Chapter 218: Defeating Three Nations In One Battle, Public Trial Assembly
Land of Shadows Border, on a high slope several miles away from that main battlefield which had already quieted but was left in ruins.
Land of Shadows Daimyo Yokogawa Taichi, wearing a luxurious fur robe stained with mud and snow, was pacing back and forth anxiously.
He was surrounded by dozens of equally shaken nobles and retainers, while farther away were hundreds of defeated soldiers and hired samurai who had just been rounded up, with low morale and disorganized equipment.
They gazed far into the direction of the battlefield, where the earth-shattering roars and chakra fluctuations that had once echoed had now subsided, leaving only a deathly silence that instead made their hearts crawl with dread.
“Is it… over?” a noble asked in a trembling voice, laced with fear.
“It must be the lord of the Land of Snow who won!” another noble forced himself to stay calm, trying to bolster his own spirits: “Lord Fukazake Nutou brought so many powerful ninjas, and that miraculous chakra armor, against those Star Ninja rogues, surely…”
“Shut up!” Yokogawa Taichi irritably cut him off, his fat face covered in cold sweat and worry.
“What if they won? What if they lost? Is Fukazake Nutou a better neighbor than the Star Ninja? Can’t you see his wolfish ambitions? If he wins, the next one to be dealt with will be us! What he covets is definitely not just that forest!”
His words made the surrounding nobles’ faces even paler, as they recalled Fukazake Nutou’s cold eyes and the strange conditions he had proposed.
Could a single forest really satisfy Fukazake Nutou’s ambitions?
In that moment, fear and despair permeated everyone’s hearts.
At that very moment, on the horizon of the distant snowfield, several black dots suddenly appeared, rapidly enlarging!
“Y-Your Excellency! Someone’s coming!” a sentinel soldier cried out in alarm.
Before Yokogawa Taichi and the others could make out who was approaching, those figures had already rushed up like ghosts!
Their speed was beyond imagination!
It was Hotaru and Gōta!
Each leading three elite Star Ninja, they charged into the panicked Land of Shadows defeated soldiers like tigers into a flock of sheep!
“Enemy attack! It’s the Star Ninja!!”
“Protect Your Excellency the Daimyo!”
Chaotic cries of alarm and screams instantly rang out!
Several relatively loyal samurai drew their swords to meet them, but their meager skills were worthless against true ninjas.
How could these ordinary soldiers and wandering samurai stand against elite Star Ninja?
Hotaru formed hand seals with both hands, her body erupting in brilliant purple chakra: “Peacock Myōhō: Feather Strike!”
The purple chakra swept across like a peacock fanning its tail, instantly sending a dozen soldiers in front flying, their weapons flying from their hands as they collapsed motionless.
Gōta was even more direct; as the clan head of the Iburi, he let out a low roar, parts of his body turning to smoke, effortlessly dodging the incoming blades, and in an instant appeared behind a wandering ninja trying to resist, precisely stabbing a kunai into the opponent’s back.
“Earth Style: Earth Flow Spears!” At the same time, several sharp earth spears thrust up from the ground, skewering several charging samurai like candied hawthorns.
The six Star Ninja they brought acted like efficient killing machines, either bombarding from afar with ninjutsu or slaughtering up close with taijutsu, coordinating seamlessly with crisp, clean movements.
The Land of Shadows defeated soldiers had no fighting spirit to begin with, and were instantly thrown into chaos, wailing and screaming, completely collapsing and scattering.
Yokogawa Taichi and that group of nobles were scared out of their wits and turned to flee.
But Hotaru and Gōta’s targets were precisely them!
“Where do you think you’re going!” Hotaru shouted coldly, her figure flashing as if teleporting right in front of Yokogawa Taichi, her palm covered in purple chakra clamping his neck like iron pliers, easily lifting his fat body off the ground!
“Urgh… spare… spare me…” Yokogawa Taichi’s face turned purple, his legs kicking wildly in the air, tears and snot streaming down, his previous arrogance and scheming utterly gone, leaving only primal fear.
A stench of feces and urine flowed from his crotch; Yokogawa Taichi sobbed uncontrollably: “Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me! I surrender! I surrender! I offer the Land of Shadows to the Land of Stars! Please spare my life!”
The other Star Ninja quickly subdued all the other nobles trying to flee, shackling them with special chakra handcuffs.
These masters who had lorded over others daily now lay like lambs to the slaughter, slumped on the ground, their wails and pleas merging into a cacophony.
“Mercy, my lord! We’re willing to give up all our wealth!”
“It was all Yokogawa Taichi who forced us! It has nothing to do with us!”
“Lord Star Ninja! I can pledge loyalty to the Land of Stars too! I know many secrets of the Land of Shadows!”
Gōta looked at these spineless fools with disgust and said to Hotaru: “Mission accomplished. Take them back. Lord Shura is waiting for news.”
Star Capital, military zone headquarters.
Here, unlike the winter tranquility outside, it was filled with the cold sense of modern technology and the tense atmosphere of efficient operation.
On the massive electronic screen wall, dozens of images were split: some blurry footage transmitted live via miniature cameras worn by frontline ninjas, others overhead views captured by high-altitude reconnaissance ninjutsu or summoned beasts, clearly showing the situations at the Land of Shadows Border battlefield, Bonsō Castle in the Land of Swamps, and the Star Ninja Force rapidly advancing into the Land of Snow.
Serving as the transmission hub was Uchiha Hikari, commanding from the front lines.
Several researchers and technical ninjas in white coats sat at complex control panels, tensely monitoring data streams and using the engraving-based “chakra network” to build encrypted communication channels, maintaining instant contact with frontline units, relaying orders, and compiling intelligence.
Menma stood quietly before the main screen, still wearing that black robe with red edges, his deep blue eyes under his black hair calmly scanning every image.
He didn’t need to go to the front lines himself; this was his throne, with the entire battlefield’s layout clearly presented before him.
When he saw the footage of Hotaru and Gōta successfully capturing the Land of Shadows Daimyo and nobles, his face showed no expression, as if they had merely caught two small fish.
Immediately after, Uchiha Hikari’s clear, cold voice sounded directly in his ear through the encrypted channel:
“Fukazake Nutou has been severely wounded by Kisame Hoshigaki and captured by me. The Snow Ninja main force has been routed, with remnants being mopped up. Per your instructions, I have ordered Kisame Hoshigaki to lead an advance squad, leveraging his rich experience, to infiltrate the Land of Snow capital first and seize key nodes, clearing obstacles for subsequent takeover.”
Menma nodded slightly; Hikari’s speed and decisions were always so efficient.
Kisame Hoshigaki, that veteran Anbu, was indeed skilled at such infiltration and control missions.
The timing had arrived.
Menma no longer hesitated and issued the final command clearly and calmly:
“Order: The first, second, and third Star Ninja Army units on standby at the border, advance in full force immediately!”
“First Unit, target Land of Snow: full takeover, mop up remaining resistance, coordinate with Kisame Hoshigaki to control the capital and all important towns and ports.”
“Second Unit, target Land of Swamps: maintain order, suppress any possible unrest, ensure administrative team safety.”
“Third Unit, target Land of Shadows: clear the battlefield, guard prisoners, stabilize the area.”
“Order Uzumaki Kushina to immediately lead all reserve administrative officials and logistics support teams, dividing into three routes to enter the Land of Snow, Land of Swamps, and Land of Shadows! Begin establishing county-level administrative systems. Primary tasks: open granaries, distribute cold-weather supplies, provide large-scale relief to disaster victims, organize medical forces to treat the wounded, and implement work-for-relief to quickly restore basic production and order!”
“Move out!”
The orders instantly reached every captain and person in charge via the engraving network.
The Land of Stars’ massive war and administrative machine instantly roared into full-speed operation!
The three Star Ninja Army units already assembled on standby at the border—each consisting of thirty-six elite troops mixed from chunin, special jonin, and jonin—shot forth like three unsheathed swords toward the north, west, and local battlefield cleanup.
They were well-trained, swift in action, and clear on their objectives.
Following closely, an even larger contingent of administrative officials, personally coordinated by Uzumaki Kushina, crossed the borderline in a grand procession using various vehicles, pack beasts, and even ninja-assisted transport, heading to the three countries.
They carried large quantities of grain, medicine, clothing, and construction supplies.
The Land of Stars’ speed of action exceeded everyone’s imagination!
Almost simultaneously with the physical elimination of the daimyo and noble factions in each country, the Land of Stars’ governance system followed right behind, swiftly filling the power vacuum!
With the forceful entry of the Star Ninja Army and the arrival of administrative officials, the scattered resistance from remaining noble private soldiers or die-hard loyalists in the three countries melted away like ice and snow under the sun.
The Star Ninja crushed any budding defiance with overwhelming power.
Immediately after, a grand, unprecedented public trial assembly unfolded simultaneously in the major cities of the three countries, especially their capitals!
Several days later, at the central plaza of the Land of Swamps capital.
Despite the harsh cold weather, the plaza was packed with people!
Tens of thousands of citizens and farmers from surrounding villages gathered here, dressed in thin, tattered clothes, their faces sallow from long-term hunger, but at this moment, their eyes burned with a complex emotion.
Fear, confusion, but above all, anger that had been suppressed for far too long, on the verge of erupting, and a sliver of hopeful disbelief!
A temporary high platform had been erected in the plaza center.
On the platform, the captured Land of Swamps Daimyo Ono Takuto and dozens of the most prominent nobles and ministers were bound tightly and forced to kneel on the icy surface.
They had lost their former finery and dignity, shivering like lost dogs, faces deathly pale.
Surrounding them were Star Ninja in standard vests, expressionless, maintaining order.
Uzumaki Kushina personally oversaw and hosted, dressed in a crisp Land of Stars administrative official uniform, her expression stern and impartial.
Miroku Miko stood at her side; her mere presence had a huge calming and inspiring effect on the western populace.
Kisame Hoshigaki stood like a door god at one corner of the platform, Samehada on his back, his ferocious appearance and terrifying killing intent effectively quelling any potential unrest.
“People of the Land of Swamps!” Uzumaki Kushina’s voice carried across the entire plaza via amplification devices, clear and powerful: “For so long, you have suffered oppression and exploitation from the decadent noble class led by Ono Takuto! They treated you like grass, living in luxury and debauchery even in times of famine, even attempting profane acts!”
“Now, the Land of Stars, upholding justice, has captured this pack of vermin!”
Her gaze swept over the sea of people below, her voice rising: “Today! Right here! Lord Shura of the Land of Stars will grant you justice!”
“Every one of you can step forward and accuse these people of their crimes! Speak of the injustices you suffered! Seized lands, forcibly taken grain, innocently deceased family members… everything! Lord Shura of the Land of Stars will stand for you! As long as the evidence is solid, the laws of the Land of Stars will deliver the punishment they deserve!”
The crowd fell silent, only the howling cold wind audible.
Long-term oppression had ingrained fear deep in their bones; they dared not believe this was real, fearing it was just another trap.
At that moment, Miroku stepped forward, her voice gentle yet carrying a sacred infectious power: “Do not be afraid. Lift your heads.”
“Lord Shura has brought new order, brought hope. Speak your pain, let sunlight into those dark corners. I swear on my name as a Ghost Shrine miko that the judgment will be fair!”
The miko’s words seemed magical, breaking the ice in some hearts.
Finally, a gaunt old farmer leaning on a cane trembled out from the crowd.
Tears streaming down his wrinkled face, he pointed at a fat noble on the platform, his voice hoarse and furious: “My lord! Miko lady! I accuse the finance officer Matsudaira! Three years ago in the flood disaster, all the relief funds allocated were embezzled by him! My son… my son worked himself to death repairing the river embankment, and we got not a single coin in compensation! My wife starved to death… he just fobbed us off with moldy bran!”
By the end, the old man was sobbing uncontrollably.
With the first, came the second!
A middle-aged woman rushed out, crying and pointing at another noble: “It was him! The steward of the Lord’s Mansion! He seized my family’s fields and beat my husband into a cripple! The reason? We couldn’t pay the taxes he arbitrarily increased!”
“And him! The daimyo’s lackey! My daughter was dragged into the mansion by him and defiled, then threw herself into a well!”
“Their horse trampled my father to death, and they claimed we offended nobility and demanded compensation from us!”
“…”
Decades, even centuries of pent-up grievances, blood, and hatred erupted like a breached flood at this moment!
Countless people, eyes red, shouted themselves hoarse in accusations, pointing at the ashen-faced nobles on the platform.
The scene nearly spiraled out of control as the furious crowd tried to rush the platform to tear apart their enemies, only to be forcibly held back by the Star Ninja.
Uzumaki Kushina struggled to maintain order, shouting loudly: “Quiet! Everyone quiet! One at a time! The Star Ninja will record every accusation! We will verify them all!”
The process was not one-sided.
When the accusations turned to a minor noble, the crowd below fell silent for a moment.
Suddenly, several ragged artisans stepped forward, hesitating before saying: “…Lord Fujiwara… he, he did collect taxes, but last winter, he secretly opened a congee stall… saved quite a few people… and stopped the bailiffs from pressing men into service…”
Uzumaki Kushina and the recording officials exchanged a glance and nodded.
After preliminary verification, it was confirmed that this noble named Fujiwara had indeed performed some good deeds and was not utterly evil.
Uzumaki Kushina announced publicly: “Upon verification, Fujiwara has meritorious acts and is not a great villain. He is released, stripped of noble status, demoted to commoner; his family property retains only basics for livelihood, the rest confiscated for relief efforts.”
The dozen or so Fujiwara family members, who had been in deathly silence awaiting execution, burst into tears of joy.
This scene showed the crowd that the Land of Stars did not kill indiscriminately but truly valued evidence and justice, increasing their trust several fold.
For Ono Takuto and other main culprits with ironclad evidence and heinous crimes, after compiling and verifying all accusations, Uzumaki Kushina announced the verdict on the spot: “…By the laws of the Land of Stars and the people’s accusations, former Land of Swamps Daimyo Ono Takuto stands guilty of corruption, malfeasance, murder, seizure of civilian property…”
“And 137 other major crimes! Evidence irrefutable, no forgiveness! Sentenced to death! Execute immediately! All family property confiscated! The remaining nobles, sentenced according to their crimes…”
“Good!!”
“Long live the Land of Stars!!”
“Long live Lord Shura!!”
The crowd erupted in deafening cheers and sobs—a cathartic release of vengeance and a thirst for the future!
Similar public trials unfolded simultaneously in major cities across the Land of Shadows and Land of Snow.
Once the volcano of anger erupted, its power was staggering.
Countless hidden crimes were exposed, countless injustices redressed.
Land of Stars administrative officials busily recorded, verified, and judged, while Star Ninja maintained order and carried out executions.
Miroku and the shrine priests and mikos she brought moved through the crowds, soothing emotions, preaching Land of Stars policies, encouraging production, greatly accelerating public allegiance.
In this tidal wave sweeping the three countries, the old noble rule was uprooted entirely, physically and spiritually liquidated.
And the Land of Stars, in the guise of savior and executor of justice, swiftly won broad support from the common folk—or fearful submission.
Under this thunderous might, the Land of Stars completed the annexation and initial digestion of the former Land of Snow, Land of Swamps, and Land of Shadows at a speed that left all agape.
Like the previous Land of Demons, they were reorganized into “counties,” becoming part of the Land of Stars: Snow County, Swamp County, Ghost County, Demon County.
When the distant Land of Earth and Land of Wind daimyo mansions finally received detailed intelligence on the western upheaval through various channels, the Land of Stars flags already flew over the capitals of the four counties, the administrative systems were operating, relief grain had reached most disaster victims’ hands, and the aftermath of the public trials had yet to fully subside.
The map had been forcibly redrawn.
A nation whose territory and population had suddenly ballooned, vaulting to become the largest in the Ninja World west after the Lands of Wind and Earth.
The Land of Stars had risen powerfully!
The formidable military might, efficient organizational and mobilization capabilities, and subversive governance methods it displayed sent a chilling gale, filling the daimyo and kage of the two great nations with deep unease and wariness.
The Ninja World’s landscape had quietly undergone massive change due to the Land of Stars’ rapid expansion.
