"The old man... Lord Hokage should be here soon."
Beside him, Asuma rubbed his stubble and spoke with a chuckle, giving Naruto a way to save face.
Affection tended to rub off on those around a loved one. At home, Asuma had often heard his father and nephew—Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi and Konohamaru—talk about Naruto Uzumaki. After learning about Naruto's accomplishments, he had also grown quite fond of the young prodigy.
After all, in his eyes, Naruto might well be Konoha's finest "king" at present, a junior of vital importance.
Come to think of it, I'll be serving as a Team Jonin next year too. I wonder what my subordinates will be like...
At a slight commotion, everyone turned to look. Hiruzen Sarutobi, clad in the Third Hokage's Hokage Garb, had arrived at the front of the Memorial Stone and was looking out at them.
"I gathered you here today to clear a comrade's name of the injustice done to him and restore his true reputation."
"Years ago, Konoha branded him a rogue ninja. Yet he continued to contribute to the safety of the shinobi world, enduring others' misunderstanding and threats to his life."
"A man like him should not die burdened by infamy and misunderstanding. So I ask you all to bear witness to his life..."
As he spoke, staff members distributed a compiled intelligence report to everyone.
Naruto received a copy too. The portrait in the report was utterly unfamiliar to him. It depicted a sharp, clean-cut young man with black hair, someone he did not recall ever meeting.
But his name caught Naruto's attention—
Shisui Uchiha.
Although Naruto did not know this man or what the Jonin had been discussing earlier, he was one of the few people in Konoha who knew the full story of what