Chapter 218: The Destruction of the Hidden Sand

The Hidden Sand Village lay tranquil in the night.

Suddenly.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Three figures, like arrows released from their bows, dashed into the village from three different directions, shattering the silence. They were Kigiri, Nurari, and Kiho, their faces expressionless, eyes displaying distinct Mangekyō Sharingan patterns, moving as if they were marionettes on strings.

Inside the Kazekage's building.

"Intruders!"

A sensory ninja on duty detected the invaders through the barrier, his eyes widening in alarm. He immediately sounded the alert.

Wail, wail.

The piercing alarm echoed above the Hidden Sand, rousing its inhabitants.

"Where's the enemy?"

Thousands of Sand ninja rushed out, grabbing their kunai and ninja blades, ready to defend their home. However, their faces paled upon recognizing the intruders.

"Roar!"

With a deafening roar, the Two-Tails, Three-Tails, and Six-Tails manifested within the village.

Boom, boom, boom.

They unleashed their power, swiping with claws and tails, spewing flames, acid, and water, even firing Tailed Beast Bombs.

"Is this... a nightmare? It can't be real," a Sand ninja murmured, despair evident on his face.

The village had experienced a Tailed Beast rampage before, leaving indelible scars and trauma. But now, three Tailed Beasts were wreaking havoc simultaneously.

In mere moments, they inflicted massive damage, leveling buildings and burying many Sand ninja beneath the rubble.

But the worst was yet to come.

Attack!

With a surge of murderous intent, hundreds of figures in blue robes stormed through the village's main gate, sweeping across the village.

The Uchiha clan had arrived, bringing slaughter with them.

Four Susanoo led the charge, with the rest of the Uchiha advancing in unison. Their enemies stood no chance, defenses crumbling before them.

Whoosh.

A towering yellow Susanoo, clad in Tengu armor and wielding a massive blade, leaped to the end of the village's main road. With a flash of its sword, it cleaved the Kazekage's building in half, causing it to collapse.

The battle was one-sided.

Thousands of Sand ninja were slain, countless buildings, including the Kazekage's office, were destroyed, and the village was nearly reduced to ruins.

However, the Uchiha didn't massacre the villagers. They merely looted the Sand's treasury and ninja archives, taking everything of value.

Then, they vanished into the night, leaving devastation in their wake.

"Terrifying," Kabuto whispered, hiding beneath some rubble, having witnessed the Uchiha's assault on the Hidden Sand.

Sharingan, Wood Release, Susanoo, controlling Tailed Beasts - the Uchiha's formidable powers were overwhelming, even for seasoned ninja. Even Orochimaru, whom Kabuto revered, had nearly lost his life to Itachi Uchiha's genjutsu.

Kabuto realized he had to abort his mission. He needed to return to the Sound Village and inform Orochimaru about the Uchiha's actions, especially since Orochimaru had a keen interest in the Uchiha clan.

With that thought, Kabuto emerged from his hiding spot, using the cover of night to quietly leave the Hidden Sand.

Behind a hill.

"Kakashi, our target is on the move," Pakkun, the talking ninja dog with an exceptional sense of smell, informed Kakashi.

Kakashi turned to Fugaku, "Clan leader Fugaku, it seems Kabuto is heading back to the Land of Rice Fields, to the Sound Village, to meet Orochimaru. Tenzo and I will tail him and locate Orochimaru's hideout."

"Please do," Fugaku nodded gravely, "For safety, take Guruguru with you. With his help, even if Orochimaru discovers you, you'll be able to handle it."

"Understood," Kakashi replied without hesitation.

Just as Orochimaru was obsessed with the Uchiha, the Uchiha clan was equally intrigued by Orochimaru. The reason was simple.

Fugaku had learned from Danzō that Orochimaru had been researching the secret to immortality for years, which included the Edo Tensei (Reanimation Jutsu). While the Uchiha clan had also been studying the Edo Tensei, its mastery proved challenging, and they hadn't made significant progress.

If they could harness Orochimaru's knowledge and power to resurrect Shisui and other fallen clan members, it would undoubtedly be good news for the Uchiha.

Moreover, if Orochimaru's Sound Village was a safe haven from the war, the Uchiha clan would surely pay a visit. They were no strangers to taking over places that weren't theirs.

Thus, the "Team Kakashi" split from the Uchiha group, operating separately with Fugaku and others.

After watching Kakashi's team depart, Fugaku led his people away from the Hidden Sand Village swiftly.

A day later, at a coastal town.

The Allied Shinobi Forces had mobilized in full force, only to be played by the Uchiha. They suffered significant losses on Turtle Island without even catching a glimpse of the Uchiha.

Upon their return, they found their main camp attacked by the Uchiha, with more than half of their 3,000-strong defense force decimated.

And then, as the top brass of the villages were discussing their next move, shocking news arrived: the Hidden Sand had been attacked by the Uchiha, suffering heavy casualties and reduced to ruins.

Inside the meeting room.

"What?!" The Fifth Kazekage, Chiyo, was visibly shaken, feeling dizzy and almost fainting.

"Kazekage-sama," two guards quickly supported her as she exited the room.

It was likely that the Hidden Sand would follow the Hidden Mist's footsteps and withdraw from the Allied Shinobi Forces. After all, with their homeland devastated, they had no heart for war.

"The audacity of the Uchiha..." Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage, was both shocked and furious. He hadn't expected the Uchiha to be so bold as to attack the Hidden Sand directly.

Wait.

"This is bad!" Ōnoki's face paled. Without uttering another word, he rushed out of the room, immediately ordering Akatsuchi to gather the Hidden Stone forces for departure.

Moreover, Ōnoki relayed orders for the Hidden Stone forces stationed in the Hidden Leaf to depart immediately, ensuring they return to the Hidden Stone Village as quickly as possible.

Because, after successfully destroying the Hidden Sand, the next logical target for the relentless Uchiha clan would undoubtedly be the Hidden Stone, the village closest to the Hidden Sand.

If they didn't prepare defenses promptly, the Hidden Stone's fate might mirror that of the Hidden Sand.

"We should leave too!" The Raikage, realizing the gravity of the situation, instructed his secretary, Mabui, and swiftly exited the meeting room.

For a moment, only the Fifth Hokage, Danzo, remained in the room.

Danzo pondered deeply, eventually rising with the support of his cane, silently shaking his head.

He had initially believed that the grand alliance of the Five Great Shinobi Countries would surely eradicate the Uchiha clan. Yet, the Uchiha had managed to severely wound both the Hidden Mist and Hidden Sand, causing the Hidden Stone and Hidden Cloud to retreat in apprehension.

Now, it seemed that eradicating the Uchiha in the short term was unfeasible.

However, Danzo saw an opportunity.

The Uchiha, like a pack of hyenas, lurked in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike, effectively restraining the other major villages.

This provided the Hidden Leaf with a chance to recuperate and rebuild.

With this realization, a glint appeared in Danzo's eyes.

He believed that under his wise leadership as the Fifth Hokage, it wouldn't be long before the Hidden Leaf Village would return to its former glory.

Hidden Leaf Village.

"What's going on?"

The villagers were surprised to find that the troops from the Four Great Shinobi Countries, usually so arrogant, now looked grave and concerned. They hurriedly left the Hidden Leaf, leaving only a few to maintain their posts.

Soon, the ninjas and villagers of Konoha learned the truth. The Uchiha clan had inflicted heavy losses on the Allied Shinobi Forces and attacked the Hidden Sand Village's homeland, leading to its devastation.

This news spread like wildfire, causing a massive stir within Konoha.

"I heard that the Uchiha, using their Mangekyō Sharingan, controlled three Jinchūriki and killed over five thousand allied ninjas. The Five Great Ninja Villages were left in disarray," one villager commented.

"After leaving Konoha, the Uchiha clan didn't decline. Instead, they became even stronger. Truly a fearsome clan," another remarked.

The villagers had once believed that Konoha was a protective tree, and without its shelter, the Uchiha would perish. Yet, after facing external challenges, the Uchiha clan emerged stronger, astonishing the entire ninja world.

It was then that they realized that Konoha never truly sheltered the Uchiha. Instead, it blocked the sunlight they needed to grow. Now, the Uchiha's retaliation against the Five Great Ninja Villages indirectly liberated Konoha's villagers, allowing them a brief respite.

Quietly, the villagers' attitudes towards the Uchiha clan began to shift...

In the afternoon, at the riverside park in Konoha, three young ninjas gathered.

Yamanaka Ino, with her long blonde hair, swung on a swing, humming an unknown tune. She had just learned that her father, Yamanaka Inoichi, who was on the front lines, was safe and would return soon.

Nara Shikamaru lay on the grass, a blade of grass in his mouth, trying to nap. Akimichi Chōji sat beside him, munching on a bag of chips.

"Did you guys hear about the battle reports? Just how powerful are the Uchiha? Even with all the ninjas from the Five Great Villages combined, they couldn't handle them," Ino curiously asked.

Shikamaru responded, "Numbers don't matter against the Uchiha. Remember Uchiha Dan? He roamed freely in Konoha, and no one could touch him."

Chōji added, "I once met Uchiha Itachi at a BBQ place. He even offered to train me at his gym, but my dad stopped me."

Shikamaru sighed, "Looking back, Uchiha Itachi wasn't really a bad guy for Konoha. At least better than those from the Four Great Villages. Maybe our only hope for Konoha's future lies with the Uchiha clan. Only they have the power to defeat the Four Great Villages, overthrow Hokage Danzo, and restore peace to Konoha."

The villagers once despised the Uchiha, but now, many yearned for their return, hoping they would save the village.

In the Land of Water, at the Hidden Mist Village, the village's top officials, led by the Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumī, held an emergency meeting.

"Thanks to the wise decision of the Mizukage, we withdrew from the Allied Shinobi Forces in time, avoiding greater losses," a Jōnin stated, earning nods of agreement.

Initially, many in the Mist Village opposed Mei's decision to withdraw. But hearing about the continuous defeats and heavy casualties of the Allied Forces, they felt relieved.

"We just hope the Uchiha clan doesn't target us," Ao said, looking worried.

"Don't worry, they won't come," Mei replied coldly, confident in her words. As Dan's puppet, she knew the Uchiha clan wouldn't target the Mist Village, for it was already under their control.