Hiruzen's roar echoed across the square, filled with anger, sorrow, and despair crushed by reality.
His Kage-level aura was no longer restrained, sweeping across the entire venue.
The air over the square grew oppressive, hard to breathe.
Danzō smiled.
Facing Hiruzen's all-consuming killing intent, he showed no intention of resisting.
He straightened his back and met his old friend's gaze.
There was no malice, no calculation in his single eye, only the calm of someone who had seen through everything.
"Do it, Hiruzen."
"We have contended our entire lives, fought our entire lives."
"To die by your hand is not such a bad end."
"It is only a pity that I could not see the day Konoha truly stands at the pinnacle of the ninja world."
The bloodshot in Hiruzen's eyes deepened.
"Shut up!!"
He roared, vanishing from his spot.
The next moment, he appeared before Danzō, his weathered hand turning into a claw, thrusting for Danzō's heart.
There was no mercy in this strike.
Pfft.
The claw pierced flesh and blood.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl.
Hiruzen could feel the heart beneath his fingertips, pounding violently.
It was warm to the touch.
Just like decades ago, when the two shared a rice ball on the battlefield.
Danzō's body shook, blood gushing from his mouth.
He did not look down at his wound. He used his last bit of strength to raise his hand and gently pat the arm Hiruzen used to grab him.
The movement was light, as if in comfort.
"Hiruzen..."
"Be careful... of this Daimyo..."
"He is more evil... than the Uchiha..."
Before he could finish, the light in his eyes went out.
His arm fell limp.
Shimura Danzō, the Darkness of Konoha, leader of Root, a man of the same era as the Third Hokage.
He died because of his own ambition.
He died by the hand of his closest friend and lifelong rival.
Hiruzen slowly withdrew his hand.
Blood dripped from his fingers, pattering onto the cold stone, blooming into tiny flowers of red.
He stared blankly at Danzō's corpse, tears already streaming down his face.
He stood there without moving, letting the wind ruffle his hair.
Up close, more than half his hair was white.
The ninja hero looked twenty years older in that moment.
The surrounding noise could not break the silence here.
The Konoha shinobi watched, their expressions complex.
Sadness, anger, bewilderment, and an unspeakable sense of relief.
Minato clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms.
Hiruzen's lonely figure pained him.
But he knew that from the moment Danzō rebelled, this outcome was already decided.
On the high platform.
Arashi watched without a ripple on his face.
It was as if only an annoying insect had died, not a Konoha Hokage Advisor.
He turned to the four nations' delegations on the viewing platform, clearly seeing the looks on their faces.
Seeing the Daimyo look over, they all lowered their heads.
The Kumo envoy's mockery had vanished, fine sweat beading on his forehead.
The Iwa envoy no longer stroked his beard. His hands hid in his sleeves, trembling slightly.
The Suna envoy's eyes held more apprehension than shock.
The Kiri envoy was equally fearful, not daring to meet his gaze.
Mei trembled slightly.
The cruelty and bloodshed of the Hidden Mist were visible struggle and tyranny.
But this man before her, with his silent machinations, was unseen.
He shed little blood, led them into his trap, and made Konoha's two giants kill each other, turning a ninja hero who had shaken the ninja world into a wretch who murdered his friend in front of everyone.
Such methods, such a heart, made her feel that whether it was Kirigakure, or the resistance she and Gengetsu had formed, it all seemed like a child's game.
Arashi was satisfied with their reactions.
This was precisely the effect he wanted.
Kill one to warn a hundred, deter all sides.
He slowly raised his hand, his voice sounding again, not loud, but reaching every corner of the square.
"Saku."
"Your subordinate is here."
The Anbu leader, wearing a black mask, appeared silently behind him and knelt on one knee.
"Clear the battlefield. Collect the civilians' remains, give them proper burial, and compensate their families."
"As for all rebels, display their heads at the city gates for three days."
"And the masterminds..."
Arashi's gaze fell on Saionji Takashi and Chiba Shu, who had long since collapsed into terrified heaps.
Compared to Shu, Saionji still had some defiance.
Though his legs trembled, he refused to collapse, glaring with hatred.
"Saionji Takashi, beheaded and displayed. Exterminate his clan."
"Chiba Shu, bind his limbs, silence him, and consign him to the State Prison."
"Let him live and watch how my Land of Fire grows stronger day by day."
"Yes." Aono Saku accepted the order and signaled for men to take them away.
"Arashi, you will die a terrible death, you... Ugh..."
As his fate was declared, Saionji cursed, only to be punched in the mouth by an Anbu, blood and teeth flying.
Shu trembled violently, extreme fear in his eyes. He made a gurgling sound, unable to beg for mercy.
Ignoring the dying dog's barking, Arashi looked toward the Konoha camp, his gaze landing on Minato.
"Fourth Hokage."
Minato's heart tightened and he straightened instinctively. "Daimyo-sama."
"The Third Hokage is exhausted. Take him back to rest."
Arashi's tone was flat.
"I do not wish to see a second internal strife in Konoha."
"Remember that."
A warning that disregarded the other party's status.
After what had happened, Minato bowed. "Yes."
In that moment, the era belonging to the Daimyo began.
Arashi nodded in satisfaction.
He looked at no one else and slowly walked back to the center of the high platform.
He raised both hands, solemnly lifting the National Stone that symbolized the highest authority of the Land of Fire.
Sunlight spilled down, and the intricate flame patterns on the stone seemed to come alive, burning brightly in his palm.
He held the National Stone high.
Facing the multitude.
Facing the world.
"The ceremony is complete!"
As the chief ceremonial officer shouted, the tens of thousands in the square fell silent for a heartbeat, then erupted in cheers like a crashing tide.
"Long live Lord Daimyo!!"
"Long live the Land of Fire!!"
Perhaps they did not understand politics or schemes.
But they had seen with their own eyes how the Daimyo crushed the rebellion with thunderous means, protecting their peace.
That was enough.
Amid the deafening cheers, a faint blue curtain of light, visible only to him, slowly unfolded before his eyes.
[Ding!]
[Main Quest: Lord of the Land of Fire, Stage Two, has been completed!]
[Quest Evaluation: Perfect, with lightning speed, in the spotlight of all, cleared internal and external enemies, established the Daimyo's supreme authority, and deterred petty schemers from all directions.]
[Quest rewards are being distributed...]
[Congratulations to the Host. You have received the reward: Economic Policy Sandbox!]
(To be continued.)