Chapter 118: Night of the Purge
---
After Kakashi left Uchiha Douhuan, he immediately sought out Asuma. Kakashi still cared quite a bit about this classmate from his cohort.
The former Guardian Shinobi Twelve now existed in name only.
During this period, after collecting the remains of their former comrades, Asuma and Chiriku had buried them within the Fire Capital. Chiriku prayed for them daily, while Asuma idly guarded the spot.
Regarding Kakashi's visit, Asuma first expressed amazement at Kakashi's current maskless appearance, then asked the purpose of his visit.
"Asuma, recently Lord Fifth has mobilized quite a few ninjas from the village, leaving the village's internal defenses somewhat depleted. Therefore, Lord Fifth hopes you will return to the village to strengthen the internal security forces," Kakashi said calmly.
"Return to the village?" Asuma was stunned upon hearing this. "Why? If Lord Fifth has any instructions, I can help too. I've been active in the Fire Capital for years and am more familiar with the terrain here."
Kakashi looked at Asuma somewhat speechlessly. Although the Third Hokage had become weak and hesitant in his old age, his basic political skills and insight were still intact. In the same situation, the Third Hokage would have long since fled back to Konoha Village. With the Daimyo dead, the Guardian Shinobi Twelve bore inescapable responsibility. What Asuma should be doing right now was taking advantage of the fact that the civil officials were tied up with other matters and couldn't deal with him, and running away, not foolishly staying in the Fire Capital waiting to be purged.
Then again, if this guy truly possessed that kind of political acumen, he wouldn't have fallen out with the Third Hokage and run off in the first place. Kakashi had some understanding of Asuma's past running away to become one of the Guardian Shinobi Twelve. It could be said that the former Sarutobi Hiruzen had already planned out Asuma's future clearly. As long as Asuma was willing to follow the path step-by-step, while the Hokage position might be out of reach due to his ninja talent limitations, securing the position of Jounin Squad Commander in the future would have been absolutely no problem. Yet, he insisted on showing his rebellious side.
"Lord Fifth is also thinking of your well-being. Lord Third must be quite bored after retiring. As his son, you should go back and fulfill your filial duties," Kakashi said, glancing at Chiriku praying before the memorial tablets nearby, still choosing not to speak plainly.
"Hmph, what does that old man's situation have to do with me," Asuma pouted.
"By the way, before I came, Kurenai asked me to give you a message. She hopes you'll go back and see her," Seeing this, Kakashi had no choice but to play his trump card.
"Alright, I'll leave tomorrow," Asuma blushed upon hearing this and then agreed.
"Don't delay in the Fire Capital. Coincidentally, a batch of supplies procured in the Fire Capital needs to be sent back to the village tomorrow morning. You'll be responsible for escorting it. The route back also passes the Fire Temple. Lord Third is currently there with Konohamaru, praying for the village. You can conveniently pick the old man up and bring him back to the village too," Kakashi reminded him.
"Alright, alright, I know," Asuma waved his hand dismissively, lighting a cigarette. "Never thought you'd become so naggy recently, Kakashi."
...
The next day, Asuma and Chiriku left the Fire Capital together.
However, not long after they departed, Kazuma came to the burial site and unearthed the skeletal remains of his former comrades.
Meanwhile, on this day in the Fire Capital's court assembly, undercurrents surged.
Under Uchiha Douhuan's instruction, Kikuchi Tomoyasu also brought up the rumors currently circulating within the Fire Capital during the court session.
"Reporting to Your Highness, recently the common people within the Fire Capital all say that the dragon vein of our Land of Fire's capital is exhausted and unable to protect the fate of our nation any longer. Your humble servant also summoned the capital's physiognomists and onmyoji yesterday to inquire, and the conclusions obtained were all consistent with the rumors."
How could they not be consistent? The clergy members Kikuchi Tomoyasu summoned were the same group that had previously held the Naka River theological seminar in Konoha Village. After being taught a lesson by the Security Department's batons, this group of charlatans profoundly understood the principle that 'power confers legitimacy'. Now, even if the gods they worshipped descended to the mortal realm, their words might not be as effective as those of a Konoha ninja.
"What should be done?" Upon hearing this, Minamoto Miyuki on the throne instantly showed panic. For a four-year-old child, such mystical talk was quite effective.
"According to the masters' words, the only plan now is to find another location where dragon veins converge to serve as the new capital of our Land of Fire. Only then can the dragon vein beneath our feet recuperate; otherwise, I fear disaster may strike," Kikuchi Tomoyasu said.
"Hmph, what dragon veins, what prophecies! Since when did you, Lord Kikuchi, believe in such things?" Abe Taiichi stepped forward at this moment and interjected. "According to your words, does it mean our Land of Fire will perish if we don't relocate the capital?"
"That is not my meaning," Kikuchi Tomoyasu replied. "However, something unprecedented like a rogue ninja assassinating the late king has already occurred. I feel there might be some truth to this claim."
"Kikuchi Tomoyasu, how bold of you!" Abe Taiichi raged.
Just as the two factions were about to start bickering again, Uchiha Douhuan suddenly stepped forward.
"Reporting to Your Highness, your subject has already stayed in the Fire Capital for some time, and the situation here has stabilized. However, during this period, many affairs in the Hidden Leaf Village have piled up, requiring your subject to return and handle them," Uchiha Douhuan said.
"Grand Minister of State, why say such things again?" Nagano Kiri immediately stepped forward and interrupted Uchiha Douhuan's words. "The late king trusted you, Grand Minister of State, so deeply. By doing this, how can you face the late king's trust?"
"Teacher, you can't leave!" Minamoto Miyuki also stood up from the throne at this point, trotted over to Uchiha Douhuan's side on his short legs, and pleaded.
"Sigh." Uchiha Douhuan sighed. "I also feel that this action betrays the late king's heavy trust. However, I am, after all, the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village. The two departments and thirteen clans of the Hidden Leaf rest upon my shoulders. At the same time, I must also guard the borders of our Land of Fire. With all this, my energy is truly insufficient."
Just then, Kikuchi Tomoyasu suddenly spoke again: "Regarding this point, your humble servant happens to have a perfect solution."
"Lord Kikuchi, please speak," Minamoto Miyuki quickly urged.
"I previously inquired with those masters about where else within our Land of Fire dragon veins exist. One master, who had traveled throughout the ninja world, asserted that the course of the Hidden Leaf Village's Naka River perfectly matches the posture of a soaring dragon, making it the optimal choice for the new capital of our Land of Fire. If we relocate the capital to the Hidden Leaf Village, the Grand Minister of State can handle the Land of Fire's military affairs while assisting Your Highness until old age. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Kikuchi Tomoyasu's words exploded like thunder in Abe Taiichi's mind. Only now did he understand the purpose of the double act performed by Uchiha Douhuan and Kikuchi Tomoyasu.
"Simply preposterous!" Abe Taiichi raged. "Our Land of Fire has been centered in the Fire Capital for hundreds of years! How can we just relocate the capital on a whim! Besides, even if we relocate, how can we move it to a ninja village?"
"I see nothing wrong with relocating the capital," Miura Kazuo interjected sinisterly at this point. "Lord Minister of the Left reacts so strongly; could it be you're reluctant to part with your properties in the Fire Capital?"
"Hmph, you people..." Abe Taiichi glared angrily at Miura Kazuo and Uchiha Douhuan. But just as he was about to speak, Uchiha Douhuan's killing intent, substantial enough to materialize, fixed on him. Instantly, Abe Taiichi broke out in a cold sweat from fear.
At this moment, Minamoto Miyuki happily tugged at Uchiha Douhuan's robe. "Teacher, did you hear? After relocating, you can't say such things anymore."
Having never received a proper royal education since childhood and always being doted on by the former Daimyo, Minamoto Miyuki still didn't understand what relocating the capital truly meant. He only knew that if they relocated, his teacher could continue to protect his safety.
Uchiha Douhuan looked down at the child before him, a meaningful smile playing on his lips as he nodded: "Okay."
After court adjourned, Abe Taiichi knew the plan to assassinate Uchiha Douhuan could no longer be delayed. Therefore, as soon as he returned home, he sent a message to Kazuma through a secret passage.
...
That night, Uchiha Douhuan was alone in the residence maintaining his ninja sword. Before long, chakra fluctuations were detected above Uchiha Douhuan's residence. The next second, turbulent lightning formed a cage, enveloping the entire sky above the area.
Uchiha Douhuan stood up, walked out the door, and looked up expressionlessly at the sky above.
The next second, several shuriken shot towards Uchiha Douhuan from various angles.
However, Uchiha Douhuan didn't even lift his eyes. The rapidly approaching shuriken stopped abruptly, hovering beside Uchiha Douhuan.
Just then, a figure suddenly charged towards Uchiha Douhuan within the courtyard. Uchiha Douhuan unhurriedly raised a finger and caught the stabbing kunai between them.
Only then was the assassin's true face revealed: it was Kazuma, one of the former Guardian Shinobi Twelve.
"I already gave you a chance. It seems you didn't cherish it," Uchiha Douhuan said coldly, holding the kunai. "Didn't the person who taught you ninjutsu tell you what it means for a ninja to be called Kage?"
"Hmph, what Kage! You people shouldn't exist!" Kazuma roared, proactively abandoning the kunai in his hand, then threw a left punch towards Uchiha Douhuan.
Uchiha Douhuan merely leaned slightly, dodging the blow without even moving his feet. Simultaneously, he reversed his grip on the captured kunai and slashed, severing the opponent's left arm.
"Ah!" Kazuma screamed, falling to the courtyard ground. Blood spurted out, dyeing a large patch of the floor red.
Just as Kazuma tried to endure the pain and get up, Uchiha Douhuan directly stepped on his shoulder and chuckled lightly, "Actually, I agree with your viewpoint. The system of Kage and ninja villages indeed shouldn't exist. The nation's ninja forces should be directly controlled by the supreme ruler. But I am already the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village in the Land of Fire. So, I'll just have to become the ruler of the Land of Fire myself."
Struck hard again, Kazuma spat out a mouthful of blood. But after hearing Uchiha Douhuan's words, he looked up at him with disbelief in his eyes.
"You... won't escape," Kazuma managed to say with difficulty. Coming here tonight for the assassination, he had already prepared to sacrifice his life to drag Uchiha Douhuan down within the range of the Thunder Dream Lightning Chain.
"Is this your trump card?" Uchiha Douhuan, stepping on Kazuma, looked up at the combination ninjutsu in the sky, which had finished charging, and said with a smile. "Did you not even bother to find out what my former title was before making your move?"
"Before I became Hokage, my comrades in the village did me the honor of calling me Sorei Doukō (Azure Thunder Douhuan)," Uchiha Douhuan chuckled. "But, compared to that, I still prefer my nickname from my time in Kirigakure: Mikazuchi (Takemikazuchi)."
With that, Uchiha Douhuan lightly snapped his fingers. Before Kazuma's disbelieving eyes, the lightning gathered within the great array of the lightning cage above began to flow slowly towards Uchiha Douhuan's raised left hand. This violent lightning, uncontrollable even by its casters, became like easily kneadable dough in Uchiha Douhuan's hand. Soon, all the lightning condensed by Raimu Raiton flowed to Uchiha Douhuan's fingertips, forming a blue lightning sphere half a meter in diameter.
Uchiha Douhuan chuckled lightly and flicked it into the air. The lightning sphere whistled upwards into the sky and exploded into a firework that illuminated the entire night sky of the Fire Capital.
Only terror remained in Kazuma's eyes. This move by Uchiha Douhuan completely surpassed his imagination. Only at this moment did he finally understand what it truly meant for a ninja to be called Kage.
However, the next second, his vision spun wildly. Uchiha Douhuan directly swung his sword and decapitated him. His expression was forever frozen in that moment.
Soon, the elite Jounin guarding the royal castle were attracted by the commotion earlier and arrived before Uchiha Douhuan's door.
Uchiha Douhuan walked out of the courtyard with a grim expression, carrying Kazuma's head.
"Some people in this Fire Capital are truly lawless! Colluding with rogue ninjas to assassinate the Daimyo wasn't enough; they wouldn't even spare me, the Grand Minister of State dedicated to the country!" Uchiha Douhuan came before the elite Jounin led by Kakashi. "All units! Tonight, follow me! Cleanse the hidden insects in this Fire Capital! Restore clarity and righteous order to our Land of Fire!"
"Salute Lord Hokage!" Kakashi, at the front of the contingent, shouted loudly.
"Loyalty!" The elite Jounin present all raised their hands in salute and shouted.
"Loyalty," Uchiha Douhuan, carrying Kazuma's head, returned the salute, then strode forward towards the nearby residence of the first target: Matsuda Seisuke, Abe Taiichi's loyal subordinate.
This night, the entire Fire Capital was destined to flow with rivers of blood. Kakashi and Uchiha Douhuan split ways. Not a single person who appeared in Abe Taiichi's secret room that night was spared. By dawn, the sealing scrolls at their waists were already filled with heads. The two rendezvoused in front of Minister of the Left Abe Taiichi's residence, then strode inside.
...
(End of Chapter)
♧♧♧
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
♧♧♧
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais
(Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that help the story a lot Thank you