Hokage's Funeral

Black Zetsu indicated that their current situation was not good, and they could only quietly accumulate strength to prepare for the future.

The Rinnegan's mastery of Yin-Yang Release allows it to easily erase Flying Thunder God Mark and nullify all Ninjutsu. Shinra Tensei and Banshō Ten'in can also counter speed-type ninjas.

Nagato is too weak now and has become a lone commander. The road to saving his mother is still long, but Black Zetsu believes it can afford to wait.

After discussion, the two troublemakers devised a multi-year plan: to gradually familiarize Nagato with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and once his strength had grown to the point where he could defeat Hanzo, they would take control of the entire Land of Rain, using the village's isolated nature to recruit people and expand their power.

"I'll go to Kirigakure in a while," Obito said in a deep voice. "There are very few informants from other villages there, so even if something happens, it won't get out. I can also pick out some suitable helpers along the way."

"Don't worry, intelligence work in this village is the easiest," White Zetsu said, assuring them that he would cooperate promptly.

Kirigakure will soon pay the price for its cold-blooded policies. The indifferent relationships among the village's ninjas are a huge hidden danger, and their habit of hiding themselves and their mystical nature have ultimately sown the seeds of bitter consequences.

The day after the Nine-Tails' rampage, after working through the night, the Medical Unit conducted a comprehensive analysis of the hand left behind by the attacker and submitted a report to the Third Hokage and the Konoha High Command.

"... After detailed examination, we discovered that the structure of this hand is very different from that of a normal person, and it seems to have been created using some special method."

The Anbu's Medical Unit Captain explained, "Furthermore, their Genes composition shares many similarities with the First Hokage's cells. Based on our analysis, we cannot rule out the possibility that the attackers used Wood Release."

The Third Hokage of people all looked solemn. The previous research on Wood Release was a top secret within the village, and the few participants were all still alive and well. After a mental examination, no abnormalities were found. So how did the other party obtain it?

"Since we've already investigated, there's no point in pursuing it further," Danzo said. "Besides, this doesn't prove the Uchiha Clan wasn't involved, so we must keep them all under surveillance."

Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted him, "There is no evidence to suggest that the Uchiha were involved. They are now fellow villagers, and we cannot stir up internal conflict during this period of recuperation."

After all, it's highly unlikely that the Uchiha Clan would have leaked Wood Release, and most of the Security Department work within the village, making it very easy to track down ninjas with Three-Tomoe.

Mitokado Homura added from the side, "Danzo's ideas are too radical, but we can't ignore them. In these extraordinary times, caution is paramount. That plan to improve the Security Department last time could be adjusted appropriately..."

After much discussion, the group decided to change the status quo of the Security Department. It was not a good thing to let one clan be in charge of this work alone, as it would create a clear sense of disconnect from the village.

The aftermath of the Nine-Tails' Rampage has come to a temporary end. The more important thing is to get the village back to normal as soon as possible, and the first thing to do is to hold the funeral for the Fourth Hokage and others.

Decades had passed since the death of the last Hokage, and many ninjas never expected that such a thing would happen a year after the end of the Third Great Ninja War.

Last year at the martyrs' cemetery, we performed this ceremony so many times that we almost lost count.

The location this time was on the rooftop of the Hokage Building. At the front were the portraits of Sarutobi Biwako, Namikaze Minato, and Kushina Uzumaki. Many Jonin, dressed in black, Jonin and observed a moment of silence for the deceased.

"Life is such a fragile thing!" Orochimaru couldn't help but sigh when he saw Namikaze Minato's photo. Last year, the two were rivals Hokage for the Hokage position, but this year, Minato sacrificed himself to protect the village.

Shuichi, who was overhearing his philosophical remarks, quickly figured out his teacher's thoughts: the position of Hokage was not worthwhile for him.

He must be the first to rush to the scene when something happens to the village, and bear full responsibility for any losses suffered, even at the cost of his life. This clashes with Orochimaru's personality.

If nothing unexpected happens, he has already lost interest in becoming Hokage, because Minato's actions serve as a benchmark for many ninjas. If the successor Hokage does not have the same resolve, he will definitely be criticized behind his back.

After the funeral, the Jonin began to leave in twos and threes, while Uchiha Fugaku walked up to Shuichi as he left.

"Shuichi-kun, I apologize for bothering you, but would you mind traveling together?"

"It's Fugaku- senpai, of course." Shuichi walked alongside him. "You probably want to ask about the village's suspicions about the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan after the Nine-Tails Incident, right? Because the last person who could control the Nine-Tails was Uchiha Madara."

Fugaku admitted, "Indeed, the village leadership spoke with me, but all of us in the Security Department were diligently performing our duties that night, and it would have been easy to ascertain everyone's whereabouts. Yet now the village is proposing to reorganize the Security Department..."

Since Sasuke is due to be born in the next few days, Fugaku hasn't gone on any long trips, and everyone else has been behaving themselves. Logically, they shouldn't be involved in the Nine-Tails Incident.

"Have the elders ever kept track of how many pairs of Three-Tomoe have been lost since the village was founded?"

"You mean the Sharingan could be stolen and misused?" Fugaku frowned slightly. "But even ordinary Sharingan are difficult for outsiders to control, let alone use them to control the Nine-Tails..."

During the Warring States Period, many Sharingan were lost by the Uchiha. After all, with such a high mortality rate among ninjas, it was impossible to hide them. Many of their rival forces obtained the Three-Tomoe.

However, without the Uchiha bloodline, the Sharingan becomes a huge burden, causing stamina to be consumed rapidly during battles, and its full power cannot be unleashed.

Therefore, their clan is not worried at all about enemies taking their Sharingan, otherwise they would have to use special methods to protect it, like the Hyuga Clan.

"Regardless of the truth, the nobles are now easily caught in the eye of the storm." Shuichi knew that the culprit was indeed a member of the Uchiha, but of course he couldn't say it out loud.

"Sometimes public opinion can kill. If someone secretly spreads rumors that the Uchiha Clan is the culprit who controlled the Nine-Tails, then the injured and killed villagers will definitely clash with the Security Department personnel. If things escalate, even those in the right will have no way to explain themselves."

Fugaku broke out in a cold sweat after his reminder. Even being suspected could make one a target for the victims' anger, and if any clansman lost control of his emotions, the falsehood could become the truth.

Having spent so much time with that cunning old fox Shuichi, his sensitivity to village politics has greatly increased. As the head of the clan, he is not lacking in wisdom, but he previously lacked channels of communication, as the other ninjas did not interact much with the Uchiha Clan.

Therefore, he quickly made a decision. "I will compile a list of all Uchiha ninjas who have disappeared since the founding of Konoha, and then submit it to the village."

At the same time, the reform of the Security Department must be coordinated with the village's actions, because at this critical juncture, no one can be given any leverage or loopholes. Opposition within the clan must also be forcibly suppressed, and benefits can be sought from other places after the situation stabilizes.