The Third's Funeral
The sky was gray and overcast, as though mourning the death of the Hokage who had held office the longest.
Rolling thunder rumbled as raindrops began to fall. Within moments, the rain intensified, pouring down in a steady rush and washing over the battered Konoha.
The Third had ultimately failed to escape the fate of the Hokages before him, dying in battle while protecting Konoha. Once, he had proudly remarked that he was the only Hokage to retire in his old age.
"Have we confirmed the identity of that mysterious person who appeared during the battle?" Jiraiya continued to ask. He was not the only one concerned with this question. Many people were deeply troubled by the suffocating despair that figure had brought, by that overwhelming entrance that seemed to shake heaven and earth. Even without coming into contact with him, they could sense a power surpassing everyone else.
The Anbu agent beside him, wearing a white mask, said, "Based on the conversation between the First and Second Hokage, who were summoned, and that person, we can confirm that he is Uchiha Shin, one of the legendary Three Gods."
"Uchiha Shin?" Not only Jiraiya, but everyone beside him cried out in shock. That name was simply too distant to them, so distant that it felt unreal.
Jiraiya's expression grew grave as he said quietly, "I never expected the legendary God of Time and Space to have survived until now. This makes things troublesome. A figure like that has been hidden within the Ninja World, and that is a threat to all of us."
Kakashi spoke up as well. "Lord Jiraiya, what should we do now? The Third has fallen in battle, and Uchiha Shin has suddenly appeared. The future of the Ninja World may head into unknown