As the Iron Maiden's doors slammed shut, piercing screams and curses erupted from within.
But after only a few seconds—
Silence.
Wen Lan casually picked at his ear, then smiled at Hiruzen.
"I have a bad habit," he said lightly. "I like to eat the unpleasant dishes first… and save the best for last."
"And you are today's main course."
Hiruzen swallowed hard. He didn't beg.
He knew—
No matter what he said, Wen Lan would not spare him.
Two Uchiha dug a pit in the ground and forced Hiruzen upright into it, packing soil around him until only his head remained exposed.
Wen Lan drew the Kusanagi blade and sliced open the top of Hiruzen's scalp.
"This punishment is called flaying," he explained calmly.
"I'll pour mercury into this wound."
"It's heavy. It will separate your skin from muscle."
"You'll writhe in agony, unable to escape."
"And eventually, your entire body will slip out through that tiny opening—leaving only your skin behind in the earth."
"Interesting, isn't it?"
Hiruzen's eyes widened.
Cold sweat mixed with blood ran down his face.
He tried to speak—
But no sound came.
Wen Lan gestured for the mercury to be poured.
Just as the Uchiha moved—
"Enough!"
Tsunade shouted.
Her trembling body steadied, though her eyes carried pleading.
"He was still my teacher. Give him a quick death."
Wen Lan lowered his gaze to the blood on his blade and chuckled.
"A quick death?"
"Did any of the people he sacrificed get a quick death?"
"Don't forget how your brother died. Don't forget Sakumo Hatake."
"Did they receive mercy?"
Tsunade's face turned pale.
Her fists clenched—
But she could not step forward.
Wen Lan signaled to continue.
The mercury flowed into the wound.
Hiruzen's body convulsed violently.
His eyes bulged.
A beastlike groan escaped his throat.
His skin turned an unnatural gray-green. Veins darkened beneath the surface.
Blood seeped from his eyes, ears, and mouth.
His body twitched uncontrollably—
Until—
It went still.
Wen Lan crouched, studying the lifeless eyes.
"Hm. Seems exaggerated. He died before it really started."
He looked at the Uchiha nearby.
"Too much mercury?"
The clan member stared at him blankly.
You invented this. Why ask me?
"Whatever."
Wen Lan shrugged.
"Dismember the body and burn it. Let's make sure he never crawls back from the dead to cause trouble again."
"Yes!"
The corpses were dragged into the flames.
Firelight reflected off Wen Lan's cold expression as ash drifted into the night sky.
He watched the embers rise.
"Father. Mother. Can you see?"
"I've avenged you."
The flames dimmed.
The wind carried the ashes away.
The Next Morning
By dawn, Wen Lan was already in the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen's matter was settled—
But work remained.
Negotiations with Kirigakure. Talks with Sunagakure. Village reconstruction. Medical staffing.
When he entered, Minato sat behind the desk with dark circles under his eyes.
Shikaku lay half-slumped on the couch, snoring.
They had clearly been up all night.
Minato looked up and handed over a report.
"This is our proposed exchange with Kirigakure. Take a look."
Wen Lan scanned it quickly.
Grain. Medicine. Iron ore.
In exchange for Kaguya Kimimaro, Hōzuki Suigetsu, and additional concessions.
He paused.
"Isn't this… a little light?"
"Shikaku calculated it," Minato replied hoarsely. "Kirigakure's resources are strained. This is what they can offer without destabilizing themselves."
Wen Lan nodded.
Fair enough.
There was no point in demanding something they couldn't give.
He set the report down.
"You should get some rest. I'll handle the rest of the review."
Minato stood, nearly stumbling.
Shikaku jolted awake and hurried out the door as if escaping a trap.
Minato gave Wen Lan a look.
Wen Lan coughed awkwardly.
(Shikaku had been "tricked" into overtime once before.)
After they left, Wen Lan leaned back in the chair and began reorganizing the files.
With the funds seized from the Daimyō—
And the confiscated wealth of the Four Families—
Konoha could recover to peak condition within six months.
With surplus reserves to sustain the village for five years.
He adjusted frontline supply allocations—
Cutting them.
After all, the Four Families would soon be stationed at the borders.
They had lived comfortably for years.
It was time they contributed.
Medical-nin recruitment required funding.
Orphanage expansion.
Compensation for fallen shinobi families.
ANBU required complete restructuring.
The Four Families had nearly marched to the Hokage's office unopposed—
That meant internal rot.
Purge traitors.
Expand recruitment.
Increase training intensity.
Wen Lan closed the final report.
The bloodshed had ended.
Now—
Reconstruction began.
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