Chapter 86: Purpose.

Outside Konoha Village

"Jiraiya-sensei… something's happening in the village."

Minato appeared beside Jiraiya in a flash of the Flying Thunder God Technique, concern clouding his face.

"The Four-Tails' chakra vanished… and the Eight-Tails disappeared too."

"Could it be… Burubi from Kumogakure and Roshi from Iwagakure have both fallen?"

Jiraiya's expression darkened, his body shifting back warily.

But before he could speak further—

"You're getting distracted in battle? That's your mistake!"

Jūzō laughed viciously, swinging his Executioner's Blade as he lunged toward them.

Jiraiya and Minato narrowly dodged.

Jiraiya's eyes swept over the Kirigakure troops encircling them.

"We can't afford to worry about the village right now," he said, his tone serious. "Let the Hokage and the others handle Konoha. Our duty is to stop Kirigakure's advance."

"Minato… we have to trust our comrades."

Minato nodded reluctantly. He knew Jiraiya was right.

As much as he wanted to return and check on the village, his absence here—even for seconds—could cost lives.

The battlefield shifted quickly. If he left and Kirigakure took the chance to kill Jiraiya, Konoha would suffer irreparable damage.

Kirigakure had committed everything to this invasion.

Not only did they deploy Arakawa Zenkichi, their strongest force, but even the legendary Seven Ninja Swordsmen had been sent out.

Though Samehada was mysteriously absent, Kirigakure's strength was still overwhelming.

The Hyūga, Uchiha, and other major Konoha clans were fighting at full strength just to keep them back.

But it was a losing battle.

Zenkichi had already pinned down the high-level forces of Konoha, while Momochi Zabuza and the rest of Kirigakure's elite crushed the ANBU resistance.

Konoha's ordinary shinobi barely held the line.

Then—

BOOM!

A golden light exploded above the battlefield like a second sun, piercing through the night.

All heads turned.

Descending from the sky, surrounded by fading golden radiance, stood a tall, handsome young man.

"Still fighting, are we?" Zenkichi's voice carried across the plain.

"Let me save you the trouble—there's no need to keep going."

"The battle in Konoha is already over."

He smiled faintly.

"And my presence here… should be proof enough."

The field fell silent.

Jiraiya's face twisted with dread.

"Zenkichi! What did you do to the Hokage?!"

Zenkichi shrugged lazily.

"The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi… the Fourth Hokage, Akimichi Torifu… and council member Mito Katō—they're all dead."

"As for the remaining top brass… Shimura Danzō and Koharu Utatane fled with their loyalists."

"Suna, Kumo, and Iwa forces have been completely wiped out."

Silence gripped the battlefield.

"But don't worry," Zenkichi continued with a calm smile. "I'm not here to slaughter anyone else."

"If you surrender, you'll still be part of Konoha… only now, it'll be a Konoha under my rule."

Mixed emotions flashed through the Konoha shinobi. Some clenched their fists. Others hesitated.

"You've done enough," Tsunade's voice rang out, stepping forward.

"There's no need for more lives to be lost. I ask you all… stand down."

The Konoha forces wavered, eyes wide.

"Lady Tsunade…?"

The granddaughter of the First Hokage—one of the Legendary Sannin—was asking them to surrender?

"Tsunade…" Jiraiya muttered, his expression pained.

"Do you really understand what you're doing?"

Tsunade met his gaze evenly.

"I do. And so do you."

"Konoha has its flaws, but it's our home!" Jiraiya barked.

Zenkichi's voice cut in coolly.

"So because it's your home, you turn a blind eye to its darkness?"

He stepped forward, his tone firm.

"Konoha is not as pure as you believe."

"It's waged war after war, bringing ruin to weaker nations for its own benefit."

"Internally, it's no better. The Uchiha were cast aside and suppressed for Madara's sins."

"The White Fang, hailed as a hero, was disgraced and driven to death by his own people."

"The Senju gave their lives for Konoha, yet now only Tsunade remains."

Zenkichi looked over the crowd.

"I've come to purge this darkness… to end the cycle of bloodshed."

"If you're willing to walk beside me, I welcome you."

"If not, you're free to go. And if you choose to fight—" his voice darkened, "—I'll meet you head-on."

He raised a hand, golden light building at his fingertips.

"You have three days."

"Enter and leave Konoha as you please. Those who wish to leave, may leave. Those who stay, fight with purpose."

His words held no hesitation—only absolute certainty.

To him, letting go of uncertain allies was better than dragging dead weight forward.

He had no fear of retaliation.

If Orochimaru and Danzo—two of Konoha's deadliest—were allowed to escape, what use were lesser threats?

Let them come.

Zenkichi had plans for them, too.

Those traitors… would serve as his whetstones.

He needed opposition to test and temper his growing army.

There would always be those with ambition, hidden daggers behind false smiles.

When Orochimaru and Danzo returned to reclaim Konoha, they'd unknowingly help Zenkichi cleanse his own ranks.

Because in the end—

Even enemies had their purpose.

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