Above the high platform, the wind howled and cranes cried.
The addition of Root shinobi was like a sharp knife, fiercely tearing through the Shadow Guard's defenses.
The tide of battle instantly reversed!
The desperadoes, who had been suppressed below the platform, surged onto the high platform again under the leadership of the Root shinobi, engaging in a bloody struggle with the Shadow Guard.
"Kill!"
Seeing the path to the high platform opened, Shu's suppressed roar turned into a bellow.
He held his blade, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the richly dressed figure on the high platform, and led his last dozen or so loyal retainers in a charge.
The last few city guards blocking the way could only fight and retreat.
There were no more obstacles ahead!
Victory was within reach.
"Shin!"
Shu, like a madman, roared as he charged.
"You thief! Bastard!"
"Do you see! This is the will of the people! This is divine will! No one will obey a tyrant like you!"
"Today, I will drag you down from that position that doesn't belong to you, in front of the whole world!"
The roar echoed through the square, clearly reaching the ears of everyone in the viewing stands.
In the viewing area, Danzo Shimura stood up, his single eye looking past the chaos in front of him, directly at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"It's all over, Hiruzen."
His voice was calm and resolute.
"For the future of Konoha, sacrifice is necessary."
"This new Daimyo is too strong, and his ambition has already threatened the village. Above the Hokage, there should be no one else giving orders."
Hiruzen Sarutobi trembled all over, pointing at Danzo, his lips quivering, but he couldn't utter a single word.
He had never imagined that Danzo's audacity would reach such a level.
No warning, no probing.
His move was a killing blow!
This was regicide!
"Mad... You madman..." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was hoarse.
"I am doing this for Konoha."
Danzo repeated, his tone unchanged.
He looked at Shin, who was already surrounded by assassins, as if looking at a dead man.
"After he dies, Shu will take his place."
"A weak and incompetent Daimyo is most in line with Konoha's interests."
"At that time, I will personally explain to the entire shinobi world that this is a righteous act to set things right."
"And you, Hiruzen, you just need to watch."
On the high platform.
Shu finally rushed in front of Shin.
He and his last loyal retainers surrounded Shin and a few city guards, their blades pointing directly at that handsome and dignified face.
He panted heavily, sweat and blood mixed together, flowing into his eyes, stinging painfully.
But he didn't care.
He stared resentfully at Shin, who was within reach, and greedily at the national stone in his hand, which symbolized the supreme power of the Land of Fire, his eyes filled with jealousy and venom.
"Why aren't you speaking?"
Shu sneered, pointing his blade at Shin.
"Weren't you very eloquent? Weren't you very imposing?"
"Now, your guards, your army, can't even protect themselves!"
"Your throne, your wealth, and your woman, will all be mine soon!"
"Speak!"
However.
Facing all of this, Shin just stood quietly.
There was no fear, no anger, not a hint of emotion on his face.
His deep eyes just calmly looked at Shu, as if looking at a clown.
"Are you done talking?"
He finally spoke, his voice indifferent, betraying no emotion.
"You..." The other party's constant calmness infuriated Shu.
"My dear third brother."
Without giving Shu a chance to speak, Shin's lips curved, and he continued, "Do you really think that with these desperadoes, you can kill me?"
"Do you also think that the position Danzo Shimura promised you can truly be held securely?"
Shin pushed aside a city guard and stepped forward, completely ignoring Shu's blade.
That invisible pressure made Shu subconsciously take a step back.
"A good-for-nothing who needs to sell the family's interests to gain support for his right of inheritance."
"A stray dog that I drove out of the Fire Capital."
"A pitiful worm who can only hide in the gutter, relying on others' charity and promises, before daring to bite."
With each sentence Shin spoke, Shu's face grew paler.
These words were like sharp knives, accurately piercing his most fragile self-esteem.
"You, are you even worthy of coveting my throne?"
The last question completely shattered Shu's psychological defense.
"Ah ah ah!!"
He completely broke down, letting out a beastly roar, raising his long blade, and with all his might, brought it down towards Shin's head!
"Die for me!!"
However, just as the blade was about to fall.
Shin merely lifted his eyelids slightly.
Then.
The whole world went silent.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Countless sounds of rushing wind echoed simultaneously from all directions!
One!
Ten!
Fifty!
Over a hundred dark figures!
They appeared silently on the roof of the main hall, in the clock towers around the square, and in the shadows of every building!
They were all dressed in black combat attire, wearing pure black masks, and holding standard long blades.
Killing intent swept across the entire square!
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The heavy sound of armor clashing came from the four entrances of the square, perfectly synchronized.
Squads of city guards, like a tide, poured in.
Their steps were uniform, their shields formed an iron wall, their spear tips pointed outwards, sealing off all escape routes.
"Kill without mercy!"
The cold command was given.
The city guard formations began to contract inwards, their long spears like a forest, each thrust mercilessly crushing all remaining resisting rebels.
In Konoha's viewing area, Nara Shikaku suddenly looked up, a look of horror on his face.
Hyuga Hiashi's Byakugan was activated to its maximum, veins bulging on his forehead.
Not an illusion, not a shadow clone!
Those were... over a hundred shinobi with chakra fluctuations comparable to a jonin!
Uchiha Fugaku's Sharingan spun wildly, unable to believe what he was seeing!
Minato Namikaze was completely frozen.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was even more stunned, as if struck by lightning, standing motionless.
In the area of the four nations' delegations.
The mockery on the faces of the Land of Lightning and Land of Water envoys froze.
The Land of Earth envoy's hand, stroking his beard, stopped in mid-air.
The female shinobi behind the Land of Wind envoy's pupils constricted violently.
Even Biwa Juzo, who had already sworn allegiance, couldn't help but gasp when he saw this power.
And Danzo Shimura, the muscles on his face twitched wildly, his exposed single eye filled with disbelief, horror, and despair.
A deception!
This was a deception from beginning to end!
What weak defenses!
What an empty Daimyo Manor!
It was all a trap!
On the high platform, Shu's forcefully brought down blade stopped in mid-air.
It wasn't that he wanted to stop.
It was because a black blade, at some unknown point, had already rested against his wrist.
He stiffly turned his head and saw a person wearing a pure black mask standing beside him.
He looked around, and the dozens of loyal retainers who had charged up with him now each had a cold blade resting against their necks.
In the square.
The Root shinobi and desperadoes who had just been wreaking havoc were now completely surrounded.
The entire square fell into dead silence once more.
Only the wind blew across the high platform, rustling Shin's luxurious robes.
Everyone understood.
This was a play.
A grand play personally directed by the new Daimyo, allowing all those with ulterior motives to step onto the stage and perform to their heart's content.
Now, those who should be on stage were on stage.
It was time for the curtain to fall.
Shin didn't even glance at Shu.
His gaze swept over countless astonished, fearful, and stunned faces, finally landing on the chief ritual officer, who was cowering in a corner, already pale with fright and slumped to the ground.
He beckoned.
Then, in a calm tone, he slowly spoke.
"Yamano."
"Continue the ceremony."