Dancing on the Grave

The third day after the war, Konoha Cemetery.

The sky was the leaden gray unique to funerals, the clouds hanging low and the air heavy. A sea of black-clad mourners gathered in the cemetery beneath the stone faces of the past Hokage.

The funeral was jointly presided over by Jiraiya and Asuma Sarutobi. The usual grin was gone from Jiraiya's face, replaced by solemnity and deep sorrow. Asuma, dressed in black mourning clothes, greeted the villagers, shinobi, representatives of the various clans, and foreign envoys who had traveled from afar.

The civilians were immersed in genuine grief, while the shinobi were more subdued.

The mournful music played softly, and the atmosphere was heavy.

Just as Asuma was about to begin reading the eulogy, a burst of music utterly out of place in the solemn setting suddenly came from the cemetery entrance.

Everyone stared in astonishment.

From the direction of Konoha's main gate came a troupe of dancers... dressed in extremely revealing, brightly colored outfits! At their head was a foreign woman with golden hair and blue eyes, a voluptuous figure, and a glittering bikini. Seven or eight similarly scantily clad dancers followed behind her, smiling brightly. They swayed their hips to the beat as they danced all the way into the cemetery!

The shinobi guarding the entrance seemed to want to stop them, but hesitated—the woman leading the troupe was holding an invitation high in her hand.

The troupe went straight to the main altar, and the music stopped. The leader, who introduced herself as Zexiao Yamari, gave the nearly explosive Asuma an elegant bow and spoke clearly in Japanese with a foreign accent:

"Greetings, esteemed Konoha shinobi. Our Golden Beach Dance Troupe received a special commission from overseas. We were sent here by a distinguished patron who wishes to remain anonymous to offer one final blessing dance at the funeral of the Third."

She beamed, seemingly oblivious to the air that was nearly solid with tension and the countless murderous glares fixed on her.

"Our patron said that Lord Third worked tirelessly his whole life, pouring his heart and soul into Konoha, and must have been exhausted in both body and spirit. They hope this lively, joyful dance will see him off on his final journey, allowing him to forget his troubles and find true peace and happiness in the afterlife."

D-dancing on the grave?!

Asuma's fists clenched with a crackle, the veins on his forehead bulging as his chakra threatened to spiral out of control. His father had spent his life commanding respect. To pull something like this at his funeral was a disgrace! He was on the verge of roaring for ANBU to throw these clueless women out!

Just then, a large hand landed heavily on his shoulder.

It was Jiraiya.

There was no anger on Jiraiya's face. "Don't make trouble for them, Asuma."

He sighed and gazed at the gravestone, his eyes distant. "When the old man was young... ahem, he had a lively side to him, too. After dangerous missions or when we were celebrating a victory, he'd often sneak off with me to watch... well, performances like this. He'd always complain that once he became Hokage, everyone watched his every move, and he could never go anymore."

He patted Asuma's shoulder. "Let the old man... take one last look at something he liked. If they want to dance, let them dance. Better to send him off with some excitement than in stony silence. Maybe... this really is the kind of farewell the old geezer would've liked."

Asuma froze. He saw the genuine longing and sorrow in Jiraiya's eyes, and remembered how his father would occasionally shed the burden of being Hokage, showing a rare moment of ease... His tense body gradually relaxed.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, he waved to the clan elders looking at him questioningly, his voice hoarse.

"Let... them dance. This... might have been my father's... dying wish."

The crowd erupted!

But since Asuma and Jiraiya, the funeral's hosts, had both allowed it—and Jiraiya had even found himself a good spot to watch from—no one else could say much.

And so, in front of the tombstones of the past Hokage, in the solemn cemetery, the lively music of the Golden Beach Dance Troupe began again! Their exotic dance was full of energy, their moves seductive.

At first, everyone stood frozen in place, awkward and at a loss. But gradually, perhaps infected by the dancers' sheer vitality, or perhaps moved by Jiraiya's words... the mourners' expressions began to change.

Some young shinobi snuck a glance, then found it hard to look away.

The civilians went from shock to confusion, then, before they knew it, their bodies were swaying faintly to the rhythm.

The grief-stricken atmosphere melted at a bizarre speed, like snow beneath the sun. In its place came a strange, infectious mood. Even some of the clan elders, as they watched, felt their rigid expressions relax. A few couldn't help twitching their lips, unsure what expression to make.

The funeral had turned into... a party?

In the shadows at the edge of the cemetery, Sasuke Uchiha leaned against a gravestone and watched the scene. The corner of his impassive mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.

The party went on until the afternoon. The troupe performed several dances, and even got some of the bolder young people moving—mostly because Naruto led the way. Soon, the atmosphere was growing more and more congenial.

Finally, as the troupe finished their performance to a lively drumbeat and bowed before leaving, many villagers wore smiles that suggested they hadn't had enough. They left the cemetery in small groups, chatting. Without even realizing it, their conversations had shifted from the Hokage's passing to the dance they had just seen and the life that lay ahead.

The grief had been tempered by an extraordinary send-off. Hiruzen Sarutobi's funeral came to a close in a way that would undoubtedly go down in Konoha's history.

That evening, in the conference room for jōnin on the top floor of the Hokage Building.

The atmosphere was completely different from the liveliness of the afternoon—somber and tense.

The head seat at the long conference table was empty. The two seats at the head of either side were occupied by the advisers, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura. Below them sat nearly every active jōnin and Special Jōnin in Konoha, as well as the heads of the various clans. The room was filled with the smell of tobacco and hushed, anxious discussion.

Qianyu stood quietly in the shadows at the far corner of the room. Given his age and official rank as a shinobi, he had no right to attend this highest-level meeting, where the village's future would be decided. But he had received an invitation.

Utatane Koharu cleared her throat. Her gaze swept across the room, old but still sharp, and she spoke in a steady voice. "Everyone, the Third has fallen in the line of duty, and the village cannot go a single day without a leader. As is customary, we will now hold a jōnin confidence vote to select the Fifth Hokage. Please consider your choice carefully and cast a vote that represents Konoha's future."

She appeared impartial, but inwardly sighed. Danzo, Danzo... If you hadn't been so clever, if you hadn't taken that risky step and ended up defecting altogether, your experience and the power of Root might have given you a chance to compete. Then Homura and I wouldn't be in such a difficult position...

A low murmur of discussion rose from the crowd. Everyone knew there were only a handful of people qualified and capable enough to be nominated.

Soon, the nominations began.

A senior jōnin from the medical corps stood first. "I nominate Lady Tsunade! She's the granddaughter of the First, a disciple of the Third, and the greatest medical ninja in the Shinobi World. Her strength is also recognized as one of the Sannin! With her leading Konoha, her reputation, strength, and love for the village would win everyone's confidence!"

Next, a jōnin stationed at the border spoke gruffly. "I nominate Lord Jiraiya! He's immensely powerful and experienced, and his travels through other countries have given him a wealth of knowledge. He has a keen eye for the bigger picture! As Hokage, he would surely lead Konoha through the complicated situation ahead!"

A squad leader from the Hokage's ANBU also rose. "I nominate Asuma Sarutobi. Asuma is the Third's son. He carries on the Will of Fire, has a steady and dependable temperament, and is trusted by his subordinates. His succession would help ensure a smooth transition for the village."

Those were the only three nominations. Almost as soon as the ANBU representative finished speaking, Jiraiya scratched his head and stood up.

"Thank you for the honor. But the Hokage's position... is too restrictive. I'm used to living freely. I'm better suited to following orders and wandering from place to place. I withdraw from the election and fully support whoever is better suited for the job."

He gave up his candidacy without hesitation.

A hint of displeasure flashed through Utatane Koharu's eyes. Jiraiya's withdrawal meant Asuma would face Tsunade directly. She and the interests behind her had many differences in principle with Tsunade. If Tsunade took office, the power they held would inevitably be cut back considerably. But she couldn't openly oppose her. Tsunade's reputation, lineage, and strength were beyond question. The tide had already turned.

After a brief silence, Konoha's strategist, Shikaku Nara, slowly stood.

"Ino-Shika-Cho supports Lady Tsunade as Fifth Hokage."

The united declaration from Ino-Shika-Cho carried great weight. It practically represented the collective stance of Konoha's middle-tier clans.

Just as everyone thought the clan endorsements were about to end, a cool voice rang out from the back of the conference room.

"The Uchiha Clan supports Lady Tsunade."

Everyone's gaze snapped in that direction!

The speaker was Sasuke Uchiha! He sat alone, back straight, his black eyes calm and emotionless, as if he had stated nothing more than an obvious fact.

In the corner, Qianyu almost failed to keep a straight face. Wow, Sasuke! When there's something to be done, you really step up! His endorsement added another significant vote of support for Tsunade and symbolized the Uchiha Clan's return to Konoha's political scene.

The atmosphere in the conference room grew even more delicate. Support for Tsunade was clearly gaining momentum.

But then a discordant voice spoke up from the middle rows. It belonged to an elite jōnin with an unremarkable appearance.

"I have no doubt about Lady Tsunade's abilities and reputation. But..." He paused, seeming hesitant, but continued anyway. "Three days ago, Orochimaru invaded, the Third died in battle, and the village was attacked. At such a critical moment, why wasn't Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin, in the village? If she had been here, would the outcome have been different? Shouldn't we choose a leader who can always be here with the village?"

It was a pointed question, and it struck at the doubts some people truly had. The conference room fell silent. Quite a few people instinctively glanced at Qianyu in the corner, then at Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

Utatane Koharu didn't speak immediately, seemingly waiting to see how things would unfold.

After the jōnin finished speaking, he saw everyone looking at him—especially the unfriendly gazes from several of Tsunade's supporters—and immediately grew timid, shrinking back.

In that silence,

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Clear footsteps rang out.

Qianyu stepped out of the corner's shadows, one unhurried step at a time. His face showed little expression, but the calm in his eyes made everyone who looked at him feel a sudden, inexplicable chill.

After his successive battles against Shukaku and Orochimaru, the shock of the towering wooden construct he had summoned had already sunk deep into everyone's minds. Though Qianyu was only fourteen, he exuded an undeniable, invisible aura of strength as he stood there.

He walked straight toward the jōnin who had asked the question.

The conference room was so quiet that a pin could have dropped. Everyone watched, holding their breath. Utatane Koharu couldn't help speaking up. "Cangshu Qianyu, what do you think you're doing?" Her voice held a faint, almost imperceptible tension.

Qianyu acted as if he hadn't heard her. He walked straight up to the jōnin and stopped in front of him. They stood very close. Qianyu was already nearly as tall as an adult, and he met the other man's gaze head-on.

Intimidated by Qianyu's presence, the jōnin broke into a cold sweat. His throat bobbed as he tried to speak, but no sound came out.

Qianyu looked at him in silence for a few seconds, then spoke in a clear, calm voice.

"Since you asked a question, but don't dare take responsibility for it, and don't even have the courage to meet my eyes and hear the answer..."

His voice was not loud, but it carried a chilling edge.

"Then don't ask."

The jōnin's face went deathly pale. His lips trembled, and at last he lowered his head. He didn't dare look at Qianyu again, much less utter another word.

Qianyu ignored him, turned around, and calmly swept his gaze across the room. Then he silently returned to his original corner and disappeared into the shadows again, as if nothing had happened.

But the atmosphere in the conference room had changed completely. The suspicion over Tsunade's absence at a crucial moment had been brutally suppressed by Qianyu. No one dared bring it up again.

The voting proceeded without incident.

The outcome was no surprise.

Mitokado Homura took the tally, glanced at it, and announced, "The results of the Fifth Hokage confidence vote... Senju Tsunade has received more than seventy percent of the votes of confidence and is hereby elected Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure!"

Applause broke out. It wasn't especially enthusiastic, but it was appropriately formal.

Mitokado Homura looked at Tsunade. "Tsunade, the official inauguration ceremony will be held in seven days. I hope that under your leadership, Konoha will overcome its grief, renew its vitality, and grow more prosperous and powerful."

Tsunade slowly stood. Her eyes swept across every face in the room, then paused for a moment on Qianyu in the corner.

"Of course."

"I love this village more than anyone."

"I'll use my strength and my life to protect it and make it better."