing nearby, smiled faintly.
Konoha had survived another war—victorious once more.
And the elders, still seated comfortably in their positions of power, couldn't have been more pleased.
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