The Third We Encountered Together in Those Years

After the Konoha Crush Plan ended, a large number of official missions appeared at the Konoha mission assignment center.

Most of them are D-level missions.

The tasks mostly involve repairing village buildings, collecting building materials, and some C-level patrol missions.

For tasks like rebuilding villages, ninjas can do it much faster than civilians, and it also allows some novice Genin to experience the cruelty of war firsthand and mature quickly.

However, Hinata had two things to do before carrying out the mission.

The next morning, Hinata, dressed in black funeral clothes, followed Hyuga Hiashi, Hizashi Hyuga, and Neji to the Hokage Building Rooftop.

The weather isn't very good today; it's been gloomy since early morning.

Just like people's feelings.

By the time Hinata arrived, the rain was already drizzling down, as if even the heavens were weeping in sorrow.

But it could also be caused by Ninjutsu...

In the rain, people lined up to offer flowers at the funeral.

Everyone was reminiscing about the days related to the Third, Hinata was no exception.

Upon closer reflection, setting aside those prejudices, whenever the Third Hokage chatted with Hinata alone, he always appeared as a kind and gentle old man.

He was just like an ordinary old man, not at all like the leader of a ninja village.

However, the Third died in battle as a 'shadow'.

At this moment, Hinata also put aside her previous prejudices against the Third and earnestly recalled the Third that they had met together over the years.

And all the heavy rains we missed over the years... have been made up for today.

I remember back then, Hinata was still studying at the Ninja Academy.

After school, Hinata would often go to the snack street to buy a lot of food, and then run to the Hokage Rock by herself. She would sit on the head of some Hokage, eating snacks while enjoying the scenery of Konoha.

That spot is very high; you can see the entire Konoha Village from there.

Hinata was a bit of a chuunibyou back then, often imagining herself in the mindset of Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha, looking down on Konoha... Ah! This is my village!

The Third would occasionally come over, have a heart-to-heart talk with Hinata, and then shamelessly steal Hinata's snacks.

Among the many ninjas in Konoha, quite a few had encountered the Third individually, and were then pulled aside by Third for heart-to-heart talks and brainwashing.

Of course, the Third you encountered might just be his Shadow Clone.

After all, the Third Hokage couldn't possibly be so idle.

If you're a ninja in Konoha and you haven't had a private heart-to-heart talk with the Third, then it can only mean one thing... you're not important at all!

Therefore, everyone present reminisced about the days when they first met the Third, feeling saddened.

However... Kakashi didn't come.

Kakashi may be a notorious latecomer, but he is also a ninja, and he never arrives late for important occasions.

At this moment, Kakashi is probably standing in Memorial Stone, perhaps remembering Obito and Rin, or perhaps remembering his deceased father.

Although White Fang's name is certainly not engraved on the Memorial Stone...

"Waaah—"

Konohamaru cried bitterly; he had lost his grandfather today.

Iruka and Naruto stood beside Konohamaru, quietly comforting him.

They thought of themselves again.

It seems that everyone has a sad past.

When White Fang committed suicide, Kakashi was younger than Konohamaru.

Who would comfort Kakashi, who was only five years old?

Both the Third and White Fang fought to protect their fellow villagers; one was a hero, while the other was a coward.

It's difficult to judge Hinata's merits and demerits.

As a ninja, White Fang abandoned the mission, and it's said that he caused huge losses to the village.

However, from a certain perspective, Orochimaru's current situation is also due to the Third's momentary leniency in letting Orochimaru escape.

So who should bear the losses Konoha suffered today?

If the Third had been able to harden his heart and kill Orochimaru back then, would there have been no Konoha Crush Plan today?

But I doubt anyone would blame the Third!

However, the mistakes made by the Third and White Fang were actually the same in nature.

Therefore, the Third chose to fight Orochimaru alone, willing to risk his life to seal Orochimaru's Ninjutsu. Isn't this another form of suicide?

In the end, the Third chose to die in the same way as White Fang.

Wherever leaves dance in the air, fire will burn, its shadow will illuminate the village, and new leaves will sprout.

Today, the Third are indeed shining brightly on the entire village.

As for the mistakes, let them fade away with his death!

After all... Konoha still has Danzo, the King of the Pot.

Furthermore, Hinata couldn't very well blame a dead person.

Hinata actually felt sorry for Kakashi.

Kakashi must have been very lonely all these years...

However, Kakashi was also lucky because he met me, his little cutie!

On the outer wall of Konoha, two figures dressed in Akatsuki cloak silently gazed at the entire village.

After the war, Konoha was in ruins.

"Although it escaped destruction, it seems to have suffered great losses. The once prosperous village is now... How pitiful!"

Itachi's tone carried a hint of complexity, but he quickly concealed it.

The tall man wearing a straw hat glanced sideways at the slightly thin Itachi Uchiha beside him, and said in a playful tone, "This is really unlike you. Even you... have some longing for your hometown!"

"No... I have no regrets at all."

Itachi's voice was slightly hoarse, like an extremely taciturn person struggling to move their vocal cords, and there was no emotion in his tone.

Beneath the straw hat, a deep mark was slashed across the Forehead Protector bearing the Konoha insignia—the mark of missing-nin.

Beneath the Forehead Protector were a pair of scarlet Three Tomoe Sharingan.

Faced with their devastated homeland, all that remained in their eyes was indifference.

"Is that so?"

Kisame remained noncommittal, but instead steered the conversation toward Orochimaru.

"Speaking of which, Orochimaru is really capable! After all these years, he killed the Kage of two villages with a single move..."

Itachi remained silent.

Kisame steered the conversation toward Orochimaru to test Itachi's reaction to Sasuke.

Itachi and Sasuke are the only two brothers remaining in the Uchiha clan, and both have the potential to awaken the Mangekyo.

But Itachi was very good at hiding his true nature; even Obito couldn't see through him.

A new pair of Eternal Mangekyo will appear in the Shinobi World, but Obito wants to know who these eyes will ultimately belong to.

Despite Itachi's previous display of great care for Sasuke, what wouldn't a ninja do to gain power?

Obito didn't know if Itachi knew about the Eternal Mangekyo, nor did he know if this power would tempt Itachi to Sasuke.

Seeing Itachi remain silent, Kisame changed the subject once again.

"It seems Konoha hasn't been seriously damaged yet, and it will probably recover soon... Itachi, your hometown is amazing!"

Itachi's eyes were cold and sharp, and three Tomoe slowly rotated in his scarlet eyes.

Let's go!