"Chōza!!!"
Nara Shikaku let out a cry of utter despair, almost fainting.
But Di Yan's slaughter did not stop.
The dark Susanoo slowly drew the giant, black flame-burning sword that hung at his waist!
"Surrender, or die."
Di Yan's cold voice rang out again.
Like the final judgment.
Then, the massive black flame longsword, carrying an aura of destruction, fiercely slashed down towards the collapsing remnants of Ino–Shika–Chō below, towards Nara Shikaku who stood frozen on the spot, and towards countless terrified Konoha Ninja…
"No!!!"
"Run!"
"We can't escape! This is the power of a god!"
"We surrender! We surrender! Stop killing!"
It collapsed.
The Konoha Ninja's last psychological defense.
Under this single sword strike, it completely crumbled.
Countless people dropped their weapons, knelt on the ground, and cried out in despair, begging for mercy.
Hatred, dignity—in the face of absolute divine punishment, all transformed into the most primal will to survive.
The black flame greatsword ruthlessly slashed down onto the earth!
Boom… The earth tore, buildings collapsed.
Terrifying shockwaves and black flames swept in all directions!
Nara Shikaku's figure was instantly swallowed?
Countless Konoha Ninja who were still resisting or couldn't dodge in time were reduced to ashes by this sword strike!
Di Yan floated in the crystal on the forehead of the dark Susanoo.
Like a demon god descended to the mortal realm.
He coldly overlooked the battlefield below, which had become a sea of fire and ruins.
And those Konoha Ninja who were kneeling and trembling, begging for mercy.
His voice, like rolling thunder, spread to every corner of Konoha:
"Surrender."
"Or… die."
Di Yan's dark Susanoo once again raised the greatsword burning with black flames.
An aura of destruction condensed, and it was about to swing down again.
Turning more stubbornly resisting Konoha Ninja and buildings into dust.
Just at this critical moment.
Boom!!!
A deafening roar came!
Tsunade, like a meteor burning her life, pushed the Strength of a Hundred Sealings Technique to its limit.
With power and speed beyond her limits.
She slammed a furious punch into the chest of the dark Susanoo!
The incredibly sturdy Susanoo armor.
It trembled violently from this punch, filled with endless grief, indignation, and despair.
Fine cracks appeared on its surface.
The sword-wielding motion also paused!
"Enough!!!!"
Tsunade's roar overpowered the clamor of the battlefield, filled with endless pain and powerlessness.
She appeared before the Susanoo.
Her golden hair was disheveled, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
Flames burned in her emerald eyes, yet tears also streamed down.
She stared intently at Di Yan in the Susanoo's crystal.
Di Yan manipulated the Susanoo to slowly lower its greatsword, his crimson Mangekyo calmly meeting Tsunade's gaze.
He seemed to be waiting for her to speak further.
Tsunade looked at the devastated Konoha below, strewn with casualties.
She looked at the terrified Konoha Ninja who were staring at her.
Her body trembled violently from extreme emotion.
She took a deep breath, as if using all her strength.
Every word was squeezed out as if through gritted teeth, incredibly heavy:
"All Konoha Ninja… lay down your weapons… surrender."
These words were like a pardon, yet also like a death knell.
Clang… Clang… Among the surviving Konoha Ninja.
Those who had already been scared out of their wits felt a sense of relief.
They almost eagerly threw away the kunai and ninja swords in their hands.
As if they were dropping hot potatoes.
Cries, sighs of relief, and the clatter of weapons falling to the ground rose and fell.
Resistance had lost all meaning.
Tsunade turned her head with difficulty, glaring at Di Yan.
She tried to preserve the last shred of dignity and bargaining chips for herself and the Village:
"Di Yan! Konoha has been ruined by you like this! Our strength is greatly diminished!"
"Once the news spreads, Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Hidden Mist will never let go of this opportunity!"
"Even if you gain Konoha today, tomorrow you will face the siege of the three great Ninja Villages! You…"
"Heh."
Di Yan chuckled, interrupting Tsunade, his tone filled with undisguised contempt, "These matters do not require the Fifth Hokage's concern."
"I have my own arrangements. What you should be thinking about now is how to fulfill your promise and obediently become my Empress 597."
"You!"
Tsunade was furious and mortified, her face turning red then pale.
Forcing her to marry this enemy who destroyed Konoha and killed countless comrades, and who was also so many years younger than her… This was more unbearable than killing her.
Extreme humiliation and despair instantly overwhelmed her.
"Even if I die, I will never suffer your insult!"
A look of resolve flashed in Tsunade's eyes, and she suddenly raised her hand.
The kunai in her hand unhesitatingly stabbed towards her throat.
She would rather die.
Than endure such humiliation!
However… "You can try." Di Yan's cold voice, like a venomous snake, slithered into her ear, "If you die, I will… massacre the Village in Konoha."
"From Jonin to Genin, from old people to children, not a single one will be left. I keep my word."
The voice was not loud, but it was like the coldest ice pick.
It instantly pierced through all of Tsunade's will to die.
And it made all the Konoha Ninja who heard it below shiver.
They had no doubt.
This Emperor, like a demon god, would absolutely do it!
The kunai Tsunade was stabbing towards her throat stopped abruptly just before her skin.
It had even pierced a little of the epidermis.
A trace of blood seeped out.
But her hand could no longer move forward even a fraction of an inch.
Her entire body was as if under a paralysis jutsu, standing frozen in mid-air.
Her face was filled with extreme struggle, pain, and powerlessness.
Suicide could relieve her personal humiliation.
But it would lead to the complete annihilation of all Konoha.
This price, she could not bear.
Looking at Tsunade's eyes, which had completely lost their luster and fallen into the abyss of despair.
Di Yan knew he had won.
He slowly dispelled the Susanoo, his figure lightly descending before Tsunade.
He reached out and gently pinched her slightly trembling wrist, which held the kunai, and exerted a little force.
Clang.
The kunai fell to the ground.
Di Yan's fingers brushed Tsunade's smooth yet icy cold cheek, his tone carrying the pleasure of being in control of everything:
"That's a good girl."
"From today onwards, there is no longer a Hidden Leaf Village."
"And you, Lady Tsunade…"
"Are my Empress, and the most beautiful symbol of my rule here."
The cold shackles had already fallen.
Konoha had met its… twilight…