bookbashuk Chapter 213 The Day Shimura, Utatane, and Mito were Exterminated
Chapter 213 The Day Shimura, Utatane, and Mito were Exterminated
Time flies like an arrow; more than a month has passed in the blink of an eye.
The war in the Land of Fire not only did not subside, but intensified.
The second prince, Enichi, with the support of Iwagakure Village, conquered seven cities in the north.
With the support of Kumogakure, the third prince, Enichi Takashi, conquered six cities in the east.
Prince Enichi, with the support of Sunagakure, conquered six cities in the west.
The fifth prince, Yuan Shihong, with the support of some nobles, conquered three cities in the south.
The territory of the eldest prince, Yuan Shixiu, is rapidly shrinking.
The once prosperous Land of Fire is now nothing but ruins.
The Sarutobi, Shimura, Utatane, and Mito families are now just empty shells.
The Shimura clan's ninjas were almost completely wiped out on the eastern defense line, with only 37 remaining.
The Tsurugi family suffered heavy casualties in the battle for the northern mines, with only 29 people surviving.
Due to years of warfare, the number of ninjas in the Mito clan has been reduced to 31.
Even the strongest Sarutobi clan has seen its membership drop from a peak of 1587 to less than 187.
Late at night, the remaining members of the Shimura, Tsunetsu, and Mito clans were secretly gathering.
Chief Shimura sat in the corner, his left arm hanging limply: "We can't go on like this. If we keep guarding, all three of our clans will be wiped out. We should escape the Land of Fire tonight and seek refuge in the Land of Earth. At least that way, we can save the lives of our people."
The clan chief frowned, his voice filled with hesitation: "But what will happen to our businesses in the Land of Fire if we leave? We've served the Land of Fire for generations; if we defect now, won't we become traitors to our clan?"
The Mito clan chief slammed his fist on the table, his voice trembling with emotion: "The Land of Fire is beyond saving! The five princes are killing each other, and Hiruzen Sarutobi is only concerned with protecting his own clan, completely disregarding our lives! Last month, our Mito clan requested reinforcements, but he only sent ten ninjas, and they all died! If we don't leave now, we'll all be dead!"
Silence fell over the warehouse, and the hesitation on the faces of the three clansmen was gradually replaced by despair.
Finally, the clan chief sighed, "So be it. For the sake of our people, even if we bear the stigma of treason, we'll accept it. Tonight at midnight, we'll break through from the north gate. The guards there are my old subordinates; they'll let us through."
Little did they know that the contents of this secret meeting had already been overheard by spies planted by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Early that morning, Hiruzen Sarutobi received a report from his spies.
Upon hearing the news that the Shimura, Utatsuya, and Mito clans were planning to defect.
He slammed his brush on the table, his eyes filled with icy killing intent: "To defect when the nation is in its most perilous time is a disgrace to the Fire Kingdom! Issue the order to assemble the Allied Forces and immediately proceed to the North Gate to intercept these three races!"
Elder Sarutobi, who was standing nearby, quickly advised, "Clan Chief, please think it over! So many people from the Shimura, Utatane, and Mito clans have died for the country. Perhaps you should try to persuade them again; there might still be a chance to make amends."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sneered, "Since they've decided to defect, they've already lost all loyalty to the Land of Fire! Letting them leave will not only shake the morale of the other clans, but it will also reveal the Land of Fire's true strength to the enemy. At that point, the Land of Fire will truly be finished!"
At one o'clock in the morning, three thousand ninjas of the National Protection Alliance gathered at the North Gate.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in black armor, stood at the very front of the group.
Soon, members of the Shimura, Tsunetsu, and Mito clans appeared on the path leading to the north gate.
They were mostly accompanied by elderly people and children, walking hurriedly with wary expressions on their faces.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice rang out in the night, carrying an undeniable authority: "Halt! Where do you think you're going with your clansmen?"
Chief Shimura's heart tightened; he knew his plan had been exposed. He shielded his clansmen behind him and shouted, "Hiruzen Sarutobi! We've sacrificed so much for the country, just to preserve a few seeds for our clan. Why must you be so ruthless?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes were icy: "You chose to defect when the country needed you most; you are traitors to the Land of Fire!"
The Mito clan chief shouted, "Hiruzen Sarutobi isn't going to leave us a way out. We might as well fight to the death. Everyone who can escape, let's scatter and run!"
He was the first to form hand seals: "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" A huge water dragon rose from the ground and rushed towards the National Protection Alliance.
"Kill them! Anyone who resists, kill them without mercy!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi snorted coldly and raised his hand to form a hand seal: "Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!" A huge burst of flames erupted, instantly evaporating the water dragon, and steam filled the night.
The ninjas of the National Protection Alliance immediately rushed forward and engaged in fierce battle with the members of the three clans.
Although the members of the three clans had the will to resist, they were quickly forced into retreat due to the fact that most of them were old, weak, women and children, and their chakra was insufficient.
With his remaining right arm, the clan chief Shimura killed two Allied Shinobi ninjas, but was struck by Hiruzen Sarutobi's Fire Release technique and fell to the ground, his clothes stained with blood.
"Our families have known each other for hundreds of years... why... we just want to survive..."
He muttered to himself, his eyes filled with resentment, before finally losing consciousness.
The clan chief of Zhuanqin looked at his fallen clansmen, his heart filled with despair.
She knew they couldn't win this battle, so she turned and shouted to her people behind her, "You all go! I'll hold them off!"
After saying that, she charged towards the allied forces, unleashing her final ninjutsu, and ultimately fell to a hail of blades.
The Mito clan chief, leading the remaining clansmen, attempted to break through from the side, but was surrounded by the allied ninjas.
The allied commander shouted, "Lay down your weapons and surrender!"
The Mito clan chief looked at the old people and children around him, and finally put down the knife in his hand, his eyes filled with tears of humiliation.
The battle ended quickly, and apart from a few who died in battle, the rest of the members of the three tribes were captured.
That morning, Hiruzen Sarutobi held a trial in the capital's square. The prisoners of the Shimura, Utatane, and Mito clans were tied to pillars, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood on the high platform, his voice booming: "The Shimura, Utatane, and Mito clans, instead of serving their country in its time of crisis, chose to betray it. This is an unforgivable crime! I hereby declare that all prisoners of these three clans shall be executed as a warning to others!"
From the crowd, several elders of the Sarutobi clan suddenly stepped forward, bowing deeply to their clan leader: "Lord Hiruzen, please have mercy! Although the three clans have made mistakes, they have also served the Land of Fire for many years. Why not spare their lives and let them atone for their crimes!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes were icy: "Atone for your crimes? Defecting when the country needs you most is the most shameful act! Such a person doesn't deserve to stay in the Land of Fire, much less atone for his crimes! Execute orders!"
With a command given, a flash of sword light appeared, and the screams of the prisoners echoed across the square.
The elders of the Sarutobi clan watched this scene with a sense of helplessness in their hearts.
Since the deaths of Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Sarutobi Konohamaru, Sarutobi Hiruzen's behavior has become increasingly cold and insane!