Konoha's rain always came without warning.
The plaza before the Memorial Stone was packed with people.
Nearly every jonin in Konoha, the heads of every major clan, and the department heads who were usually too busy to be seen had all gathered here today.
Even chunin and genin who were on leave or carrying out non-urgent missions had received notice and come of their own accord.
Now and then, deliberately hushed murmurs could be heard among the crowd.
"Hey, did you hear? The one being buried this time—was a genin?"
"Shh! Keep it down! Do you want the Anbu to invite you for tea?" The older ninja beside him immediately shot the thoughtless young man a glare, his expression solemn. "That was Might Duy—the Fourth Hokage personally ordered that he be buried with the highest honors."
"What did he do?"
"Shh—you'll find out. Don't talk now—"
At the very front of the procession, the young figure in a Hokage cloak stood without an umbrella.
Hiroki stood quietly in the rain, water running down his hair and soaking his Hokage cloak.
Unlike the Hokage before him, he did not deliver a lengthy speech, nor did he use an impassioned tone to praise the Will of Fire.
Everyone knew the Will of Fire was a lie.
But the people who sacrificed themselves were real.
He merely stepped forward.
In his hands, he held a brand-new wreath.
He bent slightly at the waist, held the forehead protector in both hands, and with utmost solemnity placed it on the highest tier of the Memorial Stone.
Hiroki reached out and gently brushed the cold stone monument, then took a step back and bowed deeply before it.
He held that bow for a full ten seconds.
The plaza fell completely silent.
Those elite jonin who had