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With a resounding thud, Madara tossed Hiruzen Sarutobi onto the ground. Standing tall, he surveyed the devastated remnants of Konoha, his words directed either at Hiruzen or simply muttered to himself:
"Konoha has suffered greatly this time. But don't lose heart, Hiruzen. Rebuilding Konoha shouldn't be too difficult—after all, the Land of Fire is the wealthiest nation. Restoration should be within reach."
He paused, his tone shifting to one of mocking disdain.
"However, you, Hiruzen, are in quite the predicament. Most of the thousand elite shinobi lost today belonged to your personal ANBU forces and the upper echelons of Konoha's ranks. Isn't that right?"
Hiruzen, sprawled on the ground, felt his pupils contract. A cold, sinking feeling gripped him as he sensed where this conversation was heading.
Sure enough, Madara continued, his voice cutting like a blade:
"It's curious, though. Why were only the forces under your command sent to face me? What about Konoha's Elder Council? What about Danzo's ANBU division? And what of the other clans of Konoha?"
Madara's words carried clearly across the battlefield, reaching every surviving ear. His piercing observations struck like daggers into the hearts of those present.
"If I recall correctly, the Elder Council consists of Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, and Shimura Danzo. Don't tell me they were busy protecting the civilians. Weren't they supposed to direct the mid-tier and lower-ranked shinobi? Surely those numbers would have sufficed. Yet here we are, with your forces utterly decimated—and not a single elite from their ranks came to assist. Strange, isn't it?"
His words landed like a thunderclap, reverberating through the minds of everyone on the battlefield.
"And if we overlook those two senile elders, fine—they're nothing but relics clinging to life. But Danzo? That man leads ANBU, an organization whose strength rivals, if not surpasses, your own ANBU. Such a formidable hidden force, yet not even a shadow of them has appeared!"
Madara's voice rose, dripping with mockery.
"And let's not forget the other clans. Take, for instance, the Hyuga and Uchiha—the two most prominent families in Konoha. While a handful from these clans serve in your ANBU, where are their elite warriors? Where are the true powerhouses of their bloodlines? Haven't seen them step foot on this battlefield, have we?"
He smirked, his tone laced with venom.
"How amusing. This is the so-called unity of Konoha. Hashirama must be rolling in his grave!"
Unable to bear it any longer, Hiruzen struggled weakly against the ground, lifting his head to retort:
"Uchiha Madara, stop spreading falsehoods! We… We preserved our strength for the greater good!"
Madara sneered, his expression merciless.
"Do you even believe your own words, Hiruzen? Preserving strength? Your entire ANBU force couldn't withstand a single blow from me. Even if you added ANBU to the mix, it wouldn't make a difference!"
His voice grew louder, resonating across the battlefield.
"To face someone like me, you needed the full might of Konoha united as one. But what did you do instead? I saw no unity, no solidarity. Instead, I saw infighting, selfishness, and betrayal. You sacrificed your subordinates as cannon fodder while others fled to safety. Truly pathetic."
Madara's words cut deep, exposing the fractures within Konoha's leadership. The defeated shinobi listened, their spirits crushed under the weight of his accusations. Many felt their resolve crumbling, their faith in Konoha shaken to its core.
Hiruzen's eyes widened in anguish as he clawed at the ground, his movements frantic. Bloodied hands scraped trails across the dirt, leaving crimson streaks behind. Madara wasn't just attacking physically—he was dismantling the very foundation of Konoha, sowing seeds of doubt and discord that would inevitably tear the village apart.
For Hatake Sakumo, who had little understanding of politics, the revelation hit hard. He sighed deeply, closing his eyes in resignation, unwilling to dwell further on the matter.
Orochimaru, ever the pragmatist, remained unfazed. He had long anticipated such truths and accepted them without hesitation.
Tsunade, already disillusioned with Konoha, felt the weight of Madara's words press down upon her. The harsh reality he exposed was painful but unsurprising. She lowered her head, silent and contemplative.
Jiraiya, however, was different. The naive idealist finally grasped the truth, his face paling as his worldview shattered before his eyes. The Konoha he believed in—the one he thought stood for justice and unity—was nothing more than a facade. His faith crumbled, leaving him hollow and listless.
As for the remaining elite shinobi scattered across the battlefield, their morale was utterly broken. Some felt betrayed, others consumed by rage, and still others overwhelmed by despair. Madara's words had achieved what no physical assault could—they had destroyed their will to fight.
Amidst the eerie silence that blanketed the battlefield, underground in the shadows of ANBU headquarters, Shimura Danzo finally stirred.
Seated in his dimly lit office, Danzo listened intently as a ANBU operative delivered a report:
"Lord Danzo, the Hokage and his forces have been utterly defeated by Uchiha Madara. The losses are catastrophic."
Danzo rose slowly from his chair, his shadowy gaze flickering with calculated malice.
"Good. Catastrophic losses are exactly what I need. With Konoha's forces crippled, Hiruzen will be powerless to oppose me. When I step forward to 'save' the village, there will be no contest for the position of Hokage."