Inside the prison.
Clang!
The heavy iron door was pushed open. The disheveled and grimy Shinji slowly lifted his head. In the dim light, a figure stepped into the cell.
Silver hair, emerald eyes—though his face was handsome, in Shinji's eyes, he was nothing less than a demon from hell.
"Don't come near me…"
Shinji shuddered, shrinking back into the corner.
The more he trembled, the more amused Tōshirō became. He stepped closer, smirking."Hey, did you know? The tickets to watch your beheading tomorrow are already being resold for a hundred thousand ryō apiece. And even at that price, they're sold out! I really made a killing this time."
Shinji's face twisted in terror. "You devil! I've got no grudge against you—why are you doing this to me?"
"Oh? Is that so?" Tōshirō's tone was dripping with mockery. "No grudge between us?"
"W–What do you mean…?"
"Heh, maybe you forgot my name because you thought you'd never see me again. Or maybe… you never cared to remember someone as insignificant as me."
Tōshirō crouched down, a playful grin on his face as he pulled a mask from behind his back and placed it over his face."Now… do you remember my mother?"
The moment Shinji saw that mask, his pupils dilated, his hairs stood on end—he would never forget that face as long as he lived."It—it's you! You devil!"
"Heh, finally remembered, huh?"
That tragic scene from the past flashed vividly before Shinji's eyes, and he screamed in horror.
Tōshirō spoke to himself as he casually recounted their old grudge.
Shinji listened, his expression twisting into shock and disbelief.
He understood now—everything. It all stemmed from revenge.
Regret filled him to the bone. Back then, no matter what, he should've made sure Tōshirō was killed.
"You demon! You'll pay for this!" Shinji roared.
"In your eyes, and in the eyes of the world, I may seem cruel," Tōshirō said calmly. "But in the eyes of beasts, we are all cruel."
He took off the mask, his smile unchanged, his tone almost casual—but in Shinji's eyes, that faint grin was the very face of death."The weak are the prey of the strong. The reason you've fallen so low today… is simply because I'm stronger than you."
Shinji was speechless.
"I've always wondered how someone as weak and powerless as you could rule over a vast country like the Land of Fire for so long."Well… perhaps you don't even know yourself. Otherwise, you wouldn't have ended up here."
Tōshirō slowly rose and turned to leave. After a few steps, he suddenly paused, as if recalling something."Oh, right. Don't entertain any foolish hopes. Just wait for your death quietly. As for your royal relatives and noble supporters… I've already sent people to kill them."
Shinji's eyes widened. "Y–You what!?"
"What? Surprised?" Tōshirō smirked. "Since I'm overthrowing your rule, all forces connected to you must be eliminated. You wouldn't expect me to let them gather strength and come after me later, would you?"They may be nothing but a rabble, but even swatting a mosquito takes a lift of the hand, doesn't it?"
With that rhetorical question, Tōshirō laughed and walked away, leaving Shinji in utter despair.
The next day.
The executioner, nicknamed Wild Dog, hadn't slept all night—but his spirit was oddly high, as if he were about to perform for his sweetheart. After washing his face, he donned his leather vest and got ready for "work."
He had been an executioner for many years, but today was different. Today, he would behead the Daimyō of the Land of Fire himself.
To mark such a day in his career—it was glorious. Licking his lips, he muttered excitedly, "Heh, in a way, I'm making history today…"
If he told others that, they'd probably call him crazy. But it was true.
Three days earlier, a man had stormed the Daimyō's mansion from the skies, captured the Daimyō amid chaos, and defeated all the guards effortlessly—a godlike feat.
Then, that same man boldly declared he would become the new Daimyō himself. What arrogance! What power!
As for who led the nation, the executioner didn't really care. It didn't affect him. A new boss was a new boss—he still had to do his job.
Feel sympathy for the Daimyō? Hardly.
He was just a commoner—why pity a man who had lived his whole life in luxury? That would be madness.The Daimyō had enjoyed riches all his life. To die at his age—he'd already had it better than most.
After all, countless people were born as orphans, forced into begging or slavery, living lives worse than death. Compared to them, why pity the Daimyō?
Wild Dog arrived at the execution ground. It was noon. The sun burned overhead, the air heavy and hot—anyone standing out there felt like roasting meat on a grill. But despite the heat, the crowd's enthusiasm was feverish.
A public beheading—who wouldn't want to see that? Especially when the one being executed was the Daimyō of the Land of Fire.
At first, no one believed it. "What nonsense! Beheading the Daimyō? You must be insane!"
This was the Daimyō's own capital—who would dare?
Even funnier, they were selling tickets to the execution for ten thousand ryō each. "Why not just rob us?" people scoffed.
But as the news spread further, people began to suspect it might actually be true.
After all, if it were false, the authorities would have cracked down immediately. Yet there was no investigation, no denial, no arrest.
Gradually, more and more people started to believe. Some even managed to confirm it through their own sources.
It was real. The rumor was authentic.
Suddenly, ten thousand ryō didn't seem so expensive anymore.
Soon, everyone was rushing to buy tickets like mad.
Prices skyrocketed to a hundred thousand ryō per ticket—and still, they sold out.
To witness the Daimyō's execution firsthand, people camped overnight, sleeping on the ground just to get a good view—a "memorable" one, at that.
The execution grounds were fenced off, with guards stationed all around. Among them, a group stood out—they wore no armor or spears, only light combat gear and forehead protectors marked with a leaf symbol. Anyone with eyes could tell: they were Konoha shinobi.
Rumor had it that the one ordering the execution was none other than the Fifth Hokage—so it wasn't strange to see Konoha ninja present.
Still, many spectators were confused."Wait… wasn't our nation under the One Country, One Village system?""So the Hokage just flipped the table and decided to become king now?"
It wasn't just the civilians who were puzzled—even the Konoha shinobi were baffled.
They'd been wandering the village when suddenly an order came: their new Hokage had stormed the Daimyō's mansion, beaten him up, and declared himself ruler of the Land of Fire. They were to report and maintain order.
So, confused but obedient, the ninja followed.
Upon arrival, Tōshirō casually handed them a huge sum of money and promised increased funding for Konoha's military. Instantly, all doubts vanished.
If the new Hokage meant more power and higher pay—who would complain?
And that's how things came to this.
The crowd swelled, whispering in anticipation. Judging by the time, the execution was about to begin.
Just then, the light dimmed overhead. Something enormous swept across the sky—a massive silhouette blotting out the sun. Its wingspan cast an immense shadow shaped like a gigantic bird.
People looked up in shock—only to see a towering blue figure, tens of meters tall, its entire form glowing azure, its arms like tree trunks.
BOOM!
The colossal blue giant landed in the center of the execution grounds, its legs crossed in an imposing stance.
End of Chapter)
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