30, Pitch-Black

Hyuga Clan Compound.

Hiashi emerged from the living room dressed entirely in black.

In the courtyard stood Ayano, Hizashi, Ayari, Kamado, Natsu, Tokuma, Tetsu, and the other Hyuga Clan ninja.

Shin was there as well. Everyone was dressed in black.

"The clan has become much quieter," Hiashi said.

Nearly everyone present was all that remained of the Hyuga Clan, aside from Taikei and a few servants.

Konoha's ancient noble clans had declined to this state alongside Konoha itself.

The other clans of Konoha were in much the same situation as the Hyuga.

"It will become lively again someday," Ayano said.

With Hiashi leading the way and Hizashi and Ayano at his sides, the group headed toward the main gate of the compound.

Shin and the younger members of the clan followed behind them.

Along the way, Hiashi calmly asked, "Did anything happen in the clan before we returned?"

"There was nothing major," Ayano replied gently. "Everyone in the clan was praying for you, hoping you would return safely."

Hizashi's expression remained unchanged. He kept his gaze ahead and said nothing.

Hiashi nodded. "That is good. We caught some Rogue Ninja yesterday. I wonder how the Hokage will deal with them."

"Rogue Ninja?" Ayano asked in surprise.

Hiashi said indifferently, "They were people who did not trust the village and fled before the war with the Stone Ninja ended. Now that the war is over, they want to sneak back in."

"I see... Those people truly are hateful."

Hiashi suddenly sneered. "How could there be such an easy bargain in this world? What do you think, Hizashi?"

Hizashi looked straight ahead and bowed slightly at the sound of his voice. "Lord Hiashi is right."

Shin sensed Natsu's breathing beside him grow more hurried.

It was already the third day since the frontline ninja had returned, and Konoha felt somewhat solemn today.

By the time the Hyuga Clan arrived at the Memorial Stone, many people were already waiting there, all dressed in black.

Several particularly prominent figures were gathered together.

Shin finally saw the other two of the Three Sannin. Jiraiya's arm was still suspended before him in a bandage sling, his injuries not yet healed.

The blonde woman standing between Jiraiya and Orochimaru had to be Tsunade.

Unfortunately, she had her back to Shin, so he could not see her face.

Beside the Three Sannin stood Namikaze Minato and a red-haired woman. Tall and beautiful, she was undoubtedly Uzumaki Kushina.

Ayari suddenly patted him. "What are you looking at?"

"The Three Sannin," Shin said.

Ayari sighed. "Lady Tsunade returned to the village too."

Shin shifted his gaze away from them and looked elsewhere, spotting another group of people with black hair and black eyes.

The man at their head had a resolute expression and pronounced tear troughs on his face. At his sides stood a dignified, beautiful woman with long black hair and a young boy.

Was this all that remained of the Uchiha Clan as well...

Shin thought to himself. Their situation was hardly any better than the Hyuga's.

Before long, someone announced that the Hokage had arrived.

The crowd voluntarily made way for the four people approaching at a slow pace: the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi; the two Hokage advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu; and Shimura Danzō.

This was where Konoha's heroes lay at rest. Surrounding the Memorial Stone was a vast field of graves, which had undergone an emergency expansion to add more than two thousand new plots.

Shin stood in the second row of the crowd, searching the Memorial Stone for a long while. There were simply too many names upon it, packed so densely they made his eyes blur. He was not particularly close, either, and failed to find Iroha's name.

The Third Hokage delivered his eulogy. Some people in the crowd could not help quietly sobbing; most of those who had come were connected to the deceased.

The memorial ceremony lasted nearly an hour, but unfortunately, the overcast sky did not oblige by raining.

Only after the rites ended did the crowd slowly disperse.

Shin did not leave with the Hyuga Clan. He saw Orochimaru still standing alone among the graves.

"Does Lord Orochimaru feel guilty?"

At his words, Orochimaru glanced sideways. Seeing that it was Shin, he realized no one else remained in this area besides them.

He sneered. "Mourning the dead has no meaning. If death has any meaning, it exists only when it can be used."

"Their deaths paved the way for me. Naturally, I will repay them by leading Konoha toward even greater prosperity."

It was bitterly ironic for such absurd yet high-sounding words to come from his mouth.

Shin asked in return, "Does Lord Orochimaru think that means he can sit back and ascend to the position of Hokage without worry?"

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you mean?"

He was currently hailed as Konoha's savior, and his reputation in the village was unmatched. No matter how revered Minato was, Orochimaru did not believe Minato could step over him to take the position now.

Even if Teacher Sarutobi still stubbornly insisted on supporting Minato, Orochimaru had the daimyō behind him.

"Has Lord Orochimaru forgotten why Konoha lost so disastrously in its battle against the Stone Ninja?" Shin said.

Orochimaru froze for a moment, then abruptly understood in horror.

"Before the Hokage steps down, he will surely do everything possible to expose the spy and tear him to pieces. Unless this matter is settled, Konoha will never know peace!"

"Lord Orochimaru, there is a saying: the higher one stands, the harder one falls. You are in the spotlight now, so some people may very well turn their attention toward you."

The late autumn wind was cold, making Orochimaru's robes flap loudly.

Shin's words struck him like a blow to the head. He had thought everything was ready, and all he needed to do was wait for the crown to be placed upon his head.

If this matter were exposed, his fate would undoubtedly be the most miserable of all.

This sea of graves before him was the staircase to his pinnacle, but with one careless step, it could also become the abyss that devoured him!

Countless thoughts churned in Orochimaru's mind as he considered how to break the deadlock.

"What should I do?" he asked.

"Naturally, eliminate the spy," Shin said calmly.

Orochimaru's gaze shifted slightly. "Explain."

Shin spoke in an unhurried tone. "The spy is the object of everyone in Konoha's hatred. He must be killed, and he must be purged with thunderous force, leaving no opportunity for anyone to make an issue of it. Best of all, the spy should not be able to speak and should have no connections."

"Most importantly, after Orochimaru does this deed that will earn everyone's applause, you must report it to the daimyō immediately. Let the daimyō be pleased as well."

Silence.

Orochimaru glanced at Shin from the corner of his eye and met those pitch-black eyes. They were ordinary and unremarkable, yet at this moment, Orochimaru felt they concealed far too much.

This boy was too good at hiding himself. In this world, perhaps no one but Orochimaru knew of his other side.

"Shin," Orochimaru said slowly.

"You are more ruthless than I thought."

"You jest, Lord Orochimaru. I am not the one doing this. What does it have to do with me?"