NARUTO: The Saga of Crimson Monarch

Ares slowly sheathed his sword, his voice calm and unyielding. "Then this war, I declare, has officially ended!."

The battlefield erupted in thunderous applause. Some villagers jumped, embracing each other with joy, others wept, overwhelmed by the end of the bloodshed. Comrades helped each other to stand, smiles replacing the grimaces of pain.

[ Ken stood apart, teeth clenched, his fists trembling with frustration. His grip tightened on his broken sword, the hilt biting into his palm as his eyes burned with an unrelenting fire. He had come so far, fought so hard. This was supposed to be his moment, his chance to claim the position that would bring him closer to his dream. ]

But now, with the war ending, everything felt like it was slipping away from him. He couldn't accept this. Not yet. Not when the top was within reach.

He raised his head, eyes locking on Ares."I will not stop," Ken muttered to himself, his voice low but resolute. "No matter what it costs. Even if I have to sacrifice everything... my life, my soul... I'll tear it through and reach that peak!" His eyes gleamed with a mad, almost desperate intensity. "Asura... you're the last hurdle. I won't let you stand in my way any longer."

And he rushed forward like a gale at Ares

"I will kill you, Asura!" Ken shouted, his voice filled with venom.

...….....

Meiji, struggling to stand, finally managed to get to his feet with the help of Yuusei, Souta, and the others. They laughed together, their faces full of relief and joy. "We made it, Meiji-sama The war's finally over," Yuusei said, grinning.

Souta added, "We can finally live in peace, all thanks to you my lord."

Meiji's smile and then faded, replaced by a look of alarm as he saw Ken charging toward Ares. His eyes widened in horror,

"Ken!" Meiji shouted, his voice desperate. "Stop! What are you doing? You can't possibly defeat him!" He tried to push forward, but his body failed him, breath ragged and strained. " elder brother! Don't rush in like this! Please stop!! "

The entire battlefield fell silent, the sudden tension hanging thick in the air. The warriors, once celebrating, now watched in horror as Ken, his eyes gleaming with madness, charged toward Ares.

Ken's voice was twisted with fevered laughter. "Fufufufu... Die, Asura!"

Ares stood unmoving, his gaze fixed on Ken. In one smooth, effortless motion, he halted the katana's strike with just the tip of his right finger.

"Impossible!" Ken gasped, his eyes wide in disbelief. "How can... how can a man not be cut?!"

Ares remained silent, his left hand lifting. With a single, calm command, "Finger Pistol," a precise burst of energy pierced through Ken's chest like a deadly bullet.

Ken staggered, blood spilling from his mouth as he collapsed to his knees, laughing weakly despite the agony. "All I wanted... was to reach my goal," he gasped, voice trembling. "Why is it so hard... Why is the world so unfair?"

With a weak, desperate exhale, he fell to the ground with a thud, his breath shallow.

He raised a trembling hand toward the sky, "Why? Why... are you so far away?" His voice desperate and filled with anguish.

Suddenly, Meiji was there, crawling painfully, dragging his broken body to Ken's side. Tears streamed down his face as he reached for his brother's weakly outstretched hand.

"Ken..." Meiji whispered, his voice quivering with raw anguish. "I'll stop the bleeding, just stay with me. O-Okay? ... till the very end." His words laced with fear and desperation.

He cried out for help, his voice breaking as he called again and again, but no one answered. he clung to Ken, hugging his elder brother tightly, his tears soaking into Ken's battered body.

Ken's lips curled into a bitter, weak smile as a faint chuckle escaped him. "Fool..." his voice rasping. "Do you really think they'd help me? The one who killed their families?"

He coughed, blood flecking his lips, and locked eyes with Meiji. "Why... do you keep calling me elder brother, Meiji?" His voice cracked, trembling with an unspoken emotion. "You know I hate you... my little brother."

"Because you're my elder brother Ken... my only family," Meiji choked out, his voice trembling with sobs as tears streamed down his cheeks.

Ken's breath grew weaker, as he gasped for air. he forced a faint, mocking smile. "I'll miss that disgusting face of yours..." His voice trailed off, A single tear slid down his cheek, catching the faint breathe, his smile frozen and die in place.

Meiji could only stare and clung to Ken's lifeless body, his sobs raw and unrestrained, each cry tearing through the silence. His heart felt shattered, his brother's still form a weight he couldn't bear.

The warriors watched in silence, some openly weeping, others bowing their heads in respect. Grief hung heavy in the air, mourning the dreamer who had fallen.

.....

Ares, his voice soft but powerful, spoke to the crowd. "Honor him. Build him a tomb,

he deserves it . He was a true warrior—unafraid of death, he fell as only a warrior could, with courage in his heart in pursuit of his dream."

Zeno his gaze fixed on Ken's lifeless body. He clenched his fist, his voice breaking with emotion. "You fought and died as a true samurai, my lord," he choked out. "I will always remember your courage, my friend Ken."

Kando clenched his fists, his tears falling freely. "You faced even a god with no fear... yet, i couldn't stand by your side to the end. Forgive me, my lord."

The army of Ken, their once fearsome leader now gone, At Oki's command one of Ken's general's, the army dropped to one knee in unison. His voice, filled with raw grief, bellowed, "All of you, honor our lord's final tribute!" As one, they drove their katana into the ground with a heavy thud.

A symbol of respect and sorrow. "Farewell, our lord Ken," Oki shouted, his voice trembling. "May you rest in peace, my lord."

The samurai's bowed deeply, tears streaming down their faces as they gripped their katana, sobbing uncontrollably. The battlefield, once filled with the sounds of battle, now stood in mournful silence, a somber tribute to a warrior who had never once wavered in his pursuit of his dream—even in the face of a god.

[ As the last echoes of their mourning faded, the war was truly over. But the cost of that victory would be felt for generations to come. ]