Hatake waited exactly seven days.
According to their intel, on the seventh day, the Sand and Stone villages launched their attack.
They moved swiftly, cutting off Rain Village from both sides.
With enemies pressing from two fronts, Konoha's ninja were forced to retreat into Rain Village, preparing for a desperate last stand.
Jiraiya, frowning, found Hatake again.
"Senior White Fang, what do we do now?"
Reports kept flooding in: the Sand and Stone forces were closing in, and Konoha's ninja looked to Jiraiya, their commander, for guidance.
But he didn't know what to do.
Retreat?
They'd lose Rain Village—and suffer massive casualties.
He wasn't like Yukika; he couldn't change the outcome of a war singlehandedly, even with Sage Mode.
White Fang said nothing.
He simply closed his eyes, unleashing the unique sensory ability granted by the Sword of Kings, feeling the approaching enemy forces.
"The time has come. Follow me."
Taking a deep breath, White Fang pulled out Yukika's letter, gathered Jiraiya and the other Konoha ninja, and opened the gates of Rain Village.
They lined up silently at the entrance.
And waited.
Yes—still waiting.
Jiraiya nearly rolled his eyes in disbelief.
In the world of ninjas, combat was supposed to be about swift, decisive strikes.
But Hatake stood there, completely unfazed.
He closed his eyes and waited for the enemies to approach.
This time, he stood for the King of the Hollow Palace.
And for the might of Senju Yukinoya.
According to Yukika, by the end of today, everyone would remember that name.
They would truly come to understand the power of the Senju.
...
When Ōnoki and Chiyo regrouped—
Their cooperation was smooth, without any squabbling over past conflicts.
They led the elites of their respective villages steadily toward Rain Village.
But to their surprise—
Konoha didn't resist.
Instead, the entire force had walked out and simply stood there, silently watching.
"What does this mean?"
Chiyo frowned, confused.
Ōnoki was also puzzled and moved closer to investigate.
But before they could act, Hatake stepped forward.
Face flushed, he glanced at the letter in his hand.
Then his voice echoed across the skies of Rain Village, infused with a terrifying spiritual pressure:
"I, Hatake Sakumo!"
"As one of the Ten Blades of the Senju Yukinoya Palace, hereby issue a warning to all!"
"If you wish to fight, take it outside the Senju territories!"
"If you violate the boundaries of the Senju clan—"
"You will be held accountable—and face the consequences!"
"As the emissary of my King, I will warn you only once: leave the sight of the Senju immediately!"
"Now! At once!"
The roar rolled across the battlefield.
Everyone froze.
Konoha ninja. Sand and Stone ninja. All were stunned into silence.
For a long moment—
Ōnoki laughed.
A cold, mocking laugh.
"Arrogance?"
"That brat Senju Yukika thinks that just because he beat the Raikage, he's invincible?"
Last time, when the Senju defeated Kumo's forces, Ōnoki had underestimated them—especially Hatake's strength.
But now, with the elite of two villages here, vastly outnumbering them—
So what if Hatake shouted?
Even if Yukika himself appeared—
"We'll crush them!"
"...From the date of this announcement onward, the Land of Water, the Mist Village, and all affiliated forces officially acknowledge the sovereignty of the Senju Clan over Rain Country and Rain Village!"
As these words echoed out, both Chiyo and Onoki froze on the spot.
Even the allied ninjas behind them showed expressions of disbelief.
"...What did you say?"
Onoki's voice trembled slightly. His heart, which had just begun to relax, suddenly tightened.
Mist Village—the Land of Water—they were acknowledging the sovereignty of the Senju over Rain Village?
Even the daimyo had signed off on this?
Chiyo clenched her teeth tightly, her entire body stiff. She felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head.
She instinctively looked at the messenger ninja in front of her, who quickly added:
"And not just the Mist Village! Hidden Cloud Village, led by the Fourth Raikage, has also issued a joint statement. From today on, the Senju Clan are regarded as an independent force, no longer affiliated with Konoha. Any hostility toward the Senju is considered an act of war against the Land of Water and the Land of Lightning!"
The air seemed to freeze.
The ninjas from Rock and Sand Villages who had been aggressive a moment ago now hesitated, feeling as if an invisible giant hand was pressing down on them.
Behind the scenes, political forces they could not easily confront had already moved.
This was no longer a matter of two villages invading a weak Rain Village.
Now it was a matter of challenging the will of two great nations — Water and Lightning!
"Impossible..." Onoki muttered under his breath.
But the information in his hands confirmed the terrible reality.
And at this moment, the real horror had yet to come.
The Konoha ninjas who had been feeling hopeless were also stunned, staring at each other in disbelief.
Even Jiraiya was dumbfounded, frozen in place.
He finally understood why Senju Yukika had said to "just wait."
Because this wasn't a battle that needed to be fought with weapons at all — the battlefield had shifted to a political level beyond their reach!
"Withdraw."
Onoki's voice was extremely hoarse, but he squeezed out the words through gritted teeth.
Chiyo's face was ashen, her fists tightly clenched, but she knew she had no other choice.
They had been played.
They thought they were hunting weak prey.
But in reality, they were the ones who had stumbled into a killing field already laid out for them.
As the Sand and Rock forces began to retreat, a heavy silence hung over the battlefield.
The Konoha ninjas stood there, stunned, unsure whether they should cheer or cry.
They had been ready to sacrifice their lives.
Yet in the end, it wasn't their strength that won the day.
It was Senju Yukika's foresight and manipulation of the entire situation.
Standing at the front, Hatake Sakumo (White Fang) finally put away the letter in his hand.
He turned to Jiraiya and the others and said calmly:
"From today onward, remember — we are under the protection of Senju Yukika."
"Not Konoha."
"Not anyone else."
Jiraiya opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he lowered his head deeply.
There was nothing more to say.
The truth had already been written by the outcome.
…
Meanwhile, back at the Senju Snowfield Palace, Senju Yukika leaned lazily against the throne, a playful smile on his lips as he stroked the small puppet girl curled up in his lap.
"It's done," he whispered to himself.
The fall of Mist, the rise of Rain, the retreat of Rock and Sand...
All had unfolded exactly according to his plan.
And this was only the beginning.
From now on, the name "Senju" would no longer be a mere clan name.
It would become the new symbol of power in the ninja world.
Yukika raised his wine glass slightly, the crimson liquid shimmering under the palace lights.
"Cheers," he said lightly, as if whispering to the entire world.