The aftermath of the Konoha Crush plan settled over the entire village like a heavy blanket of ash. Once-bustling streets now lay strewn with shattered walls and rubble. Sobs, pained groans, and the shouts of rescuers mingled together, while the air reeked of smoke, blood, and sorrow.
The surviving ninja dragged their exhausted bodies into the rescue and rebuilding efforts, giving everything they had. Medical ninja worked tirelessly in makeshift tents, treating an endless stream of wounded. The jonin stood guard, cleared debris, searched for survivors, and pursued fleeing enemies.
Team 7 regrouped. Naruto was dispirited by the Third's sacrifice and his battle with Gaara, but the sight of the ruined village drove him to rally himself and carry the wounded on his back. Sasuke pressed a hand over his still-aching Cursed Seal and silently carried out his tasks, his eyes deeper and more unreadable than ever. Sakura used her medical knowledge to help every injured person she could. Ling used Water Release to clear rubble and provide clean water, working with remarkable efficiency.
Team 10 worked together as well. Shikamaru directed the evacuation of civilians with a furrowed brow. Choji used the Multi-Size Technique to lift enormous broken beams, while Ino used the Mind Body Switch Technique to soothe frightened children and help the medical team with basic mental stabilization. Her gaze drifted worriedly toward Ling from time to time; she had noticed that he was quieter than usual.
Within Ling's mind, Tobirama's voice had, unusually, stopped offering training guidance. Instead, he was working through deeper possibilities.
"Kara... Outsider... Karma..." Tobirama turned those fragments over again and again. *"There is too little information, but the threat must be assigned the highest level. Another 'me' crossed the boundary between life and death to deliver that warning. It was no mere