Dancing on the Grave

The third day after the war, Konoha Cemetery.

The sky was the leaden gray characteristic of a funeral; low-hanging clouds pressed down, and the air felt heavy. A sea of black gathered in the burial grounds beneath the Hokage Rock.

The funeral was co-officiated by Jiraiya and Asuma. The usual playful glint in Jiraiya's eyes had vanished, replaced by a solemn, profound grief. Asuma, dressed in black mourning robes, greeted the arriving villagers, ninja, clan representatives, and envoys who had traveled from other nations.

The civilians were immersed in genuine sorrow, while the ninja remained mostly composed.

Funeral music drifted low, and the atmosphere was stifling.

Just as Asuma prepared to deliver the eulogy, a burst of music erupted from the entrance of the cemetery—a sound entirely at odds with the setting.

Everyone turned in astonishment.

Walking in from the direction of the main gate was a dance troupe dressed in vibrant, skimpy outfits. Leading them was a buxom, blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreign woman in a shimmering bikini, followed by seven or eight dancers dressed in equally provocative attire with bright, radiant smiles. They moved to the beat, swaying their hips as they danced their way into the cemetery.

The guards at the gate seemed intent on stopping them, but hesitated when the lead woman held up an invitation.

The troupe marched straight to the main dais, and the music paused. The leader, who identified herself as Zexiao Yamari, bowed gracefully toward an Asuma who looked on the verge of exploding. She spoke in clear Japanese with a foreign accent:

"Distinguished ninja of Konoha, good day. Our 'Golden Beach Dance Troupe' has received a special transoceanic commission. At the request of a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous, we have come specifically to present one final dance of blessing at the funeral of the Third Hokage."

She smiled brilliantly, as if completely oblivious to the freezing air and the countless murderous glares directed at her.

"The client said that the Third Hokage worked tirelessly for Konoha his entire life and must have been physically and mentally exhausted. We hope this dance, full of vitality and laughter, will send him off on his final journey, allowing him to forget his worries and find true peace and joy in the afterlife."

Dancing... on a grave?!

Asuma's fists clenched until his knuckles cracked, veins bulging on his forehead as his chakra began to spiral out of control. His father had been a man of great dignity; to have such a spectacle at his funeral was an absolute disgrace. He was on the verge of roaring at the ANBU to throw these ignorant 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 give them a hard time, Asuma."

He sighed, his gaze drifting toward the tombstone with a distant look in his eyes. "When the old man was younger... well, he was a man of passion. Back when we finished dangerous missions or celebrated victories, he would often sneak off with me to watch... erm, performances similar to this. He used to complain that after becoming Hokage, he was watched every second and could never see them again."

He patted Asuma's shoulder. "Let the old man take one last look at something he enjoyed. If they want to dance, let them dance. A lively send-off is better than a cold, lonely one. This might actually be the way that old guy would have wanted to say goodbye."

Asuma froze. He looked at the genuine nostalgia and sadness in Jiraiya's eyes and remembered the rare moments of relaxation he had seen when his father occasionally set aside the burdens of the Hokage. His tense body slowly began to soften.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them, he waved a hand at the clan elders who were looking at him for guidance. His voice was dry.

"Let... let them dance. This... may be my father's... dying wish."

The crowd erupted in a murmur of shock!

But since both Asuma and Jiraiya, who were officiating the funeral, had given their tacit approval—Jiraiya had even found a corner with a good view—no one else dared to object.

And so, before the monuments of the past Hokage, in the solemn and grave cemetery, the passionate music of the "Golden Beach Dance Troupe" started up once more. The dance was vibrant, exotic, and provocative.

At first, everyone stood frozen, their expressions awkward and flustered. But gradually, perhaps infected by the pure vitality or influenced by Jiraiya's words, the eyes of the people in the crowd began to change.

Some young ninja stole glances, then found they couldn't look away.

The civilians moved from initial shock to confusion, and then, without realizing it, they were carried away by the rhythm, their bodies swaying slightly.

The atmosphere of grief melted like ice under the sun, dissolving with an eerie speed. In its place was a strange, infectious energy. Even some of the clan elders found their tense faces relaxing; some even had their mouths twitching uncontrollably, unsure of what expression to wear.

The funeral had turned into... a party?

In the shadows at the edge of the cemetery, Sasuke Uchiha leaned against a tombstone, watching the scene, the corner of his cold mouth curving upward in a way that was nearly impossible to detect.

The party lasted until the afternoon. The troupe performed several songs and even managed to get some of the bolder young people—led primarily by Naruto—to join in the swaying. The atmosphere became surprisingly harmonious.

In the end, when the troupe finished their performance to the sound of thunderous drumming and bowed to exit, many villagers actually wore lingering smiles. They left the cemetery in small groups, their conversations having shifted from the passing of the Hokage to the dance they had just seen and their lives ahead.

The grief had been diluted by a bizarre farewell. Hiruzen Sarutobi's funeral had concluded in a way that would surely go down in Konoha's history.

That same evening, at the Hokage Building, in the top-floor Jonin meeting room.

The atmosphere was completely different from the cheerfulness of the day—it was heavy and tense.

The head of the long conference table was empty, and the two seats of honor were occupied by the advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura. Below them sat nearly every active Jonin, Special Jonin, and clan head in Konoha. The room was filled with the smell of tobacco and stifled whispers.

Qianyu stood quietly in the shadows at the furthest corner of the room. Given his age and official ninja rank, he had no business attending such a high-level meeting that would determine the village's future. Yet, he had received an invitation.

Utatane Koharu cleared her throat. Her aged but sharp gaze swept across the room, and she spoke in a steady voice: "Everyone, the Third Hokage has unfortunately passed in the line of duty. The village cannot go a day without a leader. Following protocol, we are now holding a Jonin confidence vote to elect the Fifth Hokage. Please consider carefully and cast a vote that represents the future of Konoha."

She appeared impartial, but inwardly, she sighed: Danzo, oh Danzo. If you hadn't been so clever, if you hadn't played that dangerous hand and ended up a traitor, with your seniority and the power of Root, you might have had a fighting chance. Why did you have to leave Homura and me in such a passive position...

A buzzing of discussion broke out below. Everyone knew that the number of candidates with the qualifications and strength to be nominated was actually very small.

Soon, the nominations began.

A senior medical-corps Jonin stood up first: "I nominate Lady Tsunade! She is the granddaughter of the First Hokage, a disciple of the Third, her medical skills are unrivaled in the ninja world, and she is recognized as one of the Sannin! Whether it is prestige, strength, or love for the village, she is more than qualified to lead Konoha!"

Immediately after, a Jonin stationed at the border spoke in a rough voice: "I nominate Lord Jiraiya! Lord Jiraiya is powerful, experienced, and has traveled the world, giving him a keen judgment for the big picture! With him as Hokage, he will surely lead Konoha through the complex situation ahead!"

A captain from the ANBU, under the direct command of the Hokage, also rose: "I nominate Lord Asuma. Lord Asuma is the son of the Third Hokage, has inherited the Will of Fire, and is steady, reliable, and deeply trusted by his subordinates. His succession would facilitate a stable transition for the village."

There were three nominations. Almost as soon as the ANBU representative finished speaking, Jiraiya stood up, scratching his head.

"Thank you all for the kind words. But, well, the position of Hokage... it's too restrictive. I'm a free spirit; I'm better suited for taking orders and running around. I'm withdrawing from the election and will fully support whoever is better suited for the job."

He had renounced his candidacy cleanly and decisively.

A flicker of annoyance crossed Utatane Koharu's eyes. Jiraiya's withdrawal meant that Asuma would face Tsunade directly. She and the interest group behind her had many ideological conflicts with Tsunade; once Tsunade took office, their power would inevitably be drastically reduced. But she could not openly oppose her—Tsunade's reputation, bloodline, and strength were impeccable. The momentum was already set.

After a brief silence, the brains of Konoha, Shikaku Nara, slowly stood up.

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

The joint statement from Ino-Shika-Cho carried immense weight, representing the collective inclination of the mid-level clan factions within Konoha.

Just as everyone assumed the clan selection was nearing its end, a cold, clear voice rang out from the back of the conference room.

"The Uchiha clan supports Lady Tsunade."

Swish!

All eyes instantly converged on the speaker!

It was Sasuke Uchiha. He sat alone, his posture upright, his black eyes calm and ripple-free, as if he were merely stating the most simple of facts.

In the corner, Cangshu Qianyu nearly lost his composure. Good grief, Sasuke! When it counts, you really step up! This declaration undoubtedly added a significant weight to Tsunade's side, also symbolizing that the Uchiha were once again making their voice heard in Konoha's political landscape.

The atmosphere in the conference room became even more subtle. The momentum supporting Tsunade was already overwhelmingly clear.

But at that moment, a discordant voice arose from an ordinary-looking elite jonin sitting in the middle-back rows.

"I am naturally convinced of Lady Tsunade's ability and prestige. However..." He paused, appearing somewhat hesitant, but continued anyway, "Three days ago, when Orochimaru invaded, the Third was killed in battle, and the village was attacked—at such a critical juncture, why was Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin, not in the village? If she had been here, would the outcome have been different? Should we not choose a leader who can be with the village at all times?"

This question was sharp and indeed struck at the doubts lingering in some people's hearts. The conference room fell instantly silent, and many gazes subconsciously flickered toward Cangshu Qianyu in the corner, then toward Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

Utatane Koharu did not speak immediately, seemingly wanting to observe how the situation developed.

After the jonin finished speaking, seeing everyone looking at him—especially feeling several unfriendly glares from Tsunade's faction—he felt a sudden wave of cowardice and shrank his neck.

In the midst of this silence:

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Clear footsteps echoed through the room.

Cangshu Qianyu emerged from the shadows in the corner, walking step by step, unhurriedly. His face remained expressionless, but those calm, deep eyes caused a strange chill to ripple through everyone who looked at him.

Having survived the successive battles against Shukaku and Orochimaru—and especially after the shock caused by that heaven-piercing wooden giant had already taken root in everyone's hearts—Cangshu Qianyu, even at only fourteen, naturally exuded an intangible, formidable aura that could not be underestimated as he stood there.

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

The conference room was deathly silent, quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Everyone held their breath and watched. Utatane Koharu couldn't help but speak up, "Cangshu Qianyu, what are you doing?" Her voice carried a trace of imperceptible nervousness.

Cangshu Qianyu acted as if he hadn't heard, walking straight up to the jonin and stopping. The two were very close; Cangshu Qianyu's height now approached that of an adult, and he looked the man straight in the eye.

The jonin was intimidated by Cangshu Qianyu's presence. Cold sweat seeped from his forehead, and his throat bobbed as he tried to speak, but no sound came out.

Cangshu Qianyu watched him for a few seconds, then spoke in a clear, calm voice:

"Since you raised a question but lack the courage to take responsibility for it—lacking even the nerve to meet my eyes and hear the answer..."

His voice was not loud, yet it carried a chilling, piercing quality:

"Then do not ask."

The jonin turned deathly pale, his lips trembling. He eventually lowered his head, no longer daring to look at Cangshu Qianyu, let alone utter another word.

Cangshu Qianyu stopped looking at him, turned around, swept his calm gaze across the room, and silently walked back to his original corner, fading once again into the shadows as if nothing had happened.

But the atmosphere in the room had completely shifted. The skepticism regarding Tsunade's absence during the crisis had been forcibly suppressed by Cangshu Qianyu's near-tyrannical intervention. No one dared to bring it up again.

The subsequent voting process proceeded without further waves.

The result was without suspense.

Mitokado Homura took the tallied results, glanced at them, and announced, "The result of the vote of confidence for the Fifth Hokage... Senju Tsunade has received over seventy percent of the confidence votes and is elected as the Fifth Hokage of Konoha!"

Applause broke out; it was not particularly enthusiastic, but it was sufficiently formal.

Mitokado Homura looked at Tsunade. "Tsunade, the formal inauguration ceremony will be held in seven days. I hope that under your leadership, Konoha can heal its wounds, regain its vitality, and become more prosperous and powerful."

Tsunade stood up slowly, her eyes sweeping across every face in the conference room, finally lingering for a moment on Cangshu Qianyu in the corner.

"Of course."

"I love this village more than anyone else."

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