Tsunade saw it and drove an elbow into Jiraiya!
Jiraiya grimaced in pain and nearly collapsed, but Tsunade caught him.
On the platform, the Execution Rod beating continued!
As his injuries worsened and the pain mounted, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally screamed, just as Danzo had before him.
Yongye's gaze swept over Hiruzen Sarutobi's arched back and settled on the Water-and-Fire Staff rising and falling above him. After the fiftieth blow landed, he raised his right hand, palm down, and pressed it slightly downward.
Today, with Orochimaru working as his inside man, breaking Hiruzen's spirit mattered most! The Execution Rod beating only needed to make a point.
"That's enough. Treat him."
Zhan Zhao nodded and lowered his hand. Pale green medical Chakra flowed from his palm into the tissue beneath Hiruzen's skin. Swollen flesh slowly settled under its glow, while dark purple bruising spread toward the surface and gradually faded.
Hiruzen Sarutobi lay with one cheek against the ground. His awareness and focus, nearly shattered by the pain, quickly returned. Before long, he was lucid again.
But that only made it worse!
Before, only his body had hurt! Now his body and mind were both in agony!
Yongye nodded, pleased by his reaction.
Now this was satisfying revenge! Leave the enemy unable to bear living or dying!
"Orochimaru, continue."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, hiding the sorrow in them, and slowly spoke again.
"It wasn't just the destruction of the Shimura Clan."
"Hiruzen Sarutobi was also the mastermind behind Pain's destruction of Konoha."
The crowd stirred again, its murmurs shorter and more intense than before.
Orochimaru continued without pausing.
"He kept proclaiming himself the strongest Hokage, only to become a Konoha rogue ninja and a laughingstock."
"He hated Konoha with all his heart, so he sent Pain to take revenge."
The Konoha onlookers