Bonus for 200 PS.
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The plaza instantly turned into hell.
People ran in terror, pushing and trampling one another in panic.
The original joy and solemnity were shattered by the sudden assassination.
"Protect Daimyo-sama!"
The City Guards closest to the high platform reacted first. They formed a wall with their bodies, raised their spears and shields, and roared as they charged toward the desperadoes emerging from the smoke and dust.
Clang.
Blades clashed with spear tips, sparks flying as hot blood splattered.
"Minato!"
Hiruzen stood up abruptly, the pipe in his hand cracking.
Minato's golden hair fluttered as his figure flashed, about to rush forward.
The Konoha ninja all rose at once, their killing intent flaring as they prepared to assist.
But just as they were about to move.
Whoosh.
Whoosh.
Whoosh.
A series of sharp sounds came from all around.
More than ten dark figures silently appeared in front of them, blocking their way.
They were dressed in the Daimyo Manor's guard uniforms, yet an eerie aura radiated from them, the smell of blood thick in the air.
"Everyone, please calm down."
The leading dark figure's voice was hoarse. He didn't turn around, only extended a black-gloved hand in a halting gesture.
Minato's forward motion stopped abruptly, his golden eyes filled with shock.
Their concealment was flawless. Even he hadn't noticed them before now.
In that brief pause, the assassins broke through the City Guards' defense line. With sinister grins, they were about to step onto the high platform.
At that very moment.
Another wave of sharp sounds filled the air.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
From beneath the high platform, behind the pillars of the main hall, and even from cracks in the stone floor, over thirty dark figures shot out.
They were silent, carrying a chilling killing intent, like a vast net that instantly closed around the high platform.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
Intense sounds of metal clashing erupted all at once.
The battle on the high platform turned fierce in an instant.
Over thirty Anbu engaged the assassins. Amidst the flashing blades, they drove all the attackers off the platform.
This sudden development made Shu and Takashi, who were hiding in the crowd, extremely anxious.
In their plan, this was supposed to be a lightning-fast strike.
But the surrounding guards had already begun to re-form their encirclement, cold spear tips closing in from every direction.
If they delayed any longer, everything would be lost.
Under immense pressure, Shu's psychological defenses completely collapsed.
He looked like a madman, his crimson eyes fixed on the viewing platform as he roared with all his might.
"Danzō-sama! Shimura Danzō! You promised me! Where are your people! Hurry up and act!"
His roar silenced the entire plaza.
On the viewing platform, the envoys from the four nations looked bewildered, and the people of Konoha could barely hide their shock.
"Act!"
A sharp shout came from behind the Konoha delegation.
Boom.
After a brief silence, nearly thirty figures wearing pure white masks suddenly erupted from among the fleeing civilians in the plaza.
Root.
Their movements were swift and coordinated. Ignoring the surrounding guards trying to stop them, their short blades drew arcs of death as they charged straight toward the high platform.
This sudden turn instantly broke the balance of battle.
The Root ninjas and desperadoes converged, and with unstoppable force, they stormed the high platform.
Above the high platform, blades flashed, flesh and blood flew, and killing intent filled the air.
"Wind Release, Vacuum Sphere!"
A Root ninja took a deep breath, firing several rapidly spinning air bullets like cannonballs toward an Anbu.
The Anbu didn't dodge. He quickly formed hand signs, and a thick wall of earth rose from the ground.
"Earth Release, Earth-Style Wall!"
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The air bullets exploded against the wall, blasting craters into it and sending debris flying, but they couldn't break through.
At that moment, another Root ninja appeared behind him like a ghost, his poisoned short blade thrusting silently toward his back.
But a katana imbued with pale green chakra blocked from the side. When the blades collided, wind-attribute chakra erupted, sending the Root ninja flying backward.
"Water Release, Water Dragon Bullet!"
On another side, an Anbu opened his mouth and released a torrent of water, sending two desperadoes tumbling through the air.
Limbs flew, lives were lost one after another, and blood soaked the high platform.
From afar, Arashi's figure looked like a lone boat in a raging storm, ready to capsize at any moment.
"Danzō! You..."
Hiruzen trembled all over, his head snapping sharply toward his old comrade. His eyes were blazing with fury.
Minato looked confused, glancing from Danzō to Hiruzen.
Uchiha Fugaku's Sharingan spun rapidly, the three tomoe rotating before fading again.
Nara Shikaku closed his eyes in frustration, gritting his teeth as he muttered, "That idiot..."
On the other side, the reactions of the four nation delegations were mixed after their initial shock.
The envoy from Kumo grinned, unable to hide his sneer.
The envoy from Iwa stroked his beard, narrowing his eyes as he calculated how much benefit this internal chaos in the Land of Fire could bring his country.
"We must provide support!"
Seeing the Daimyo in danger, Minato grew increasingly anxious and was about to move again.
But the Anbu blocking them still didn't budge.
The leading Anbu slowly turned his head, his voice devoid of emotion. "Fourth Hokage-sama, the farce on the high platform does not require your intervention."
"Your Konoha's troubles are not here."
He looked past Minato, his cold gaze settling on the one-eyed man behind him, whose face had gone ashen beneath his bandaged right eye.
"Right now, what you should be doing is apprehending the traitor who attempted regicide, Danzō Shimura."
"Nonsense!"
Hiruzen's furious roar overlapped the Anbu's words.
He was trembling with rage, pointing at the Anbu leader as he shouted, "The Daimyo's safety is paramount! Why aren't you rescuing him? What are you doing blocking us here!"
If the Daimyo of the Land of Fire were killed before his eyes, that would mark the end of everything.
He, the Third Hokage, would become a sinner of the Land of Fire.
Minato urgently added, "That's right! Save the Daimyo first! We can discuss other matters later!"
But no matter what Hiruzen and Minato said, the Anbu leader remained silent, still blocking them firmly, which only made their anxiety grow.
Others in the Konoha camp, however, had different thoughts.
Fugaku's eyes flickered as he quietly gestured to his clansmen beside him, signaling them to observe.
In his view, this might be an opportunity.
The new Daimyo was too powerful, constantly suppressing Konoha.
If he died, and that fool Shu supported by Danzō took over, it might not be bad for the Uchiha Clan, or even for Konoha as a whole.
A weak Daimyo would benefit Konoha far more than a strong one.
Hyuga Hiashi's face was ashen, his Byakugan clearly observing something, yet he also didn't move.
Nara Shikaku rubbed his forehead in frustration, muttering to himself.
He had already seen through the chessboard behind this assassination.
Daimyo.
Traitor.
Danzō.
Konoha's high command. One wrong move, and everything would collapse.
The Konoha shinobi's hearts wavered, none able to make an immediate decision.
Above the high platform, the bloody battle only grew fiercer.
(To be continued.)