Chapter 217: Amegakure Burns

Reasons, in truth, didn't matter much anymore. What mattered was conquest. The objective was simple: take Amegakure.

Rumor said the Daimyo had already surrendered the moment the allied armies closed in. He begged only for survival, for himself and for his people. Whether the country was absorbed by the Land of Fire or the Land of Earth no longer mattered to him, as long as bloodshed could be avoided.

But once a surrender document existed, revenge became complicated. And so, that very document never reached the hands of those in power. Whether it was the Raikage's agents, the Hokage's, or even the Tsuchikage's who intercepted it, no one knew. What remained was only the advance of the great army into the heart of Amegakure.

Amegakure. Inside the village, Hatake Kakashi knew none of this. Outside, war raged like hell had broken loose. Inside, life continued as always, calm, routine, almost gentle. The library remained open. Shinobi kept their duties. Barrier maintenance teams worked. Merchants still called out in the streets.

Kakashi did not check in. He did not seek out Karin. He simply sat on a stone platform, watching the endless rain fall over the village. And thinking about what Sasuke had said. I won't be able to sleep tonight, that's obvious.

Kakashi had not seen the battlefield, but he trusted Sasuke's report. Three days until the attack. Which meant, two days remained. Whether or not he should warn Karin, that was the question tearing at him.

As a human being, the answer felt obvious. He had received kindness from Pain, and trust from the so-called "Angel" of this village. If he spoke, he would be protecting innocent people who were simply living under the rain. He was even prepared to die for that decision. But he was Kakashi. Hatake Kakashi of the Sharingan.

If he spoke, it would be betrayal. If he stayed silent, it would be guilt. This village had only one true connection to him, Obito. He had no reason to betray his homeland for it. No reason to take up arms against his comrades either.

Kakashi had never thought of himself as a man so indecisive. But now he understood, he was no different from anyone else trapped between duty and heart.

And then, BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!! A thunderous explosion tore through the village. A red glow surged into the sky. Kakashi looked up sharply. A translucent barrier, perfect, dome-shaped, covered the entire village.

Then he saw it. A golden light. A figure tearing through the sky, wielding a massive Rasenshuriken, ripping the barrier apart like paper. Everything vanished.

Kakashi felt his vision darken. His legs staggered beneath him. Three days, two days, what does it matter now? So that's how it is. So that's how it is. Whether he spoke or not, none of it mattered anymore. What exactly was I even thinking? How could I have been this naive?

Explosions echoed everywhere. Screams followed. Invaders flooded the village, eyes bloodshot, killing without hesitation. Elders. Children. Civilians. No one was spared. It was a slaughter.

Tenten had never imagined she would ever see Amegakure like this. The mission had begun the moment her comrades shattered the massive barrier. And then, the killing started. Shinobi around her raised their weapons and cut down life after life.

She did not want her hands stained with innocent blood. But the world around her gave her no choice. Hyuga Neji moved ahead in silence. His white clothing was already soaked dark red, blood from elders, children, and shinobi alike. Yet he continued forward, cutting down anyone who rushed at him. Tenten felt something tightening in her chest. So this is what it means to be a woman in the middle of war.

A shinobi's duty is to complete the mission. And this mission was simple: destroy Amegakure. Eliminate all collaborators of Akatsuki. "Collaborators" meant anyone associated. And conveniently, everyone here qualified.

THWACK! A wooden staff was kicked away cleanly. A young man with dyed blond hair and piercings tried to strike her from behind, but Lee Rock had already moved. "Leaf Whirlwind!" The kick sent him flying. His staff snapped. Blood spilled. A normal human could not survive Lee's strike.

"Tenten, what are you spacing out for?! This is a battlefield!" Lee's brows were sharp, his gaze steady. War had changed him, his usual clumsiness replaced by terrifying focus.

Around them, chaos unfolded. An elderly woman ran with her grandchild. A thrown kunai struck her back. The child froze. Then screamed.

Tenten raised her weapon. Shinobi Rule No. 13, mission targets do not distinguish between age or weakness. Who is going to save him? Her kunai flew, but it lacked strength, hesitation bleeding through it.

Before it could reach, THWIP. A slender figure landed between them. Short purple hair. A light purple-red coat. Calm posture. Tenten exhaled in relief.

But her relief died instantly. "Dance of the Shikigami!" Countless sheets of paper burst into existence, forcing Tenten backward. When the papers dispersed, the child was gone, pulled away to safety.

But then, an ANBU operative appeared. He grabbed the rescued child and leapt away. A moment later, SHIIIIIING! A bolt of lightning pierced through the air. A Chidori tore through everything in its path. Both the ANBU, and the child in his arms.

Silence. Tenten's chest felt like it would explode. Across from her, the enemy stood pale as paper.

And then, a voice broke through the blood-soaked air. "It's been a long time."

……

The complete fanfic (Chapter 261) is already available on P@treon(.)com/Crimson_Lore