Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!
Chapter 503: The Fall of the Land of Earth

Chapter 503 - 503: The Fall of the Land of Earth

"Morning Peacock!"

A deep shout echoed across the battlefield.

Having slain Kitsuchi, Duy stood like a war god descended upon the field. At some point, he had once again activated the Gate of View.

In a blur of movement, he vanished and reappeared behind Ōnoki in midair.

His fists, moving with hurricane-like intensity, left behind countless afterimages as they struck.

Friction from the sheer speed of his punches ignited the air, creating flames that spread like the wings of a raging phoenix, forming a devastating barrage.

Ōnoki, barely having survived the last attack and still struggling to catch his breath, had no way to evade.

His back was completely exposed, wide open to Duy's assault.

In the next instant, the full force of Morning Peacock crashed down like a collapsing mountain, slamming into Ōnoki's back.

"Aaahhh!"

Ōnoki's agonized screams filled the battlefield, like a wounded beast in its final throes.

His body trembled uncontrollably under the relentless barrage, utterly at Duy's mercy.

Every punch landed like a sledgehammer, pounding his body with unimaginable force.

Blood spewed from his mouth in torrents, forming a gruesome mist in the air.

When Duy's attack finally ceased, Ōnoki's body went limp, plummeting toward the ground.

If not for the faint trace of life still lingering in him, he would already be indistinguishable from the dead.

"...He's still alive?"

Duy deactivated the Gate of View once more, his voice carrying a hint of surprise.

He knew the power of Morning Peacock well—Ōnoki was simply more resilient than his son.

"Not for long."

Fugaku, controlling Susanoo, took a powerful stride toward Ōnoki.

The fading ember of life within him could be extinguished at any moment.

"Cough... cough..."

Ōnoki weakly spat out flecks of blood.

His vision had clouded, the world around him growing indistinct.

He could only feel the looming shadow above him, his remaining strength slipping away.

Memories and regrets flooded his mind, but now, nothing could change his fate.

"...You want to do it?"

Duy stood beside Susanoo, barely reaching its ankle.

"Haha, does it even matter?"

Fugaku chuckled and shook his head as Susanoo lifted its foot, pressing down on Ōnoki.

"Of course, you're the commander."

Had his body not been drenched in blood, Duy might have still appeared as his usual, good-natured self.

"Duy-senpai, you're the real hero here."

With victory in hand, Fugaku's mood lightened considerably.

As Susanoo lifted its foot, Ōnoki's lifeless body lay motionless—his flame had finally gone out.

The Land of Earth no longer had anything left to stop Konoha's advance.

"That's only because the commander led us well."

The two exchanged lighthearted compliments, unable to suppress their laughter.

"Alright, it's time to end this."

Under Fugaku's command, Susanoo swung its black chakra blade.

Any Iwa shinobi caught in its path were obliterated.

Against warriors of this caliber, ordinary ninjas stood no chance.

"Ōnoki is dead."

"Surrender, and you will not be killed."

Fugaku did not continue the slaughter. The sheer devastation of his last two attacks was deterrent enough.

His voice rang across the battlefield, causing the Iwa shinobi to freeze in place.

As the first Iwa ninja dropped their weapons, more and more followed suit.

From the moment Ōnoki fell, they knew—this battle was lost.

Defeated, completely and utterly, with no hope of turning the tide.

Yet, there were still those loyal to Iwagakure who refused to surrender.

Fugaku had no intention of showing mercy. With a simple wave of his hand, the Konoha shinobi swarmed them, cutting them down in full view of their comrades.

Even Ōnoki's carefully arranged flanking forces could not escape their fate.

With the battle already decided, charging in now meant only one of two outcomes—captivity or death.

In the end, the blame lay with Ōnoki's misjudgment. A single powerful shinobi could indeed change the course of an entire war.

And Duy had proved to be that shinobi.

"...Maybe I really am getting old."

"I haven't been gone long, but I already miss home."

Gazing at the battlefield, now a wasteland of ruin, Duy couldn't help but reflect.

At least Konoha hadn't been the one to suffer defeat.

Perhaps it was selfish to think that way—but weren't most people selfish by nature?

"Soon. Once we deal with the Daimyō..."

"...we can go home."

With Susanoo fading away, Fugaku and Duy stood side by side.

With vengeance fulfilled and Iwagakure crushed, their mission was complete.

"When we get back, I'm taking some time off."

"You think Lady Hokage would actually deny me leave?"

Duy's tone grew playful again. Retirement might be out of reach, but there was no way Tsunade would refuse a simple request for time off.

After all, anyone could handle the mundane missions of catching stray animals back in the village.

"Haha, you're overthinking it."

"You could sleep in every day without requesting leave, and no one would say a thing."

Fugaku teased, though he too was eager to return home.

"Still, there's work to be done."

"Let's move."

Under Fugaku and Duy's command, the Konoha forces moved swiftly.

The wounded were carried off, the fallen gathered, and prisoners secured.

Only after these tasks were completed did the army depart, leaving a few behind to clean up the battlefield.

With Iwagakure defeated, nothing stood in their way.

Under their leadership, the Konoha forces marched straight into the nearest town.

News of Iwagakure's crushing defeat and the Tsuchikage's death spread like wildfire.

Upon hearing the report, the Daimyō of the Land of Earth collapsed into his chair, drained of all strength.

He knew—his country was finished.

For days, he lived in a state of constant anxiety.

Before he could decide how to face the advancing Konoha forces, Fugaku and Duy had already arrived at the gates with their army.

If the Daimyō was wise, he might yet be spared.

But if he remained stubborn, refusing to see the reality before him, Fugaku would not hesitate to send him to his grave.

After a long internal struggle, the Daimyō made his choice—survival.

At this point, even his death would change nothing. The Land of Earth was already lost.

With no other option, he personally led his officials to the city gates, bowing in submission as they welcomed the Konoha army inside.

The once-arrogant officials of the Land of Earth now stood pale and trembling.

They knew their fate had shifted irreversibly, yet there was nothing they could do.

Fugaku wasted no time. The capital fell under Konoha's complete control.

The first order of business—imprisoning every official to prevent any chance of rebellion.

Next, the Daimyō's signed declaration of surrender was made public, marking the Land of Earth's official submission.

Finally, Konoha forces were dispatched to secure all major towns.

With the final arrangements in place, Tsunade's appointed personnel arrived to oversee the occupation.

A brief handover followed.

At last, Fugaku and Duy set out for home.