Epilogue

By the time they returned to Konoha, the farcical invasion was already drawing to a close.

Orochimaru's Impure World Reincarnation was broken by the Third and Tsunade working together. Two Kage Level ninjas were ultimately stronger than one Kage Level ninja, forcing Orochimaru to retreat urgently, which led to the crushing defeat of the Sound Ninja and Sand shinobi.

The remaining enemy forces are still putting up a stubborn resistance, but they no longer affect the overall situation.

Haku wasn't a formal Konoha Ninja yet, but at Sakura's request, he stayed by Sakura's mother's side, repelling several waves of enemies and protecting many civilians.

Konoha suffered heavy casualties, but most of them were civilian casualties and material losses. Due to increased vigilance and the presence of Tsunade, the wounded were able to receive timely treatment, and the condition of Konoha Ninja was much better than that of those who suffered broken bones in the original story.

The Sound Ninja had breached a huge hole in Konoha's towering walls. As Sakura and her group entered Konoha through the hole, they were met by a wave of Sound Ninja charging towards them. Sakura was startled and immediately unleashed a Wind Blade Torrent, taking down the first few who were charging at them. Just as she was about to use her Ultra-Pure Water Shield, she realized that her opponents had no will to fight. Seeing that she had instantly killed several of her comrades, the remaining Sound Ninja seemed to have encountered a reef, turning around and rushing past them without looking back, hurriedly fleeing through the hole. As for their fallen comrades, they didn't even bother to glance at them.

The group of girls and boys, who had just been on high alert, looked at each other in bewilderment.

They exchanged a glance, and Sakura shook her head, indicating that the enemy had escaped and there was no need to pursue them, especially since Shikamaru was still unconscious.

Then they encountered several more waves of enemies, some fleeing and others stubbornly resisting by relying on barriers. Sakura Haruno and her group helped with a few Ninjutsu when they could, and skipped over the troublesome ones. I'm ashamed to say that they only did a little bit of work.

Rushing back to the Chunin Ninja Exams venue, Sakura was shocked to find it had been temporarily converted into a command post and a treatment center for the wounded. The traces of battle on the stands had been hastily cleared, leaving open spaces, though remnants of the fighting remained in the corners: burn marks from Ninjutsu, impact marks, torn Kunai, blood-stained and tattered uniforms, and so on. Ninjas were rushing about, creating a chaotic scene. Wounded soldiers, covered in blood, were being carried or lifted to receive treatment from Tsunade and other medical-nin. Konoha High Command and a group of Elite Jonin from battle, huddled in a circle, solemnly discussing something. Anbu and Chunin were constantly moving back and forth, reporting on the situation and relaying orders.

Sakura and the others entered the venue. Kakashi, who was giving orders to an Anbu, looked up as if by telepathy, met Sakura's gaze, nodded slightly, waved for the Anbu to leave, and walked straight over.

Let's leave aside the matter of sending Shikamaru for treatment first.

"Thank you for your hard work, everyone!" Kakashi patted Sakura on the shoulder, forcing a smile despite his exhaustion.

Covered in tiny wounds and with a slightly hunched posture, this was the second time Sakura had seen Kakashi in such a disheveled state since meeting Zabuza.

"Teacher, where's the Lord Hokage?" Sakura was a little surprised to see that the Third wasn't in the crowd. Tsunade had been by the Hokage's side the whole time, so even she couldn't save him? Orochimaru managed to fight two opponents and kill one of them? Could it be that the so-called plot inertia really exists?

Kakashi sighed almost imperceptibly, tilting his head slightly and gesturing with his tired eyes to look in the other direction.

The Third was lying quietly on a medical bed.

"Seriously injured and unconscious, still in critical condition, and..."

Sakura looked closely and immediately understood why Kakashi hadn't appeared.

A gentle breeze blew by, and the Third Hokage's right sleeve swayed lightly in the air.

The sleeves fell down, revealing nothing but emptiness.

"It's snake venom..." Kakashi straightened up, raised his head, and stared at the pale, empty passage.

"He did it himself, but the toxin still spread."

Sakura opened her mouth, as if she were gasping for breath but couldn't exhale; she seemed to be thinking of something but couldn't say anything.

A heavy silence fell over everyone. A suffocating feeling pressed down on everyone's hearts.

It's like there's nothing there, yet it's also like everything is over.

For a long time.

Kakashi took a deep breath and then exhaled heavily.

He bent down and patted Naruto and Sasuke on the shoulders. "Those of you who are injured, go get treated first. That's all for today. After you're treated, go back and rest. Don't rush to help in areas where the battle is still raging. Leave that to the Anbu. Meet at the usual time and place tomorrow to clean up the mess. Hinata, remember to meet Kurenai after you're treated; she's waiting for you."

"Above. Dismissed!"

On the evening after the Chunin Ninja Exams invasion incident, on the walls of Konoha.

"I thought you had no feelings for this place anymore... It seems you still cherish this village!"

The tall man wearing a straw hat looked down at Konoha and spoke to the thin young man beside him.

"No, about this place... I have no attachment to it whatsoever." His voice murmured, slightly hoarse, as if an extremely taciturn person were struggling to move their vocal cords, without a trace of inflection.

He remained unmoved by the devastation of his homeland, merely adjusting his straw hat with his hand, his tone as indifferent as ever.

His face was hidden behind his tall, upright trench coat, revealing only a pair of captivating eyes.

Those scarlet eyes were coldly staring at Konoha, the three Tomoe inside the eyeballs slowly rotating, their gaze cold and sharp.

"Is that so..." The tall man remained noncommittal, but changed the subject to Konoha, "It seems the village isn't in dire need of repair yet; it will prosper again after some time..."

The Red Eye young man didn't respond. The tall man glanced at him and continued, "It seems our mission is going to be fruitless. Konoha's security system will soon be restored, and we won't find an opportunity to strike. Besides, two of the Sannin are still in Konoha..."

This wasn't just meaningless nonsense after all; the slender man finally reacted.

Let's go...

With a simple remark, his talkative companion, as if receiving an order, followed the slender man and disappeared behind the towering walls of Konoha.

The wind continued to blow, completely erasing the last trace of their presence.

On August 6th, in the 60th year of Konoha's history, the Konoha Crush began and ended hastily that afternoon.

Konoha suffered 7 deaths, Chunin, 1 Jonin, 11 Chunin, 5 Genin, and 71 civilians. The vast majority of the remaining wounded have recovered after receiving treatment.

The Sand shinobi suffered 11 deaths, including Jonin, 47 Chunin, 15 Genin, and 8 civilians. Note: Most of the deaths were due to injuries that did not receive timely medical treatment.

The Sound Ninja suffered 46 deaths, but due to a lack of information on their ranks, the exact number cannot be determined at this time.

The number of missing persons from all parties / the number of unidentified deaths.

The above is the list of casualties from the Chunin Ninja Exams Invasion Incident.

Sakura didn't see the thin list until the next morning.

She squinted, somewhat surprised to find that the number of civilian deaths was an order of magnitude higher than that of ninja deaths.

However, upon reflection, it makes sense. Superficially, the ninjas on the front lines appear to be in the most danger, while the civilians in the rear seem safe. In reality, firstly, aside from certain specific defensive bases, it's difficult to find anywhere truly "in the rear." In this sudden invasion, the difference between "front line" and "rear" lies solely in where the invaders deem offensive and where not. Secondly, the combat strength of ninjas and civilians is vastly different. Konoha are mostly killed instantly upon encountering invading ninjas, while Konoha Ninja generally operate in teams, possess considerable combat power, and can hold out until reinforcements arrive when facing strong enemies.

These casualty statistics also prove that Sakura's decision to become a ninja when she first transmigrated was the right one. At the time, she had thought about living her life as an ordinary citizen, far away from the life of a ninja who lived on the edge of a knife. However, she later discovered that in this ninja world, being an ordinary citizen was actually more dangerous than being a ninja, which led her down the path she is on now.

"The statistics are out so quickly? Is the data accurate?" She raised her delicate eyebrows and waved the thin sheet of paper in her hand.

"Of course it's true," Shikamaru said impatiently, snatching back the report that Sakura had forcibly taken from him. "We worked all night long!"

He yawned loudly, muttering things like, "My perverted father dragged the wounded to work all night," "He pushed all the dirty and hard work onto the Genin, the Genin have no human rights," and "I'll have to sleep for three nights when I get back," all filled with resentment.

Sakura smiled faintly, patted Shikamaru on the shoulder, gave a fake sigh, and then walked away with a smug look on her face.

Her smugness didn't last long—only until Kakashi announced their mission for the day.

"The situation is special now. We won't be carrying out missions as a team. Everyone has their own mission." Kakashi waved the mission briefings he had just received from the mission distribution point and handed one to each of the three men.

He hasn't lost his way in life.

"Patrol mission... requires ninjas with combat capabilities, carrying necessary ninja tools... there might be combat..." Sasuke nodded as he read, indicating he had no objections to the mission. "And you guys?"

"Let me see... Hmm...? Repairing and rebuilding houses? In charge of the Upper Nine Courtyards in Block B? Needs a ninja proficient in the Clone Technique?" Naruto's expression was a little off. "Wait! Hold on! I have fighting ability too! I'm a ninja, not a bricklayer or a construction worker! I don't want to do this!"

Sasuke and Sakura suppressed their laughter. "Because you're an expert in Shadow Clone Jutsu! Many hands make light work; a thousand Shadow Clone working together are much more efficient! Naruto, you're really suited to be a construction worker! Go for it, Naruto!"

"Stop laughing at me! Sakura, what about you!" Naruto said angrily.

"Hmph, a ninja with superior combat power like me should be assigned more dangerous and important missions, like hunting down the remaining enemies outside the village? Whoosh~ Watch my Water Release annihilate them all~"

Sakura opened her task list--

"Repair and rebuild houses, responsible for the Isuzu and Toyoe housing areas..."

Uh-huh--?!