The forest surrounding Konoha was a blur of motion. Asuma Sarutobi, Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, and their genin charges rushed through the underbrush, their expressions grim. They had just received an emergency summons from the village, cutting their mission in Sunagakure short. While none of them knew the exact details, the urgency in the message was enough to quicken their pace.
As the familiar Gates of Konoha came into view, the group came to a sudden, jarring halt. A collective gasp rippled through their ranks, followed by stunned silence.
The village was gone.
In its place stood only ruins and devastation. The outer walls had crumbled inward, exposing heaps of rubble and debris. The main gate hung askew, barely clinging to its hinges, revealing a landscape of shattered buildings and earth stained with dried, black blood.
"What… what happened?" one of the genin whispered, the question hanging heavy in the air.
"How could Konoha be like this?" another voice cried out, disbelief turning to horror.
Kiba Inuzuka was the first to break the shock. Seeing the destruction, the Inuzuka's face paled, a surge of protective instinct for her mother and sister washing over her. "Akamaru!"
She vaulted onto her ninken partner, who barked in understanding and bolted toward the broken gate. But before they could take more than two steps, a hand shot out and snagged the back of Kiba's collar.
"Kurenai-sensei!" Kiba choked out, struggling wildly as Kurenai Yuhi pinned her to the ground. "Let go! I have to get to them!"
Beside them, Akamaru growled and lunged, only to be caught by Kurenai's other hand and forced down as well. "Stop it, Kiba!" Kurenai commanded, her voice firm but laced with concern. "This isn't the time for genin to rush in. Stay put!"
"Your mother and your sister are skilled Jōnin," she added, her grip tightening. "You have to trust them. They're not helpless."
Kiba's struggles finally ceased, her energy draining into despair. She slammed a fist into the dirt, tears pricking her eyes. Kurenai released her, then turned to check on Hinata, who was kneeling silently nearby, and Shino, who stood motionless, his eyes fixed on the ruined village.
Asuma and Guy leaped atop the gate's debris, surveying the wreckage below.
"The village was able to send that message," Asuma said, pulling a cigarette from his pack and lighting it. "So they're still functioning. The enemy must have been pushed back."
Guy stood beside him, his usual confident smile replaced by a grim line. "What's the situation in there?"
"Looks like they've been clearing the rubble," Asuma replied, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "The central areas are cleaner than the outskirts. Someone's organizing the cleanup."
Before they could speculate further, three figures appeared in the distance, running toward them with practiced speed. Asuma recognized them instantly: Izumo Kamizuki, Kotetsu Hagane, and Shizune, Tsunade's apprentice.
"Looks like the village is secure," Asuma noted, flicking his cigarette away as he jumped down to meet them.
"Asuma, Guy, Kurenai," Shizune said, her expression serious as she approached. She wasted no time on pleasantries. "Kamizuki, Kotetsu—take the returning examinees to the temporary shelter. Instructors, come with me. Lady Tsunade is waiting."
Asuma nodded, falling into step beside Shizune as they hurried toward the village center. Behind them, Izumo and Kotetsu redirected the confused genin in the opposite direction.
As they walked, Shizune provided a grim briefing. "The village was attacked by the Akatsuki faction led by Menma. He shattered his seal and unleashed power that nearly wiped Konoha off the map."
She listed the casualties in a detached, clinical tone. "Civilians suffered the worst—less than thirty percent survived. The surviving ninja count is better, but still heavy. Most of the losses were genin and chunin who couldn't get to the shelters in time."
Reaching a hastily constructed mud house—likely formed using Earth Release techniques—the group entered to find Sho and Ōkami already inside. But the room fell silent when their eyes landed on the figure seated in the center.
Tsunade.
Her skin was withered and dull, her usually vibrant hair looking limp and brittle. She looked every one of her years, and then some.
"Sigh," Tsunade breathed, her voice weak and listless, a stark contrast to her usual vigor. "I told you not to come back. But you're here anyway."
Asuma stepped forward, brow furrowed. "Lady Tsunade, what's wrong with you?"
"I used too much chakra earlier. I just need rest," she dismissed casually, not wanting to dwell on it. She looked at the group, her eyes lingering on each face before she spoke slowly, with deliberate weight.
"Now that you're back, you deserve to know the truth." She paused, letting the silence build. "Kakashi and Yamato have betrayed the village. They've joined the Four-Star Village."
She took a breath, her voice dropping lower.
"And under the command of Menma, the Four-Star Village launched an annihilation campaign against Konoha."
---
If this chapter was worth your time, a Powerstone helps others find it.
Want to read ahead, check Patreon
[email protected]/Rogue_Soul