Celebration

"If that doesn't count, what does?"

Danzo's face turned livid at Mitokado Homura's words, but he quickly adjusted his expression and said coldly, "Even so, it was merely a coincidence. A Chunin with a Two-Tomoe Sharingan—what kind of waves could he possibly stir up?"

"A coincidence?" Sarutobi Hiruzen finally spoke, tapping his pipe against the table. "Danzo, you and I have both been on the battlefield; you should know there aren't that many coincidences in war. He was able to complete sabotage missions behind enemy lines and lead his team through heavy encirclement until Shisui arrived to rescue them. How many Chunin in your Root could achieve such a feat?"

Danzo was silent for a moment, then let out a cold snort. "And where is he now? Neither hide nor hair of him. Even if you credit him, he's just a dead man."

"I want to see the person if he lives, and the body if he dies." Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice was low. "The bounty has been issued, and the search will not stop. If he returns alive, he will receive every bit of the reward he is due. If he is dead..."

"Let's wait until we see the corpse."

"Furthermore," Sarutobi Hiruzen added, "Shisui has awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan. This power is of great significance to the village, and I will personally commend him."

"Mangekyou..." Danzo's eyes flickered, his thoughts unreadable.

"Yes, the Mangekyou Sharingan." Mitokado Homura chimed in. "How many years has it been since the Uchiha clan produced a powerhouse of that level? It is fortunate that it is Shisui; otherwise, we would have much to worry about."

Utatane Koharu, standing to the side, nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, it is fortunate it is Shisui. If it were anyone else... the Uchiha clan would not be so easily appeased. However..." Utatane Koharu shifted the tone. "Those restless elements within the Uchiha clan will surely try to probe Shisui. To be safe, perhaps we should recall Jiraiya." Having said this, she looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Smoking his pipe, Sarutobi Hiruzen fell into deep thought.

Nearly a year had passed since the Nine-Tails Incident. Although the Uchiha clan and the Konoha leadership appeared to be getting along on the surface, the reality behind the scenes was quite different.

As the premier noble clan of Konoha, the Uchiha clan, famous throughout the ninja world, was very eager to "advance."

Since the founding of Konoha, the ninjas of the Uchiha clan had wanted to ascend to the upper echelons of the village, yet from start to finish, not even a single Hokage advisor had emerged from their ranks.

It wasn't until the appearance of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, that they were given a glimmer of hope.

But now, both Namikaze Minato and his student Obito were dead. The Uchiha clan had circled back to square one, but the problem was that the desires stirred up within the Uchiha would not return to their pre-Third Shinobi World War state.

So, the question arose.

The political ambitions of the Uchiha had not subsided; on the contrary, they would only grow increasingly dissatisfied with the status quo as time passed. There were already signs of this even now. Yet, at this very moment, a new pair of Mangekyou Sharingan—something unseen for decades—had appeared.

Under these circumstances, regardless of where Shisui's loyalties lay, the emergence of these Mangekyou Sharingan would accelerate the eruption of the Uchiha clan's long-suppressed ambitions.

Sarutobi Hiruzen wondered how much longer his policy of appeasement could be maintained.

If it could no longer be sustained, what should be done next?

Furthermore, would that mysterious person who had never shown their face, yet had stirred up chaos in Konoha and orchestrated the Nine-Tails Incident, take this opportunity to strike again?

Seeing that Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent for a long time, Utatane Koharu coughed.

"Oh..." Coming back to his senses, Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head. "The matter of the Uchiha clan is not yet urgent. Let us observe for a while longer. And besides..."

"And besides, that fellow is deliberately hiding. I have sent people to find him several times, but to no avail. If I send them again, I fear there will be no result."

Since Sarutobi Hiruzen had said as much, Utatane Koharu could only nod.

"Hyuga Akira and Shisui will return with the main force soon. Since the village's reconstruction is basically complete, let us take this opportunity to hold a festival and let everyone enjoy themselves."

The Konoha army had swept through the Southern Border, and the war across the Land of Fire had essentially concluded. The Third Hokage's proposal was very fitting; Konoha truly needed a grand festival to dispel the gloom brought about by the Nine-Tails Incident.

"I think that is fine. Leave the arrangements to me." Utatane Koharu volunteered.

With the reconstruction work mostly finished, Utatane Koharu had both earned the credit and put in the labor, so Sarutobi Hiruzen agreed immediately.

The festival was set for the day the main army returned.

A full year had passed since the Nine-Tails Incident, and the village had been rebuilt upon the ruins. The new houses were neater and sturdier than the old ones, the streets had been widened significantly, and the Hokage building had been repainted, gleaming with a brand-new luster under the sun...

The memorial ceremony in front of the Memorial Stone was solemn and dignified.

The Third Hokage personally offered flowers, while Hyuga Akira and Shisui stood in formation at the head of the triumphant army.

Sakurai Hideko stood on high ground, her gaze sweeping over one person after another.

Familiar and unfamiliar faces passed by the gate: Hyuga Akira, Shisui, Uchiha Zongye, Uchiha Zongxin... and Uchiha Setsuna, who was being supported, his gray hair disheveled.

She counted them one by one, and skipped them one by one.

Nothing.

Still nothing.

Until the very end... there was still no sign of the person she was looking for.

She lowered her head, her fingertips clutching the corner of her clothes.

"Hideko?" a friend beside her called out softly. "Why do you look so pale?"

"I'm fine." She shook her head and forced a smile. "Maybe I've been standing for too long and I'm a bit tired."

The friend nodded and did not ask further.

After the memorial ceremony concluded, the festival officially began.

Stalls lined both sides of the street; the aroma of grilled dango, the shouts of goldfish scooping, and the laughter of children blended together.

Konoha was celebrating its victory, healing its wounds, and welcoming a new beginning.

Sakurai Hideko walked through the crowd, yet she felt as if she were separated from it all by a transparent wall.

She had walked to the vicinity of the village gate without realizing it.

That large tree was still there.

A year ago, she had stood right here, watching Naoki follow the team as they departed.

Back then, he had a dark look on his face, like a stubborn child, turning away and walking off with such finality that he didn't even look back.

She had wanted to call out to him, to tell him he had misunderstood, to say that she just didn't know how to say goodbye, but when the words reached her lips, not a single one could come out.

"Hey?"

A voice came from behind her.

She turned to see Uchiha Zongxin standing not far away; the young man's face bore many more scars, and both his hands were wrapped in bandages.

"I saw you, and I guessed you were looking for Naoki, right?"

Hideko opened her mouth, but she didn't know what to say.

After a moment of silence, she gathered her courage.

"Naoki... did he not come back?"

At the mention of Naoki once more, Uchiha Zongxin pressed his lips together and took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the sorrow in his heart as he said slowly, "He was knocked into the sea by Karatachi Yagura. We searched for a long time, but... there has been no news at all."