Kazekage Ninja: The Rise of the Hidden Sand

Akatsuki’s organized resistance lasted only a single day.

But what a day it was. The fighting was brutal—nowhere more so than in the battle for the Amekage Building. There, General Daibutsu led eight hundred of Akatsuki’s most devoted shinobi into a desperate tug-of-war against Konoha forces that outnumbered them several times over. Each of those eight hundred fought with the grim resolve of men and women ready to die for their cause.

Again and again, Akatsuki members wrapped themselves in explosive tags and charged headlong into enemy ranks, choosing mutual destruction over surrender.

The carnage was beyond tragic, beyond heroic. Words like "epic" or "heart-rending" hardly did it justice.

And yet, their sacrifice bought only three hours. The gap in strength was simply too great.

When the fighting reached its bitter end, Daibutsu—the front-line commander—was the last man standing. Even with over a dozen wounds, he kept swinging his iron staff, refusing to fall. Only when he finally collapsed from blood loss did the Konoha shinobi dare approach. Out of respect, they cleaned his body, removing seventeen kunai, four shuriken, and countless other wounds. Even Danzo himself praised his courage and loyalty.

In the days that followed, Danzo did three things.

First, he issued a public statement: Konoha and Amegakure had been in talks for a joint defense pact when Yahiko, leader of Amegakure, suddenly launched an assassination attempt against Konoha’s envoy—Danzo himself. Only the selfless sacrifice of Sakumo Hatake saved him. As punishment for this "shameless attack," Konoha had no choice but to bring Amegakure to heel.

The irony? That statement came out the day after Konoha had already taken over the village—the first war in ninja history where the declaration came after the fighting was done.

Second, he ordered the complete eradication of Akatsuki’s remaining forces in Amegakure.

His method was simple: three orders.

Anyone wearing a red cloud cloak—kill on sight.