It was that silence, that resolute expression, that made the sight all the more heartbreaking.
No one knew how much time had passed before A finally rose.
He staggered as he stood, nearly falling.
Startled, Fukai hurried forward and caught him.
A nodded his thanks, then pushed Fukai's hand away and stood firm on his own.
"Have someone prepare the funeral. Fukai, come with me. There's something I want to ask you."
Fukai nodded and followed A.
The two of them went to the Raikage's office.
A sat in the chair where the Third Raikage had once sat. Resting his chin on his hands, he asked coldly,
"Fukai, I remember the Tsuchikage went with my father. What happened on Iwagakure's side?"
Fukai froze, looking as though he wanted to speak but could not.
A's brow furrowed at once. "Fukai, you're from Kumogakure!"
Fukai sighed softly and answered in a strictly matter-of-fact tone.
"After Lord Raikage fell to Uchiha Yin, the Tsuchikage surrendered. He offered to send his granddaughter to Konoha as a hostage, and only then did Uchiha Yin relent."
At that, Fukai glanced up at A.
A's expression was so complicated that Fukai could not tell what he was thinking.
A gave a cold snort. "I never thought Ōnoki would go that far. He sent his own granddaughter away!"
His expression chilled. "Then why did Uchiha Yin let you come back?"
Fukai was startled that A had suddenly asked him that.
The thought of repeating Uchiha Yin's words made him unable to speak.
But the look on A's face made it clear he would not let the matter drop until Fukai answered.
At last, Fukai swallowed hard. "Uchiha Yin said he would spare us so we could come back and deliver a message to the next Raikage: don't make