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[In Shinobi Year 873, Konoha launched its war against Iwagakure, igniting a conflict that soon engulfed the entire shinobi world…]
"Hmm… Let's call it the First Shinobi World War." One of the toad historians paused over the record and considered the wording.
Inside the Historical Archives, the other toads voiced their agreement and committed the name to the official record.
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At the Sunagakure front, the Konoha army led by the Hatake Clan's head fought the Hidden Sand in the desert.
Near Kirigakure, Hyūga Tennin faced the Hidden Mist at sea.
Up north, Izuna Uchiha led Konoha's defenses against Kumogakure's attack.
The fighting became bigger than anything the shinobi world had ever seen. Even the chaos of the Warring States Period did not compare, as battles broke out in nearly every nation at once.
For the first time, everyone saw the real cost of total war.
The Senju and Uchiha Clans kept sending more fighters to the front. The Kurama Clan lost so many people that their numbers began to dwindle. The war dragged on for two long years.
Konoha began the war as the strongest village, but even they struggled when enemies attacked from every direction. Kumogakure sent Kinkaku and Ginkaku to fight.
Iwagakure had Mū and Ōnoki.
Sunagakure had Shamon and Reto.
Kirigakure had Gengetsu Hōzuki and the first group of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Each of them was as strong as a Kage. When the tailed beasts appeared, it became even harder to tell who might win.
The all-out war that Madara and Tobirama started only made things worse. They used reanimated soldiers, poison gas, and other forbidden tactics, which upset both Konoha's civilians and shinobi.
Even members of the Uchiha and Senju Clans began to wonder if their leaders had gone too far.
The pain of war finally reached Konoha. Food and basic supplies became more expensive each month. Parents, children, siblings, and spouses returned from the front wounded, if they returned at all—families who had not lost anyone yet lived in fear that the next report would bring bad news.
An antiwar movement spread through the village. Protesters marched through Konoha several times, calling for the war to end.
Some clan leaders watched their families shrink with every new deployment and asked the Second Hokage to return. Others went to the First Hokage's grave, crying and begging him to save the village he had founded.
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Ichiraku Ramen had become another gathering place for the village's anger and grief.
"How much longer is this war going to last?" one customer sighed.
Another sat hunched over his bowl and muttered, "Why did we ever start it? My father and brother would still be alive if it weren't for this war."
From the other end of the counter came a bitter snort. "Madara Uchiha has brought Konoha to ruin. I'd like to see how he plans to face the First Hokage after this."
Everyone wondered when the war would end and why it had started in the first place.
"..." Manji noticed the change before anyone else. At first, his customers cheered for every victory. Later, they discussed troop movements and news from the front. Now, all they talked about were rising prices, wounded loved ones, and the dead.
"So it's come to this," Manji said, letting out a long breath as the tension faded from his face. "This war is almost over."
White Zetsu had already delivered the news. Hashirama had made his decision. He would not stand by any longer while Madara and Tobirama drove Konoha deeper into ruin.
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In the Hokage's office, Madara and Tobirama stared at the war map with tired, red eyes. Colored markers crowded every border, and new reports stacked up on the desk.
"Deploy the reanimated army here! Use the Flying Thunder God Technique to release poison gas at this position. KILL THOSE BASTARDS." Madara ordered, driving his finger into the map.
Tobirama nodded right away.
"I'm increasing production of the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags. I'll cover the whole front with them and turn the battlefield into one huge kill zone."
Before either man could continue, the office door burst open.
Hashirama, retired for years, walked into the room with the leaders of Konoha's main clans following close behind. They all looked determined.
"Hashirama, what is the meaning of this?" Madara asked, his expression turning cold.
Tobirama's eyes narrowed. With just one look at his brother, he understood why they had come.
"ENOUGH." Hashirama closed his eyes, pain crossing his face.
The scene reminded him of another time, when he had rushed through a door like this and faced the Senju elders about the clan's future.
He opened his eyes and looked from Madara to Tobirama.
"BOTH OF YOU NEED TO STOP. END THIS NOW!"
Madara did not turn away from the map. "Stay out of this, Hashirama. Your job is to protect the village. I was about to send you to the front anyway. Mito is now the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, so her power can be used too!!"
"..." Hashirama stared at him, as if the man by the map was a stranger.
"Madara… you've changed."
"I haven't changed. This is who I've always been!" Madara snapped.
"We only need to hold on a little longer. Once we win, I'll unite the shinobi world and create lasting peace. My achievements will surpass even my great-grandfather's!"
"Brother…" Tobirama clenched his fists but could not bring himself to finish.
He had realized the truth long ago: Konoha might not be able to win this war. But they had gone too far to turn back. If they lost, it would mean every sacrifice, every forbidden technique, and every plan had only led to disaster.
Tobirama could not accept that, so he forced himself to believe that victory was the only choice... He also could not understand why all his plans had failed. It seemed like the other villages had some kind of divine protection—or maybe the world itself was helping them.
Did the enemy really lack fighters strong enough to face Konoha's best? The Mizukage and Tsuchikage had somehow gained senjutsu. Was there really nothing they could do against the reanimated army?
The legendary Treasured Tools of the Sage of Six Paths appeared in Kumogakure, and the Kohaku no Jōhei sealed the entire force inside. Did the other villages really lack the power and weapons to destroy armies?
At that point, fate was no longer subtle. The tailed beasts came down and gave two of their number to each village. Every advantage Tobirama created was met with an impossible answer.
"Madara, stop this," Hashirama pleaded. "End the war."
"Impossible!" Madara spun toward him. "I have never lost. The enemy is already close to collapse. I can still do this. I am Madara Uchiha, and I have the power to win!"
"Madara Uchiha, have you forgotten the dream we shared as boys? You wanted peace. You hated war. How did that boy become the man spreading war across the whole shinobi world?"
Hashirama could not hold back anymore.
Madara paused at the rebuke, but then gritted his teeth and held on to the purpose he had repeated for two years.
"No. I'm doing this for those who come after us. One decisive war now will spare them every war that would follow. If you want me to call it off, then defeat Tobirama and me first!"
Madara's Mangekyō Sharingan flared to life.
As soon as its pattern appeared, pain shot through his eyes and made him stagger. Blood ran down his cheeks, pooled at his chin, and dripped onto his shaking hands.
The pain cleared some of the madness from his mind.
"..." Madara looked at the blood on his hands, and memories of everything he had done rushed back.
The poison gas, the reanimated corpses, the endless explosions, and every name on Konoha's casualty lists now stood between him and the peace he once promised to create.
He once thought of himself as a pacifist, someone who stood for justice without compromise. Now, his hands began to shake.
"Madara Uchiha… What have you done?"
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