The funeral continued amid a heavy downpour.
It was the young ninja's third time attending a large funeral. This one differed from the previous two because it had been organized by Konoha's ninja.
In order to quell the anger of Konoha's ninja, the Fourth Hokage did not bury Uchiha Yū's body in the central section. Instead, he chose a remote corner, hoping his former comrade would not be disturbed.
"Yū's betrayal must have had a reason."
Holding a black umbrella, Nawaki stood beside Hyuga Reiko. He still could not believe what had happened today. It felt like a dream, and once he woke up, the three of them would still go drinking at the tavern.
"A reason..."
Looking at the smiling face on the gravestone, sorrow flashed through Hyuga Reiko's heart. She sighed softly.
"He's already dead. What good would knowing the reason do? Even if we investigate everything, he can't come back to life. Besides, Minato has strictly forbidden the villagers from discussing Uchiha Yū. After some time, everyone will forget that name."
It would be as though he had never existed, but the comrades who had once known him would remember Uchiha Yū.
As the two looked at Uchiha Yū's black-and-white photograph, a figure carrying white flowers approached the gravestone.
"Teacher Qianshu, I didn't expect you to come as well."
It was Qianshu, who had once taught Uchiha Yū. Deep wrinkles covered his face. Nearly twenty years had passed, and Qianshu, who had once scolded the three of them, had entered middle age.
"I came to see him. If I have the time in the future, I'll come clean his grave often."
It was not just Qianshu. One comrade after another paused briefly as they passed Uchiha Yū's grave, leaving behind a flower. Even though he had been