The Death and Rebirth of the Sarutobi Clan

That very morning, after the meeting ended, Hiruzen Sarutobi chose to atone for his sins through suicide.

Most of the Sarutobi Clan had joined the rebellion. As their clan head, he could not shirk responsibility.

When he voiced his intention, only Jiraiya had fiercely opposed it, yet he was still persuaded by the resolute Third Hokage.

In everyone else's eyes, with Heroic Spirit technology now officially in use and the First, Second, and White Fang having been revived, death was no longer the end for the strong.

It was not necessarily a bad thing for the aged Third Hokage to step down through death. Given his status and strength, he would have another chance at revival sooner or later.

After his suicide, everyone began reviewing his merits and faults one by one in accordance with Konoha's laws.

He had governed Konoha for over twenty years. His mistakes and achievements were both too numerous to count, and it took several hours to sort them out completely.

Once the review was complete, Iori calmly announced to everyone that the Third Hokage's merits far outweighed his mistakes. If he wished, he was qualified to return to the world as a Heroic Spirit.

Upon hearing Iori's declaration, Jiraiya and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief. Iori's harsh measures earlier had made them feel that he bore deep hostility toward the Third Hokage and might not be willing to revive him. But now, it seemed that Iori was still fair and impartial.

In truth, they were not entirely wrong. It was just that Iori had already vented his anger once in the other world, so he had no need to continue taking it out on the Third Hokage.

Moreover, what had happened in this world had long since diverged from the original story.