Lin Qing stopped.
He turned around and met Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze.
It was a strange sight.
Danzo lay dead right before them.
Neither Lin Qing, who had avenged a blood feud, nor Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had witnessed his old friend's death with his own eyes, showed the slightest emotion.
No satisfaction, no regret, and certainly no lingering hatred.
The two were like strangers meeting for the first time, calmly looking at each other. Neither could see through the other's thoughts.
"Old man, are you going to stop me?" Lin Qing asked.
"You killed someone and think you can just walk away?"
Lin Qing pointed at the ground beneath his feet. "Danzo and Itachi conspired to slaughter the Uchiha Clan. An eye for an eye, blood for blood. Nothing wrong with that, right?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen said calmly, "No."
"I didn't come here intending to kill him. Danzo used genjutsu on me first, then tried to kill me when negotiations fell through. He failed and ended up dead instead. Nothing wrong with that, right?"
"No."
"Since there's nothing wrong with any of it..."
Lin Qing tilted his head slightly. "Hokage, what exactly are you getting at?"
"Danzo killed countless people. It's only right that he pay for his crimes with his life. Lin Qing, I understand you, but he wasn't just Danzo. He was one of Konoha's leaders. You killed him in front of me, so I have to stop you. That's my job as Hokage."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took off his Hokage robe, revealing a tight-fitting outfit beneath. His voice was grave as he said:
"I need to give the village an explanation."
"Lord Third!"
Jiraiya took a step forward, about to stop Sarutobi Hiruzen. Suddenly, he realized he couldn't move. Countless raindrops clung to him like steel nails, pinning him in