With his movements.
The First Elder smiled and introduced it to Hiruzen Sarutobi beside him. "Third, this punishment is called 'Thousand Ants Devour the Heart.' It's exactly what it sounds like, but these ants are no ordinary insects!"
"They're bugs specially bred by the Aburame Clan. Their abilities are quite interesting. They amplify a person's pain while also depriving them of the ability to resist, and they keep the person conscious the whole time!"
"So the person being punished can clearly feel the ants nibbling away at their heart, bite by bite. The pain is excruciating, but they won't pass out and can't fight back!"
After hearing the explanation, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked astonished and praised the First Elder. "As expected of the Senju! You even have such a mysterious form of punishment. Impressive!"
He buttered him up with flattery and said all the right things, pretending to be ignorant as he played along.
But inwardly, he was cursing them to the high heavens.
The Senju had deliberately brought them to watch a punishment for a traitor. Wasn't that a hint that they might suffer the same fate?
And they'd deliberately chosen the plaza, without even closing the main gate.
He didn't believe the Senju hadn't noticed how many spies were outside the gate!
After cursing them inwardly, he began considering the purpose behind the Senju's actions, and why they had chosen to make their falling-out public.
A long while later!
"Ahhh-ahh!"
"Danzo, you beast! You tied up my child and made me suffer like this! Ahh!"
"I-I was wrong! It hurts-it hurts!"
The sudden screams and curses from the crowd jolted Hiruzen Sarutobi back to his senses.
Watching the man roll around and cry inside the Water Formation Wall, listening to each anguished scream and curse,
he finally saw the purpose behind the Senju's actions.
Leaving the gate open meant they wanted the reputations of the few of them to be utterly ruined among the Shinobi Clans.
Although no one with connections could be kept in the dark about what had been going on between them and the Senju since yesterday, as long as the answer wasn't announced right away, the outside world would be left with all sorts of speculation and misinformation to muddy the waters.
The longer they dragged it out, the less likely people would be to believe any announcement, even when one was finally made.
After all, people were more likely to trust what they'd gone to great lengths to find out for themselves than what one side announced after the fact.
This public punishment would keep the Small Shinobi Clans from being misled by false information.
The Small Shinobi Clans had seen and heard for themselves exactly why the two sides had fallen out.
Although this would let the outside world see that the Senju were weak, the powerful clans had already known that. As for the small clans?
Even a weakened Senju clan was still someone they couldn't afford to provoke!
So would going public affect the Senju?
Yes, but only a little. As long as the Senju could still wield their blades, those small clans absolutely wouldn't dare make trouble.
And as long as the Senju had Wood Release, the major clans wouldn't casually make enemies of them.
What about the impact on their side?
It would be huge!
After today, even if the Small Shinobi Clans didn't side with the Senju, they definitely wouldn't side with them.
After all, if they dared to target even the Senju, who could guarantee they wouldn't target a small clan for some reason?
Earlier, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others had thought that after reaching a settlement with the Senju, everyone would maintain the outward appearance of stability.
After all, the Land of Fire wasn't the only great nation in the Shinobi World. But they hadn't expected the Senju to choose to make their falling-out public!
There was no need to wait until tomorrow; Konoha's division would spread throughout the entire Shinobi World.
The Senju weren't the ruling faction, so this wouldn't affect them at all.
The Nine-Tails on one side, Wood Release on the other.
Unless they had a generational grudge, the other villages wouldn't provoke them.
But which villages would make things difficult for them?
Would they pick on a Konoha in the middle of internal turmoil, rather than a united Iwagakure?
Thinking about this gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a headache. He glared resentfully at Shimura Danzō, who had exposed the pus-filled wound.
Nearby, after explaining the punishment, the First Elder had been watching Hiruzen Sarutobi's expressions the whole time.
Only after seeing a flash of hatred in his eyes
did the First Elder turn slightly and quietly ask, feigning confusion, "Third, from what Fourth Elder was shouting, it sounds like Danzo is raising one of his children?"
"Did you know about this? Fourth Elder deserves to die for his crimes, but that child is still of Senju blood. Don't leave Danzo holding the bag and raising him."
"Help us ask around. If his wife is willing, have her come to the Senju with the child. If she isn't, then bring the child over before sunset tonight!"
What did he mean, if his wife was willing, she should come to the Senju with the child?
Danzo had taken one of the Senju's children, and now they wanted his wife thrown in as well?
Though Danzo didn't have a wife, if the Senju hadn't fallen out with them,
he would've had Danzo get married on the spot and produce one for them!
But they'd already gone and opened the gate, publicly declaring their falling-out.
And they still expected him to play along with this sarcastic guessing game?
Tch!
After cursing them inwardly, he spat a mouthful of saliva onto the ground.
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to the First Elder beside him.
A familiar smile appeared on his face as he said, "Don't worry, First Elder. Although I don't know exactly what happened, I'll definitely give you an answer before sunset!"
He'd received the reply and completed his task.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Fourth Elder, who was being punished. Inwardly, he sighed.
Then, looking at the smiling Third Hokage, the First Elder put on a similar smile.
He smiled as if he trusted him completely and said, "That's good. We can all rest easy when you're handling things!"
The two of them looked at each other's impossibly fake expressions and cheerfully continued chatting.
Sitting beside Mito, Uka Senju watched the two of them perform from above.
Thinking of how people in later generations touted the Professor of Ninjutsu as the strongest Hokage, he couldn't help laughing to himself.
In his eyes, "venomous snake" was the best description for the Third.
Still, he had to admire how shamelessly Hiruzen Sarutobi could put his pride and status aside!
"Grr."
His body's reaction made Uka rub his stomach.
He was at the age when he digested food fastest, but the noon punishment viewing had kept him from even having lunch.
Looking at the battered figure in the crowd, who had no visible injuries but kept screaming and crying out in pain,
he couldn't help sighing. This was only the first one, and he had no idea how long they'd have to watch these punishments!
Hearing the noise, Mito Uzumaki smiled and picked up the box of pastries on the table, handing it to the child beside her. "Have some to tide you over!"
"Mm!"
Looking at the food in front of him, Uka Senju didn't refuse. He answered, then sat to the side and started eating!
She'd only meant for him to have a little, but Uka gobbled everything down, finishing the entire box in no time.
Mito Uzumaki opened her mouth to stop him, then swallowed her words and said with a strange expression, "Take your time. Next time you come to Grandma's, your Aunt Tsukika can make you pastries from the Land of Fire!"
Busy filling his stomach, Uka Senju had his mouth stuffed full. He simply nodded vigorously in agreement without answering.
Below the platform, after glancing at Fourth Elder, who had nearly stopped moving, Shinji Senju ordered someone beside him, "Take Rikima Senju and the others up to get ready!"
"Yes!" The Senju shinobi from the Punishment Department answered and went to make preparations nearby.