As the Senju brothers disappeared, Isamu's body finally gave out.
He forced himself to look one last time at Tsunade, lying unconscious in the distance.
A faint, satisfied smile appeared on his face.
Then—
he collapsed.
And this time… he wouldn't wake up for over a decade.
Three Hours Later
The battlefield slowly came back to life.
The Five Kage, Tsunade, and the other ninja began to regain consciousness one after another.
Tsunade opened her eyes, confusion written all over her face.
"…Where am I? Wasn't I in the village…?"
Then—
she saw him.
"Isamu"
She rushed forward, lifting Isamu into her arms.
"What happened to you?!"
No response.
Panic set in.
She immediately used the Mystical Palm Technique to check his condition.
Seconds later, her expression changed completely.
"…No… this can't be…"
"There's barely any life left…"
Her mind raced.
Wasn't he supposed to be guarding the northern border? How did he end up here like this?
The Battlefield Awakens
Elsewhere, the other ninja forces regained awareness.
The moment they realized enemy nations were nearby—
they split apart instantly, each side watching the others with full vigilance.
Ōnoki was the first to snap.
"Hozuki Eiji! Did you bring us here to ambush us?!"
Eiji shot back immediately.
"Don't talk nonsense! You think I can move everyone here?! If anything, you're the one plotting something!"
The argument escalated fast—dragging their old masters into it too.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Raikage Ay simply stared at each other.
No words.
No moves.
Both understood one thing—if they acted now, everything would spiral again.
So they held back.
The Kazekage, knowing his village was the weakest present, didn't even engage.
"Fall back," he ordered quietly.
His forces began retreating without hesitation.
Desperation
"Isamu is dying!"
Tsunade's voice cut through everything.
"Hiruzen-sensei, please—help him!"
Hiruzen finally moved, leading the Konoha ninja toward her.
After examining Isamu, his face darkened.
"…It's too severe."
He didn't finish the sentence—but he didn't need to.
Tsunade understood.
And immediately rejected it.
"Stop talking nonsense!"
"He won't die!"
Her voice shook, but her hands didn't.
"Grandma Mito… she can save him!"
She lifted Isamu onto her back without hesitation.
"I'm taking him back!"
Jiraiya stepped in.
"I'll carry him. We'll move faster."
She didn't argue.
Within seconds, the two of them rushed toward Konoha at full speed.
Departures
Seeing this, the other villages made their decisions.
Raikage Ay turned away first.
"Withdraw."
The Cloud ninja left immediately.
Ōnoki clicked his tongue.
"…Serves him right."
Then he led the Stone ninja away.
"Hah. Coward," Eiji muttered—but still withdrew with the Mist.
In the end—
only Konoha remained.
Final Movements
Orochimaru watched his teammates leave, then looked at Hiruzen.
"…May I go?"
Hiruzen sighed.
"…Go. At least see him off."
Orochimaru followed.
His thoughts were complicated.
Respect. Curiosity. Something deeper.
That "big brother" figure who always stood above them—
now on the edge of death.
It didn't feel real.
A Hidden Thought
Behind them, Danzo watched silently.
Then, slowly—
his eyes narrowed.
So even someone like him can fall this low…
A dangerous thought surfaced.
Those eyes… shouldn't go to waste.
If Isamu died—
Danzo intended to make sure something valuable remained.
End of War
As the last forces withdrew,
the battlefield fell silent.
No cheers.
No victory.
Only confusion.
The war that began with Isamu—
ended the same way.
Abruptly.
Unbelievably.
And with the Five Great Nations retreating in uncertainty—
the Second Great Ninja War came to an end.