chsdbacks Chapter 558 Execute them immediately and burn the Konoha Elders' Council.
Chapter 558 Execute them immediately and burn the Konoha Elders' Council.
A cool, damp breeze swept across the square, swirling up a few dry camphor leaves.
On the high platform, Uchiha Mitsunori's crimson Sharingan slightly subsided.
He put his hands behind his back and slowly scanned the three people tied to the wooden stakes below.
Finally, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his voice echoed throughout every corner of the plaza: "In my capacity as the Chief of the Konoha Police Department, I hereby pronounce Shimura Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura to death. Execute immediately!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the square fell into a deathly silence, highlighting the solemnity of the moment.
Koharu was the first to break down, struggling violently. The chains rubbed against the wooden stake, making a piercing "creaking" sound, as if trying to wear the stake down.
Her lips trembled, her voice trembling with sobs and despair as she screamed towards the platform, "No! Uchiha Sanfeng, you can't do this! We are advisors and elders of Konoha, we have rendered meritorious service to Konoha, you have no right to punish us!"
Her hair was disheveled from the struggle, and her eyes were filled with fear and resentment.
Beside him, Mitokado Homura's face was ashen, his forehead covered in a fine layer of cold sweat that slid down his cheeks. He wanted to raise his head and retort, his Adam's apple bobbing violently, but the words that reached his lips caught in his throat when he met Uchiha Mitsunori's icy gaze.
That gaze was too sharp, like a razor-sharp knife, piercing straight through his disguise, causing the fear in his heart to spread instantly, and even the courage to refute it vanished.
He dared not look at the high platform again, his heart filled with regret... If he had not participated in those evil deeds, he would not have ended up like this today.
Danzo Shimura kept his head down the whole time, his empty left eye cloudy and murky, long gone from its former sinister and calculating nature, now filled with endless sorrow.
At this moment, he didn't even have the strength to struggle. He slumped against the wooden stake, his body limp. Only the slight rise and fall of his chest proved that he was still alive.
He smiled bitterly to himself. He had spent his whole life scheming and plotting, but in the end he still fell, fell because of this young man, Uchiha Sanfeng. In the end, he couldn't even utter a word of explanation.
Uchiha Mitsunori's expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn't heard Koharu Utatane's roar or seen the three's disheveled appearance. He simply raised his chin slightly and gave a wink to the side...
The next second, Uchiha Tetsuka's figure emerged from behind the platform, his fan emblem embroidered on his left shoulder, standing out prominently in the morning light.
He walked steadily and expressionlessly to the three men, his eyes showing no pity whatsoever.
Before the three could argue further, he quickly formed hand seals, his fingers flying across the screen.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
In an instant, a torrent of flames erupted from his mouth, transforming into a blazing firestorm that roared toward the three men tied to the wooden stakes.
The flames instantly engulfed their bodies, and even the villagers watching from afar could feel the burning sensation and couldn't help but take a few steps back.
Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado were engulfed in flames, unable to move, and could only let out shrill screams. The screams pierced through the raging flames, were shrill and unpleasant, and were filled with endless pain and despair. However, they only lasted for seven seconds before being swallowed by the flames and falling silent.
But Uchiha Tekka continued forming hand seals, and the flames continued to surge, scorching the three people's bodies relentlessly.
It wasn't until a dozen seconds later that he slowly stopped, and the flames went out, leaving only wisps of black smoke with a pungent, burnt smell.
At this moment, the three people on the wooden stake had long since lost their human form, leaving only three blackened charred remains, clinging tightly to the stake.
A gust of wind blew by, and fine ashes fell in a flurry, drifting and dissipating in the wind.
After a moment of silence, the villagers of Konoha below the plaza finally reacted.
Then, the cheers grew louder and louder, turning into a boiling ocean that resounded throughout the entire Hidden Leaf Village.
All the pent-up anger and resentment from the past erupted at this moment...
Those relatives who were falsely accused, the children who were used as guinea pigs, and the trust that was betrayed finally received the most direct solace at this moment.
Standing on the high platform, Uchiha Mitsunori looked down at the cheering villagers. The chill in his heart seemed to be dispelled somewhat by the enthusiastic cheers.
The cheers lasted for a long time before gradually subsiding, and order was gradually restored in the square.
Uchiha Mitsunori stood on the high platform, looking at the cheering villagers below, his expression remaining calm.
He knew perfectly well that many criminals were involved in this case. Apart from the three advisors and elders, most of the members of the Shimura, Utatane, and Mito clans had participated in the conspiracy of that year, or had either known about it but failed to report it or had aided and abetted the evildoers. Today's punishment was just the beginning.
His gaze swept over the long line of judges on one side of the square, the line stretching as far as the eye could see. One by one, pieces of evidence were made public, and one by one, criminals were brought to the front of the stage, amidst a constant cacophony of voices.
Uchiha Mitsunori frowned slightly, tapping his fingers lightly on the railing of the platform. He quickly lost patience... He had more important things to do and didn't have time to waste on these minor characters.
He slightly raised his hand, gesturing for the Uchiha clan members beside him to step forward: "You will preside over the subsequent trial and impose heavier penalties according to the law. Those who commit heinous crimes will be executed on the spot; those who knew about the crimes but failed to report them will be dealt with according to the severity of their offenses, without any leniency."
The Uchiha clan members beside him clasped their hands in a respectful gesture and said, "Yes, sir!"
They then stepped forward, took over the power of trial, and continued to deal with the remnants of the three clans in an orderly manner, verifying evidence, reading out verdicts, and carrying out the punishments. Everything was in perfect order.
The trial lasted the entire afternoon.
From the first light of dawn to the setting sun, the trial in the square never ceased. The smells of burning and blood mingled with the sighs and cheers of the villagers, gradually dissipating into the air.
Of the more than 1700 ninja remaining from the Shimura, Utatane, and Mito clans, 1114 were found to have directly participated in the human experiments, spreading rumors and framing others, and other heinous acts. Their hands were stained with blood, and they were sentenced to death on the spot and executed immediately.
The remaining 500-plus ninjas, though not directly guilty of serious crimes, were guilty of knowing about and aiding and abetting evil, and were thus cursed by the Uchiha clan. They were subsequently assigned to Konoha's suicide squad, where they would undertake high-risk missions as atonement for their sins...
Besides the ninjas, there are more than 4000 civilians remaining in the three clans.
More than 700 people were immediately executed for secretly assisting ninjas in passing messages, concealing evidence, and even participating in the persecution of innocent villagers.
The remaining 3300 people, though not directly involved in the crimes, were also implicated by their clans and were sentenced to have all their property confiscated.
Overnight, they went from being pampered members of a wealthy and privileged family to becoming destitute people with nothing.
They collapsed to the ground, weeping bitterly, but no one showed them any pity...
After the trial, more than 600 women who had married into the three clans jointly applied for divorce from the Konoha Police Department.
They knelt before the security department, unwilling to be associated with the sinners any longer, unwilling to bear the stigma of being "sinner women."
Upon learning this, Uchiha Sanfeng readily agreed. Looking at the resolute expressions of those women, he felt a slight stirring in his heart... They were innocent people and should not be burdened by the sins of their clan. Giving them a way out was also an act of kindness towards Konoha.
Ultimately, aside from those sentenced to death and those seeking divorce, the remaining 2700-plus civilians were escorted by the Uchiha clan and expelled from Konoha Village.
They carried simple bags and walked unsteadily out of the gates of Konoha, their eyes filled with regret and reluctance.
As night falls, the afterglow of the setting sun gradually fades, and the night, like a black curtain, slowly envelops the entire Konoha. Stars twinkle in the night sky, and the faint moonlight spills onto the streets of Konoha, carrying a touch of chill.
Inside the council hall of the Konoha Police Department, the lights were on, and a faint aroma of tea filled the air.
The Eighth Hokage of Uchiha, holding a cup of hot tea in his hands, walked to the side of the Third Mine of Uchiha and hesitated for a moment.
"Sanfeng, why did you let those civilians leave today after dealing with the remnants of the three clans? With our current strength, even if we killed them all, no one would dare to object. Moreover, they are all members of sinful clans. If they are kept alive, what if they cause trouble in the future? Wouldn't that be a huge problem?"
As he spoke, he handed the hot tea in his hand to Uchiha Mitsunori, his eyes full of incomprehension. In his view, only by eliminating the root of the problem could future troubles be prevented.
Uchiha Mitsunori was gazing at the night outside the window, his eyes deep and thoughtful.
He slowly turned around, his eyes deep and calm.
He took the hot tea from Uchiha Hachimoku's hand. The warmth from the tea on his fingers dispelled some of the chill in his heart. He took a small sip of the hot tea, and the warmth slid down his throat, warming him to the core.
Then, with an unequivocal decision, he said, "I've also considered wiping out the clan to eliminate future troubles. But don't forget, we Uchiha are a thousand-year-old clan, valuing strength and reputation, not bloodthirsty demons."
"If we were to kill all the civilians, we would only be branded as bloodthirsty, and in the future, we would not only be criticized by other ninja villages, but we would also lose the trust of the villagers... We are purging the traitors today to protect Konoha and to give the villagers justice, not to turn Konoha into a village that everyone despises."
"Moreover, even if we let them leave, the families of those who were harmed by the three clans may not let them go... So those civilians who leave Konoha are stepping into a dead end, and someone will take care of them without us having to lift a finger."
"We Uchiha don't need to tarnish our reputation for the sake of these insignificant civilians, and we certainly don't need to let Konoha bear the infamy."
His words were eloquent, and a deep meaning flashed in his eyes... What he wanted was not only to cleanse the evil, but also to help the Uchiha clan regain the trust of the villagers of Konoha and truly restore clarity.
Upon hearing this, the Eighth Hokage of Uchiha suddenly understood, his brows instantly relaxed, and the doubt on his face vanished without a trace.
He nodded vigorously, his confusion instantly vanishing: "Okay, I understand. I was too impatient, only thinking about eliminating the problem at its root, but I overlooked so many things."