The blade flashed like a sheet of mercury, tracing a perfect arc through the air.
Before the dozen or so Grass Shinobi could even hit the ground, the Kusanagi Sword pierced them one by one. Blood sprayed, and screams rang out all around.
"Demon! He's a demon!"
The remaining Grass Shinobi broke down completely. Some turned and ran, some collapsed to the ground, and others frantically unleashed their ninjutsu.
But none of it mattered.
Sasuke withdrew the Kusanagi Sword, blood dripping from its tip. His expression remained calm, as though the people he had just killed weren't a dozen living human beings, but a dozen ants.
"Chibaku Tensei."
A black gravitational core formed in the center of the village, and its immense pull began tearing at everything around it.
"No! Our village!" Kusano watched helplessly as his home was destroyed piece by piece.
The wooden buildings that had stood for hundreds of years, the stone monuments chronicling the history of Kusagakure, the places that held countless memories—all were reduced to fragments by the force of gravity and sucked toward the black sphere in the sky.
"Stop!" Kusano threw himself at Sasuke with all his might. "I'll surrender! I'll give you everything! Please, spare the village!"
Sasuke didn't even look at him. He merely said, "Too late."
The Kusanagi Sword flashed out again, its tip piercing Kusano's heart with precision.
The Grass Shinobi village chief's eyes widened. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he slowly fell to the ground.
"From this day forward, Kusagakure is no more." Sasuke sheathed his sword and turned away from the ruins.
Behind him, Chibaku Tensei continued, swallowing the entire village without a trace.
Takigakure, in a hidden cavern behind the waterfall.
Village chief Shibuya was in urgent talks with several elders.
"Kusagakure