Chapter 86 – The Collapse of Sunagakure
The black slash cleaved straight toward Shukaku's head.
The beast's eyes widened in shock at the sheer speed of the strike. It twisted its massive head just in time to avoid instant decapitation, but the blade still bit deep from its neck down to its shoulder, nearly severing its head entirely.
The force of the slash did not stop there. It carved clean through Shukaku's body, then shot past into the distance, splitting a mountain in two before finally dissipating into nothingness.
Shukaku's colossal form crashed heavily into the desert, sending waves of sand flying. Its body began to unravel, breaking apart into streams of sand.
The Tailed Beast let out a guttural growl of frustration. I've only just been released… and already I'm being forced back into the seal?
Its once-bright eyes dimmed, but not before locking onto Nan with a hateful glare—a silent vow etched deep within. Next time… I'll remember you. I'll make you pay.
Moments later, Shukaku's body fully dissolved, leaving behind only a mound of sand. From within, the battered and unconscious Jinchūriki, Bunpuku, was revealed, his body frail and gasping for breath.
Nan's strike had not killed Shukaku outright. Since the beast's chakra hadn't been completely destroyed, Bunpuku survived. Yet the violent backlash from Shukaku's injury left the old monk's chakra system in chaos. Given his advanced age, it was unlikely he could withstand such damage for long.
Nan knew well why his slash had been so devastating. Before Shukaku detonated its Bijūdama, he had already siphoned away half of the beast's chakra. Added to the energy he'd absorbed earlier from Shukaku's claw and tail, that stolen power was then combined with his own to fuel the massive strike.
The result was a slash that rivaled—even surpassed—the destructive power of Shukaku's fully charged Tailed Beast Bomb. Yet even so, the beast had survived. Nan couldn't help but sigh at the tenacity of a Bijū's life force.
Killing one outright… it might only be possible if its Jinchūriki dies with it.
With Shukaku neutralized, Uchiha Han's mission was complete. Nan finally exhaled in relief. He dispelled his partially-formed Susanoo, its battered frame collapsing away, and descended slowly to the ground.
Though he had refrained from using Susanoo's complete form, and despite absorbing vast amounts of chakra from Shukaku during the fight, Nan still felt brimming with energy—his eyes and reserves sharper than ever. Yet he deliberately fell to one knee, panting heavily, feigning exhaustion.
If I walk away without a scratch after defeating a Tailed Beast, too many will start whispering about the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. And if Uchiha Han's power is exposed… suspicion will fall on me as his last living kin.
The shinobi of Konoha erupted in cheers. Their "hero," who had fought the Sand's monstrous Tailed Beast and survived, even striking it down in a single blow, stood before them still alive.
The shinobi of Sunagakure, however, looked on in despair. They knew better than anyone the terror of Shukaku. It had once taken the personal intervention of a Kazekage, supported by numerous shinobi and with heavy losses, to subdue it.
And yet this boy—alone, in moments—had done what should have been impossible.
Even the hardened leaders of both villages stood frozen, their eyes wide, jaws slack. Not since the era of Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara had anyone single-handedly subdued a Tailed Beast.
And now… a mere teenager had done it.
As the desert battlefield fell into stunned silence, only Hiruzen Sarutobi remained composed. The Third Hokage, ever seasoned, recognized the opportunity. Without hesitation, he swung his adamantine staff in a wide arc, smashing it squarely into the Fourth Kazekage.
Caught off guard, Rasa was sent flying, blood spraying from his lips as he crashed to the ground, coughing violently.
But Hiruzen did not pursue to finish him. To slay the Kazekage here would only drive Sunagakure into an endless war with Konoha. There was no benefit to such bloodshed.
Chiyo immediately abandoned her clash with Orochimaru to rush to Rasa's side. At the same time, the freed Jiraiya and Ebizō regrouped, and the battlefield reset into a tense three-on-three standoff—just as it had been when the battle began.
But the difference was night and day.
The Suna side was in tatters—Rasa injured, Chiyo drained, Ebizō without his puppets. Konoha's trio, on the other hand, still stood strong. Jiraiya, empowered by Sage Mode, felt even stronger than when he'd first entered the fight.
The outcome was already clear.
Hiruzen's voice cut across the field, calm yet commanding:
"Kazekage-dono… Sunagakure's defeat is already certain. End this meaningless battle now, while you still can. It is the only wise choice left for your village."
In this war, Konoha had already been gravely weakened by fighting against four great nations at once.
Now, with Sunagakure on the verge of total collapse, the timing was perfect—if peace talks could be initiated, and the two villages could form an alliance to watch each other's backs and face their common enemies together, it would be the best way to reduce losses while strengthening both sides.
The Kazekage thought it through. He and his two companions no longer had the strength to continue, their troops had lost nearly all morale, and if the battle dragged on, defeat was inevitable. At this point, surrender and cutting their losses was the only option left.
With that realization, the Kazekage immediately proposed that Sunagakure surrender to Konoha, and that emissaries be sent on a later date to negotiate an alliance with the Hidden Leaf—joining forces against the Land of Lightning, the Land of Water, and the Land of Earth.
Once their Kazekage had conceded, the already broken and demoralized Suna shinobi naturally lost any will to fight. One by one, they laid down their weapons and surrendered to Konoha's forces. Large numbers of Sand shinobi were taken captive.
Thus, the war between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind officially came to an end—with Konoha victorious.
Meanwhile, Nan—still disguised as Uchiha Han—did not simply slip away unnoticed. The act wasn't finished yet; a "main character" couldn't just vanish abruptly.
If Uchiha Han were to suddenly appear, defeat Shukaku, and then just as suddenly disappear, the Leaf would surely become suspicious of his identity. They would never let such a mystery rest.
And once they dug into Uchiha Han, it would inevitably lead back to Nan himself—the person closest to him. At that point, he'd be bombarded with questions, and if he let anything slip by mistake, it would bring endless trouble.
Especially with Danzō. That man undoubtedly had some knowledge of the Mangekyō Sharingan. For years, he had coveted the Uchiha clan's power. If word reached him that another Uchiha had awakened the Mangekyō, Danzō would surely scour the world in a frenzy to hunt down Uchiha Han.
And since Nan was "his brother," he would inevitably be dragged into Danzō's investigations and harassment, robbing him of any peace.
Given all that, it was better to openly reveal "Uchiha Han's" identity here and now, minimizing complications later.
After a brief negotiation with the Kazekage and his men, Hiruzen and the others accepted Sunagakure's surrender and walked toward him—clearly intrigued by who this mysterious figure was.
At this moment, Nan still maintained the act: his breathing ragged, blood-tears streaming from his eyes, his chakra seemingly drained, his ocular power heavily exhausted.