Naruto: Limit Breaker

Chapter 87: The Fall of Land of Wave

Kesha's house, perhaps reflecting his profession, was built in the middle of a small lake.

A wooden bridge stretched over the water, leading to the cabin nestled at the center. Ryosuke and his group made their way along the narrow walkway, the soft creak of the planks accompanying each step.

Kesha...

That name wasn't unfamiliar to Ryosuke. Though just a minor figure in the original timeline—barely mentioned in memory fragments—Ryosuke's sharp mind hadn't forgotten him.

"Father!"

A child's voice—bright and surprised—echoed from inside the house.

A small boy wearing a fisherman's hat burst through the doorway and rushed toward Kesha. "Why're you back so early today? I thought—"

His words caught in his throat as his eyes darted toward the strangers surrounding his stepfather. One of them, especially, stood out—tall, cold, with a chilling presence.

The boy froze a few steps away from the door, uncertain and afraid.

"Inari! Don't bother your father—"

Another voice followed, soft and gentle.

A woman stepped out onto the porch, beautiful and graceful, her gaze full of hope—until she noticed the foreign shinobi behind her husband. Her expression faltered, panic flashing across her eyes. She stepped forward quickly, pulling the boy behind her protectively.

"Ka... Kesha?" she asked, her voice tinged with anxiety.

Kesha gave her a reassuring nod. "Tsunami, these are the shinobi-sama from Konoha."

Seeing the nervousness in her posture, he quickly explained, "That bastard Gato has taken over Wave Country's land and forced us into labor. These ninja from the Fire Nation... they're here to help us."

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Tsunami bowed deeply, her voice urgent. "My behavior was rude. Please forgive me."

"You don't need to be so formal," Hyuga Hizashi stepped forward, his tone calm though there was guilt in his eyes. "As a vassal state of the Fire Nation, Wave Country will receive a proper explanation."

He hesitated before continuing. "Actually... we just reached a deal with Gato."

Ryosuke, silent until now, stepped forward and cut in. "To put it simply—if all goes well, Gato will soon govern this land, and the Fire Nation will become his ally."

A stunned silence followed. Ryosuke met their eyes, voice steady but emotionless.

"I sympathize with what you've gone through," he said. "But now, you only have two choices."

His words hung heavy in the air.

"First, you can become citizens of the Fire Nation. You'll be treated equally and protected, just like any of our people."

He paused.

"Second... you can become Gato slaves and work under him."

His tone didn't change. It was calm, composed—but there was an icy finality in it. His expression remained neutral, but no one missed the sharp edge behind his words.

Everyone in the room felt the pressure settle over them.

"This isn't just for your family," Ryosuke added. "This applies to all of Wave Country. Decide now. I promise, whatever choice you make will be respected."

He didn't sugarcoat it. Ryosuke wasn't interested in false hope or veiled threats. The truth was enough.

He didn't think his offer was cruel. On the contrary, it was the best option available. Becoming part of the Fire Nation meant security, resources, stability—far more than what they'd ever had.

And he knew how this family was supposed to end.

If he hadn't shown up today, Kesha would've been executed by Gato soon. Pain and despair would've drowned this village, lasting until Naruto and his team arrived—years from now—to free them.

But the timeline had changed.

Now, with Ryosuke here, Gato control might remain permanent. Wave Country wouldn't be liberated unless a miracle came—or a stronger, greedier wolf tore it from Gato's grasp.

Kesha, trembling slightly, looked at the shinobi surrounding them. Ryosuke, in particular, stood out—not just because of his appearance but because of the way the others deferred to him. He clearly wasn't just another soldier.

Kesha tried to muster a response, stammering, "But... but we're already a vassal of the Fire Nation. We pay tribute every year..."

Ryosuke interrupted smoothly, "And every year, that tribute shrinks. Your nobles always cry about bad harvests and empty coffers, but in truth, they live in luxury."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Wave Country is too small. Its contributions were never significant, so no one in the Fire Nation really cared. Your nobles' lies went unchallenged. Frankly, if it weren't for some... special circumstances, we wouldn't be here now."

He let the words sink in before adding:

"So I'll ask again—will you fight for this 'country' that let itself rot? Or will you abandon it and join the Fire Nation, where you and your family might actually have a future?"

Silence followed.

Kesha looked torn. His hands were clenched into fists, jaw tight.

For years, life had been simple. Peaceful, even. But it was a fragile peace—one built on ignorance. Gato had shattered that illusion.

And now the Fire Nation, their supposed protector, had aligned with the very man who destroyed them.

How could that make sense?

Behind him, Tsunami gently reached out and placed her hand over his clenched fist.

"Keisha…" she whispered, her voice soft and full of worry.

It was enough.

Kesha snapped out of his thoughts, blinking as he looked down at her, then at their son.

After a long silence, he slowly opened his hand.

---

The nobles and their private guards had already been eliminated by Gato. All that remained were commoners—and Kesha's family held the most influence among them.

Under his guidance, the rest of the village followed.

They renounced Wave Country and swore allegiance to the Fire Nation.

A once-proud nation... discarded in a day.

That night, Ryosuke and his team stayed in the village. The atmosphere was heavy. No lights shone from the homes. No voices filled the night. The silence was absolute.

Ryosuke stood by the window of the cabin, staring out at the moonlight reflecting off the still lake.

After a long pause, he let out a sigh.

"Born in adversity, die in comfort," he muttered to himself.

"In a world as brutal as this... I didn't expect nobles so damn naive."

The truth of the ninja world was cruel. Remaining stagnant was just another way of signing your death warrant.

The nobles of Wave Country had built a false sense of peace—one that allowed its people to sleep easy. But it was an illusion made possible only by the small population and limited land.

Behind the scenes, the people were being bled dry. Their wealth, their crops, everything went into the hands of nobles who used it to live lavishly.

None of it went toward building a future.

And this... was the result.

Wave Country had crumbled in a single day.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Check my Pâtreon for (40) advanced chapters

Pâtreon .com/Fanficlord03

Change (â) to (a)

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Discord Link Here:

https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9