The square instantly turned into hell!
People ran in terror, pushing and trampling each other.
The original joy and solemnity were shattered by the sudden assassination.
"Protect the Daimyo!"
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 towards the desperadoes in the smoke and dust.
Clang!
Blades clashed with spear tips, sending out dazzling sparks, and hot blood splattered.
"Minato!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up abruptly, his pipe cracking in his grip.
Minato Namikaze's golden hair fluttered, and he was about to rush out in a flash.
The shinobi of Konoha all rose, killing intent emanating from them, ready to provide support.
But just as they made their move.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
A series of whooshing sounds came!
More than ten dark figures silently appeared in front of everyone, blocking their way.
They were dressed in Daimyo Manor guard uniforms, but their bodies exuded a strange aura, and the smell of blood assailed their senses.
"Everyone, please calm down."
The leading dark figure's voice was hoarse. He didn't turn around, but simply extended a hand encased in a black glove, making a stopping gesture.
Minato Namikaze's charging figure abruptly halted, his golden pupils filled with astonishment.
The concealment techniques of these people were so good that even he hadn't noticed them!
In this brief delay, the assassins broke through the city guards' defense line and were about to step onto the high platform with sinister smiles.
And it was at this moment!
Another series of whooshing sounds came.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
From the shadows beneath the high platform, from behind the pillars of the main hall, and even from the cracks in the bricks and stones, over thirty dark figures shot out.
They were silent, carrying a chilling killing intent, like a large net, firmly blocking the high platform.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The dense sound of clashing weapons suddenly rang out.
The battle on the high platform instantly became fierce.
Over thirty Shadow Guards entangled all the assassins, and amidst the flashing blades, they drove all the assassins off the high platform.
This made Shu Kurogane and Saionji Takashi, who were hiding in the crowd, extremely anxious.
According to the plan, this should have been a lightning-fast strike.
Seeing that the surrounding guards had already begun to re-encircle, with cold spear tips closing in from all directions.
If they dragged it out any longer, it would all be over!
In the face of immense pressure, Shu's psychological defense completely collapsed.
He looked like a madman, his crimson eyes fixed on the viewing platform, and he roared with all his might.
"Danzo! Danzo Shimura!!!"
"You promised me! Where are your people! Hurry and act!!!"
This roar silenced the entire square.
On the viewing platform, the envoys from the four countries looked startled, and the Konoha shinobi could not hide their shock.
"Act!"
A sharp shout came from behind the Konoha shinobi.
Boom!
After a brief silence, among the fleeing civilians in the square, nearly thirty figures wearing pure white masks suddenly burst forth.
Root!
Their movements were swift and coordinated, ignoring the guards who tried to stop them. The short blades in their hands drew arcs of death as they charged directly towards the high platform.
This sudden turn of events instantly broke the balance on the high platform.
The Root shinobi and the desperadoes merged, and with an unstoppable force, they bravely charged onto the high platform!
On the high platform, blades flashed, flesh and blood flew, and killing intent lurked everywhere.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!"
A Root shinobi took a deep breath, and several high-speed spinning air bullets slammed into a Shadow Guard like cannonballs!
The Shadow Guard, however, did not dodge, forming hand signs, and a thick earth release wall rose from the ground!
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The air bullets exploded a series of craters on the earth release wall, sending gravel flying, but ultimately failed to penetrate!
And at this moment, another Root shinobi had appeared behind him like a ghost, his poisoned short blade silently stabbing towards his back!
However, a katana imbued with light blue chakra precisely blocked from the side. The moment the blades collided, wind release chakra erupted, directly sending that Root shinobi flying backward!
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!" Elsewhere, a Shadow Guard opened his mouth and spewed out a surging torrent of water, knocking two desperadoes off their feet.
Dismembered limbs kept flying, lives kept perishing, and blood stained the high platform!
From a distance, Shin's figure was like a lone boat that could capsize at any moment in a raging storm!
"Danzo! You..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi trembled all over, turned his head sharply, his eyes almost spitting fire, staring intently at his old friend.
Minato Namikaze's expression was bewildered. He subconsciously looked at Danzo Shimura, then at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Uchiha Fugaku's Sharingan suddenly appeared, three tomoe spinning rapidly, then receding.
Nara Shikaku closed his eyes in pain, squeezing out a curse through gritted teeth. "This idiot..."
On the other side, after their initial shock, the reactions of the four-nation delegations were varied and interesting.
The envoy from the Land of Lightning grinned, his face showing undisguised mockery.
The envoy from the Land of Earth stroked his beard, narrowing his eyes as he calculated how much benefit this internal strife in the Land of Fire could bring to the Land of Earth.
"We must go and support!"
Seeing the Daimyo in deep crisis, Minato Namikaze was extremely anxious and was about to move again.
But the Shadow Guards blocking their way still did not budge.
The leading Shadow Guard slowly turned his head, his voice devoid of emotion. "Fourth Hokage, the farce on the high platform does not require your intervention."
"Your Konoha's troubles are not here."
He looked past Minato Namikaze, directly at the old one-eyed man behind him, whose face was ashen and whose right eye was wrapped in bandages.
"Right now, what you should be doing is apprehending that traitor who attempted regicide, Danzo Shimura."
"Nonsense!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's roar almost coincided with the Shadow Guard's words.
He was trembling with rage, pointing at the Shadow Guard leader, and angrily rebuked, "The Daimyo's safety is paramount! Why aren't you going to rescue him! What are you doing blocking us here!"
If the monarch of the Land of Fire were to be killed before his eyes, that would be the end of the world.
He, the Third Hokage, would become a sinner of the Land of Fire.
Minato Namikaze also said anxiously, "That's right! Save the Daimyo first! Other matters can be discussed later!"
But no matter what Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze said, the Shadow Guard leader remained silent, still firmly blocking them, only making them extremely anxious.
Meanwhile, the other shinobi in the Konoha faction had various thoughts.
Uchiha Fugaku's eyes flickered, and he quietly gestured to his clansmen beside him, telling them to observe.
In his opinion, this might be an opportunity.
The new Daimyo was too strong, constantly suppressing Konoha.
If he died, and that useless Shu, supported by Danzo, took power, it might not be a bad thing for the Uchiha clan, or for Konoha as a whole.
A weak Daimyo was far more in Konoha's interest than a strong one.
Hyuga Hiashi's face was as still as water, seemingly observing something with his Byakugan, and likewise did not move.
Nara Shikaku was even more headache-ridden, pressing his forehead and muttering to himself.
He had already seen through the chess game behind this assassination.
The Daimyo.
The traitors.
Danzo.
Konoha's higher-ups... one wrong step in any of these would lead to eternal damnation.
The Konoha shinobi's thoughts were in turmoil, and not a single one could make an immediate decision.
On the high platform, the bloody battle grew fiercer, and the shouts of killing shook the heavens.