Chapter 160: The Suffering of Danzo & Hiruzen
— — — — — — —
When Nara Shikayama announced the end of the public trial, the higher-ups left, taking Sarutobi Hiruzen with them. Only Danzo, tied up and left behind, remained.
"Kill him! Kill Danzo!"
"Don't fight me for it! The first kill is mine!"
"I'll take the second! I'm avenging my son and grandson!"
"Danzo, prepare to face justice!!!"
The next moment, the crowd of civilians and ninjas surged toward the high platform where Danzo was bound. Each wielded their weapons, charging at him with ferocity.
Seeing this unfold, Danzo didn't show fear; instead, he cursed loudly.
"You damn commoners! You're all worthless and should die!"
"It's an honor for your parents and children to sacrifice their lives for me—for Konoha! How dare you complain?"
"Huh? I can talk?"
It was only after a couple of insults that Danzo realized the seals on his mouth and body had somehow been undone. He could now move freely.
Unfortunately, his strength was still sealed, leaving him powerless—no better than a regular civilian. Worse, he was still tied to the pillar like a helpless chicken.
What happened next was no surprise.
Hearing his insults, the ninja in the front row saw red.
"Kill him!!"
"I'm ending you!"
"Die, you heartless bastard!"
In the blink of an eye, they tore Danzo apart limb by limb.
And yet, when his body regenerated, they continued the slaughter.
Over and over, they hacked at him, leaving Danzo to endure a never-ending cycle of resurrection and brutal execution for three straight days.
— — —
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, at the window.
Kaito stood beside the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, observing Danzo's fate in the distant plaza. Kaito glanced at Hiruzen and smirked.
"Well, Third? Do you feel the villagers' anger yet?"
"Should I send you over there too? What do you think will happen if you join Danzo? Do you reckon those grieving ninjas and villagers might tear you apart as well?"
Hiruzen's face twisted with fear as he stammered, "N-no, that won't be necessary! Danzo's sins far outweigh mine. Besides, he can handle it better than I can. Let him bear this!"
"As for me… I'll just stay out of it!"
"Haha!" Kaito burst out laughing, making Hiruzen's discomfort even more evident.
The two of them turned away from the window and walked back inside. As they did, Tobirama gave Hiruzen a frosty glare. Crossing his arms, he snorted coldly.
"Hmph! Hiruzen! Don't ever call yourself my disciple again. As of today, I'm severing all ties with you."
"Not just you—Danzo, Koharu, and Homura too! You're all the same!"
Tobirama had lost all hope in his former students. The bond of Teacher and Disciple was shattered, leaving nothing but bitterness.
'If not for them, would my clan have fallen to such a state?'
He could never forget the day he was resurrected and returned to find his clan reduced to its current condition. Especially the elders—they greeted him with sorrowful questions that cut deep.
Senju Tetsuma had asked him outright, "Tobirama, how could you have been so blind to choose those four beasts as your disciples? How could you sacrifice yourself and leave the position of Hokage to Sarutobi Hiruzen?"
"Do you realize that your decision nearly destroyed the Senju clan?"
"Even though things have slightly improved in recent years, it's only because of help from the Uchiha, our former enemies!"
"Aren't you supposed to be the smartest, most astute among us? And yet, this?!"
The words were less a rebuke and more a sorrowful lament. Tobirama didn't feel anger, only deep regret and sadness.
It was all his fault.
Now, even without Kaito pressuring him, Tobirama no longer desired to return to the Pure Land. He had no intention of resisting his current circumstances. He wanted to work for Konoha and the Senju, striving to restore their former glory. Maybe, just maybe, he could atone for his mistakes this way.
He didn't even dare to return to the Senju clan compound anymore. What face could he show them?
One could imagine how such sentiments affected Tobirama's attitude toward Hiruzen and the others.
"Sensei…" Hiruzen's face turned pale. He tried to speak but hesitated.
Without the title of Tobirama's disciple, Hiruzen's future would become even harder.
"Don't! Don't call me 'Sensei.' I can't bear it anymore."
Before Hiruzen could continue, Tobirama coldly cut him off with a wave of his hand.
"Disciples like you are a burden I don't need. Go live your life on your own!"
"That's all there is to it."
Turning to Kaito, Tobirama nodded. "I'll head to the Research Division now."
"The refrigerator has been adjusted based on the samples, and the washing machine is nearly complete. A few more days, and we'll finalize the designs and start building production lines."
"The factory construction and assembly lines will need support from the village."
Thanks to the appliances from the pirate world—refrigerators, washing machines, ovens, air conditioners, and more—Tobirama and Orochimaru had made significant progress in their research and modifications.
While those appliances relied on electricity in the pirate world, Konoha's infrastructure wasn't advanced enough for mass electricity production. Besides, it wasn't practical for ninja use.
At Kaito's suggestion, they had developed a ninja-compatible version of these appliances.
These appliances would consume chakra as energy instead of electricity. Their inner mechanisms combined sealing techniques with ninjutsu, creating a unique blend of functionality and innovation.
"Sounds good!" Kaito nodded in satisfaction. "The land was leveled and planned out yesterday!"
"Head over to the engineering department. I've already arranged for my mother to assist you."
"Right now, the department is mostly run by her and Lady Mito. Hashirama and Madara are just lending a hand, mainly doing physical labor."
Urban planning is a massive project that requires strategic thinking. Kaito didn't trust anyone else with it, so his mother and Mito were taking charge of the task.
"Alright, I'll get to it!"
The Second Hokage nodded, ready to leave. Suddenly, he paused, turned back, and said to Kaito, "Since Sarutobi Hiruzen is now a criminal, his Hokage face on the mountainside is no longer appropriate."
"Fourth Hokage, you should have it removed. That spot can be used to carve your face instead."
"I've discussed this with Big Brother, and he agrees with the decision."
"That's settled then. I'll be off now!"
Without waiting for Kaito's response, the Second Hokage left decisively, not even sparing a glance at the Third Hokage. It was clear that from this moment, he no longer considered Hiruzen an ally.
Hiruzen stood there, his face pale. He reached out, his lips moving, but no words came out.
What could he even say?
But removing his face from the Hokage Monument—wasn't that too harsh?
He had been Hokage for over a decade. Even if he didn't accomplish much, he had worked hard!
His gaze shifted to Kaito, hoping for some mercy.
Unfortunately, Kaito had no intention of entertaining him. He found Hiruzen's presence an eyesore.
"Enough of this. Senior Sakumo, please escort the former Third Hokage to begin his sentence. Have him report to the Cleaning Division and start his new role immediately."
"His seals are already in place, so there's no need to worry about any trouble," Kaito instructed the newly appointed head of the Anbu, Hatake Sakumo.
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Sakumo responded promptly. He approached the defeated Hiruzen, grabbed his arm without hesitation, and dragged him out of the Hokage office.
Meanwhile, Kaito focused on his work, refining plans for residential and commercial development. He prepared to convene a meeting with the senior members of Konoha the next day to discuss these projects further.
A few minutes later, Sakumo returned to report.
"Lord Hokage, the... criminal Sarutobi Hiruzen has been assigned to the Cleaning Division and has officially begun his duties."
"Good."
Kaito nodded in satisfaction.
He then turned his attention to the Anbu. "The reorganization and training of the Anbu will be under your charge."
"The Anbu will undergo significant expansion and reform. Its responsibilities and functions will also be adjusted."
"In the future, the Anbu will become Konoha's elite special forces unit. I trust you to handle this important task."
"You've served as a squad leader in the Anbu before, and your reputation, strength, and leadership are more than sufficient for this role."
"Thank you for your trust, Lord Hokage. I won't let you down!" Sakumo replied earnestly, grateful for the opportunity.
He hadn't expected Kaito to appoint him as the head of the Anbu. He had assumed the role would go to someone from the Uchiha clan, given the favoritism of previous administrations.
"Good. I believe in you," Kaito said with a smile.
"Oh, and I almost forgot about the swordsmanship training."
"Let's schedule it for tomorrow afternoon. I'll take some time to exchange techniques with you. I'll learn your swordsmanship style, and in return, I'll teach you mine."
It was better to handle this sooner rather than later. Once he mastered it, he could assign Sakumo to teach the Uchiha clan's shinobi sword techniques.
Sakumo was momentarily stunned before his face lit up with excitement.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"
He didn't hesitate or offer to waive the exchange, as that wasn't his straightforward style. Besides, he had long been eager to learn Kaito's unique swordsmanship.
Though a ninja, Sakumo was, at heart, a proud and unyielding swordsman.
"Alright, it's settled then," Kaito said with a smile.
"Oh, by the way, during our training tomorrow, there's another important matter I want to discuss with you," Kaito added. "It's about your future, so be prepared."
"Got it!" Sakumo responded before swiftly departing.
As Kaito resumed working on documents and business plans, Tsunade burst into the office, slamming the door open.
With her arms crossed, she grinned at him. "Wow, Kaito! Our Hokage is really looking the part now!"
Kaito sighed, looking up at her with exasperation.
"Come on, Tsunade. Stop teasing me! Being Hokage is no big deal. In the pirate world, it's like being the head of a slightly larger village."
"And could you be gentler with the door? I thought it was about to break!"
"Honestly, I'm starting to understand why the Third Hokage used to get so frustrated with you."
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