Konoha's Band

Yamahuku gathered a band from all over the street—a small group of only seven people. They didn't have a suona, just gongs, drums, and two horns.

Qingcheng frowned slightly and said softly, "Does anyone here know how to play the suona? Does anyone know how to cry for the dead, or recite eulogies?"

The band leader, Juchi Yunye, was an oily man in his thirties, with a slight beer belly starting to form.

Yunye's face flushed with embarrassment when he heard Qingcheng's words. He forced a smile and said, "Uchiha Clan Head, we usually perform for weddings. This is our first time preparing for someone who has passed away."

Qingcheng sternly rebuked him, "Look at yourselves! You have absolutely no business sense. How many weddings are there in Konoha Village in a year, compared to how many ninjas die?"

Then Qingcheng smiled and continued, "If you follow the Uchiha Clan from now on, I guarantee you'll make so much money your hands will ache."

Hearing this, Yunye smiled and said, "We are willing to obey Clan Head Qingcheng and join the Uchiha Clan."

Qingcheng spoke seriously, "Replace your horns with suonas, and prepare a eulogy for me. We're going to the Uchiha Memorial Ground."

Yunye looked confused and asked, "How should we write a eulogy? We don't know how. But as for crying for the dead, we can manage to shed some tears."

Qingcheng smiled and said, "Of course, you just praise their accomplishments, and then add 'may the deceased rest in peace' at the end."

Yamahuku then arranged for some guards to go to the Yamanaka Clan's flower shop to get lilies.

Afterward, the group marched grandly towards the Konoha Cemetery.

Along the way, all the villagers who saw the impressive procession led by Uchiha Qingcheng began to ask, "Are they getting married? Why is there such a grand display?"

Another group of villagers commented, "They're heading towards the memorial ground. They must be going to pay respects to the deceased Uchiha Clan members."

Some ninjas chuckled, "This Uchiha Clan Head is really over the top. Such a huge display just to pay respects to the dead."

At the Konoha Cemetery, a beautiful girl in white clothes wept before her father's tombstone. Tears streamed down her face as she said, "Father, were you really murdered? Can I still trust the Third Hokage? I don't want to see Sarutobi Asuma ever again."

Clang, clang-clang, clang!

Just then, Kurenai Yuhi turned her head and saw a massive procession approaching, with gongs and drums playing. The person leading them was Qingcheng, dressed in a Divine Feather Robe.

Qingcheng also saw the weeping Kurenai and thought to himself, She must have heard Shimura Ken's words. The seed of doubt has been planted. Shimura Ken's words, spoken as he sacrificed himself, carry immense weight.

Qingcheng mused, No one would doubt the words of someone on their deathbed. That's a common understanding. Especially Shimura Ken; to drag the Sarutobi Clan ninjas down with him in death makes his words even more impactful.

Qingcheng noticed that many common ninjas already had a seed of doubt, distrusting the Konoha leadership, or at least not blindly trusting them as before.

The clan ninjas were even smarter. They had never fully trusted the Third Hokage, and now trusted him even less. Even if the Shimura Clan had removed the scapegoat, once a seed of doubt is planted, it's hard to erase.

Qingcheng spoke to Yunye, "Stop for a moment." Hearing his voice, the band members immediately stopped drumming. The members scattering paper money also stopped their actions, clutching the paper money in their hands.

Yunye smiled and asked, "Clan Head, is there a problem with our procedure?"

Qingcheng waved his hand and said seriously, "It's not your problem. Wait for me here."

With that, Qingcheng walked over to Kurenai Yuhi and said with a smile, "Are you here to sweep the grave yourself, Miss Kurenai?"

Kurenai Yuhi looked at the dashing man who walked straight up to her and greeted her as if they were old friends.

Kurenai Yuhi was also quite perplexed. From a distance, she had seen this group of grave-sweepers playing festive music and scattering white paper money, making it look neither like a wedding nor a funeral.

Then Kurenai Yuhi symbolically replied, "Clan Head Qingcheng, is there something you need?"

Qingcheng smiled and said, "I see you've come empty-handed to pay respects to the late Kurenai Yuhi. Would you like a white lily?"

Hearing this, Kurenai Yuhi smiled and replied, "Perhaps it's better not to? I'll be heading back soon." She spread her hands, politely declining.

Qingcheng watched Kurenai Yuhi's clear refusal and thought to himself, She seems to have misunderstood, thinking I'm trying to sell something. I was just trying to strike up a conversation.

Qingcheng smiled again and said, "Miss Kurenai, I'm not trying to sell anything. I just think that as a descendant, visiting your father, you shouldn't come empty-handed. That would be disrespectful to your parents' nurturing grace."

Kurenai Yuhi was startled by Qingcheng's words. She then said with an embarrassed expression, "I misunderstood just now. Thank you for the reminder. You're right, one shouldn't come empty-handed."

Kurenai Yuhi turned back to Qingcheng, smiling awkwardly, and asked, "Could you sell me a lily, Clan Head Qingcheng?"

Qingcheng directly handed her a lily and said with a smile, "You are the most filial girl I've ever met. The late Kurenai Yuhi would be especially touched, knowing this from the afterlife."

Qingcheng then said with great enthusiasm, "This flower is a gift for you. We are all comrades from the same village. Using the word 'sell' is too formal."

Kurenai Yuhi found Qingcheng's words very gentle and hospitable, completely unlike the rumored Uchiha Clan, who were said to be so aloof and proud.

Then Kurenai Yuhi said gratefully, "Thank you so much. I always felt the Uchiha Clan was difficult to talk to, but today I've discovered that Uchihas are all warm-hearted."

Hearing this, Qingcheng sneered inwardly, This is all thanks to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo, who constantly spread rumors in Konoha that the Uchiha Clan controlled the Nine-Tails to launch a coup, and that the Uchiha Clan was planning a rebellion.

Qingcheng also silently complained, Especially the Uchiha Clan, who also took over the Police Force, this rotten mess of a department. It's the biggest scapegoat department in Konoha. And the Uchiha Clan are bad at talking, they're not good with words. They've been given so many labels, yet they still act arrogantly, as if to say, 'We Uchihas are just that exceptional'.

Kurenai Yuhi looked at Qingcheng's darkened expression and suddenly remembered something. She immediately apologized, "I'm sorry, I forgot your clan suffered a tragedy. I didn't mean to bring up a painful memory."

Qingcheng merely waved his hand and said with a smile, "That's all in the past. Our Uchiha Clan hasn't been wiped out. Sasuke and I are both alive. We'll definitely rebuild our family in the future."

Kurenai Yuhi looked at Qingcheng's radiant smile and thought to herself, Qingcheng-kun's heart is so strong. If my entire clan were wiped out, I would surely collapse and despair.

Kurenai Yuhi smiled and said softly, "Qingcheng-kun, thank you for the lily. Next time, I'll treat you to yakiniku."

Qingcheng smiled and said, "Miss Kurenai, since you're offering to treat me to yakiniku, I'll give you a grand memorial ceremony in return."

Qingcheng then looked at Yunye and said seriously, "Yunye, go! Let Senior Kurenai Yuhi ascend straight to heaven."

When Kurenai Yuhi heard this, her pink eyes widened. She asked in confusion, "Qingcheng-kun, what do you mean by 'memorial ceremony'? And what's 'sending straight to heaven'?"

Qingcheng smiled and said, "It means paying respects to your deceased loved ones on your behalf, so they can rest easy in the afterlife."

In an instant, a dozen band members, led by Yunye, walked to Kurenai Yuhi's tombstone and began to play gongs and drums, with the prolonged wail of the suona: "Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo!"

Kurenai Yuhi looked on, embarrassed again. She said with great resentment, "Isn't this music a bit too festive? It's just like a wedding!"