Two Months Later

It was not until Mitokado Homura's head was shoved into the noose that he belatedly felt overwhelming terror.

Mitokado Homura opened his mouth wide, but no sound came out.

The executioners wasted no time. Once everyone had been fitted with nooses, an order rang out:

"Drop!"

The platforms beneath them gave way, and the condemned prisoners all plunged down at once. The nooses tightened, swiftly constricting around their necks.

The sudden impact fractured their cervical vertebrae, instantly severing their central nerves and cervical arteries.

Before long, they were all hanging there in horrifying death.

The villagers below applauded and cheered.

"They're dead! Good riddance!"

"Woo!"

"I heard this is only the first batch of executions."

"There are more to come. Anyone found guilty will be executed too."

The impact of these hangings was immense.

Especially since those executed included Sarutobi Clan Members and Mitokado Homura, the former Advisor Elder.

During the investigations that followed, the Shimura Clan, the Utatane Clan, and the ninja clans close to them—

Suddenly became especially cooperative. They actively assisted with the investigations, and if there were any issues, they confessed and accepted punishment.

Even so, people were still hanged every few days.

Among them were those who had spread rumors about Naruto back then, members of the Shimura Clan, and members of the Sarutobi Clan.

Two months passed in a flash, and over seventy people from the Sarutobi Clan had been hanged one after another.

Although only one person was hanged every few days now—

Every member of the Sarutobi Clan lived in constant fear.

Especially those still in prison, who were terrified they would not live to see tomorrow's sun.

Because the interrogators did not follow any normal procedure at all.

The whole process took only a few sentences. They laid out the