Bab 72: Chapter 72: The Post-Battle Meeting
The next morning, Konoha was shrouded in a somber silence.
After word spread of the chaos caused by the Nine-Tails and the tragic loss of the Fourth Hokage and his wife, the people of Konoha could scarcely believe it was true. They found it hard to accept that the Fourth Hokage—who had been like a warm, shining sun guiding them all—was gone.
Among the shinobi, disbelief ran even deeper. In their eyes, Minato Namikaze, the man known as the Yellow Flash, was almost untouchable in his strength. Every time he appeared on the battlefield, his golden streak would strike terror into their enemies and turn the tide in Konoha's favor. Even as the Nine-Tails broke free of its seal last night and an unknown enemy emerged, all of Konoha's shinobi still believed their Hokage would prevail, as he always had.
Yet the morning's abrupt news hit hard, too sudden and harsh to fully sink in.
The Konoha Cemetery, a sacred resting place for those who had died defending the village, became a site of mourning. Here lay the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, the Second Hokage, Tobirama, and countless Konoha shinobi. The cemetery held deep significance for the villagers, a place where they could feel close to their fallen heroes.
As a light rain fell, shinobi in black mourning attire lined up in orderly rows. At the forefront stood Hiruzen Sarutobi, also dressed in black. Behind him gathered the heads of Konoha's prominent clans, followed by the village's elite jonin.
Today wasn't just the funeral for the Fourth Hokage and his wife—it was also a memorial for all those who had lost their lives in last night's battle. Every fallen shinobi would be laid to rest here, honored as heroes of Konoha.
The farewell ceremony lasted until noon.
That afternoon, in the Hokage Residence conference room, the heads of Konoha's major clans convened for a crucial meeting. The previous night's rampage by the Nine-Tails, coupled with Nagato's devastating Chibaku Tensei, had left Konoha in ruins, with severe casualties and extensive damage. The losses primarily affected the jonin who had fought on the front lines, non-combat personnel, thanks to swift evacuations, were largely spared.
Hiruzen stood before a large map of Konoha, pointing with a staff to various locations as he said,
"We'll rebuild a commercial district here, and over here we'll restore the food market as it was… These are our plans for the areas damaged last night. Any objections?"
When no one spoke up, Hiruzen nodded. "If there are no further issues, let's adjourn. Keep your guards up, the enemy possesses space-time jutsu, so we cannot afford to be complacent."
"Wait!" Danzo suddenly stood, his gaze sharp as he turned to Fugaku Uchiha.
"Why didn't the Uchiha Clan assist with the evacuation of non-combatants last night? Are you defying orders from the Hokage? Are you planning a rebellion?"
The room went silent as the clan heads turned their attention to Fugaku. The night's battle had been brutal, with everyone fighting intensely from the start. As the battle grew fiercer, Nagato unleashed large-scale Wood Release techniques, making it hard for most to intervene. But they had all seen the Uchiha Clan's efforts firsthand—the clan had fought with everything they had.
"Hokage's orders?" Fugaku eyed Danzo, frowning. "Council Danzo, what are you talking about? The Uchiha Clan never received any directive from the Fourth Hokage to handle the non-combatant evacuation."
"In fact, we detained a few Anbu who were impersonating the Hokage's orders. They claimed you sent them, Danzo." Fugaku rose, his voice icy as he stared down Danzo. "Care to explain why you issued false orders on the Hokage's behalf? Do you see yourself as the Hokage?"
"Fugaku, how dare you!" Danzo's voice trembled with anger as he looked to Hiruzen. "Hiruzen, the Uchiha Clan is out of control, ignoring even your commands! This situation demands a severe response."
Unmoved, Fugaku met Danzo's fury with a cold smile. With three kage-level shinobi in their ranks, the Uchiha Clan had gained a new level of confidence. Though they didn't outnumber the Hokage's supporters, the Uchihas were no longer easy to intimidate. Konoha would have to consider their stance on any major decision.
"Enough, Danzo," Hiruzen interrupted, his tone dismissive as he cast a sidelong glance at Danzo. "Last night, the Uchiha Clan displayed extraordinary valor. Without their aid, who knows what state Konoha would be in right now?"
Turning to Fugaku, Hiruzen added apologetically, "Fugaku, I assigned Danzo to oversee evacuations last night, so this must be some kind of misunderstanding."
Reflecting on last night's events, Hiruzen felt a chill. In retrospect, it was a grave misjudgment to let Danzo sway him. Without the Uchiha Clan's intervention, Konoha's losses would have been much worse. He himself might not have made it out of the battle unscathed.
"So that's how it was," Fugaku said with a slight smile, resuming his seat.
"Hiruzen, you…" Danzo looked stunned, barely able to believe Hiruzen would brush off his concerns.
"This matter is settled," Hiruzen replied coolly.
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!" Danzo snarled as he stormed out, his face dark.
Watching Danzo's retreating figure, Hiruzen spoke under his breath, "Danzo, I am the Hokage."
The others in the room watched the exchange in silence, well aware of the complex relationship between Hiruzen and Danzo. They had clashed many times, yet somehow always returned to an uneasy alliance.
After Danzo's departure, Hiruzen addressed the room. "This meeting is adjourned. As for the Hokage position, I will consult with the daimyo and discuss it further with all of you."
News of the attack on Konoha by Madara Uchiha and a Rinnegan-wielding Nagato spread quickly across the ninja world, stirring a wave of shock and fear. Both names carried a weight that was hard to ignore.
The Rinnegan—the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths—was a power of unimaginable scope. From the intelligence Konoha had gathered, the Rinnegan user who attacked them was young and nowhere near his potential. But even at just fifteen or sixteen, his strength had already surpassed many kage.
With time, who could imagine what heights he might reach?
And then there was Madara Uchiha. His name alone echoed through the shinobi world like thunder. If he hadn't suddenly turned against Hashirama Senju, who knew what the world would look like today? He was nothing like the more temperate Hashirama. Madara was a fierce warrior and an ambitious man, peace would never satisfy him.
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