Amid countless people's preparations, the day to publicly cut Danzo in half has arrived as scheduled.
Sunlight pours in from the high windows of the Konoha Military Police Force hall, casting parallel light strips on the Stone Slab ground. Dust floats in the light strips, rising and falling.
The hall was full of people.
The corridors on both sides were crowded with people, some were standing on tiptoes, some were grabbing the shoulders of the people in front of them, and there were also a few young ninjas who climbed up to the pillars and squatted.
Everyone's eyes were focused on the three objects in the center of the hall.
Three Execution Blades.
They are lined up in a row, from east to west. The knife rests are made of solid wood, dark brown, and the surface is painted with a layer of tung oil, glowing dimly in the sun. There is a thick beam across the top of the knife rest, and Three Execution Blades is embedded on the beam.
The one on the far left has a dog's head engraved on the guillotine base. The dog's mouth is slightly open, the canine teeth are exposed, and the copper carving glows coldly in the light.
The one in the middle has a tiger's head on the knife base. The tiger's eyes are wide open, the tiger's mouth is wide open, and the tiger's teeth are so sharp that it looks like it can bite it at any time.
The one on the far right has a dragon's head on the knife base. The dragon's beards are coiled and the horns are towering. The whole dragon's head is golden yellow, which makes people's eyes sore in the sun.
Three Execution Blades, the blade is iron black, and the blade has a silvery edge, like a straightened moonlight.
Everyone stared at the Three Execution Blades, their eyes moving back and forth between the dog's head, the tiger's head, and the dragon's head. Some people swallowed, some clenched their fists, and some looked away, not daring to take a closer look.
These things are too cruel to use to kill people!
Yongye is sitting on the high platform.
The desk is higher than before, with a wooden base added, and the tabletop is covered with dark red velvet. Rosewood and Gavel are placed on the right side, glowing with a warm luster in the sun.
Behind him is a newly hung screen. On the screen is painted a red sun rising from the sea of clouds, shining golden light in the blue sky.
Meaning, the blue sky and red sun shine in all directions!
Eight Security Force members were arranged on both sides, with Water-and-Fire Staff standing at their feet. The copper on the head of the stick was polished and shined with a row of golden light in the sun. Everyone's back was straight, their chin was slightly raised, and their eyes were looking straight ahead.
Tsunade is here again, still sitting on the chair on the left.
The white fabric of Hokage Robe has a soft luster under the light, and the golden ponytail hangs from the shoulders, leaving a slender shadow on the robe.
Jiraiya stood half a step behind her, with his arms folded across his chest and his thick eyebrows twisted into a knot.
Shikaku Nara stood next to Jiraiya, with his hands hanging by his side. His eyes fell on Three Execution Blades for a while, and then moved away again.
Inoichi Yamanaka stood on the outside, lowered his head, staring at the toes of his shoes.
The three of them attended as Hokage Advisor.
But this time, they did not want to see Danzo beheaded, but had another purpose. Fifth Hokage Tsunade was newly in power and wanted to show off his power, so they had to help.
The people eating melons were whispering to each other.
"Then what does Three Execution Blades mean? Dog head, tiger head, dragon head... are they divided into levels?"
"It is said that it is a tradition from the Celestial Empire! Dog-Head Guillotine is for ordinary people, Tiger-Head Guillotine is for ministers, and Dragon-Head Guillotine is for Imperial Relatives."
"Master Yongye is really Upright Magistrate, even Dragon-Head Guillotine dares to do it."
"Which one should I use for Danzo?"
"Tiger-Head Guillotine, right? He has been Hokage Advisor after all."
"If Hiruzen Sarutobi is captured, he can probably use Dragon-Head Guillotine."
"Shut up, don't talk nonsense!"
"..."
When the time came, Yongye raised his right hand and picked up Gavel.
Rosewood drew an arc in mid-air, and then fell heavily.
Snap!
Then, eight Water-and-Fire Staff were lifted up at the same time. The stick heads pointed to the ceiling, paused in mid-air, and then fell down at the same time.
The tail of the stick hit the Stone Slab ground, making eight dull loud noises.
Bang!
Eight voices merged into one, solemn and domineering.
"Power--Wu--!"
Two words poured out from the throats of eight people, stacked together, and vibrated back and forth in the empty hall, making the beams above their heads buzz.
The crowd immediately fell silent.
Yongye put down Gavel, put his hands on the desk, and glanced at the dark heads under the stage.
"Bring the prisoner, Shimura Danzō."
Zhan Zhao walked out of the side passage. Behind him were Wang Chao and Ma Han, one holding Danzo's arms on the other.
Danzo was wearing a gray-white prison uniform, with the placket open, revealing the bandaged chest underneath. The bandage was new, and the white fabric was wrapped from the neck to the waist, and was tied in a knot under the armpits.
His right eye socket was still empty, and the sunken eyelid glowed dark red in the light.
The three blood holes on his left arm were covered with black and purple scabs, and the edges of the scabs lifted up, revealing the dark red tender flesh underneath.
His feet were shackled, and the chains dragged Stone Slab on the ground, making a clattering sound with every step.
He felt as if he was half dead, every step was limp. He was half-carried forward by Wang Chao Kazuma Han, and was brought to the open space directly in front of the high platform.
Wang Chao raised his foot and kicked him at the crook of his knee. Danzo's knee bent, and he fell forward, kneeling on Stone Slab's ground, making a muffled sound.
Yongye looked down at him.
"Danzo, today is your death anniversary!"
"Do you have anything else to say?"
Danzo raised his head, his one eye changed from laxity to focus, from focus to sharpness, like a rusty knife having its edge sharpened again.
He looked at Yongye and nodded heavily.
"Yes."
"Before I die, I want to explain something clearly."
Yongye leaned on the back of the chair, his eyes fixed on Danzo's face, and his chin raised slightly.
"Say."
Danzo knelt on the ground, his one eye removed from Yongye's face, and scanned the dark heads in the audience, the expressionless face of Tsunade, the tightened brows of Jiraiya, and the clenched fingers of Shikaku.
Then he opened his mouth and recounted word for word.
"I attacked Uchiha and plundered their eyes."
"Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, was informed and secretly supported."
The hall was quiet for a moment, and then it exploded like a pot of boiling oil that had been splashed with water.
"What? Third Hokage knows?"
"How is that possible!"
"How is it impossible? He is Hokage!"
"..."
Jiraiya jumped in anger, his body ejected from the side of Tsunade, and landed in front of the high platform, pointing his finger directly at Danzo's face.
"Danzo!"
"You are going to die, don't throw dirty water!"
"How could Teacher Sarutobi condone such a thing? It's all your own fault!"
Danzo's one eye turned towards him, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he gave an extremely disdainful smile.
"I'm going to die."
"Why bother throwing dirty water again?"
"When a person is about to die, his words are also good."
"I only tell the truth."
Jiraiya stared at him murderously, gritting his teeth. "What evidence do you have?"
Danzo did not hesitate, one-eyed glared at Jiraiya without fear, and his voice was a little deeper than before.
"Those trap tasks are all designated by Hokage Office."
"Without the cooperation of Hokage, I can't adjust those Uchiha at all!"