Hiruzen Sarutobi on the Guillotine

Given this situation, why would those ninja clans and shinobi come back to protect him? Even if some people felt the diary's contents were questionable, they wouldn't act rashly.

After all, there was no proof that Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't killed his own teacher to rise to power!

This was exactly what Uchiha Kazuto wanted—to completely turn Hiruzen Sarutobi into a man isolated from Konoha's interests. Kill Danzo, shatter his last pillar of support, imprison the two advisors, and leave Hiruzen Sarutobi utterly alone.

Using extreme pressure, in his name, he would make all of Konoha alienated from this Lord Hokage. Everyone would wish him dead, want him thrown down from the Hokage's seat.

Boom!

Fight! Fight! Fight!

The massive Susanoo stood firm against Hiruzen Sarutobi's various Ninjutsu, unleashing a furious barrage.

Hum!

The next moment, a giant baton appeared in the colossal Susanoo's hand.

"It's over, Hiruzen Sarutobi! For the sake of the village, you will fall!"

Uchiha Kazuto gripped this baton—his Divine Artifact, a miraculous weapon.

This baton could intimidate an enemy's spirit, disrupting their chakra condensation and jutsu release. Moreover, when struck, the target would feel only one hit but suffer the impact of six blows. After being attacked, the enemy would experience excruciating pain, and the flow of energy within their body would be affected.

Bam!

The baton turned into a blur, swinging toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Summoning Technique!

Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly formed hand seals. The next moment, smoke dispersed, and the summoned Enma transformed directly into the Adamantine Staff, which Hiruzen raised high.

Boom!

The giant baton slammed straight into this staff. Though it was only one strike, six terrifying shockwaves erupted, blasting Hiruzen Sarutobi into the earth.

But before Hiruzen could react, a shrill, agonized, despairing scream erupted from the Adamantine Staff in his hand.

Pain beyond physiological limits descended upon Enma. This nearly indestructible staff began to writhe, eventually slipping from Hiruzen's grasp, reverting to its original form, and collapsing to the ground, wailing in despair and agony.

Pain! Too much pain!

Enma had suffered no physical injury—only the pain, a torment beyond all physiological limits.

"Old friend, what's wrong with you?"

Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi leaped out, his face full of worry as he looked at Enma. But Enma had no energy left to acknowledge him.

Creatures with overly developed pain nerves could die from the agony.

Whoosh!

At that moment, the giant baton hurtled toward Hiruzen Sarutobi. He dodged swiftly.

Yet his arm was still grazed by the weapon.

Bam!

Six powerful impacts surged into his arm. His limb exploded. Pain—unbearable, utterly transcendent agony—erupted through his body.

In that instant, he finally understood what had happened to Enma.

Too late!

He collapsed to the ground, screaming in despair and anguish.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi! The end of your path as a rogue ninja is here!"

The next moment, Uchiha Kazuto raised his baton and began savagely beating the nearby Enma—six strikes a second, six times six makes thirty-six. Well, not exactly six per second, but far more.

"Roar!"

Enma let out a desperate howl, then passed out. His body bore no wounds, but he was too consumed by pain to even think about dispelling the Summoning Technique.

Uchiha Kazuto dismissed his Susanoo, appeared beside Hiruzen Sarutobi, and seized him by the throat. A Chakra Scalpel materialized in his hand, and in a few swift motions, he severed Hiruzen's hand and foot tendons. Then he produced a rope and bound Hiruzen up.

It was over.

"Everyone stop! The rogue ninja Hiruzen Sarutobi has been captured!"

Uchiha Kazuto announced loudly.

Before long, on Konoha's plaza, a tall platform stood. Hiruzen Sarutobi lay on a Guillotine, while Uchiha Kazuto stood beside him, his face filled with grief, holding a rope in his hand.

The villagers of Konoha gathered below the platform, their faces alight with excitement and fervor as they stared at the scene before them.

"Kill him! Kill him! Kill that damned Hiruzen Sarutobi!"

"Kill Hiruzen Sarutobi!"

"Kill the rogue ninja Hiruzen Sarutobi!"

The villagers shouted and jumped with glee. That inherently evil old Sarutobi demon was finally going to die!

On the Guillotine, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was bitter and sorrowful as he looked down at the crowd. He didn't understand how things had come to this. Everything had been fine before.

With Uchiha Kazuto's help, all of Konoha had seemed vibrant and full of life, a picture of thriving competition. How had it turned so quickly that he, the Hokage, was about to die?

And you people—weren't you always swearing your undying loyalty to me?

How did it come to this, with everyone now wanting him dead?

This isn't right! Could it be that your previous respect, your so-called loyalty, was all fake?

And you ninja—back when I was in the Study Corps, every time I came to give a speech, you shouted loyalty at me day after day. So why is it that now, not a single one of you believes he isn't a traitor?

Something's wrong!

Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't understand it at all. He looked at Uchiha Kazuto, and on Uchiha Kazuto's face was immense grief, heaviness, and... disappointment—disappointment in him, the Hokage, because this Hokage had betrayed the village and violated the Will of Fire.

Damn it, what the hell is going on!

"Kazuto, this is all a lie! How could I have done those things? I've given so much for this village! How could I be the village's traitor!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted loudly. Even now, he still hadn't realized that everything happening was Uchiha Kazuto's doing. He couldn't—Uchiha Kazuto's disguise was too perfect. His usual demeanor was one of terrifying loyalty, as if he would sacrifice even his own life without hesitation for the village and the Hokage.

But it was precisely this loyalty that, upon learning the truth, caused his mindset to collapse. Extremes reverse, and he struck back at the Hokage with full force. All of this fit Uchiha Kazuto's persona perfectly.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi, even now you still want to make excuses? It's useless. You can't fool me anymore. I was truly blind back then!"

Uchiha Kazuto shook his head.