Kakashi watched Kokonoe Mutsue disappear at the end of the street. He took a deep breath and looked up at the setting sun in midair, his thoughts having long since drifted far away.
"Perhaps when you were still here, he could have been called sunlight! But will that sunlight still bloom over Konoha now? Forget it, I should go watch mine. It seems Jiraiya-sensei has released another new series!"
At one of Konoha's palaces, Kazahana Koyuki looked coldly at Sarutobi Hiruzen as he approached the dining table. Her lips curled upward, pride written across her face. "I truly must thank you, Lord Sarutobi Hiruzen! On behalf of my father, my mother, and all the citizens who died under that tyranny!"
"Kazahana Dōtō's policies were far better than your father's. At the very least, under his control, the country's administration became far more orderly. Your Highness, you should understand the difference between personal vengeance and national prosperity more clearly than I do! We cannot act out of selfish—You are Kokonoe Mutsue?!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen had been earnestly trying to persuade Kazahana Koyuki when the dining room door was pushed open, and a ninja he knew very well appeared before him.
"Hehehe..."
Carrying a square box, he deliberately walked over to Sarutobi Hiruzen's side and, without the slightest etiquette, set the box down beside him. After letting out a cold laugh, he bowed to Kazahana Koyuki and spoke.
"Kazahana Dōtō and the rest of the traitors were all executed yesterday! Within this box is Kazahana Dōtō's head!"
"Kokonoe Mutsue, how dare you!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen flew into a rage. He had just finished praising Kazahana Dōtō's policies, only for the other side to slap him in the face like this—and they had even killed the man he had spared. At the same time,