Funeral

The next morning, a light rain fell over Konoha.

The rain was not heavy, and its patter against umbrellas was soft. White cloth hung along both sides of the streets. Everyone passing by wore black, and even their voices were hushed.

Chiya followed the crowd to the Memorial Stone.

The Third Hokage's portrait stood at the very front. The old man in the photograph still wore his Hokage hat, with that familiar smile on his face.

Konohamaru stood in the front row, his eyes red with tears. Iruka stood beside him, gently patting his shoulder.

Naruto was unusually solemn. He kept his head lowered, clutching a white flower in his hand. The boy who was usually so boisterous seemed to have suddenly grown up today.

Sakura stood beside him, her eyes rimmed red as well.

Sasuke stood farther back, his expression cold. Kakashi and several jonin stood on the other side, and everyone remained silent.

Raindrops fell bit by bit.

The funeral did not last long.

Flowers, a moment of silence, farewells.

Konohamaru kept biting his lip until Iruka crouched down and embraced him. Only then did he finally break down crying.

Naruto stood beside them and watched for a long time. In the end, he merely lowered his head and placed his flower at the front.

After the funeral ended, the crowd slowly began to disperse.

Just then, several Anbu suddenly appeared outside the Memorial Stone.

The crowd immediately stopped.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu walked over from the back, followed by several Anbu ninja.

The instant Chiya saw them, his heart sank.

The next moment,

Mitokado Homura stopped before the crowd. His gaze swept over everyone before finally settling on Chiya.

"Chiya Uchiha."

The surroundings fell silent at once.

Naruto froze for a moment and instinctively looked toward Chiya.

Chiya did not move.

Mitokado Homura continued, "You are suspected of killing multiple Konoha ninja and are under serious suspicion in connection with Orochimaru. Effective immediately, your freedom of movement is temporarily revoked."

Utatane Koharu added, "The trial proceedings will begin tomorrow morning at the Konoha Temporary Hearing Hall. Until then, you will remain in Anbu custody."

A low murmur immediately rose from the crowd.

"Killing Konoha ninja?"

"Is it that thing people were talking about before?"

"So it really was true?"

Naruto suddenly charged forward a step.

"What did you say?!"

Sakura's expression changed as well.

"How could Chiya possibly do something like that?!"

Sasuke said nothing, but he had already stepped forward half a pace, his gaze terrifyingly cold.

Kakashi also walked over, placing himself between Chiya and the Anbu.

"Honored Advisors, this matter has not been thoroughly investigated. Isn't this a little too hasty?"

Mitokado Homura looked at Kakashi.

"That is why we will deliberate tomorrow."

Utatane Koharu also said,

"Kakashi, this is the decision of the higher-ups."

Naruto was so furious that his fists clenched tightly.

"Bullshit decision from the higher-ups! Chiya was protecting everyone that day..."

"Naruto."

Chiya suddenly spoke.

Naruto turned back to look at him.

Chiya stepped forward and placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder.

"It's fine."

"How could it possibly be fine?!"

Naruto's eyes had turned red.

Chiya looked at him, his voice softening slightly.

"Maybe it's a misunderstanding. It'll be fine once we explain it."

Naruto froze.

Sakura looked at him too.

Sasuke frowned, clearly not believing those words.

Of course, Chiya did not believe them either.

He knew perfectly well that this had to be Danzo's doing.

So eager. The Third Hokage's funeral had barely ended, and he could not wait to make his move?

But he could not act rashly now.

Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi were all here.

If things escalated, they would all be dragged into it.

Chiya did not want to implicate anyone else. Besides, there was still room to maneuver. He did not believe Danzo could truly turn black into white. The truth could not stay hidden forever.

He raised his hand and slowly pressed down Kakashi's arm, which was blocking him.

"Kakashi-sensei, it's fine. I'll go with them."

Kakashi looked at him.

Chiya gave him a slight shake of the head.

Kakashi fell silent for several seconds before finally ceasing to stop him.

Two Anbu stepped forward.

One of them took out a pair of handcuffs.

Naruto immediately tried to rush forward again.

"Chiya!"

Chiya looked back at him.

"Wait for me to come back, and we'll have ramen."

Naruto froze.

The handcuffs snapped shut.

The surrounding whispers immediately quieted, and everyone watched him.

Chiya did not look back as the Anbu led him away.

Sakura stood where she was, clenching her fists tightly.

Naruto watched Chiya's retreating back, looking ready to explode.

"Kakashi-sensei!"

He abruptly turned around.

"What do we do?!"

Sakura looked toward Kakashi as well.

Sasuke did not speak. He only stared in the direction Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu had left, his brow furrowed tightly.

Kakashi watched in the direction Chiya had been taken, remaining silent for a long time.

After a while, he finally said,

"I'll go ask about the specifics."

Naruto anxiously asked, "What about us?"

"You should go back first."

"But..."

Kakashi turned to look at him.

"Naruto, this is not something you can handle."

Sakura also tugged at his sleeve and said quietly, "Naruto..."

Naruto was furious. "I just can't stand the way they treated Chiya! Why is this happening?!"

Kakashi said nothing more.

He rubbed Naruto's head, then vanished into the rain with a flicker.

The next morning.

Konoha Temporary Hearing Hall.

This place was rarely used. It was only opened temporarily whenever a major incident occurred in the village.

An area had been cleared in the center of the hall, while people filled the seats around it.

Konoha's higher-ups sat at the front.

Mitokado Homura occupied the main seat, with Utatane Koharu beside him. Danzo sat off to the side, his cane standing before him, half his face hidden beneath bandages and shadow.

Kakashi, Might Guy, Asuma, Kurenai, and other jonin were also present.

Konoha's Rookie Nine had all arrived as well, seated in the gallery.

Ino had come too. Her body had yet to recover, and her face was terribly pale. She sat in a wheelchair, with Inoichi Yamanaka behind her, one hand gripping the wheelchair handle and the other resting on her shoulder.

Before long, the doors were pushed open.

Chiya was brought in by two Anbu.

He was still wearing the same clothes, though handcuffs bound his wrists, and his face was somewhat pale.

Naruto immediately stood up.

"Chiya!"

Mitokado Homura raised his eyes.

"Silence."

Naruto gritted his teeth and was pulled back into his seat by Sakura.

Chiya did not turn around. He quietly took his place at the defendant's stand.

The hall gradually fell silent as well.

Mitokado Homura opened the documents before him. His voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly through the hall.

"Chiya Uchiha."

"On the day Orochimaru invaded Konoha, you killed seventeen Konoha ninja in the passageway outside the arena. Is this true?"

Chiya stood in the center of the hall.

Everyone's eyes fell upon him.

He raised his head and looked ahead.

"They were not Konoha ninja."

"They came to kill me."

"Lies!" A ninja beside him stood up at that moment and roared indignantly, "The ones who died were all my comrades! How could they possibly have gone to kill a mere genin like you?"

The crowd immediately broke into discussion, and the hall became chaotic.

"Silence!" Mitokado Homura slapped the table.