The Hyuga compound.
Hiashi walked out of the living room dressed in black mourning clothes.
In the courtyard waited Ayano, Hizashi, Ayari, Kaito, Natsu, Tokuma, Tetsu, and many other Hyuga clan ninjas.
Shinji was there too, everyone dressed in black gathered together.
"The clan has become much quieter," Hiashi said.
Those present were nearly all of the remaining Hyuga clan members, except for Takaguya and some servants.
Konoha's ancient noble house had declined to this state alongside the village itself.
Beyond the Hyuga, other Konoha clans faced similar circumstances.
"It will become lively again someday," Ayano said.
The group proceeded toward the main gate with Hiashi leading, Hizashi and Ayano flanking him.
Shinji walked behind them with the younger clan members.
Along the way, Hiashi calmly asked, "Did anything happen in the clan before we returned?"
Ayano replied softly, "Nothing significant. Everyone in the clan prayed for your safe return."
Hizashi maintained his composure, looking straight ahead without commenting.
Hiashi nodded. "That's good. Yesterday we captured some rogue ninjas. I wonder how Lord Hokage will handle them."
Ayano asked in surprise, "Rogue ninjas?"
Hiashi said indifferently, "Those who fled the village before the end of the war with Iwagakure, not trusting the village. Now that the war is over, they're trying to sneak back."
"I see... those people are truly despicable."
Hiashi suddenly gave a cold laugh. "As if things could be so simple. What do you think, Hizashi?"
Hizashi, still looking forward, bowed slightly and responded, "Lord Hiashi is correct."
Shinji noticed Natsu's breathing becoming more rapid beside him.
It was the third day since the frontline ninjas had returned, and Konoha's atmosphere was somber.
When the Hyuga clan arrived at the Memorial Stone, many people were already waiting there, all dressed in black.
Several notable figures were gathered together.
Shinji finally saw the other two of the Legendary Sannin. Jiraiya's arm was still bandaged and suspended in front of him, his injuries not yet healed.
The blonde woman standing between Jiraiya and Orochimaru must be Tsunade.
Unfortunately, she had her back to Shinji, so he couldn't see her face.
Next to the Sannin stood Minato and a woman with long red hair. Tall and beautiful, she was undoubtedly Kushina Uzumaki.
Ayari suddenly nudged him. "What are you looking at?"
Shinji replied, "The Sannin."
Ayari sighed, "Lady Tsunade has returned to the village too."
Shinji shifted his gaze away from them, looking elsewhere.
He noticed a group of people with black hair and black eyes gathered together.
The man leading them had a resolute expression, with distinct tear-troughs on his face. To his left and right were an elegant, beautiful woman with long black hair and a young boy.
'So the Uchiha clan has been reduced to this many people too.'
Shinji thought to himself that their situation wasn't much better than the Hyuga's.
After waiting quietly for a while, someone announced the Hokage's arrival.
People moved aside for the four figures approaching slowly: the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, the two Hokage advisors Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, and Danzo Shimura.
This place, the resting ground for Konoha's heroes, had recently undergone an urgent expansion, adding more than two thousand new grave spaces around the Memorial Stone.
Shinji stood in the second row of the crowd, his eyes searching the Memorial Stone for a long time.
But there were too many names densely packed together, making it difficult to see clearly from his position.
He couldn't find Iruha's name.
The Third Hokage delivered the eulogy while some in the crowd couldn't help sobbing quietly. Most who came had connections to the deceased.
The memorial ceremony lasted nearly an hour, though ironically the overcast sky never produced the fitting rain.
When the ceremony ended, the crowd slowly dispersed.
Shinji didn't leave with the Hyuga clan members. He noticed Orochimaru still standing alone among the gravestones.
"Does Lord Orochimaru feel guilty?" Shinji asked.
Hearing this, Orochimaru glanced sideways and saw it was Shinji. The area was now empty except for the two of them.
He laughed coldly. "Mourning the dead has no meaning. If death has any value, it's only when it can be utilized.
"These people's deaths have paved my way forward. Naturally, I'll repay them by leading Konoha to greater heights."
Such absurd yet grandiose words coming from his mouth were extremely ironic.
Shinji countered, "Does Lord Orochimaru think this will secure your path to becoming Hokage?"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean?"
Currently hailed as Konoha's savior, his reputation in the village was unmatched.
Even if Minato was respected, Orochimaru didn't believe he could rise above him at this moment.
Even if his teacher Sarutobi still insisted on supporting Minato, Orochimaru had the Nobles and Damiyo backing him.
Shinji said, "Has Lord Orochimaru forgotten why Konoha lost so badly in the battle against Iwagakure?"
Orochimaru paused, then suddenly realized the implication.
"Before stepping down, Lord Hokage will certainly try everything to expose the traitor, then tear them to pieces. Without resolving this, Konoha will never know peace!
"Lord Orochimaru, there's a saying: the higher you stand, the harder you fall. You're at the height of your popularity now, but some people with ulterior motives might point fingers at you."
The autumn wind was cold, making Orochimaru's clothes flutter noisily.
Shinji's words hit him like a sledgehammer.
He had thought everything was in place, just waiting for the crown to be placed on his head.
If this matter were exposed, his fate would undoubtedly be the most tragic.
Not that he hadn't thought of this before, but his quite musings hadn't driven home the reality that awaited him as much as Shiunji's words.
This field of graves before him was the stairway to his supreme power, but with one misstep, it could become the abyss that devoured him.
Orochimaru's mind raced through thousands of thoughts, considering how to break this deadlock.
He asked, "What should I do?"
Shinji calmly said, "Naturally, eliminate the traitor."
Orochimaru's eyes flickered. "Explain."
Shinji spoke unhurriedly, "The traitor is the target of everyone's hatred in Konoha and must be killed without fail.
"It must be done with lightning speed, leaving no opportunity for anyone to manipulate the situation. Ideally, this traitor should be unable to speak and have no connections.
"Most importantly, after Lord Orochimaru completes this applause-worthy deed, you must immediately report to the Damiyo.
"Let him also take pleasure in joyous this."
Silence.
Orochimaru glanced at Shinji, meeting those pitch-black eyes. Those eyes seemed ordinary, but to Orochimaru, they concealed far too much.
This boy was too good at hiding himself. In this world, besides himself, probably no one else knew Shinji's other side.
"Shinji," Orochimaru said slowly.
"You're more ruthless than I thought."
"Lord Orochimaru must be joking. I didn't do any of this, have I? What does it have to do with me?"
Have a great day/night! and don't forget to donate some powerstones!