The Shock of Konoha's People

"Hiruzen! How could things have turned out like this with you on the scene!!"

"Are you the only guard who had the gall to survive? You shameless wretch!"

A high-ranking official spat as he hurled accusations at Hiruzen for "abandoning" the Second Hokage.

"Not only the Second, but the 'Grandson' as well... We no longer have the face to meet Lord Hashirama!"

Even over a decade after his passing, the awe and reverence for the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, had not faded.

To the elders, Diejian, whose features grew to resemble Hashirama's more with each passing year, was like looking upon the god that was Hashirama himself.

--A coup d'état occurred in Kumogakure. During the chaos, the Second Hokage and Senju Diejian went missing.

This news, brought back by Sarutobi Hiruzen upon his return from the now-deadly Kumogakure, dealt a massive blow to the Konohagakure leadership, who had been eagerly awaiting news of a successful alliance.

The high-ranking officials immediately summoned the heads of all the prominent clans in Konoha to establish a crisis management headquarters.

But the meeting stalled, eventually devolving into an inquiry into Hiruzen's responsibility.

Though Hiruzen knew this was likely a maneuver to strip authority from the Sarutobi Clan—which had long been protected by the First and Second Hokage—he stood before the clan heads and willingly accepted the vitriol.

It was born of his own self-reproach.

As the captain of the Second Hokage's personal guard, the fact that he had failed his duty, leaving a young junior behind in a death trap while he himself returned alive, weighed upon him like a crushing burden.

Once upon a time, when the First Hokage passed away prematurely, a similar emergency meeting had been called, sparking fierce debate.

Hiruzen still remembered the scene: the high-ranking officials shouting over one another, arguing over the cause of Hashirama's death and the assignment of blame.

That desolate forest, the scattered corpses, and the three children huddled beside Hashirama's remains—

When that battle ended, Diejian had just been revived by Hashirama and was in a state of unconscious, critical injury.

Ina and Sakumo had witnessed the tragedy of their friend being killed before their eyes; they were physically and mentally exhausted, needing sleep to recover.

It was precisely for this reason that Hashirama, in his final moments, had insisted that Ina and Sakumo be put to sleep.

Had they been left to their own devices back then, the trauma would likely have left an indelible scar on their hearts.

Even so, the high-ranking officials had been willing to wake the three sleeping children just to uncover the truth.

The one who stopped that chaos, which had nearly spilled over onto the fragile children, and took command was Senju Tobirama, who had rushed back from a diplomatic mission.

He waited for the three children to wake naturally while secretly laying the groundwork for his own succession as the Second Hokage.

And the moment Ina awoke, he acted immediately, suppressing all opposition and factions to swiftly ascend to the position of Second Hokage.

But that was something only Tobirama could have achieved.

He was the First Hokage's own brother, one of the founding heroes who built Konohagakure.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, however, had only just inherited the position of head of the Sarutobi Clan; he was still young.

To demand that he immediately accomplish what Tobirama had done was simply impossible.

"--I am here to convey the final decree issued by the Second Hokage."

Interrupting this negative trend was a young man with a cross-shaped scar on his chin—Shimura Danzō.

He shoved the door open violently, his heavy footsteps echoing as he strode into the conference room.

His arrogant and rude attitude caused the head of the Uchiha Clan to frown and the high-ranking officials to raise their voices, but Danzō stood beside Hiruzen as if nothing were amiss.

"Sarutobi Hiruzen is appointed as the Third Hokage—"

A buzz of commotion rippled through the room.

Danzō continued, brooking no argument.

"These were the final words left by the Second Hokage. Anyone who defies this order shall be considered a traitor to the Second Hokage, and by the rules, I shall deal with them personally."

The Second Hokage, who had sacrificed himself to protect them.

The final words of the man Danzō admired had taken deep root in his heart.

"--You are too insolent, boy of the Shimura."

"The Second's decree is fine, but Hiruzen cannot take office immediately, Danzō. The Hokage is not a position appointed by the predecessor. It requires the consent of the Daimyo. Considering the future, this is a bad move, Danzō."

However, to the elders of Konoha, Danzō's attitude was nothing more than arrogant insolence.

The massive, hulking head of the Inuzuka Clan exerted his pressure upon Danzō.

His thick beard and the markings on his face added to his imposing presence, while his bulging muscles and battle scars radiated the aura of a seasoned veteran.

Following this, the elder ninja of the Nara Clan cast a sharp gaze at Danzō, remaining silent.

"The Second Hokage's final decree—it sounds well and good, but the Hokage is an elected position, not an appointed one. Don't get it twisted, boy of the Shimura."

The head of the Uchiha Clan spoke.

The implication behind those words was clear—the Uchiha Clan also had the right to nominate a candidate for the Third Hokage.

This was less an expression of dissatisfaction with Danzō and Hiruzen, and more a provocation against the Sarutobi and Shimura clans.

--After all, the Uchiha only bowed to the Senju.

The likes of the Shimura and Sarutobi were, in the end, merely second-rate...

That's about the gist of it.

The Uchiha clan and their leader at present do not bear ill will towards the Senju clan.

When Tobirama became the Second Hokage, they did not object.

They are considered a rare moderate faction for the Uchiha... but this only applies to the Senju clan.

The Uchiha clan, which once produced the great enemy Madara—even so, Senju Hashirama accepted the Uchiha as members of Konoha.

Therefore, the Uchiha, or at least the current Uchiha clan leader, cannot hold their head high in front of the Senju.

However, this changed with Tobirama's death.

In the eyes of the Uchiha clan, there was no reason to yield to the Shimura clan, who were merely followers of the Senju, or to Sarutobi.

"See," just as I expected."

Danzo frowned at the Nara clan leader's seemingly speechless words.

He cursed inwardly, the Nara clan is indeed difficult to deal with.

That being said, the Nara clan leader was not denying the system of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen.

In this critical situation, Danzo's words and actions would only provoke unnecessary hostility.

The Nara clan leader was warning Danzo that if he continued with his current attitude, even the votes against Hiruzen, as a candidate for Third Hokage, would increase, and there was no need to make enemies of those clan leaders whose opinions were not yet unified.

As he had predicted, voices of unease began to emerge, worrying whether the still young Hiruzen was capable.

Despite being excluded from the political core, the Uchiha clan still had considerable influence.

With the absence of the leader of the largest faction, the Senju clan, there were not a few who leaned towards the Uchiha—.

"--Silence."

Suddenly, a sharp female voice rang out.

Her clear voice spread like ripples, instantly calming the chaotic debate.

The door opened.

A woman in a luxurious kimono appeared.

Her imposing presence made someone gasp.

"Lady Mito..."

Amidst her vibrant red hair, a dazzling hairpin tinkled.

Someone's whisper seeped into the silence.

The woman's name was Mito Uzumaki—or Mito Senju—the woman deeply loved by the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.

Just as someone whispered, "Why is she here?", as if to interrupt, the Nara clan leader spoke.

"Everyone, what do you say—"

In the silent room, the Nara clan leader, who had become the focus of everyone's attention, gazed steadily at Mito and nodded.

Mito responded by closing her eyes, indicating to the Nara clan leader her willingness to accept everything.

The Nara clan leader marveled at her resolve.

When he received the news of the Second Hokage's disappearance, he foresaw the meeting would be chaotic and thus invited Mito Uzumaki.

Although the First Hokage had passed away, his influence was still immeasurable.

She never made public appearances due to her personality, but as his wife, Mito, coupled with her status as the village's ultimate weapon, the Jinchuriki, possessed an influence far exceeding that of the advisors.

Therefore—.

"--As the wife of the late Lord Hashirama, Lady Mito was once the princess of the Land of Whirlpools... Until the Second Hokage's safety is clarified, we cannot continue to argue like this. The inauguration of the Third Hokage will be temporarily postponed, and Lady Mito will act as the interim Second Hokage. What do you all think?"

"Lady Mito's words... there should be no objections."

Mito Uzumaki was the mother of Konoha, a figure above the clouds.

In front of her, it was impossible for anyone to object.

Because doing so would be tantamount to opposing the Senju clan.

Furthermore, the Second Hokage was not confirmed to be dead.

Rather than rashly opposing, it was more prudent to let her serve as a symbolic interim position.

The clan leaders unanimously nodded.

"--Hiruzen, what is that 'demeanor' of yours!"

"..."

The meeting ended, in an empty corridor.

After confirming no one was around, Danzo grabbed Hiruzen by the collar.

"Why didn't you object!"

"Danzo... I... it is true that I failed to fulfill my duty as captain of the guard... Lord Hashirama's entrusted Diejian has not returned either. I..."

"Enough is enough, Third Hokage! The one entrusted with this name by the predecessor was none other than you! Not me, not Diejian, it was you!! It was you!!"

Danzo grabbed Hiruzen by the lapels, his voice sounding as if he were trying to slam him against the wall.

The fist clutching the fabric trembled; Danzo lowered his head as if enduring something, his expression twisted.

Danzo's cry, sounding like a lament, seeped into Hiruzen's heart.

It was the voice of a friend who had once aimed for the title of Hokage alongside him, a voice pushed to its absolute limit.

Hiruzen chewed over the meaning of what had been entrusted to him once more.

Since it had been entrusted to him, he was not permitted to flee.

No matter how much agony awaited him ahead, he was not permitted to set down the heavy burden he carried.

Everything he shared with his friends, everything he was guided toward by Hashirama and entrusted with by Tobirama—to be Hokage meant to be the one who walked the pathless path, the one who stood at the forefront of the treacherous road.

It meant being the one who bore more agony than anyone else, enduring all hardships for the sake of the village, that great family.

The village had now lost its "great father."

The one to forge a path through the thorns of the suffering that would soon descend upon the village was—

"--Sarutobi Hiruzen! If you keep acting this weak, I will take the position of Hokage from you myself!"

"Danzo..."

Danzo lifted his head, staring at Hiruzen with upturned eyes.

Hiruzen's eyes widened as he whispered his childhood friend's name.

"It is precisely because it is you that Diejian stayed behind. You are his senior, aren't you? You must believe that he will return."

"...Thank you, Danzo. It is good to have you as a best friend—ouch."

Watching Hiruzen smile like the sun, Danzo pushed him away with a look of annoyance.

Hiruzen bumped into the wall, rubbing the back of his head in pain.

"That is exactly the kind of thing I hate about you."

Danzo frowned in irritation and turned his face away from Hiruzen.

Tsunade heard the tragic news just as she arrived home after finishing training with Jiraiya and Orochimaru.

A ninja wearing a strange mask that made it impossible to tell if it was a fox or a raccoon had come to visit her home.

That mask was the mark of the Anbu, the Hokage's direct-controlled assassination tactical unit, which was required to conceal its identity.

The Anbu, which should have been composed of the elite, had failed to notice Tsunade's presence—surely something extremely grave had occurred. The unusual, frantic atmosphere of the Anbu stirred Tsunade's feminine intuition.

And so, half-jokingly, she hid behind the garden wall of the estate.

A moment later, her grandmother Mito came out to greet the Anbu ninja.

Tsunade pricked up her ears to listen, but the shocking truth spoken by the Anbu made her feel a blow akin to blood loss.

It was tragic news regarding her older brother.

Unable to sit still, Tsunade bolted out on the spot.

She did not have a clear destination in mind.

It was just that at that moment, the face of her brother's best friend, the White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, had flashed through her mind.

Perhaps she had grasped at the uncertain hope that "if it were him, perhaps there would be a way."

Many people watched as Tsunade rushed by, as panicked as if she had seen the Nine-Tails.

And then—because of the information Tsunade brought, the atmosphere in the tea shop changed in an instant.

Agitation, despair, confusion.

Sakumo, Ina, and Juri each used their own methods to sense the village's chakra to confirm the truth of the information Tsunade had brought.

The heads of the great clans of Konoha—the Uchiha, Aburame, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Nara, and Inuzuka—were gathering at the Hokage's residence.

So many important figures would only gather together in the event of an extreme emergency.

And from the look on Tsunade's face, which was on the verge of tears, the three of them were convinced of the truth of the news.

"Brother... he might be dead..."

"--Tsunade. This information, besides us, has anyone else..."

"Eh... no, I haven't told anyone..."

"I see... then this matter must not be spoken of to anyone else. The Konoha Anbu are not fools. They have likely already realized that you know this information. A gag order will be issued immediately."

Hatake Sakumo was the calmest of the three.

This perhaps had to do with his growth in spirit after experiencing many situations as a Jonin.

Sakumo warned Tsunade because he considered the impact that the news of the Second Hokage's disappearance would have on the village.

The situation was different from when the First Hokage passed away.

With the exceptional ninja Senju Tobirama at the helm, the "unease" brought about by a "vacant Hokage seat" was practically non-existent.

The villagers had the luxury of purely mourning the death of Hashirama.

However, the Second Hokage had no successor.

That successor could have been the future Sakumo or Diejian, but at this stage, a ninja capable of shouldering every heavy responsibility had yet to mature.

Sakumo stood up and gazed in the direction of the Hokage residence.

Because he had been granted considerable authority by Tobirama as a "banner," Sakumo anticipated that a summons would reach him before long.

He resolved that when that time came, he would be the first to propose the formation of a search party for Tobirama and Diejian, and he would stand at the very front of that line.

"..."

Sakumo's profile as he stood was stared at by Ina as if she were looking at something unbelievable.

Flashing through Ina's mind was the memory of Diejian's corpse, bloodied and mangled after being killed by Kakuzu.

The back of her childhood friend as she saw him off just days ago.

The face of Diejian, who had lain in a coma at the hospital for months, looking like a dead man.

The happy smile of her childhood friend as he looked back over his shoulder, bearing the name of Senju.

The despair and agitation from when Diejian was once killed surged forth like a muddy torrent.

Memories of happiness and the despair of the past assaulted Ina's heart in turns.

"Brother..."

"Ah..."

Amidst a sensation of the world spinning, a faint whisper seeped in.

The voice of Tsunade—the younger sister of her childhood friend and an important friend to Ina herself—shattered Ina's composure.

With a sharp slap, Ina struck her own cheek.

A flush rose on her bloodless face.

Ina let out a deep sigh.

In front of a young girl shaken by the potential loss of her brother, how could she, as an elder and a female Jonin, look so utterly distraught?

That would be far too unseemly.

With agile movements, Ina picked up the teacup on the table and gulped down the remaining tea in one go.

The sensation of the warm liquid gradually heating her body seeped into her heart and soul.

After exhaling a rough breath, Ina smiled slightly, gently cupping Tsunade's face and touching her cheeks.

"It's alright, Tsunade. How could that guy possibly die?"

"--Ina."

"Yes, I understand."

At Sakumo's call, Ina nodded firmly, signaling that she was already fine.

And what of the last person, Juri? She looked distracted, muttering words that couldn't be heard while shaking her head slightly.

"Juri...? Eek!"

With a worried expression, Ina bent down to check on Juri, who was keeping her head lowered.

But almost simultaneously, Juri lifted her head with startling momentum, revealing a ghastly, demonic expression.

Ina recoiled in fright, stumbling back a few steps.

"Juri, what is that..."

"Must go..."

"Wait, wait a second!"

Because Juri stood up abruptly, her chair toppled over.

But Juri didn't even glance at it; she whipped her neck around and strode toward the exit of the tea shop.

Seeing her unusual state, Ina hurriedly tried to speak to her while picking up the fallen chair, but Juri showed no reaction.

"Juri, where do you intend to go?"

Is she planning to leave the village to find Diejian? Sakumo inferred the answer based on Juri's personality and blocked her path.

"Move aside, Sakumo. Diejian is calling for me."

"As a fellow Jonin of the same squad, I cannot allow you to act on your own."

So it was as he thought, Sakumo narrowed his eyes.

Worrying for a comrade was not a bad thing.

Sakumo himself actually wanted to go find Diejian immediately as well. He felt Juri's feelings as if they were his own.

However, the Land of Lightning, where Kumogakure was located, was no smaller than the Land of Fire; searching aimlessly would make finding them impossible.

Not only was it a waste of time, but this time Juri and Sakumo might also be listed as missing, necessitating the formation of a search party.

The result would be a reduction in the personnel available to search for Diejian and the Second Hokage, which would very likely lower their chances of survival.

Alternatively, there was also the possibility of engaging in battle with the group of ninja led by Kinkaku and Ginkaku, who had launched the coup.

Though the situation was unclear, Sakumo did not believe Juri could win against an opponent that even the Second Hokage had been forced to flee from.

However, none of that mattered to Juri.

The depths of her eyes burned as if boiling, and the world reflected within them turned a deep crimson.

Amidst the illusion of reality spinning and slipping away, Diejian's voice calling for help echoed incessantly.

The impulse to rush over immediately—Juri did not believe this was wrong.

Even so, Sakumo, as her friend, stood in her way.

Juri felt a raging black flame ignite within her heart.

"Move, Sakumo."

"...Juri, I didn't say you 'couldn't go.' I said it wouldn't be too late to act after we receive intelligence from Kagami-sensei or Lord Hiruzen."

"Move, Sakumo... or I will kill you."

"Are you serious, Juri..."

The expression of fury that surfaced on Juri's symmetrical face was directed squarely at Sakumo, who was obstructing her path.

Her brows were furrowed as tightly as possible, etching deep lines, and the corners of her eyes were sharply upturned.

The words "I will kill you" were by no means a threat—Juri shakily drew a Kunai and pointed the tip at Sakumo.

Her pupils were dyed a deep red, and "three" tomoe emerged within them.

It was a complete departure from the childish atmosphere of her crying like a child just moments ago; it was an expression honed as a ninja, befitting her age, one that even made Sakumo feel a sense of dread.

Though he felt a chill run down his spine, Sakumo did not move from his spot.

But that was not out of stubbornness or adherence to rules—it was to stop Juri from rushing toward recklessness.

"Stop it, Ina. That technique is useless against me now. I don't want to hurt you... just stop."

Mind Body Switch Technique—Ina, who had been aiming her hand seals at Juri, gasped at the words coming from behind her.

Her chakra had not yet finished refining.

She had been detected the moment she aimed her seals from a complete blind spot.

If she activated the technique now, Juri would easily be able to dodge it.

If that happened, it would strike Sakumo, who was standing directly in the line of fire.

In that case, there would be no one left to stop the rampaging Juri.

Ina maintained her hand seal posture, her expression twisting in frustration.

"You too, Sakumo. One last time. Move aside."

—Have you gone mad, Juri?

He had once heard Kagami say that when members of the Uchiha clan lose someone they love deeply, their personalities can sometimes change drastically.

Knowing how deeply Juri cared for Diejian, Sakumo understood her sudden change, but he could not allow her to act recklessly because of it.

As a teammate, as a man, and then—as a friend.

Although he didn't know what her body, just recovered from illness, was capable of, he had no choice but to act.

Sakumo lowered his center of gravity—but.

"Damn it, a flash bomb!"

Suddenly, a flash filled the shop, and Sakumo lost his vision.

Struck by this unexpected impact, caught completely off guard, Sakumo was unable to move.

In the world covered by light, Sakumo shielded his head to defend against an attack from Juri—but nothing happened.

When his vision returned, Juri's figure had vanished from the spot without a trace.

Sakumo stared at his palms, confirming he was unharmed.

He also checked the chakra within his body, confirming there was no disruption.

He hadn't been caught in a genjutsu; there was truly nothing there.

He should be able to catch up immediately if he moved now.

With a certain conviction, Sakumo refined his chakra to sense Juri's location.

That chakra, burning as hot as a raging flame, had already flown out of the village.

Sakumo did not know that Juri had activated the Body Activation Technique she had displayed during her battle with Diejian.

It was a technique that granted Juri astonishing speed at the cost of being sensed by Sakumo.

"Are you alright, Sakumo!?"

"Ah, I'm fine. Where are Ina and Tsunade?"

"We're fine too, but..."

Ina, whose vision returned a little later, ran to Sakumo's side.

Sakumo stopped the worried Ina with his hand and asked in a calm tone.

Seeing Ina nod as if relieved, Sakumo turned his back to her.

"Then, I'll leave this to you. I'm going to chase Juri."

"Wait a minute!"

Sakumo didn't listen to Ina's protests and rushed out as if flying from a tea shop.

'In the end, everyone in the class is the same kind of person,' Ina thought.

If she stayed here, she would surely rush out like Sakumo.

She prayed for the safety of the three of them, including her other childhood friend, and gently lowered her eyelids.

In the silence, only the sound of the waterfall could be heard.

Water droplets splashed and fell, never ceasing.

The wild beauty of nature was eternal, and the rushing river made one feel the impermanence of things.

The Valley of the End.

Once, the place where the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, and Uchiha Madara had their final battle.

Located on the border of the Land of Fire, this place enshrined a statue of Senju Hashirama, who stood like a guardian of the Land of Fire, and a statue of Uchiha Madara facing him.

The two pairs of statues, facing each other across the river, told of the beginning and end of that battle under the blue sky.

"I just knew you'd pass through here."

On the statue of Uchiha Madara, silver hair swayed in the wind.

"As expected, you're fast, Sakumo."

On the statue of Senju Hashirama, lustrous black hair danced in the wind.