"Have you heard?"
"Of course! That old dog Danzo is finally being publicly executed!"
"That's amazing... My son was taken by his Root operatives for experimentation!"
"Hmph! Lady Tsunade said that after Danzo dies, we'll use Impure World Reincarnation to bring him back—just so everyone can vent their hatred however they want!"
"..."
The gates of Konoha were wide open. Countless shinobi and civilians from all across the ninja world gathered for the occasion.
The event drew an even greater crowd than past peace summits.
Konoha, under new leadership, welcomed all talents. If you could pass the assessment, you'd even gain the right to reside in Konoha as a full citizen.
Konan and Ajisai led the shinobi and civilians of the Hidden Rain to Konoha, while Nagato stayed behind in Amegakure to handle the global broadcast of Danzo's execution.
The same was true across the other great villages—people came in droves.
"Shimura Danzo's being executed—and not just by anyone. The Shodaime and Nidaime Hokage themselves will do the honors. You're really not going to watch?"
"Anyway, you haven't finished today's patrol. There've been too many guests flooding into the village lately—so pick up the pace."
A civilian posted near Sarutobi Hiruzen muttered with little patience.
These days, Hiruzen didn't even react to insults or blows. He just sat there, silently withering—resentment replaced by something emptier.
This former standard-bearer of the Will of Fire… hadn't uttered a single apology.
His pupils twitched slightly, then returned to dull calm.
Danzo was going to die—but he'd soon return in a reanimated body to continue his penance.
The hatred was gone. There was only numbness now.
He raised his head, only to see a group of children passing by.
Konohamaru was among them. He smiled at first—but his face darkened when he saw Hiruzen.
"…Konohamaru."
Hiruzen's voice cracked, his hand lifting weakly.
"You're not my grandfather."
The boy didn't even look back.
"Konohamaru…"
Watching his grandson's back retreat, Hiruzen felt something in him collapse.
"Naruto… what more do you want before you let me die?"
"I know I was wrong… Just kill me already…"
He slumped to the ground, his spirit crumbling. He looked like a man one breath away from death.
"You—!"
The civilian raised his whip again, but a flash of yellow stopped him.
"Naruto-sama?!"
"You've worked hard. Take a break—I'll handle it from here."
The man's anger flipped instantly to joy.
"I-I spoke with Naruto-sama! I must tell everyone!"
"HAHAHAHA~!"
He scurried away, nearly tripping over himself in excitement.
Naruto stepped behind Hiruzen.
The old Hokage sat with his head bowed, tears streaming down his face.
"Why… why doesn't Konohamaru recognize me? Did I really do that much wrong?"
Naruto remained silent for a moment, then shook his head.
As a leader, you were brilliant. But your methods… were far too dirty. Too many were hurt in the process.
"Tell me, Naruto… what should I do for Konohamaru to accept me again?"
Hiruzen turned to face him, pleading.
"You can only be Hokage when the people believe in you."
"Have you forgotten, Grandpa?"
"You are the Third Hokage. What you're doing now… is still service to the village."
"If you weren't here, who would clean Konoha's streets? Who would keep the public toilets clean in Danzo's place? Who would handle sanitation?"
"If you keep working, if you admit your sins and make up for them—then maybe… the villagers and shinobi will acknowledge you again."
"Maybe then… you can reclaim your title. Maybe Konohamaru will once again see you as the great Hokage Grandpa."
"..."
Naruto's words were like the devil's whisper—seductive, hopeful, delusional.
The more Hiruzen listened, the more light returned to his cloudy eyes.
"Yes! You're right! I'll earn back their recognition!"
"Thank you, Naruto… I'm sorry… I was a terrible Hokage… a useless old man… but you still acknowledge me…"
He stood up abruptly and clutched Naruto's hand.
Naruto, subtly, channeled a bit of chakra into the old man's body—just enough to keep him from keeling over.
In that moment, Naruto became the only light left in Hiruzen's heart.
"Go on."
Naruto patted him on the shoulder and turned to leave.
Hiruzen stared at Naruto's retreating back.
How tall that back looked now.
"Alright!"
"I'll earn it back!"
He grabbed his broom and began sweeping with all the sincerity he could muster.
Meanwhile…
Utane Koharu and Mitokado Homura had long believed that Konoha would crumble under the leadership of the Kyūbi brat and Tsunade.
But now, watching the endless crowd flowing through the village—most of whom ignored or outright spat at them—they realized how wrong they were.
The two elders stood silent, their faces bitter and ashamed.
The villagers and shinobi from the old Konoha—the ones loyal to them—looked pale, weak, emaciated.
"Danzo's going to be publicly executed… and it's being broadcast to the entire shinobi world… What a disgrace…"
"We should've handed that damn fox demon over to Danzo from the start… or just killed him outright!"
"Idiots. When will these fools open their eyes?"
"That Uzumaki Naruto and Lady Tsunade clearly have their own agenda!"
"Forget that for now—the supply lines are cut again, and the Fire Daimyō…"
Mitokado Homura scowled. "No, we can't risk the Daimyō's disapproval. We'll scrape together what we can and submit it. I'll go collect more tomorrow. The rest… we'll leave to time. Don't worry."
"By the way, a traitor showed up yesterday."
"They tried sneaking back into Konoha but got kicked out. And now they dare to return?"
"We're calling a council meeting tonight. We'll make an example of them—harsh punishment, to warn the others. This has to end."
Elsewhere, Danzo Shimura walked through the streets in shackles. His eyes swept over Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was diligently sweeping the ground.
"Hmph. I told you, Hiruzen. You're going to regret this."
Danzo closed his eyes and marched on through the village, escorted by ANBU.
But after circling all of Konoha, the former "Darkness of the Leaf" fell into silence.
Eventually, his gaze landed on the main gate.
Utane Koharu and Mitokado Homura didn't even spare him a glance.
"…This is fine. Once I'm revived through Impure World Reincarnation, I'll have all the time I need. I'll rise again. This isn't over."
By the end of the parade, Danzo was covered in rotting vegetables and eggshells. The people didn't hold back. The streets echoed with curses and insults. The hatred was visceral.
Some even screamed to flay him alive.
This was the rage of an entire shinobi world—centuries of suffering, all dumped onto one man.
It wasn't surprising. Danzo had long become the scapegoat of the old era.
Which is why the cheers for his public execution drowned out everything else, like a thunderous tsunami.
"It's time, Danzo."
Whoosh—
Senju Tobirama appeared at Danzo's side, eyes cold with disgust.
He glanced at the filthy man beneath him with visible disdain.
Meanwhile, the heart of Konoha had been cleared for the execution.
At the center, under countless curious eyes, Senju Hashirama entered Sage Mode.
Then, with one breath, he summoned the Sage Art: Wood Release - True Several Thousand Hands.
A colossal Buddha with thousands of arms erupted into view.
For the first time in generations, the shinobi world remembered what true power looked like.
Many lurking spies, saboteurs, and enemies quietly gave up on their missions.
Then, Tobirama stood atop the Buddha's crown with Danzo at his feet. Thousands of recording devices across the world zoomed in.
The infamous "Darkness of Konoha," Danzo Shimura, was now exposed before the entire world.
Tobirama unrolled a massive scroll.
And with a voice filled with iron authority, he read aloud—countless crimes, atrocities, forbidden experiments, massacres, assassinations… all of them attributed to Danzo.
In the Hokage Tower, Tsunade stood on the rooftop, her gaze solemn.
She gently patted Senju Nawaki on the shoulder.
"Nawaki… your revenge. Naruto already avenged you."
Nawaki turned to her with a smile.
But that youthful face was cracked, his eyes dull and gray.
"Sis, I'm already dead. This doesn't matter to me anymore."
"Konoha is better now. Better than I ever imagined."
"But more than anything, I want you to live a long, happy life."
"Your man is incredible, sis. Every time someone brings him up, you can't help but smile."
Tsunade flicked his forehead lightly. "You really don't want to be resurrected?"
"Nope. Once Danzo's gone, I'll return."
Elsewhere, deep within a hidden base…
Kabuto Yakushi was studying a scroll when he froze.
From the monitor came a name—Nanoyu.
His body trembled violently.
The scroll slipped from his hand.
Behind him, Black Zetsu narrowed his eyes and silently sank into the ground.
"He'll convince himself eventually… Just wait. Once we revive Uchiha Madara with the Impure World Reincarnation, everything will fall into place."
"For now… Nagato is the only one left in Amegakure."
When Black Zetsu reemerged, it was inside White Zetsu's base.
Obito's door was shut.
Black Zetsu glanced at it and sneered internally.
"As I thought—you don't want Madara revived. Obito… you're even more naïve than him."
Then it descended into the secret vault.
White Zetsu (Tobi's goofy clone) ran up, holding a small capsule.
"Here! Don't worry, I've already swapped them! Obito won't notice a thing!"
Inside the container—the right Rinnegan.
Black Zetsu nodded, took the eye, and vanished.
"Execution!"
Puff—
As Tobirama Senju gave the order, the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama, personally brought down the executioner's blade.
Danzo Shimura's head was severed cleanly.
In that instant, the ninja world erupted.
The cheers were deafening—so loud they could shake the heavens.
Time passed.
Following the sentence, Tobirama unrolled another scroll and read aloud.
A Shinobi from the Shimura clan was dragged forward.
"Impure World Reincarnation!"
With a flash of chakra and a slap of his palm against the ground, Tobirama summoned Danzo back to life—albeit in a state of undeath.
Danzo's corpse reformed within a swirl of ash and smoke.
Once again, the man who had tormented generations stood before them—this time, in chains.
Hashirama stepped forward and bound Danzo to a wooden stump created with his Wood Release. Then, without another word, he slammed the makeshift execution post into the ground.
A long line immediately began to form.
Citizens. Shinobi. Elders. Survivors.
All of them wanted a turn.
This was not vengeance—it was release.
And the line to take a swing at the reanimated Danzo looked like it would stretch on for weeks.
To prevent him from resisting, Naruto used Kotoamatsukami, casting an illusion that made Danzo compliant and unable to fight back.
Now, the embodiment of the old world's darkness had become nothing more than a tool—a symbol of justice for the victims of his deeds.
"Hehehe… I see…"
In a dim underground lair, Yakushi Kabuto stared at the monitor, watching Danzo's fate unfold.
Tears slipped from his eyes… but then, he smirked.
His face twisted with malice, half-covered in snake scales. His long tongue flicked out.
With practiced hands, he wove a series of hand seals and slammed his palm to the ground.
"Impure World Reincarnation!"
Boom boom—
The earth cracked open.
Four wooden coffins rose from the dirt, heavy and ominous.
Boom!
The lids fell open, revealing four towering figures.
Mu, the Second Tsuchikage.
Hōzuki Gengetsu, the Second Mizukage.
A, the Third Raikage.
Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage.
These were no ordinary shinobi.
These were Kage—legends of war and destruction.
And now… they were under his control.
Kabuto's body shimmered faintly, snake-like scales glistening under the dim light. His tongue flicked out again, more serpent than man.
But he wasn't finished.
Boom boom—
A fifth coffin rose from the ground.
With a low creak, the lid slid open.
Inside stood a man clad in a black close-fitting combat suit, layered with deep red armor.
The figure's presence was suffocating.
The earth itself seemed to shudder.
The chakra he emitted was enough to silence everything nearby.
Kabuto's grin widened.
His trump card had arrived.
...
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