Chapter 24 - Attack on Konoha

Konoha, year 30 AV

A lone man was walking leisurely on the road to Konoha. He had a reminiscent expression while he was looking around. His footsteps were steady, confidence and arrogance radiated from his being.

The man had a wild dark mane reaching his back heels. He was wearing red armour prevalent in warring states period. His eyes were dark and sharp. Wherever he passed, people and animals avoided him like the plague.

When he reached the northern gate of konoha, he stopped to take in the moment. He saw the bustling view of the streets. Vendors spread their wares in the street side stalls, children were running around, playing their little games, intermittently laughing out loud. The women were moving in groups, shopping in the streets. Old men were sitting in front of their houses, on arm chairs or swings, enjoying the peace and basking in the sun. Men were out and about leaving for their work in or outside the village.

Seeing all this, the man had a look of reluctance on his face, as if having an inner struggle to make a big decision. Soon his face became serene and indifferent. With a forceful scoff, he completed hand seals and slapped his right hand on the ground out of nowhere.

The chunin guards noticed him and were already alert and moving in to stop the barbarian looking man. But they were too late.

The moment he slapped his palm on the ground, the entire konoha seemed to be shrouded in an evil energy, ensnaring all her inhabitants, civilians and shinobi alike. Children stopped playing, old men sat up, women threw away their finds and looked towards the northern gates of konoha.

...

Senju Hashirama was sitting in his courtyard, playing with his granddaughter and relaxing. He looked much paler than the last time Shinjo saw him. The moment the wild man slapped his hands, Hashirama was frightened and stood off with a start. He waved his hands to a guard in urgency,

"Take care of Tsuna." No sooner than he finished that, he disappeared from his place.

...

Hokage office

A similar scene was playing out in the hokage office too. Senju Tobirama, throwing aside whatever he was doing, stood up with a bang, ordered his Anbu guard,

"Declare Class A emergency. Evacuate the villagers immediately and proceed according to the protocol. NOW."

Saying so, he disappeared from his place and appeared above his rocky head carved on the hokage mountain.

What he saw sent chills down his spine.

'Shit.'

...

At this moment, all the villagers, whether young or old, looked towards the northern gate of konoha. There they saw, with a puff, huge amounts of white clouds appear out of nowhere.

From within the white clouds, an earth-shaking roar was heard. The evil energy contained in it, drove nearly all non-ninja populations to their knees. And Ninjas were no better either, each of them flabbergasted by what had just happened. Nobody had any clue.

Soon a red gigantic fox head appeared within the cloud. As the smoke of summoning dissipated, a 100 meters tall red fox with 9 equally gigantic tails swinging wildly behind it was seen in all its glory. Its eyes were red, with 3 magatama of sharingan imprinted on it. The red fox let out another defeaning roar, as he raised its maws. Dark and blue dots of chakra were gathering at an astonishing pace.

On this day, for the first time since her inception, Konoha despaired.

.....

The thoughts of destruction had begun to settle in when all of a sudden...

*Clap

"Mokuton: Jukai Koutan" (Wood release : Deep Forest Emergence)

A deep voice sent tremors in the hearts of inhabitants of konoha and bringing tears.

With the sonorous voice, a chakra presence as ancient as the kyubi was felt throughout the village, emanating from a tall figure that stood before the rampaging Kyubi.

Thick branches radiating utter strength sprouted from the ground and the wall of konoha in the hundreds.

Despite being under the illusion, a hint of absolute despair and sheer helplessness reflected in the red pupils of the nine-tailed beast.

The braches as thick as buildings ensnared the kyubi, disrupting the gathering of chakra and bound him from head to toe, as if he was not the strongest tailed beast, but an ordinary chicken instead.

.....

The konoha entrance was filled with dust and debris, the distance of 1 km was covered in still rising thick branches, that moved like worms twisting upon itself, tightening the noose around the beast.

Suddenly an intense red light flashed and the hue in red pupil of kyubi got stronger and stronger. The beast let out another earth shaking roar and broke his own limbs to get out of the choke hold and waved his arms, legs and tails around in sync to break through his captivity.

The dust slowly settled and among the scattered, broken branches, the nine tailed beast stood, tails swinging about wildly generating fierce winds, his limbs slowly mending themselves back to correct positions with sickening crunches and soon he was perfectly healed.

Stood above his head, was the man with dark mane and wild aura, now sporting a peculiar pattern in his red pupils. His crossed hand loosened and his body poised for battle. He spat out with a maniacal grin,

"Hashirama"

"Madara"

.....

Every shinobi available in the village, from genin to jonin stood infront of the hokage building, all eyes focused on the silver haired Senju surrounded by Anbu squads. Distant tremors were still felt here, a telltale sign of the showdown between the two strongest being on the planet.

With a grim expression, the 54 years old hokage gave out simple orders.

"I hereby declare a Class A Emergency. Uchiha Madara" he paused to stress out his words and looked around, "has attacked the village. The First hokage is engaging him at the northern entrace. All shinobi, move out according to your protocols. The Jonin commander, Sarutobi Sasuke will be in charge. All clan patriarchs are to obey his directives, without fail."

Saying that, he disappeared, leaving the ninjas standing shocked and terrified infront of the hokage building. They knew what the name "Uchiha Madara" signified. He was one of two founders of the village. The first hokage being the only living or dead in this world, who could match his prowess and defeat him.

.....

Hashirama and Madara stood facing each other. The former on the ground at Konoha entrance, or what was left of it and the latter standing atop the Kyubi, both engaged in a staredown.

A kunai flashed and embedded itself to the ground, at the feet of the first hokage and out of nowhere, Senju Tobirama popped up, his right hand resting on the kunai on the ground, his eyes staring daggers at the evil uchiha.

Madara moved his eyes from Hashirama to his little brother and spat in contempt,

"Who do you think you are looking at? Eyes down, you mongrel."

Tobirama gritted his teeth and stood up preparing for a fight along with his brother.

"Aniki, I will act as the bait. Do not hesitate to strike him down, even at the cost of my life. We cannot let the barbarian destroy what we have built here. So many lives are at stake. You have the responsibility to not hesitate at all."

Tobirama knew his brother's affection towards his former friend and rival. He was powerful, but when push would come to shove, he would hesitate to go for the final kill.

"Tobirama, do not interfere. This will be our last fight. I promise this problem will be resolved today, once and for all. Protect the village, its upto you now." Hashirama replied with a tone of finality. His pale face regained its colors, preparing for one final big bang before blinking out of existence, as he turned to his little brother, with a lively smile on his face.

Tobirama fell silent for a moment and nodded.

This might as well the farewell.

Getting a satisfactory response, Hashirama turned to his rival,

"Madara, let's go!"

And they both swooshed out of the vicinity of the village.

Leaving behind melancholy and destruction in their wake.

.....