Danzo's Death

Hiruzen Sarutobi's roar echoed across the square, his voice carrying rage, sorrow, and the despair of being crushed by reality.

The Kage Level aura around him was no longer restrained; it swept across the entire square.

The air throughout the square grew oppressive, making it hard to breathe.

Shimura Danzō smiled.

Faced with Hiruzen Sarutobi's murderous intent that seemed capable of tearing everything apart, he showed no intention of resisting.

He straightened his back and met his old friend's gaze.

There was no gloom or calculation in that single eye—only the calm acceptance of one who had seen through everything.

"Do it, Hiruzen."

"We fought and struggled against each other our entire lives."

"In the end, dying by your hand isn't such an unjust fate."

"It's just a pity... I won't get to see the day Konoha truly stands at the pinnacle of the Shinobi World."

The bloodshot veins in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes grew more pronounced.

"Shut up!!"

He roared, and his figure vanished from the spot in an instant.

The next moment, he appeared before Danzo. His weathered hand became a claw and viciously tore toward Danzo's heart!

This strike showed not the slightest mercy.

Squelch!

The claw pierced flesh.

At that moment, time seemed to slow infinitely.

Hiruzen Sarutobi could clearly feel the heart beneath his fingertips pounding violently.

It was warm to the touch.

Just like sixty years ago, when they had shared the same rice ball on the battlefield.

Danzo's body shook violently as blood poured from his mouth.

He did not lower his head to look at his wound. Instead, with the last of his strength, he raised a hand and gently patted the arm Hiruzen Sarutobi had thrust into him.

The gesture was light, almost comforting.

"Hiruzen..."

"Be careful... of this Daimyo..."

"He is more evil... than the Uchiha..."

Before he could finish, the light in his eyes went out completely.

His arm dropped limply.

Shimura Danzō, Konoha's darkness, leader of Root, a man of the same generation as the Third Hokage.

Because of his own ambition, he died.

He died at the hands of his closest friend—and lifelong enemy.

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly pulled his hand free.

Blood dripped from his fingers, drop by drop, striking the cold stone slabs and splashing into tiny crimson flowers.

He stared blankly at Danzo's corpse, tears already hanging from his cheeks.

He simply stood there, motionless, letting the wind toss his hair.

On closer inspection, more than half of his hair had turned white.

The Shinobi Hero looked twenty years older in that moment.

The surrounding clamor did not break the silence here.

Konoha's shinobi watched the scene with complicated expressions.

Sorrow, anger, confusion, and an indescribable sense of relief.

Minato Namikaze clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's lonely back pierced his heart.

But he understood even more clearly that from the moment Danzo rebelled, this ending had already been inevitable.

On the raised platform.

Chiba Ran took in everything before him, his face utterly calm.

As though what had died was merely an annoying bug, rather than one of Konoha's Council Elders.

He turned toward the Four Nations Delegation in the viewing stands and clearly saw the expressions on their faces.

When they saw the Daimyo looking over, they all lowered their heads.

The Land of Lightning's envoy had long lost the mockery on his face, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat.

The Land of Earth's envoy was no longer stroking his beard. His hands were hidden in his sleeves, trembling faintly.

Beyond shock, the Land of Wind's envoy's eyes held even more apprehension.

The Land of Water's envoy was equally fearful and did not dare meet his gaze.

Mei Terumi's delicate body trembled faintly.

Looking at the impossibly young Daimyo atop the platform, she experienced true fear for the first time.

The Bloody Mist Village's cruelty and bloodshed were visible slaughter and tyranny.

But this man's silent schemes were invisible.

Without shedding a drop of blood, he had lured them into the trap and made Konoha's two giants slaughter each other, turning the Shinobi Hero who had once intimidated the entire Shinobi World into a pathetic man who had personally killed his friend before all the world.

Such methods, such a disposition...

She suddenly felt that Kirigakure, as well as the Rebel Army she had formed with Genji, were nothing more than a child's game.

Childish!

Chiba Ran was very satisfied with their reactions.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

Kill one to warn a hundred, and intimidate all four directions.

He slowly raised a hand. His voice rang out once more, not loud, yet clearly reaching every corner of the square.

"Aono Saku."

"Your subordinate is here."

The Hidden Guard Leader wearing a pure black mask appeared silently behind him and dropped to one knee.

"Clear the battlefield. Collect the bodies of the civilians and give them proper burials. Compensate those with surviving family members!"

"Hang the bodies of all rebels from the city gates for three days as a warning."

"As for the ringleaders..."

Chiba Ran's gaze fell upon Saionji Takashi and Chiba Xiu, who had already collapsed into a quivering heap from terror.

Compared to Chiba Xiu, Saionji Takashi still had some backbone.

Though his legs shook, he stubbornly refused to collapse, his eyes filled with resentment.

"Saionji Takashi, behead him and display his head to the public. Exterminate three generations of his clan!"

"Chiba Xiu, cripple all four limbs, cut out his tongue, and imprison him in the water dungeon."

"Let him live well and watch well as my Land of Fire grows stronger day by day."

"Yes!" Aono Saku accepted the order and waved for someone to take the two away.

"Chiba Ran, you will die a horrible death, you... urgh..."

As his fate was pronounced, Saionji Takashi cursed aloud, only for a Hidden Guard member to punch him in the mouth, sending blood and teeth flying.

Chiba Xiu trembled violently from head to toe. Extreme terror erupted in his eyes, and harsh rasping sounds came from his throat, yet he could not even utter a plea for mercy.

Ignoring the barking of dying old dogs, Chiba Ran shifted his gaze to Konoha's camp, landing on Minato Namikaze.

"Fourth Hokage."

Minato Namikaze's heart tightened. He instinctively stood straighter. "Daimyo-sama."

"The Third is tired. Take him back to rest."

Chiba Ran's tone was utterly calm.

"I do not wish to see Konoha's internal strife happen a second time."

"I hope you remember that."

It was a warning that showed no regard for the other's status.

After everything that had happened, Minato Namikaze bowed. "Yes. I will obey Daimyo-sama's order."

At this moment, the era of the Daimyo began.

Chiba Ran nodded in satisfaction.

He looked at no one else and turned, walking slowly back to the center of the raised platform.

He stretched out both hands and solemnly lifted the National Stone, symbol of the Land of Fire's highest authority.

Sunlight poured down. The intricate flame patterns on the National Stone seemed to come alive, blazing fiercely in his palms.

He raised the National Stone high.

Before all the people.

Before the world.

"The ceremony is complete!"

At the Chief Ceremonial Officer's shout, the tens of thousands of people in the square fell silent for a moment before erupting into cheers like a mountain-shaking tsunami.

"Long live the Daimyo!!"

"Long live the Land of Fire!!"

They might not understand politics or power struggles.

But they had seen with their own eyes how the Daimyo used thunderous methods to suppress the rebellion and protect their peace.

That was enough.

Amid the earth-shaking cheers, a pale blue screen that only he could see slowly unfolded before his eyes.

Ding!

Main Quest: Lord of the Land of Fire (Phase Two) completed!

Quest Evaluation: Perfect (With thunderous force, cleared internal and external enemies before the eyes of the masses, established the Daimyo's supreme authority, and intimidated villains in all directions.)

Reward distribution in progress...

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