No One Would Find It Out of Place

The next day.

The sky was overcast, and the atmosphere was heavy with grief.

A light drizzle fell, pattering against the tombstone of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Konoha's high-ranking officials, representatives of the ninja clans, and various jonin stood in the surrounding area.

No one spoke; one by one, the silent ninjas placed fresh flowers before the grave.

Meanwhile.

Inside the Foreign Guest Inn.

The ninjas who had participated in the Chunin Exams had already departed.

A faint, translucent barrier enveloped the room of Ōnoki.

Inside, many ninjas from Iwagakure gathered around a long table, the atmosphere grave.

Jingxin's gaze fell upon Ōnoki, and he already had a fair idea of the purpose behind this meeting.

"The Third Hokage has sacrificed himself, leaving Konoha without a leader. Jingxin, what do you think their next move will be?" Ōnoki asked, just as Jingxin had expected.

Jingxin pondered for a moment before answering: "Within Konoha, there will likely be a debate regarding the position of Hokage. Shimura Danzō, as an advisor, has the seniority and the ambition; he will certainly step forward."

"But Konoha is not his personal fiefdom. There are others suitable for the role of Hokage, so the position will likely not be decided in the short term."

"As for Sunagakure, once the Hokage is settled, Konoha will seek to renew their alliance to alleviate external pressure, which is why the compensation they demand will likely be merely symbolic."

"Regarding us, they may use the excuse that 'the Hokage has yet to take office' to delay the payment of our commission, or perhaps even try to welch on it entirely."

Ōnoki nodded slowly; this was the answer he had hoped to hear.

Jingxin's political insight was already incredibly mature, not at all like that of a twelve-year-old boy.

A glimmer of relief and pride rose in the depths of Ōnoki's eyes.

He felt relief that Hiruzen Sarutobi, despite having the ability to change the outcome, had handed such a pillar of strength over to Iwagakure.

He felt pride that Jingxin was already fully capable of standing on his own.

"Your analysis is spot on." Ōnoki first acknowledged Jingxin's viewpoint, then posed another question: "Do you have any plans regarding Danzō?"

Jingxin did not look like a man discussing his enemy; he replied unhurriedly: "That depends on his actions."

"Last night, Neji of the Hyuga clan sought me out, and I have already informed him of certain secrets regarding Danzō."

"The Hyuga clan may live better in Konoha than the Uchiha did, but that does not mean they haven't faced exclusion."

This was all thanks to those simple, ignorant ninjas of Konoha who knew nothing of the truth.

They would wake up in the morning, and on their way to work, kick the "fox demon" Naruto.

In the morning, they would catch cats and tease dogs, then start mocking their colleagues from the Hyuga clan.

At lunch, they would curse the Uchiha a few times.

In the afternoon, they would work while whispering behind the backs of Sakumo Hatake.

In the evening, they would ridicule their compatriots with different-colored hair, putting a period on a beautiful, simple, and happy day.

Even so, Jingxin knew that as long as the Hyuga clan did not face the extreme circumstances the Uchiha had, they would never betray Konoha; instead, they would continue to contribute to the village.

Therefore, what Jingxin wanted to convey to the Hyuga clan head, Hyuga Hiashi, through Neji was this: Konoha still had a parasite, and it posed a massive threat to the Hyuga clan.

"So," Jingxin analyzed, "if the Hyuga clan acts quickly, Danzō's reputation will be in ruins by the time the Third Hokage's funeral concludes."

Ōnoki knew about Jingxin's meeting with Neji, but he had a question.

"Why would the Hyuga clan help us?"

"They need to protect themselves, and they harbor a deep, blood-soaked grudge against Danzō."

"Self-preservation? A blood-soaked grudge?"

"Self-preservation, because Danzō's secret operations were not aimed solely at the Uchiha; the Hyuga clan has indeed been restricted by him."

"Then..."

"The blood-soaked grudge, naturally, concerns the matter of Hizashi Hyuga."

"I have heard of this. It was the reason Konoha and Kumogakure nearly went to war nine years ago. Was that also Danzō's doing?"

"At the time, the Hyuga clan was prepared to go to the battlefield, but the Konoha leadership ordered a sacrifice. Hizashi was forced to commit suicide to atone for his brother Hiashi. This specific event was likely not pushed by Danzō, as he would have preferred the Ninja World to descend into chaos."

Jingxin paused, picked up the hot tea in front of him, and took a sip to moisten his throat before continuing: "But I can frame him for it... Danzō has committed so many evils that no one would find it out of character for him to have done this as well."

The others: "..."

Yeying raised her hand, her voice as cold and detached as ever: "If I may speak plainly, given your strength, Jingxin-sama, wouldn't it be easy to simply eliminate that man named Danzō?"

"Because I am currently a member of Iwagakure," Jingxin explained. "If I don't force Danzō into a corner and then intervene under the guise of providing assistance, it would be bad for Iwagakure's reputation. Furthermore, Konoha has many experts; I cannot fully guarantee the safety of myself and my companions."

The main reason, in truth, was the latter.

To kill Danzō in Konoha—a Danzō whose reputation had not yet been destroyed—would inevitably lead to interference from Konoha's ninjas.

The strength of the remaining ninjas within Konoha today is, in truth, not particularly formidable.

However, if one were to push a certain youthful middle-aged man into a corner, it is entirely possible that things could go sideways.

Jingxin has no desire to waste a Mangekyō Sharingan to cast Izanagi.

"Hmm..." Ōnoki deliberated for a moment before deciding, "Since there is a high probability that Konoha will renege on the debt, there is no point in staying any longer. I will leave everything here entirely to Jingxin; it is time for this old man to return."

"Jingxin, the Anbu squad will remain here to assist you. I will take the others home."

Being a Kage is not an easy job; having been away for so long, Ōnoki fears that half a ton of paperwork has already piled up.

Jingxin shook his head gently. "No, you should all leave. Only then will I have no concerns."

"Very well." Ōnoki did not overthink it. "You have your own judgment, but be careful."

Jingxin nodded. "I understand, Teacher."

Ōnoki looked toward Goriki. "Dismantle the barrier; we are leaving."

The group followed Ōnoki's arrangements, submitted the notification documents to Konoha in advance, and set out on the road home.

Just as they stepped outside the gates of Konoha, Goriki could not help but ask, "Lord Tsuchikage, Jingxin was originally from Konoha, you..."

"Goriki." Ōnoki said sternly, "This old man knows Jingxin's character. We should not harbor any suspicion toward him. Only by treating people with sincerity can one truly keep talent within their own home. Konoha, the Uchiha, Hiruzen Sarutobi... those are all cautionary tales."

Goriki nodded and asked no further questions.

And so, the Iwagakure team moved further and further away from Konoha.

Within the Pure Land.

The four Kage, having witnessed the conversation between Ōnoki and Goriki through the Flying Thunder God mark, remained silent.

Tobirama glanced at Hiruzen with an expressionless face but did not say a word.

At this point, regret was already too late, and criticizing him further would serve no purpose.

Rasa stood quietly to the side, looking around with a guilty conscience, his mind flashing to a Kekkei Genkai jōnin who had once been loyal to Sunagakure, fearing that the man might come looking for him to demand an explanation.

Minato said with a hint of regret, "With a leader like that, it seems Jingxin will absolutely never return to Konoha."

Hearing these words, Hiruzen's heart ached even more.