Konohagakure, the once-thriving Ninja Village, now resembled a setting sun on the horizon.
Most of the buildings lay in ruins, the streets shattered, and the village center bore three massive craters that looked like scars from a natural disaster. These scars were stark reminders of the catastrophe that had befallen the village.
Every villager and Ninja walking through the streets of Konoha wore a lifeless expression, a far cry from the once lively and cheerful atmosphere.
Even after so much time had passed, Konoha had yet to recover from the destruction caused by Naruto.
Or rather, they hadn't been given the time to recover and rebuild.
Not long after the news of Konoha being attacked spread, Sunagakure declared war on the village.
Tsunade, who had hastily taken up the mantle of Hokage, barely had time to console the villagers before she had to start mobilizing troops to defend the village's borders.
The once-mighty Konoha, which was once so strong that it could stand against four great Ninja Villages, now struggled to hold its own against Sunagakure alone.
In the Hokage's Office.
The Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, sat at her desk, expressionlessly reading through the latest reports from the frontlines.
No matter what the reports said, her face remained devoid of emotion.
This wasn't calmness, but numbness.
She had only been Hokage for a little over a month, but it felt like decades has passed. Every day was a whirlwind of chaos, with constant reports of defeats from the frontlines. After all, the Fourth Kazekage had personally taken to the battlefield.
Within the village, there were daily disturbances from various groups, and Tsunade had to find ways to deal with these troublesome citizens.
She was on the verge of giving up. This was a mess she had inherited, and there was no winning.
"Ah--"
Tsunade couldn't help but sigh, tossing the documents aside and rubbing her temples, which throbbed with pain.
Knock knock knock-
At this time, there was a knock at the door.
An Anbu Ninja walked in.
Seeing the visitor, Tsunade's eyes lit up slightly as she asked, "Is there any news from Jiraiya?"
Tsunade had given Jiraiya a seven-day deadline for his mission, and today was the seventh day. If there was good news, Konoha might be able to catch a brief respite.
The Anbu Ninja immediately knelt on one knee and replied in a lifeless tone, "Hokage-sama, we have not received any news from Jiraiya-sama. However, our scouts at the border of the Land of Fire have reported something."
"Five days ago, an unusual tsunami occurred in the waters between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water, likely caused by a battle between Ninja. Additionally, some sailors claimed to have seen Jiraiya-sama setting sail with several Kirigakure Ninja that day..."
Crack!
The Anbu Ninja didn't finish his words, but Tsunade had already grasped the implication. Her fist clenched involuntarily, producing a sharp sound.
The faint light in her eyes vanished, replaced by a grim expression: "You may leave. Report to me immediately if there's any news about Jiraiya."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
The Anbu Ninja bowed and left.
Tsunade refused to believe that Jiraiya and Kakashi were in trouble.
She knew Jiraiya's strength well. And with Kakashi, an Elite Jonin, by his side, no one could stop them if they chose to retreat.
'But this meant that Kirigakure's support was likely out of the question.'
"Someone!" Tsunade called out.
"Hokage-sama."
Another Anbu Ninja appeared in the office.
"Call Advisor Hiashi here."
"Yes!" The Anbu Ninja disappeared.
After the destruction of the Utatane and Mitokado Clans' compounds, the two elders, Koharu and Homura, had become somewhat unhinged and stepped down from their advisor positions. The position was now held by Hyuga Hiashi, the leader of the Hyuga Clan, the largest clan in Konoha.
The Anbu Ninja quickly found Hiashi patrolling the streets. With the Uchiha gone, the Anbu was short-handed, so the Hyuga Clan had reestablished the Konoha Military Police Force.
Although the Hyuga Clan are often preoccupied with their internal affairs, at least they are very reliable. And now, they were truly Konoha's foremost clan, the only one capable of providing significant manpower.
Upon receiving the message, Hiashi hurried to the Hokage's Office.
"Hokage-sama."
Hiashi bowed slightly to Tsunade and took a seat.
Tsunade didn't beat around the bush and said straight to the point: "Kumogakure and Iwagakure have both declared war on Konoha."
Hiashi's expression shifted slightly, but he showed no great surprise. This had been expected.
"Hokage-sama, what about Jiraiya-sama's mission?"
Tsunade simply shook her head, her silence speaking volumes.
"I see... What are your plans, Hokage-sama? The Hyuga Clan is ready to offer its full support."
Hiashi asked, as he wasn't a particularly strategic thinker. Tsunade had appointed him as an advisor primarily to secure the backing of the Hyuga Clan.
The Hyuga Clan had always stayed out of political struggles, but as the most intact clan in Konoha, remaining aloof would only invite internal conflict.
"Seal the village!"
Tsunade stated her decision firmly.
If Jiraiya failed to secure Kirigakure's support, Konoha would follow Kirigakure's example and enter a state of isolation.
The village would be sealed off, with barriers erected to prevent anyone from entering or leaving.
And this meant Konoha would abandon all missions and external interests, focusing solely on self-preservation.
While this would allow Konoha to recuperate, it also meant no more missions and, consequently, no more Ninja casualties. Over time, the numbers of Ninja in the village could slowly recover.
Moreover, Konoha's fertile environment made self-sufficiency entirely feasible.
And by relinquishing all external economic interests, the other villages would likely cease their attacks on Konoha, as the war would no longer yield any economic benefits.
The purpose of inter-village wars was always economic gain, not territory. Even if the four great Ninja Villages breached Konoha's defenses, their goal would be mission shares and financial compensation.
Once they secured their desired gains, they would withdraw. After all, the great nations wouldn't allow foreign Ninja Villages to occupy their lands.
The Ninja World Wars were conflicts between villages. Occupying another village's territory would change the nature of the conflict, as the Daimyo of the Five Great Nations were, in a sense, united.