The battlefield was silent.
Ishikawa the First Tsuchikage was dead. His broken body lay on the cracked earth where Raizen had dropped him.
The retreat of the Four Tails Jinchuriki Rokuro had been swift and silent. The sight of Son Goku vanishing into the distant mountains was the last threat the Iwa army could muster before they crumbled. Konoha shinobi battered but alive rallied behind Raizen's roar.
"Victory!" someone shouted.
"Dragon of the Leaf!" another yelled.
The cheers grew rising into a wave of uncontainable morale. Raizen, however, didn't bask in it. He turned already moving toward the wounded to check on Might Fist.
After seeing him running he was happy. Might Fist was his only friend in this world.
Might Fist ran to his side.
Might Fist: "You did it. You crazy dragon. You really did it."
Raizen: "Still standing. That's all that matters."
They clasped forearms.
Not far away, the Konoha commander Nara Shikaji had begun organizing the surviving forces. Teams were being dispatched to gather the wounded, secure prisoners, and rebuild a temporary camp. Hiruzen and other Jonin returned from their own battles with minor injuries but astonished expressions.
Tobirama had arrived just minutes after the battlefield quieted. Now Second Hokage stood over Ishikawa's corpse, his expression unreadable.
Tobirama: "So, this is what your power has become"
Raizen did not say anything. He had never told the full truth about the system nor the exact source of his transformation. Even now he presented it as something born from mutation or inheritance like a rare Kekkei Genkai.
Tobirama stared a moment longer, then nodded.
Tobirama: "I believe you."
Three days later, the Iwa front was cleared. The Tsuchikage's death had thrown the enemy into chaos. With no chain of command, the remaining Iwa forces were routed or retreated.
In the west, Sunagakure too had fallen.
Tobirama's surprise tactics and mastery of Water Release had overwhelmed the desert ninjas. With two fronts collapsed, the tide of the war had turned sharply in Konoha's favor.
Kumogakure sent a message a proposal. An alliance.
Raizen was present in the tent when the messenger scroll was read aloud.
Tobirama: "They smell weakness and want security. But I won't dismiss them outright."
Raizen said nothing. He had learned that wars were won not just with fists but with timing.
A week later, the heroes returned.
Raizen, Might Fist, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo, and several squads arrived through the Konoha gates. Crowds had gathered. Raizen wore his cloak with the Senju crest proudly displayed but it was the dragon horns faintly visible when he activated his power for a moment, that stole the awe of the village.
Whispers spread through the ranks.
"Is that… the Dragon of the Leaf?"
"They say he killed the Tsuchikage himself…"
Even the younger shinobi looked at him with reverence. Tsunade ran up to greet them still clutching her practice shuriken. Behind her Mito Uzumaki stood silently, observing Raizen with quiet intensity.
That night the clan heads met in the Hokage's Hall.
Tobirama recounted the battle. Names were honored. But the center of the room's attention remained Raizen.
A boy, no longer.
He was now a force.
[Almighty System - Online]
Daily Task Progress: Next task unlock after 1000 days
Push ups: 600/700 Squats: 600/700 Run: 9/10km
Time Remaining: 2 hours
Progress: Day 765/1000
Kaido Template Progress: 84%
Beast Body (Enhanced) Armament Haki (Adv) Observation Haki (Adv) Conqueror's Haki (Mid)
Fish-Fish Fruit (Mid)
Wood Release – 46% (Inherited)