Most of the subjects turned into living plants, but their fate was worse. A person in a vegetative state still has hope of awakening. These have none. Irreversible brain damage had erased their minds, and their amputated bodies had been stripped of the remnants of their human form. Their fate was sealed completely and irrevocably.
Sasuke's life was also derailed the moment this plan was approved. Even if he could be saved, he had no future. Of course, Itachi wasn't told about this. His only vulnerability, as they quickly realized, was his younger brother. What if he finds out the truth and gives up his role in this play? Such a risk could not be allowed.
And the fate of Uchiha Yue?
Well, when his eyes were in their hands and he was dead, what would a boy's life matter? Nobody cares about the opinion of the dead.
It is worth paying tribute to them: unlike Shimura Danzo, they did not sacrifice the inhabitants of their village. In the chaotic Land of Fire, it was only necessary to go beyond Konoha to find as much suitable "material" as possible. It was much more reasonable than experimenting on compatriots. Not like Danzo. Even a rabbit is known not to eat grass near its burrow. But the old hawk was different. Being the "darkness of Konoha", he devoured exactly what was growing on his doorstep.
"You are my comrades, which means you must sacrifice yourself for the sake of the Will of Fire," he reasoned.
"what? Are you saying that I betray the Will of Fire by using my own people? What nonsense. You're just a fool, unable to comprehend her true nature. I, Danzo, am the Hokage's advisor. Is it possible to equate me with ordinary Shinobi? When you understand what the true Will of Fire is, you will understand why I didn't get anything for the assassination attempt on the Hokage, and the Uchiha clan, who only plotted a coup, was wiped off the face of the earth. Double standards? Mistake. The thing is, there was no true Will of Fire in the Uchiha clan. And I, Danzo, by sacrificing the villagers to science, am acting for the benefit of Konoha. Their death in the laboratory is a gift that I give them. I'm helping them gain the highest value, and it's all for the sake of the village!"
A hot wind howled over the scorched earth, its rumble resembling a ghostly cry. The hot air twisted into a giant funnel, in the center of which reigned dead silence and impenetrable darkness. The sunlight in the sky was thinning, turning into tangible threads that this darkness greedily sucked into itself.
At that moment, the Area of Dead Silence was like a gigantic beast devouring the very fabric of existence, voraciously absorbing all the energy around.
It was the second month since Uchiha Yue had awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan. The deadline is negligible, but half of it has already passed. Scientists who have been closely observing the anomaly have come to the conclusion: even if Yue just stands still, while maintaining the current growth rate in three months.…
In just three months, this area will swallow up the Country of Fire, the Country of Iron, the Country of Whirlpools, the Country of Rivers, and several neighboring states. By that time, the Land of Fire will most likely cease to exist.
Thanks to Uchiha Yue and his monstrous power, the whole world, from Shinobi to ordinary people, realized that the end of the world was coming, and only ninjas could save him.
The Land of Fire was overwhelmed by a wave of migration. Countless residents turned into refugees, seeking refuge in other lands. There was a rumor among the people that their daimyo, abandoning everyone to the mercy of fate, was one of the first to escape and is now holed up in safety in the Land of Earth.
Upon learning of this, the aristocracy of the Land of Fire hurried to pack up their belongings and follow his example. Only the poorest and most ignorant remained — the commoners, who only now, belatedly, poured to the borders, turning into a huge, uncontrollable stream.
In just over a month, the Land of Fire was on the verge of collapse.
And although the threat of destruction looms over the world, golden times have come for the ninja from small villages. Orders poured in on them like a river. Even the great villages, including Konoha, sent troops to snatch their piece of the pie. Suppressing riots, guarding illegal caravans, and covert assassinations under cover of chaos—the missions brought fabulous profits. At the same time, thanks to this commotion, their knowledge of the Field of Dead Silence grew rapidly.
After all, they have an inexhaustible source of living material. Where did it come from? During the chaotic flight of the refugees, it was only necessary to step out onto the road, and it was easy to recruit a batch of test subjects. The aristocrats and the rich had long since fled under guard, leaving only the disenfranchised and impoverished commoners. Their fate in this meat grinder was obvious.
Even Konoha has been replenishing its labs in the same way lately. Of course, Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage and pioneer of ireninjutsu, did not know about this. Or she pretended she didn't know.
Jiraiya was in charge of everything. The trauma, which deprived him not only of his strength, but also of a part of himself, changed him beyond recognition. That depraved but heroic Shinobi at heart who spied on women and wrote funny books has disappeared. A gloomy, cruel and embittered creature took his place.
However, even the old Jiraiya would have hesitated and given the same order. For the sake of the village. For the Sake of the Will of Fire. After all, this was the essence of the ninja world.
On the edge of an Area Of Dead Silence.
"Let me go!" Let me go, you creatures! You are all madmen!
Sasuke, whose body was bound by restraints, frantically screamed and struggled in the arms of Shimura Danzo and Uchiha Itachi. His scarlet eyes burned with hatred and despair, directed at everyone present. Under such pressure, he finally awakened his Sharingan—one tomoe. Completely useless.
—Teacher, you must succeed! Tsunade said with a stern face, looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen. — Right now, Konoha's only hope is for you. When we receive Uchiha Yue's power, our village will become great again!
No one paid any attention to Sasuke's screams. In their eyes, he was already a dead man.
"That's right, Teacher," Jiraiya nodded, and then turned to the others. "And you, Danzo-sama, and you, Uchiha..." His cold gaze glared at Itachi. "You'll have to apologize to Yue properly. Especially you, Itachi. For the sake of the village, you will have to get down on your knees and repent. If necessary, don't hesitate to use your brother. Awaken our Will of Fire in the heart of Uchiha Yue