Ch. 261News of Death
Key Plot Points and Events
- Hiruzen Sarutobi (Third Hokage) and Danzō Shimura are killed in a mission to gather intelligence on Akatsuki.
- Enma, the sole survivor, reports that the enemy had six members, each with unique abilities and Rinnegan eyes.
- Konoha mourns the loss of the two leaders, and a funeral is held in their honor.
Character Developments
- Enma feels guilty for not being able to save Hiruzen and Danzō.
- Tsunade, Minato, Jiraiya, and other Konoha leaders are grief-stricken but determined to avenge their deaths.
- Menma is shocked and saddened by the news but maintains his composure.
Significant Themes
- Loss and mourning: The chapter explores the impact of Hiruzen and Danzō's deaths on Konoha and its inhabitants.
- Sacrifice: Both leaders died while trying to protect their village and gather crucial information.
- Respect and gratitude: Despite their past differences, characters like Menma show respect for the fallen leaders.
Character Interactions
- Tsunade, Minato, and Jiraiya work together to handle the aftermath of the mission's failure and plan for the funeral.
- Menma interacts with Iruka, his students, and later with Jiraiya and Orochimaru, displaying a mix of emotions and attitudes towards the situation.
- Orochimaru and Menma have a tense exchange, with Orochimaru offering Menma an inhibitor to halt Karma's thawing process, while Menma threatens him against creating clones using his cells.