The Shimura Clan's Doomed Journey

The Daimyo Manor's study.

Chiba Ran sat at the desk.

An urgent secret report from Minato Namikaze lay before him.

The report meticulously detailed the reactions of Konoha's various ninja clans to the two plans.

The Uchiha were fervent.

The Ino-Shika-Cho were wary.

The Hyuga submitted.

Everything was as expected.

As long as the correct commands were given, the reactions of these ninja were clear.

Then, his gaze fell on the end of the scroll.

It recorded the situation of the Shimura Clan.

Chiba Ran hadn't actually decided how to deal with this clan.

Perhaps the death of Danzo had put them under pressure.

Looking at the words "disposed of as one sees fit" on the list, Chiba Ran couldn't help but smile.

There was one last sentence at the end of the scroll.

"Are there still paths to serve the country for the descendants of traitors?"

This made the amusement in Chiba Ran's eyes deepen.

"Interesting."

People pushed to the brink could see their position more clearly than those from smooth-sailing noble families.

Gen, the butler beside him, sensed the change in his master's mood and immediately lowered his head, his breathing softening.

Whenever Lord showed this expression, it meant someone's fate was about to be rewritten.

"Gen."

"Your subordinate is here."

"Tell me, how should I deal with them?"

"Your subordinate is foolish and dares not speak rashly."

"Just say it when I tell you to, and I'll pardon you!"

Gen dared not delay and quickly said, "Reporting to Lord, according to the law, although the main culprits of rebellion have been brought to justice, their clan should also have their titles stripped, their property confiscated, and they should be demoted to commoners, never to be employed for life."

A very standard answer.

"Demoted to commoners?"

Chiba Ran thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Too wasteful."

Training a ninja required a lot of resources, let alone an entire clan.

He walked to the huge Ninja World map, his gaze lingering on the Land of Fire region for a moment.

A concept had already taken shape.

If the Hidden Guards were to be the eyes, then someone needed to be the blade.

The Hidden Guards couldn't be both eyes and blade, otherwise, it would be too difficult to control.

The Shimura Clan, these ninjas burdened by sin and stripped of their future, were undoubtedly the best material to be the blade.

He would not tell anyone this idea.

After all, if a ruler is not discreet, they lose their ministers.

Thinking this, Chiba Ran walked back to the desk, picked up the imperial brush, and took a blank scroll.

As the brush tip fell, there were only a few words.

He sealed the scroll and handed it to the Hidden Guard beside him.

"Send someone to Konoha with this and give it to Minato Namikaze. Have him personally read it to the Shimura Clan."

The Hidden Guard took the scroll, and his figure disappeared.

From beginning to end, Chiba Ran did not explain a single word to Gen.

Konohagakure, Hokage's Office.

Minato Namikaze slowly unrolled the Daimyo's letter.

The contents made him freeze.

The entire letter contained only one sentence: "The entire Shimura Clan is hereby ordered to depart within three days for the Land of Fire Capital to await judgment."

There were no reprimands.

No proposed punishments.

Only this one sentence.

"Await judgment?"

Was this a sentence of death for the entire clan, a warning to others?

Or was there some other purpose?

Minato Namikaze couldn't fathom the young lord's intentions at all.

Forget it, no more thinking!

He just needed to be a messenger; thinking too much wouldn't help.

He quickly collected himself and had the ANBU summon Shimura Ken.

Soon, Shimura Ken was brought in.

The old man looked apprehensive, his eyes filled with hope. "Hokage-sama, the Daimyo..."

Minato Namikaze said nothing, merely pushing the Daimyo's letter in front of him.

Shimura Ken's hands trembled as he took the scroll.

As he read the sentence on it, his aged body shook violently, and his face instantly drained of all color.

"Proceed to the Land of Fire Capital... Await judgment..."

It was over.

Everything was over!

The last shred of luck, the final glimmer of hope, was crushed at that moment.

He could already see the heads of his clan, young and old, falling on the execution grounds in the Land of Fire Capital.

Thump!

The scroll slipped from Shimura Ken's grasp, his cloudy old eyes filled only with despair. "Hokage-sama..."

"Is... is there no other way?"

He stammered, his voice like a whisper.

Minato Namikaze watched him in silence, finally shaking his head gently.

The light in Shimura Ken's eyes completely extinguished.

He didn't cry out or beg for mercy. Supported by his clansmen, he left the Hokage Building.

He looked like a walking corpse.

When the news reached the clan.

Despair instantly engulfed the entire family.

There were no wails.

No curses.

Only an extreme, suffocating silence.

A young ninja suddenly drew his kunai, seemingly intending to end it all.

But his father slapped the kunai away.

"If we go, we go as a whole clan!" his father roared, his voice hoarse.

They knew that in the face of absolute power, any struggle was futile.

That afternoon, the Shimura Clan began selling off their assets.

They didn't choose to flee.

Instead, they converted all their wealth into dry rations and clean water.

Because they knew that countless eyes were fixed on them from the outside.

The only thing they could do was pack their belongings, gather the women and children, and embark on this journey towards death.

Three days later.

Just as dawn was breaking.

A procession of over three hundred people silently walked out of the gates of Konohagakure.

Among them were ninjas, ordinary people, the elderly, and even infants still in swaddling clothes.

Everyone had a deathly pale face.

This was a procession heading to the execution grounds.

On the official road leading to the Land of Fire Capital, the group moved forward slowly.

The atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.

No one spoke.

Only the sound of heavy footsteps and wheels rolling over dust could be heard.

Occasional infant cries were also gradually silenced by their mothers' comfort.

These were all the members of the Shimura Clan.

At the very front of the procession was Shimura Ken, his hair white with age.

He wore a brand-new plain robe, and his usually straight back was now hunched over.

Every step he took was incredibly heavy.

For he was leading his entire clan towards an unknown, but likely devastating, end.

The clan members behind him had hollow eyes.

Fear had long been worn away by the arduous journey, leaving only a numb resignation to fate.

Finally, the imposing city walls of the Land of Fire Capital appeared on the horizon.

Upon entering the city gate, the guards checked their documents and waved them through.

Once inside the city, they were stopped by an official.

"The Shimura Clan?"

"Yes, Lord!"

"The Daimyo has an order. Follow me."

After speaking, the official led them through the bustling streets.

They were not taken to the administrative office to judge criminals.

Nor were they taken to a prison to detain offenders.

Eventually, they were brought to a wide training ground on the outskirts of the city.

The training ground was surrounded by high walls, and its only entrance was a heavy iron gate.

As the last Shimura clan member walked into the training ground.

"BOOM!"

The iron gate slammed shut behind them, cutting off all contact with the outside.

A tremor ran through the ground, startling a baby into crying loudly. His mother desperately covered his mouth, leaving only whimpers.

Everyone's bodies stiffened.

Their last escape route was completely severed.

They huddled together, over three hundred people, confined to this empty space, awaiting an unknown judgment.

Time trickled by.

The sun overhead grew more scorching, sweat soaking their clothes, yet not a single person dared to move.

After an unknown period.

A small door on the other side of the training ground creaked open.

A figure walked in against the light.

He wore simple black casual clothing, without any adornments, and his steps were unhurried.

But the moment he appeared, the entire training ground fell silent.

The person walked slowly to the center of the field and stopped.

He didn't speak, merely scanned everyone present calmly, his handsome face devoid of any expression.

An indescribable pressure descended upon them.

Wherever his gaze fell, the Shimura clansmen lowered their heads, their breathing becoming cautious.

His imposing demeanor made it impossible to look directly at him.

It was him!

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire, Chiba Ran!

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