139 Freedom Fighter. Trial By Fire

"Lightning Style · Lightning Spear!"

Shuichi, the captain, was covered in electric arcs, his body energized with Lightning Style Chakra, enhancing his speed with the Body Flicker Technique. 

He appeared almost instantly behind Kushina.

Simu, watching from a distance, raised an eyebrow. 

This Guardian Ninja, Shuichi, was impressive. Even in Konoha, full of talented ninjas, he could hold the position of Jōnin.

Previously, it would have taken Kushina a lot of effort to defeat a Jōnin and four Chūnin-level assistants.

But now, with some of the Nine Tails' power under her control, even facing multiple Jōnin wouldn't be much of a challenge.

The spear crackled with lightning, striking like a thunderbolt. Though Kushina couldn't turn around in time, the Nine Tails Chakra surrounding her already responded.

A massive dark red tail swung out, colliding with the lightning-charged spear in mid-air.

Shuichi's face tightened. The dark red Chakra emanating from Kushina exuded an intense, almost maddening energy that made him feel an involuntary surge of fear. 

His hands trembled slightly from the overwhelming power.

The force of the Nine Tails' Chakra knocked the spear back, driving it into the ground with a loud scrape.

Quickly, the fat ninja sealed his hands, summoning two massive rocks from either side of Kushina. They closed in like a giant pair of hands, ready to crush her.

"Earth Style · Mountain Technique."

This powerful B-level Earth Style jutsu could easily crush even a Jōnin if they were caught off guard.

Kushina's strength now rivaled that of skilled taijutsu ninjas. The fierce Chakra in her hands condensed into a formidable force.

This technique, passed down from Tsunade, became even more destructive with the power of Nine Tails' Chakra. She gripped the two massive rocks tightly, unable to be moved at all.

"Now's my chance!"

A tall, skinny ninja from the Guardian team aimed and called out, "Wind Style: Wind Scythe Technique!"

A powerful gust of wind shot from his mouth, forming a scythe of air ready to slash through anything in its path.

Kushina remained calm as the scythe approached. On her back, two large claws formed from Chakra. Using them like arms, she pushed off the rock, launching herself into the air.

The Wind Style scythe missed its target but left deep cuts in the rock. As she soared upward, Kushina brought the two Chakra claws together, preparing for her next move.

It felt like a hammer was falling from the sky, crashing down with huge force.

"Get out of the way!" Shuichi quickly activated his Lightning Style Chakra, dodging to the side. 

The tall, skinny ninja and another one followed suit.

However, the burly Earth Style ninja wasn't so lucky. His large size made him slower. Faced with the sudden attack, he had no choice but to try to block it.

He didn't stay still. Instead, he quickly formed hand seals.

"Earth Style: Rock Armor!"

Rocks rose from the ground, forming layers of armor on his body, resembling a small fortress.

But Kushina, capable of smashing steel with her bare fists, showed no mercy. The Earth Style fortress shattered effortlessly under her punch.

As the rocks crumbled, the sunlight revealed the terrified expression of the Earth Style ninja trapped inside.

Kushina landed in front of the Earth Style ninja and immediately struck him with a powerful punch to the head. He was knocked out cold in one hit.

"This is not an enemy we can dealt with," 

The tall, thin ninja said, trembling. The arrogance he once had when facing Konoha Shinobi was gone. Now, he understood just how far he was from being a true ninja.

Even Captain Shuichi's face grew serious. In just two minutes, they had lost two members of their team.

"Shut up," the thin man who hadn't acted yet said coldly. 

"To complete the mission given by the daimyo, we will sacrifice our lives if necessary!"

He then opened his mouth, releasing a powerful stream of water.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bomb!"

The rushing water formed a massive, ferocious water dragon, roaring as it charged toward Kushina with immense force.

Kushina didn't dodge. Instead, she charged toward the water dragon.

"This person..." Shuichi's expression shifted.

Facing such a powerful ninjutsu, she dared to attack head-on?

Kushina's two tails turned into powerful claws and gripped the head of the incoming water dragon. 

She stomped her foot, sending a shockwave through the ground. With her next move, she leaped toward the water dragon and delivered a powerful punch.

The force of her strike shattered the water dragon into countless droplets.

As Kushina soared through the water curtain, Shuichi quickly prepared his Lightning Style ninjutsu. In this environment, he knew his Lightning Style would be at its most powerful.

To Shuichi's surprise, Kushina was already prepared.

Faster than he could complete his seal, two golden chains shot out from the dark red chakra, moving like serpents. 

They wrapped around Shuichi and anchored themselves into the ground.

The flow of chakra within Shuichi halted as the powerful pull from the golden chains restrained him. Realizing the danger, he quickly tried to warn his partner.

"Be careful!"

But the warning came too late.

With the help of the chains, Kushina appeared in front of them at lightning speed. Her dark red claws, massive and fierce, slammed both ninjas into the ground.

Once the Nine Tails Chakra receded from her body, Kushina looked coldly at the bound figures, her gaze fixed on the diamond seal holding them in place.

The Jōnin from the Chakra Guardian Ninja Force couldn't react in time.

Shuichi's face darkened as he asked, "Is Konoha behind this riot against the Fire Nation's nobles? It seems like you plan to destroy the one-country-one-village system established by the first Hokage, Senju Hashirama?"

Before Kushina could respond, Simu appeared before Shouichi in a flash.

"If that's what you believe, then the creation of a new ninja army in the Daimyo's region is what truly disrupts the system established by the first Hokage," Simu said, his cold eyes locked on the ninja wearing the Fire Nation forehead protector.

"Since the daimyo no longer supports Konoha's growth, there's no need for that system to continue."

"Times always change," 

Shouichi's face was pale. 

He wasn't surprised to see Simu involved, knowing the golden flash was Konoha's hawk—unlike Danzo, who focused on attacking other countries.

Simu's actions were clear—he was taking the initiative to eliminate any threats to Konoha. In reality, this wouldn't affect the nobles of the Fire Nation. 

But Simu was different. He had no respect for the aristocracy of any nation, even ignoring the daimyo. 

Now, with his declaration that "times will change," it was hard to predict his next move.

"Alright, you'd better get some rest," Simu said coldly. With his Armament Haki wrapped around his hand, he struck Shouichi's neck, knocking him out without any resistance.

Simu then turned his attention to the crowd rushing toward the lord's mansion. He glanced at the lord, who appeared as helpless as a fat pig waiting to be slaughtered.

Simu smiled faintly. "Let them figure it out from here."

Kushina, her eyes filled with disdain, added, "I really want to kill this guy with my own hands." 

She knew all too well what the lord had done over the years. It was no exaggeration to say that his actions had made both heaven and people angry.

Simu took Kushina's hand, and in an instant, they disappeared along with the five guardian ninjas. 

Led by a mysterious figure, they broke through Samurai forces and stormed the lord's mansion.

After swiftly defeating the remaining soldiers, they finally found the fat lord hiding in the basement. 

Along with him, they discovered dozens of girls he had imprisoned and the bodies of many others, discarded in the mansion's well.

Just as they were about to end his life…

A voice rang out.

"Everyone, I know you're angry, but for the sake of fairness and justice, I believe we should hold a trial."

As soon as Simu spoke, the entire scene fell silent.

"A trial?"

"Yes," Simu continued. "The trial will publicly expose the crimes the noble has committed over the years, and then everyone will decide on his punishment." 

He explained that a proper judgment was important. It provided the necessary foundation to distinguish justice from mere vengeance. 

Executing someone after a trial ensures fairness; without it, they would just be a group of thugs taking out their anger.

Simu's suggestion quickly gained support from many around him.

"Judgment! Judgment! Judgment!"

The former noble was gagged and hung on a large cross, with vegetation gathered by the villagers placed beneath him. 

Since Shikaku's information had already been exposed, the trial was handed over to a young boy to preside over it

. This was when Simu learned the boy's name for the first time—Yuanichi Toshiro.

Standing at the highest point of the lord's mansion, Toshiro loudly declared the former lord's crimes.

"Kidnapping women..."

"Stealing people's belongings..."

"Forcing people off their land..."

"Allowing his subordinates to recklessly beat the people of Shinjuku Town..."

With each crime spoken, the anger of the people grew stronger.

No evidence was needed for these crimes. The thousands of people living in Shinjuku Town were the best witnesses.

It took Toshiro two hours to recount all the crimes.

"For all the evil deeds committed by the former Lord, I declare that he will be burned at the stake!"

"Light the fire!"

"Fire! Light the fire!"

Thousands of people raised torches and set fire to the grass and trees beneath the former noble. The flames spread quickly, lighting up the dark sky.

In the sea of flames, the noble's screams grew fainter, until they vanished entirely.

Thousands of eyes reflected the fire. What was burning today was not just the former lord, but the revolution in their hearts.

.

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TO BE CONTINUED

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