klisemfg Chapter 646 Punishment
Chapter 646 Punishment
The Third Hokage's gaze became complex and profound: "The darkness within Zhang Hai is more intense than that of any Uchiha clansman. The hatred in his heart is also deeper than that of any oppressed clansman. At this moment, I cannot judge what he intends to do. Does he want to destroy this world, or does he want to change this world? I... I truly do not know."
His voice was filled with the helplessness and heaviness of being the Hokage. He bore the safety of the village on his shoulders and could not act on emotion.
"The punishment for Zhang Hai will be decided at a high-level meeting." The Third Hokage's voice became authoritative and cold once again. "During this period, no one, including you, is allowed to visit him."
After saying this, the Third Hokage ignored Tsunade, turned around, and walked in another direction. Tsunade was left standing there alone, her face filled with anger, worry, and helplessness.
……
The Third Hokage did not return to the Hokage's office, but went directly to Minato.
At this moment, Minato stood blankly before the memorial stone, staring at the dried bloodstains at his feet and the heavy White Fang Blade in his hand. His expression was complex, his heart filled with worry and confusion for Zhang Hai.
"Minato." The Third Hokage's voice startled Minato from his reverie.
"Teacher!" Minato hurriedly turned around and bowed respectfully to the Third Hokage.
"Why did your body freeze during the battle between Zhang Hai and 'Shadow Madara'?" the Third Hokage asked bluntly, his sharp gaze fixed on Minato.
Upon hearing this, Minato's face showed a hint of confusion and bewilderment.
“I also find it strange, teacher.” Minato frowned, recalling the bizarre scene just now. “Just as ‘Shadow Madara’s’ blade was about to strike Zhang Haijun, my body suddenly became unable to move. Even my chakra seemed to be imprisoned by an invisible force. That feeling… it was as if that area suddenly no longer existed in our time period.”
He tried hard to recall the details of that time, but the strange sense of stagnation was something he couldn't understand.
The Third Hokage's expression instantly turned serious. A terrifying thought flashed through his mind.
"Time...stopped?" The Third Hokage muttered to himself, recalling some legends about the Mangekyou Sharingan of the Uchiha clan. "It seems...this is very likely the special ability possessed by the Mangekyou Sharingan of the Zhanghai clan."
The night wind rustled through the large trees beside the memorial stone, as if whispering for the departed souls. The Third Hokage's gaze was deep and complex as he looked at Minato, his voice heavy with sorrow.
"Minato, you've spent the most time with Zhang Hai and understand him the best," the Third Hokage said slowly, asking, "In your opinion, what kind of person is Zhang Hai?"
Upon hearing this, Shui Men fell into deep thought. He recalled every moment since he met Zhang Hai, from their initial encounter to their joint missions, and then to the dramatic changes that had occurred. His brows furrowed, and his eyes were filled with struggle and contradiction.
“Zhang Haijun…” Shuimen’s voice was somewhat low, “If he were a friend, he would undoubtedly be the best partner. He is calm, reliable, exceptionally talented, sincere, and utterly loyal to his teacher.”
He paused, a hint of complexity and heaviness in his voice: "But as an enemy... he will be everyone's nightmare. His potential is unfathomable, his mind is unwavering, and once he makes a decision, he will execute it without hesitation. Moreover... his power has already exceeded our imagination."
Minato's assessment weighed heavily on the Third Hokage's heart. He knew Minato was telling the truth. Zhang Hai's talent and potential were enough to make anyone wary. But now, that talent and potential were shrouded in endless hatred, becoming as dangerous as a sharp blade.
Looking at the dark night sky in the distance, the Third Hokage had already made a rough decision about Zhang Hai's punishment. He couldn't take the risk; he couldn't allow a ninja with such great power and unwavering conviction to remain in the village.
……
A few days later, a secret meeting of the Konoha Village leadership was held. The atmosphere at the meeting was unusually heavy, and all the high-ranking members wore expressions of somberness and unease.
Ultimately, Zhang Hai was sentenced to three years in prison for the crime of "torturing and killing his companion," to be carried out immediately.
Meanwhile, to maintain the village's stability and reputation, the village kept the cause of Sakumo Hatake's death a secret, strictly prohibiting the spread of any rumors. The official statement was that "Konoha's White Fang" died of illness, while "Kagemadara" sacrificed himself during a secret mission.
Tsunade felt angry and resentful about the verdict, but she was powerless to change the unanimous decision of the high-level meeting. Minato chose to remain silent; he knew this was the "mild" punishment the village could offer in order to protect itself.
Zhang Hai, however, remained surprisingly calm after being imprisoned in the deepest torture chamber in Konoha Village.
Inside the torture chamber, only a faint light filtered in through a small window high up, and the air was thick with the smell of dampness and rust. Zhang Hai sat on the cold floor, his hands and feet bound by specially made chakra-suppressing shackles. He didn't struggle, didn't complain, but simply closed his eyes quietly.
His heart, however, was not entirely silent.
Three years in prison... for him, it was just a short rest. During this time, he could think more deeply about his plans and more clearly outline the people and things that needed to be "changed".
Name after name flashed through his mind: the elders who had once turned against their teacher, the villagers who had spread rumors, the "comrades" who had betrayed their teacher... An invisible list of revenge was gradually taking shape in his heart.
For him, the peaceful prison life was more like a carefully prepared safe haven.
Just as he was enjoying this "peace" and planning for the future, a slight tremor suddenly came from the ground.
"Boom!"
With a muffled, loud thud, a huge hole suddenly appeared in the cell floor. Amidst the billowing dust, a massive, earthen-yellow snake head emerged from the opening. The snake head was as large as the cell itself, and its pair of cold, vertical pupils emitted an eerie green light in the darkness.
Zhang Hai slowly opened his eyes. He looked at the giant snake that had suddenly appeared before him, but there was no surprise on his face, as if all of this was within his expectations.
Without the slightest hesitation, he moved nimbly and slipped into the giant snake's mouth. Contrary to his expectations, the snake's mouth contained a modified passageway.
The giant snake made no sound. After Zhang Hai entered, it slowly retracted its head and burrowed back into the ground. The broken ground, under the influence of some force, quickly closed up and returned to its original state, as if nothing had ever happened.