The transition to the battlefield scene was marked by a surge of chakra, casting an otherworldly glow upon the carefully designed battleground. Half assembled puppets laid on the ground with weapons sticking everywhere.

Puppets representing the mightiest shinobi clashed in a choreography of martial arts and jutsu. Hashirama was the star of the show as he whirled about striking ninjas left and right.

The audience marveled at the fluidity of the puppets' movements, each strike and dodge executed with impeccable precision.

Things began to get wild. Hashirama was suddenly attacked by the eight tailed jinchuuriki. The older man wielded each brightly colored tail like a sword, sending attacks from all directions. Different powerful ninjas joined the man and before long, they had Hashirama surrounded.

They slowly circled Hashirama, watching him carefully. Pointing a kunai at him, the jinchuuriki said, "You're surrounded, Hashirama. In recognition of what you've done for the shinobi world, I ask you to surrender."

Hashirama sighed the sigh of a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders, "I can't. Who'll advocate for peace when I'm gone?"

"As expected of the tree hugger. Trying to play the saint." One of the ninjas spat.

"Very well," the jinchuuriki nodded.

Then the chaos unfolded. The fight was like a dance, only with more punches and fewer twirls. Hashirama dashed all over the place, holding off the other ninjas as he tried to restrain the jinchuriki with his wood release.

As the jinchuriki pressed Hashirama, the other ninjas dashed in, enacting damage on his body. They struggled and for a moment, it looked like they had him dead to rights.

But no. Hashirama, in a flash of brilliance, sacrificed an arm to capture the jinchuriki and with a huge blow, made a fist sized hole in his heart.

Seizing the opportunity, the ninjas dashed in and turned Hashirama to a pin cushion. With a bloody cough, Hashirama dropped to his knees.

"Noooo!" Suddenly, Gojo was there cutting the ninjas down. In a whirlwind of moves, Gojo revealed what looked like a stolen sharingan. After defeating the ninjas, he knelt, cradling Hashirama who was sporting a bloody smile.

The crowd watched silently as Gojo broke down in tears mourning his fallen friend. The curtains fell with Gojo's back to the audience.

The curtains were lifted to reveal the Raikage’s office. The windows were thrown open showing a beautiful night skyline of Kumo.

The Raikage, a muscle bound ninja with a permanent scowl, sat behind his desk. Paperwork was strewn all over the desk.

His subordinate stood there, looking like they drew the short straw to deliver bad news. "Raikage-sama. We've received word that the eight tailed jinchuriki is dead."

"Truly?" The Raikage sat up, swiftly accepting the message scroll from the ninja. Breaking the seal, he scanned the message before sighing. "X. Did you verify this message?"

The subordinate (X), probably wishing they were anywhere else, nodded solemnly.

"Well, at least we got Hashirama." The raikage remarked as he rubbed his temples. "With our declared tailed beast gone, we're in a tight spot. When the other villages hear of this, they'll be targeting us."

"We need a plan sir. Fast." X muttered.

The raikage stood up from his seat and walked to the window looking down at Kumo. "Do we know the location of the Konoha jinchuriki?"

"Yes, sir. Uzumaki Mito is currently in Konoha. She has not left the village since the start of the war."

"Those tree hugging bastards," the raikage swore. "Let's hope she isn't just kept in Konoha throughout the war. We'll have to find a way to draw her out. For now, let's even the scales. Target any jinchurikis we can find on the battlefield. This is our new priority. Send the message."

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"Yes sir!" X walked out and the curtain fell.

In the next scene, the stage was transformed once again into a battlefield, complete with explosions and ninjas battling each other.

At the center of the stage, the jinchurikis of the two and seven tails were locked in a cinematic battle. It was like watching fireworks, only with more ninja flips.

Several ninjas came in to join the battle but we're struck down with impunity, their puppet bodies shattered all over the ground. The two powerhouses clashed fiercely, ignoring everything around them.

With a great cry, they charged up a huge technique and simultaneously, they landed deadly blows on each other. They flopped to the ground and in the midst of the deadly battlefield, breathed their last.

The scene changed to show as the other jinchurikis were killed in battle, either by opposing forces or by a team up of Gojo and Tobirama.

The scene of Tobirama's historic death at the hand of Kumo's kinkaku force was shown. The kage sacrificed himself to save his subordinates. It was shown as he designated Hiruzen as the third hokage.

The scenes flew by. The war ended with an armistice before a treaty was signed. All nations except Suna and Konoha suffered the loss of their jinchurikis.

In a few years, the nations began pointing accusing fingers at each other. They searched high and low but their tailed beasts were nowhere to be found. Before long, the nations began to eye Konoha whose jinchuriki never participated in the war.

The curtains were lifted for the final scene. In the shadows of a dimly lit chamber, Riku, the shodai Kazekage, slept peacefully. The silence of the room was broken as a familiar figure in blue robes decorated with white clouds glided in.

Gojo moved with ethereal grace, his steps unheard by the sleeping Kazekage. He approached the bed with cautious determination. A kunai materialized in his hand, a deadly whisper slicing through the silence. The audience was silent as the scene played out.

Gojo's other hand glowed with chakra reminiscent of a fuinjutsu application. "I'm sorry." He murmured as he thrust the blade toward Riku's heart.

Clang!

A metallic plate sprung forth from under the bed, intercepting the kunai. Riku leaped to his feet as Gojo leapt away. They both stood sizing each other up with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.

"Gojo. You're far from home," Riku stated, his voice steady. He looked regal even in his pajamas.

"I have unfinished business," Gojo replied cryptically.

Riku made a noise of understanding. "Ah. So, the disappearance of the tailed beasts must be your work."

A nod from Gojo confirmed the suspicion. "Yes. You see, I developed a seal, a special one." He slipped the kunai back into his pouch. "This seal isolates the consciousness of a tailed beast from its chakra. When they die, their consciousness fades and is transferred to the stomach of the shinigami. Their chakra transforms into nature chakra. They're gone. Forever."

Riku chuckled, "that's quite brilliant. What do you get out of this though?"

"Stability. Without the power of the tailed beast looming over them, the smaller ninja villages will thrive. There'll be balance. The five big villages won't be able to treat the smaller villages like a playground for their wars."

"I see. You're like Hashirama. An idealistic idiot."

"Whatever you say. My plan isn't complete. I was in charge of the seals of all jinchurikis except one."

Riku nodded as he comprehended the gravity of the situation. "Except me."

Gojo affirmed, "Yes. You. This is my chance to rectify that mistake."

"Unfortunately, you won't be getting that chance," Riku countered with a wry smile.

The atmosphere crackled as Gojo revealed his Sharingan. "We shall see."

Their clash began. Riku magnet release, manipulating plates of metal inscribed with seals. Gojo countered with Sharingan, weaving genjutsu, and unleashing devastating Lightning jutsu. The room became a battleground, their techniques clashing, causing catastrophic damage to the very walls of the space around them.

In the final exchange, Gojo's kunai found its mark in Riku's heart, just as Riku's metal plate cut through Gojo's neck. Both warriors crumpled to the floor like puppets with their strings cut.

A young ninja burst into the room using the window, rushing toward Riku. "Dad!" he exclaimed, cradling his fallen father.

Blood spurted from Riku's mouth as he spoke with urgency. "Son, the tailed beasts are no more. Gojo has betrayed the ninja villages." He coughed. "Hurry. Seal the one tailed inside me into the treasure under my bed. Safeguard it. Never let there be a jinchuriki anymore. Slowly siphon and harness the tailed beast chakra into members of our family only. Keep Suna safe."

"I will, father." With determination, the second Hokage retrieved the treasure and extracted the tailed beast, and Riku breathed his last, leaving behind a legacy and a world forever changed. The curtains fell as the sun rose over Suna.

The audience stood for an ovation while I was trying to digest the bomb that had just dropped onto my lap. The tailed beasts are gone. Only Suna has one. And maybe Konoha too.

Damn it. Can't people transmigrate without changing anything?