Chapter 119: Sword Shakes the Court
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Abe Taiichi was still deep in slumber at this moment, but by now, he was the only living person left in this residence.
After Uchiha Douhuan and Kakashi walked into the old man's bedroom, Kakashi directly placed his sword beside the other's neck, while Uchiha Douhuan gently patted his face.
Abe Taiichi slowly woke up. However, upon seeing Uchiha Douhuan's face and the sword near his head, he was instantly shocked awake.
You must know, just a second ago, he was dreaming beautifully of Kazuma executing the national traitor, of himself successfully becoming the Grand Minister of State, eliminating the treacherous ministers in the court one by one, and thus leaving a good name for a hundred generations. But the next second, a sword was already at his neck.
"Good morning, Minister of the Left," Uchiha Douhuan chuckled lightly.
"You... you... you..." Abe Taiichi raised a trembling hand, pointing at Uchiha Douhuan.
"Is the Minister of the Left wondering why I'm still alive?" Uchiha Douhuan chuckled. "Well, there's nothing to be done about it; the assassin you hired was too sloppy."
After Uchiha Douhuan finished speaking, he took out Kazuma's head, eyes wide open in death, from a sealing scroll and gently placed it beside Abe Taiichi's head.
How could this old fellow Abe Taiichi have ever seen such a sight? Terror instantly appeared on his face: "I... I don't know what you're talking about."
"Lord Abe doesn't want to admit it? It doesn't matter. My Hidden Leaf Village's Yamanaka clan has a secret technique that can directly extract intelligence from a dead person's head," Uchiha Douhuan said. "Therefore, for the sake of my own innocence, I must ask Lord Abe and your faction members to lend me your heads."
"You... what did you do to them?" Hearing this, Abe Taiichi's heart tightened.
"Lord Abe, what are you saying? I'm a ninja; killing entire families is my job. What do you think happened to your faction members?" Uchiha Douhuan's smile widened, but Abe Taiichi felt his scalp tingle with terror.
"Wantonly killing a minister! This is treason!" Abe Taiichi gritted his teeth.
"So Lord Abe also knows how to write the characters for treason," Uchiha Douhuan said. "I thought you didn't, otherwise you wouldn't have arranged for someone to assassinate me, the Grand Minister of State personally appointed by the late king."
"However, since you lost, please proceed on your way, Lord Abe," Uchiha Douhuan's expression turned cold as he spoke.
Kakashi beside him heard Uchiha Douhuan's command, raised his hand, and brought down the blade, severing Abe Taiichi's head.
After dealing with everyone, dawn had arrived, and the court assembly was about to begin.
Uchiha Douhuan simply changed his clothes and strode towards the royal palace.
After today's court assembly began, the assembled officials of the Land of Fire immediately noticed that there seemed to be far fewer people present today. Not a single person from Minister of the Left Abe Taiichi's faction had arrived. Similarly, Uchiha Douhuan, who should have been standing at the forefront of all officials, was also absent today.
Fortunately, before long, the reporting eunuch announced news from outside the palace gate: Uchiha Douhuan had arrived outside the palace gate.
Soon, Uchiha Douhuan strode into the main hall. As soon as Uchiha Douhuan entered the door, the few ministers near the entrance showed expressions of terror. The reason was simple: Uchiha Douhuan, who hadn't even bathed after killing people, reeked strongly of blood and simultaneously emanated a terrifying killing intent at all times.
"Reporting to Your Highness, your subject had urgent matters last night and was thus delayed in attending court. I hope Your Highness will forgive me," Uchiha Douhuan bowed and said.
"It's alright, Teacher. Please come to the front," Minamoto Miyuki on the throne immediately jumped down upon seeing Uchiha Douhuan arrive, wanting to trot over to Uchiha Douhuan's side on his short legs.
However, as soon as the child got close to Uchiha Douhuan, he was stunned into place by the killing intent and smell of blood emanating from Uchiha Douhuan. His legs trembled (两股战战 - liǎng gǔ zhàn zhàn), his small face turned pale, and he even forgot how to speak.
Uchiha Douhuan looked down at Minamoto Miyuki, bent down, picked him up, and walked unhurriedly towards the throne, gently placing him upon it.
In just those few dozen steps, Minamoto Miyuki, having directly faced Uchiha Douhuan's killing intent and smell of blood up close, had stopped thinking, his body trembling uncontrollably. Only after being placed on the throne by Uchiha Douhuan did he briefly regain his senses.
"Retch!" As soon as he sat down, Minamoto Miyuki vomited. Simultaneously, tears welled up in his eyes. The eunuchs beside him quickly rushed forward to attend to him.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Douhuan glanced back at him once, then stood beside the throne, coldly observing the officials below.
"His Highness the Daimyo is unwell. Today's court assembly should have been postponed. However, the events that occurred last night must be clarified to everyone. Therefore, today's court assembly will be presided over by me," Uchiha Douhuan finished speaking, then turned to look at the eunuch beside Minamoto Miyuki. "Escort His Highness the Daimyo back to rest."
The eunuchs beside the Daimyo were similarly intimidated by Uchiha Douhuan's killing intent and dared not refute him in the slightest. They could only pick up the Daimyo, who was still crying and vomiting, and retreat into the rear palace hall.
After the Daimyo left, only then did Uchiha Douhuan stand on the high platform where the throne was located, looking down condescendingly at the officials below, who bowed their heads like quails. He began to speak: "I imagine many are curious why the Minister of the Left and his friends did not attend court today. Because last night, something very unpleasant happened."
"Last night, within my residence, I was subjected to an assassination attempt."
As Uchiha Douhuan's voice fell, the assembled court officials were instantly in an uproar.
"Fortunately, as the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village in the Land of Fire, I possess some meager chakra, allowing me to slay the assassin. However, the identity of this assassin is quite interesting. Why don't you all venture a guess as to who would have the audacity to try and assassinate me."
As Uchiha Douhuan's voice fell, the vast court instantly fell into an eerie silence.
After a moment, Uchiha Douhuan opened a sealing scroll on his person, took out Kazuma's head from within, and tossed it towards the officials.
Kazuma's head rolled twice on the ground before stopping at Miura Kazuo's feet.
Miura Kazuo was so frightened by this sight that he fell directly onto the ground. At this point, the officials in the court also recognized the owner of the head.
"This..."
Kikuchi Tomoyasu and others were too shocked to speak.
"One of the former Guardian Shinobi Twelve of the late king, actually committed such a rebellious act!" Uchiha Douhuan declared. "However, that is not all."
"My Hidden Leaf Village's Yamanaka clan has a secret technique that can extract memories from the brains of the deceased. After extracting the memories, I discovered some very interesting things. The mastermind behind this assassination was none other than our Minister of the Left, Abe Taiichi."
"Furthermore, these two also colluded with the rogue ninja Orochimaru! It was precisely with their help that Orochimaru was able to infiltrate the palace and directly assassinate the late king!"
"As the Fifth Hokage of the Land of Fire, entrusted with such heavy responsibility by the late Emperor, how could I possibly tolerate such traitors continuing to roam free?"
"Therefore, I could only act overnight, executing all these treacherous rebels! Only thus can the spirit of the late Emperor in heaven be comforted!"
After Uchiha Douhuan finished speaking, he once again surveyed the officials below. After a moment, he continued:
"And that is the reason why I was so late in attending court today."
Just then, Kakashi also entered the court hall. He quickly walked past the officials, came before Uchiha Douhuan, bowed respectfully, and said, "Reporting to the Grand Minister of State, all individuals involved last night, along with their family members, have been fully executed. Their bodies have all been transported to the mass grave outside the city."
Hearing this, the hearts of the assembled officials tightened again. They carefully raised their heads and looked incredulously at Uchiha Douhuan beside the throne.
Only at this moment did the officials truly realize that besides being the Grand Minister of State appointed by the late king, Uchiha Douhuan was also the supreme commander of all their Land of Fire's armed forces. If they truly angered him, when he said he would kill entire families, he really would kill entire families.
"Miura Kazuo," Uchiha Douhuan suddenly started calling names.
Startled, Miura Kazuo scrambled forward on his knees in three quick steps before Uchiha Douhuan and said, "Your servant is here."
"The Minister of the Left has been executed. You are now the highest-ranking official in this court besides myself. What are your thoughts on this matter?" Uchiha Douhuan asked unhurriedly.
"This is all the just deserts for that traitor Abe! We must also thank the Grand Minister of State for acting swiftly, restoring clarity and righteous order to our Land of Fire! Otherwise, who knows how long those traitors, who ate the ruler's bread yet harbored rebellious intentions, would have remained at large."
"Is that so?" Uchiha Douhuan chuckled lightly, then called another name, "Nagano Kiri."
"Your servant is here." Nagano Kiri also stepped out and knelt down rapidly. Compared to the others, as one of those kidnapped by Kakashi that night, he understood the methods of this Grand Minister of State even earlier. For the safety of his entire family, Nagano Kiri knelt even faster than Miura Kazuo.
"That Abe Taiichi likely planned this treasonous act long ago! The assassination of the late king this time probably occurred because the late king discovered their ill intentions, and they acted out of desperation! The Grand Minister of State's actions this time, smashing their conspiracy with thunderous means, is a great service to the nation and the people! As for these traitors, their deaths are no great loss!"
"Good, good, good." Uchiha Douhuan nodded. "It seems our Land of Fire is not lacking in loyal officials dedicated to the country. Then, the follow-up to this matter, I entrust to you all to handle."
"Yes!" The assembled officials knelt down in unison and responded.
"Does anyone else have matters to report?" Uchiha Douhuan asked.
At this time, Miura Kazuo gritted his teeth and spoke up, "Reporting to the Grand Minister of State, your humble servant has an important matter to report."
"Speak." Uchiha Douhuan glanced at the man and uttered a single word.
"Although the main culprit who colluded with rogue ninjas in rebellion has been executed, the rogue ninja Orochimaru who assassinated the late king has not yet been captured. They have operated in this Fire Capital for many years and likely have other hidden measures in place. This Fire Capital is probably no longer safe. For the safety of His Highness the Daimyo, the matter of relocating the capital brooks no delay."
...
(End of Chapter)
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