Chapter 190 : Ending!

As the turbulent water blades relentlessly corroded the iron, Shamon found his magnetic escape growing increasingly feeble. Witnessing the imminent disintegration of his black iron giant, Shamon realized that retreat was his only option, a bitter pill to swallow.

"Boom!"

A resounding explosion echoed, the water column vortex rupturing like a unleashed flood, dispersing iron filings in every direction. Tobirama, however, furrowed his brow. The explosion wasn't an external force; it was Shamon detonating the black iron under his magnetic control.

Aware that capture or even death loomed if he stayed, Shamon unleashed his full strength, seizing the opportunity provided by the explosion to make a hasty escape. 

However, fleeing under the scrutiny of Tobirama's power came at a steep cost. Shamon's sand armor crumbled away, and the tumult of Magnetic Release and Water Release left him grievously injured. Submerging into the water, his body bore piercing wounds, transforming him into a battered figure.

"Tobirama, remember this—!"

Shamon, now a blood-stained blur, fled into the distance, leaving behind a parting scene.

"A pitiful fellow. With injuries like those, it'll be a challenge for him to recover fully. His strength is bound to diminish," Tobirama mused.

Choosing not to pursue, Tobirama acknowledged Shamon's Kage-class prowess and unique ninjutsu. Chasing him down would likely be futile. Tobirama refrained from using the Flying Thunder God technique directly on Shamon, recognizing that killing such a formidable opponent would come at a high cost.

In truth, Tobirama didn't desire Shamon's downfall. The elite forces of the Sand Ninja were severely crippled, with both Chiyo and Ebizō sustaining critical, permanent injuries. The Sand Ninja had suffered a devastating blow.

A Sand Ninja in this state wouldn't pose a threat for at least three years, struggling to recover within a decade. Rebuilding their ranks and cultivating a new generation of ninja would prove nearly impossible, lagging far behind other major powers.

What gains could Konoha extract from defeating such a weakened Ninja village? The precarious situation of the Land of Wind spelled danger for themselves. 

The land and resources they possessed were insufficient for outright conquest. Negotiation or surrender seemed inevitable, and Shamon's demise threatened to plunge the ninja world into chaos.

A delicate balance existed among the five major nations. While Konoha initially stood as the most formidable force, the "fall" of Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, coupled with the ascension of the Kumogakure, shifted the dynamics. Kirigakure and Iwagakure began eyeing Konoha warily.

In the first Ninja World War, restraint prevailed. However, in the second and third wars, Konoha, exposed and vulnerable, faced the threat of simultaneous attacks by multiple nations.

Tobirama had contemplated defeating the weakest Sand Shinobi and forging an alliance to stand against the other three nations.

In the beginning, the Land of Wind was feeble, adjacent only to a formidable country like the Land of Fire, making it susceptible to coercion.

Furthermore, the Land of Wind grappled with poverty. Offering appropriate benefits would easily attract its allegiance, making it pliable to manipulation.

Moreover, complete cooperation among the other three nations was implausible. Having a strategic ally like the Land of Wind would suffice to guarantee Konoha access to the best resources.

However, fate took an unexpected turn, as if unseen forces conspired to disrupt the carefully laid plans. Contrary to expectations, the Sand Shinobi opted to align with a force opposing Konoha from the very beginning.

Nevertheless, Tobirama saw a silver lining in the conflict. He welcomed a good fight.

Unexpectedly, Sunagakure's Jinchūriki met his demise in the battlefield and even their Tailed Beast was dead. Even Shamon fought valiantly, driven by a fleeting resolve to protect the "momentary spirit," yet succumbed in the end.

Such a fate for the Sand Ninja – it seemed their animosity with Konoha would persist indefinitely!

Politically speaking, maneuvering was still possible if the price was right. The challenge lay in the fact that the Sand Ninja had been thoroughly defeated and incapacitated, rendering them powerless. Even if one tried to sway their allegiance, what strength could they provide Konoha? It would only make Konoha the laughingstock!

Conversely, the other three nations could exploit the enmity between the Sand Ninja and Konoha to gain their favor, uniting against Konoha.

Tobirama sighed, finding no joy in defeating the mere Kage of the weakest village. In truth, Tobirama had held back, or else Shamon wouldn't have endured for so long.

Shamon, on the other hand, couldn't perceive the situation clearly. Had he controlled his emotions and seized the chance to escape when Jinchūriki and Shukaku fell, Tobirama wouldn't have pursued him relentlessly.

Tobirama merely intended to impart a valuable lesson to the Sand Ninja and set an example by slaying a few, not to instigate perpetual enmity!

Tobirama, with his foresight, looked beyond the current conflict. His brilliance lay in his ability to assess the situation. Unlike Hashirama, who believed ninja conflicts were irreconcilable and would only escalate hatred, 

Tobirama's conviction strengthened after killing Uchiha Izumi. Madara's enduring animosity toward him and the events following Hashirama's death reinforced his belief.

He foresaw a future where international conflicts would resemble clan feuds, spiraling out of control. Despite today's victory, Konoha, now a target of public scorn, faced a bleak future.

Tobirama's countenance darkened. Contemplating the reasons and contradictions that led to their current predicament, he focused on a series of questions:

Why did the Sand's Jinchūriki meet a sudden demise?

How did One-Tail take control by loosening the seal?

Was there a puppet master orchestrating all this, or did Konoha truly deserve this calamity?

If a mastermind lurked behind the scenes, were they associated with the individual promoting the ninja war in the shadows?

If a sinister force guided these events, it could simplify matters considerably!

One-Tail and its Jinchuriki had fallen on this fateful day. If I fail to intervene, Konoha cannot escape death!

"Lord Tobirama, Elder Akira... he has fallen."

As Tobirama cursed under his breath, Tsushima and Kazama approached each other for support. In the distance, a few Anbu operatives were idly standing by.

"What? How did Elder Akira die?" Tobirama was alarmed; the scent of conspiracy hung thick in the air.

"Elder Akira showed no signs of injury, but he had used a forbidden technique against One-Tail and succumbed to exhaustion," Kazama explained.

"Exhaustion?"

A perplexing fog settled in Tobirama's mind, and he ordered, "Retrieve Elder Akira's body and subject it to a thorough analysis. We owe the Hyuga clan an explanation."

With Tobirama at the center, surrounded by Anbu like Tsushima and Kazama, they departed. Sand Shinobi in the vicinity, though capable of perceiving events from ten kilometers away, dared not reveal themselves. When an individual's power surpasses a certain threshold, sheer numbers cease to matter.

Accompanied by them is Takeshi... The conflict in the Land of Wind might not drag on for another month, freeing Konoha to deal with the aftermath of the Sand attack situation. What fate befell Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya?

"Kazekage-sama"

Sand shinobi watched in horror and disbelief as Kazekage's personal guards carried back the injured Shamon. Shamon's eyes were dull, wrapped in bandages reminiscent of the Second Hokage's water ninjutsu, lifeless.

How could this happen? Why did we suffer such a crushing defeat, even the invincible Shamon-sama?

Was it a mistake to wage war instigated by the Kumogakure?

Did the Land of Wind destroy its future?

"Lord Shamon, we will avenge you. Konoha will answer for its actions!"

Upon learning of Sand Jinchūriki's demise, Shukaku sluber, and Shamon lay grievously injured, his spirit lost. Ebizō rose with determination, fixing a serious gaze on the young ninjas around him.

"Avenge Shamon-sama and our Jinchūriki!"

"Konoha will not escape unscathed!"

"An eye for an eye!"

...

As if discovering a newfound resolve, the Sand Ninjas temporarily embraced a blind fighting spirit, fueled by hatred. They shouted with fervor.

...

Shamon with dragon claw tattoos on his right eye appeared somewhat agitated. He cast a glance at Ebizō, mouth opening and closing hesitantly, yet he refrained from speaking.

He had fallen, and recovery seemed an impossibility.

Chiyo remained under medical care, and Ebizō's countenance showed neither frenzy nor anger. Amidst the surrounding ninjas' frenetic and numb reactions, the eyes of the two met, exchanging only imitation and loneliness.

********

Support me on my patreon and read upto 30 early chapters.

https://www.patreon.com/Unique_Writer