Chapter 367: The End of Shimura Danzō!

The next day, Konoha.

As the sun slowly rose over the horizon, the villagers of Konoha gradually awoke from their sleep.

Yet unlike other days, Konoha did not spring to life with the awakening of its inhabitants.

Instead, the village remained unusually quiet.

The village administration had already issued a notice: today was the day of the public execution of Shimura Danzō, former Konoha Elder and former Konoha official, now condemned as a criminal of the village.

Although the village authorities had not explicitly ordered businesses to close, the people of Konoha had nevertheless put aside their work of their own accord.

They intended to witness this historic moment with their own eyes before returning to their daily lives.

After all, there had never been a public execution in Konoha since the village was founded.

Not only had Konoha never held one, but as far as anyone knew, there had never been a public execution anywhere in the entire shinobi world.

This was unprecedented.

So it wasn't just Konoha's villagers who were curious.

Even traveling merchants and mission clients temporarily staying in Konoha had changed their original schedules, eager to see what this unprecedented public execution would actually look like.

As time passed, everyone in Konoha began gathering in the large square in front of the Hokage Tower.

The Konoha administration had prepared well in advance.

A large platform had been erected in the square, along with several enormous screens to ensure that everyone nearby could clearly see the entire execution.

"Wow, Konoha is really going all out this time. But seriously, is there really any need for such a huge spectacle just to execute one of their own criminals?"

"You clearly don't know who Shimura Danzō is. He's not merely a criminal of Konoha. He's known as the Darkness of the Shinobi World. Who knows how many terrible things he's done outside the village?"

"Even so, Danzō is still one of Konoha's own. They say family shame shouldn't be made public. Aren't they afraid of letting the other villages laugh at them?"

"What does a traveling merchant like you know? Konoha has never been afraid of what others say about us! Having the courage to face our own mistakes—that's what a truly great shinobi village looks like!"

"Exactly! Look at the other villages. Don't they all try to hide the things they do behind closed doors? Only Konoha would dare to do something like this. It proves that Konoha has nothing to hide and can stand proudly before the world!"

The crowd in the square buzzed with discussion, voices overlapping in a constant uproar.

Then, when the clock struck ten in the morning, everyone in the square spontaneously fell silent.

All eyes turned toward the platform.

At that moment, the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, Minato Namikaze, was walking slowly up the steps.

At the same time, the cameras turned toward Minato, displaying his image on the enormous screens surrounding the square.

Before long, Minato stood before the amplification equipment on the platform.

"Fellow citizens of Konoha, and honored guests who have come here from other places, I am the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, Minato Namikaze. Welcome, everyone."

Minato began with a few formal words.

Yet even during his opening remarks, everyone in the square remained focused on him.

Those from other villages who had never seen Minato before stretched their necks, eager to see what the legendary Yellow Flash actually looked like.

The villagers of Konoha who already knew what he looked like likewise fixed their eyes on his handsome, gentle face.

Even if he did nothing but stand there, that face alone was pleasing to look at.

"Ahem."

Minato cleared his throat twice before getting straight to the point.

"I believe everyone has already learned through various channels why we have gathered here today."

"For the public execution of Shimura Danzō, former Konoha Elder, former adviser to the Hokage, and former leader of Root."

After a brief pause, Minato's tone became solemn.

"To be honest, there were many within Konoha who initially objected to holding a public execution."

"After all, there is an old saying that family shame should not be made public. Matters within Konoha should be resolved by Konoha itself. Making them public could also damage Konoha's reputation."

"But after careful consideration by myself and several of the elders, we ultimately decided to bring this matter into the open and deal with it publicly, so that it may serve as a warning to future generations and prevent such things from happening again."

"After all, Shimura Danzō's crimes were simply too heinous, and their impact was far too great. Handling the matter privately would not be enough to appease the public's anger. It might even affect Konoha's future."

"Compared with the future of Konoha, a little damage to our reputation is insignificant."

Minato's words immediately aroused everyone's curiosity.

What on earth had Shimura Danzō done to provoke such outrage that Konoha's leadership had decided to execute him publicly?

Minato could see the questions written across everyone's faces.

"I know everyone is eager to learn about Shimura Danzō's crimes. But before that, let us first bring Shimura Danzō out."

With that, Minato beckoned toward the people below.

The next moment, several ANBU shinobi wearing masks and cloaks escorted the restrained Shimura Danzō onto the platform.

Although Danzō could still move, several layers of curse seals had already been placed on his body.

Not only were they preventing him from speaking, but the moment he made any suspicious movement, Minato would be able to restrain him immediately.

Danzō, however, was being remarkably cooperative.

As soon as he reached the platform, he voluntarily knelt down and lowered his head, preparing to face his judgment.

Minato spoke at the appropriate moment.

"Shimura Danzō was born before the founding of Konoha. In the first year of Konoha, he joined the village alongside the Shimura clan."

"He was later taken in as a disciple by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and became a member of the Second Hokage's personal guard unit..."

Minato did not immediately begin listing Danzō's crimes.

Instead, he began by recounting Danzō's life.

As Minato gradually revealed Danzō's history, waves of astonishment spread through the crowd.

The reason was simple.

Danzō's history was astonishing.

He had joined Konoha in its very first year and could practically be considered one of the village's original founders.

Apart from the Uchiha and Senju, who had jointly established Konoha, there was probably no one in the entire village with a pedigree more deeply rooted in Konoha than Shimura Danzō.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado could only be considered his equals in that regard.

Not to mention that Danzō had rendered outstanding service to Konoha during both the First and Second Shinobi World Wars.

Yet someone of such seniority—practically an elder of Konoha's founding generation—had actually been brought before an execution platform by Konoha itself.

Now the crowd was even more curious.

Exactly what had Shimura Danzō done to incur the wrath of heaven and earth?