Under the joint command of Chiyo and Rasa, the Sand Ninja forces withdrew from the battlefield in utter disarray.
It was less a tactical retreat and more a desperate escape.
To move faster, many discarded their cumbersome ninja tools and armor along the way.
These battered and weaponless Sand Ninjas returned to Sunagakure in a panic, and only upon reaching the village's gates did their fear momentarily ease.
Chiyo wasted no time.
"Sunagakure enters Level-One battle readiness! All shinobi to combat stations—immediately!"
"Civilians, evacuate to underground shelters without delay!"
Her urgent voice echoed through the village, and at her command, the entire village began mobilizing.
Confusion quickly spread.
Most of Sunagakure's citizens and even many shinobi had no idea why such emergency measures were being enforced.
Ebizo, Chiyo's younger brother and a respected village elder, hurried over in concern.
"Sister, what's going on? Why has the village entered wartime protocol?"
"Didn't you and Lord Rasa lead the strike on the Land of Fire?"
While Chiyo and Rasa had been on the front lines, Ebizo had remained behind to manage affairs in the village.
Now, seeing the commanders return battered and issuing martial orders, his expression turned grave.
"The war is over," Chiyo replied, her voice hollow.
"Sunagakure… has been defeated."
The words fell like a thunderclap.
For a moment, silence gripped the room. Then murmurs rose—disbelief, confusion, panic.
A tall, striking kunoichi stepped forward, her voice sharp:
"What did you say!? Defeated? That's impossible!"
She was Ye Cang, a wielder of powerful Kekkei Genkai and once considered a serious candidate for the Fourth Kazekage.
However, due to her gender and lack of political backing, the command had instead gone to Rasa.
Frustrated, she had been left behind to protect the village instead of joining the war effort.
"Elder Chiyo, this must be a misunderstanding…" she said, frowning.
Other high-ranking shinobi echoed her disbelief.
"Is this some kind of error?"
"How could Sunagakure lose so quickly!?"
"We even deployed the One-Tail Jinchūriki!"
"With Shukaku in the field, how could we be defeated so easily!?"
Chiyo did not raise her voice. Her calmness made the truth hit even harder.
"I know it's hard to accept. But we were completely routed."
"Konoha's forces were stronger than we expected—especially one man."
She paused. "Uchiha Byakuya."
"Uchiha…?" murmured Ye Cang. "Impossible. Konoha's Uchiha clan was nearly wiped out."
Chiyo's expression darkened. "This one… is no ordinary Uchiha. He overpowered the One-Tail Jinchūriki with ease. His Susanoo subdued Shukaku singlehandedly."
Gasps broke out across the room. Some refused to believe it, others sat in stunned silence.
"We didn't even have the chance to negotiate terms. He rejected our surrender."
"He refused surrender!?" Ebizo exclaimed.
The room burst into shouts.
"What arrogance from Konoha!"
"They look down on us!"
"If Konoha dares to step foot in our village, we'll show them what Sunagakure is made of!"
"We can't let them get away with this!"
But underneath their outrage was a bitter truth they could not escape.
Once again, Sunagakure had failed in its ambitions toward the Land of Fire.
This wasn't the first time. Every attempt had ended the same: defeat at Konoha's hands.
And now, with Byakuya leading Konoha's charge, the gap in strength was undeniable.
Chiyo raised a hand to quiet the room.
"Now is not the time for pride or denial," she said. "Prepare yourselves. Uchiha Byakuya is not finished. The next time he comes… it won't be to accept surrender. It will be to end us."
A heavy silence fell.
The shinobi of Sunagakure had no choice but to accept a new, grim reality.
Wars in the ninja world have always been brutal, from the Warring States Period to the present day.
But to directly attack one of the five great ninja villages? That was unheard of.
The Five Great Nations — Konoha, Suna, Kiri, Iwa, and Kumo — are the strongest forces in the ninja world.
Each village possesses formidable defensive capabilities: layered barrier seals, watchtowers, and elite shinobi constantly guarding the perimeter.
Even among the Five Great Villages, none has ever succeeded in capturing another.
So when news spread that Konoha not only rejected Sunagakure's surrender but even planned to invade the Sand Village itself, the reaction was explosive.
What did this mean?
Was Konoha underestimating them?
Or worse — did they see Sunagakure as no longer worthy of being called a great ninja village?
The Sand shinobi were furious.
Their pride had been trampled, and their anger was palpable.
"If Konoha really dares to attack," they vowed, "we'll make them pay the price."
Just then —
Boom!
A deafening explosion echoed across the village. The ground trembled, buildings shuddered, and a cloud of dust filled the air.
Panic erupted.
"What's going on!?"
"Where did that explosion come from?!"
A Sand ninja burst into the command hall, face pale.
"Master Chiyo, Lord Rasa — bad news! We're under attack!"
"Konoha's forces have already breached the outer defenses!"
Everyone fell silent in disbelief.
Just moments ago, they had been discussing the possibility. Now, it was reality.
The Hidden Leaf had truly launched an attack on their village.
"Damn them—Konoha's gone too far!"
"Move out! We'll teach them a lesson they won't forget!"
"They dare to look down on Sunagakure? Let's show them our strength!"
Rage surged through the Sand forces.
The honor of a great village was at stake.
They would fight—not just for survival, but to defend the dignity of the Sand.
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