The Cleanup of the Old Remnants Began

The funeral ended in an uneasy silence.

Jiraiya said nothing more.

He walked to the empty coffin and gently brushed his hand over the folded Hokage Robe.

Then he straightened, turned without looking back, and walked out of the square.

Not one of the old guard dared follow him.

The old guard shifted uneasily, heads down, and slunk out of the square.

The funeral was over.

The crowd gradually dispersed. Only a few pieces of paper money remained in the square, swirling in the wind.

Uchiha En stood beneath Hokage Rock, watching Jiraiya's figure vanish around a street corner. He did not move.

Shikaku Nara came to stand beside him and looked the same way.

"Lord Hokage..." Shikaku chose his words carefully. "Jiraiya may not come back from this."

"Mm."

"And you... aren't worried at all?"

Uchiha En did not answer at once.

He gazed in the direction Jiraiya had gone. After a long while, he spoke slowly.

"He's going to confirm Pain's identity."

"Some things he has to see for himself before he can let go."

"If he comes back alive, Konoha will be fortunate."

"If he doesn't..."

He paused.

"Then that was his choice."

Shikaku said nothing more.

He understood.

The young Hokage had never intended to stop Jiraiya.

If anything, he was glad Jiraiya had gone.

Whether Jiraiya lived or died, his journey would help Konoha learn the truth about the Land of Rain, Akatsuki, and Pain.

It was a move made in plain sight.

Shikaku sighed inwardly.

"We have all the leverage we need against the old guard," he said quietly. "They lost the funeral gambit completely."

"Mm."

"Then we can speed up the reforms."

"Mm."

Uchiha En turned and headed toward the Hokage Building.

"Shikaku."

"Yes."

"Push the Point System regulations forward. And don't let