Konoha,
on its outskirts.
In a vast cemetery, small, square gravestones lay quietly on the ground, arranged in neat rows.
At the very front, stone steps led upward. At their summit stood a flame-shaped stone sculpture representing the Will of Fire.
A sudden breeze stirred the woods behind it, but the flame sculpture representing the Will of Fire remained motionless.
Four figures emerged from behind the sculpture. The slanting afternoon sunlight stretched their shadows slightly at their feet, one large and three small.
The Third gazed deeply at the countless gravestones below and slowly made his way down.
Soft footsteps sounded on the stone stairs.
Gua followed behind him, with little Hinata holding his sleeve. She was no longer as frightened as she had been at first and cautiously surveyed their surroundings.
Naruto was a little bolder. He craned his head to look at a gravestone by his feet.
The gravestone was square, higher on one side than the other. Konoha's symbol was carved in its center, with a name engraved below.
"Tobirama Senju."
Naruto had heard that name before. He seemed to be the second guy on Hokage Rock, and Grandpa Third's teacher.
Naruto looked up at the Third ahead of him. The Third showed no reaction and simply continued walking through the Shinobi Cemetery.
Seeing the Third, Gua, and Hinata getting farther away,
Naruto hurried to catch up.
The Third led them all the way to the back of the cemetery before turning around.
Gua, little Hinata, and Naruto turned around with him.
"Wow-"
Naruto couldn't help exclaiming.
Up above, he hadn't found it all that impressive. But now, standing at the very bottom edge, he could see thousands of gravestones stretching into the distance. From here, the Will of Fire sculpture seemed countless times larger.
The gravestones