The walk back to Konoha was quiet.
The adrenaline of the battle had completely faded, leaving Naruto and Sakura exhausted. Sasuke was being carried on Kakashi's back, having been picked up by the Jonin halfway through the forest.
As we cleared the tree line and entered the village proper, the sheer scale of the devastation became apparent.
Konoha was a mess.
Massive, gaping holes had been blown through the outer walls. The carcasses of three giant, multi-headed snakes lay slumped over crushed buildings, reeking of blood and summoned smoke. Piles of rubble littered the streets, and the sky was stained with thick, black soot from the fires that were still being put out by the Water Style users.
But it wasn't just the physical wreckage that stood out.
It was the atmosphere.
As we walked through the main thoroughfare, the usual bustling, loud energy of Konoha was completely gone. Jonin, Chunin, and Genin were gathered in the streets, but no one was talking.
There were no cheers of victory. The invasion had been repelled, the Sound and Sand forces had retreated, but the air was incredibly heavy. It was thick, suffocating, and deeply solemn.
Civilians were holding onto each other, weeping silently. Hardened shinobi were staring at the ground, their faces grim.
We approached the center of the village, near the base of the Hokage Monument. A large crowd of ninja had gathered, looking up toward the roof of the stadium where the purple barrier had been earlier.
Kakashi stopped walking. His visible eye widened slightly, the relaxed posture completely vanishing from his frame.
I looked at the faces around us. Asuma was smoking a cigarette, but his hands were trembling. Kurenai had her hands covered over her mouth. Guy looked completely devastated.
The purple box was gone.
"Hey..." Naruto whispered, looking around at the crying villagers and the silent ninja, a deep knot forming in his stomach. "What's going on? We won, right? Why is everyone so sad?"
Sakura gripped her arm, looking incredibly pale. "Kakashi-sensei...?"
I didn't need to ask. I just looked up at the Hokage Monument. The stone face of Hiruzen Sarutobi looked down on the ruined village, casting a long, dark shadow in the setting sun.
"Well," I muttered under my breath, my hands stuffed casually into my pockets. "It seems the old man finally croaked."
Naruto's head snapped toward me, his blue eyes wide with shock and denial. "What?! No! Kenji, don't say that! The Third Hokage is the strongest! He wouldn't..."
Naruto's voice trailed off as he saw the medics carrying a stretcher down from the stadium roof. A white sheet was pulled completely over the body.
Naruto fell to his knees on the cobblestone street, the reality crashing down on him. Sakura burst into tears.
I stood there in the quiet, solemn crowd, watching the stretcher pass by. I kept my face carefully neutral to avoid drawing the ire of the mourning Jonin around me, but inside, my mind was racing at lightspeed.
Phase One is complete, I thought, looking away from the stretcher and toward the village gates. The seat is empty. The Sucker is going to be called back. Time to prepare the ultimate welcome wagon for the future Fifth Hokage.
****
[Three Days Later - Konoha Cemetery]
It was raining. Of course it was raining.
The sky over the Hidden Leaf Village was a dull, heavy grey, weeping over the rows of pristine white tombstones. The entire village had gathered to pay their respects to the fallen. The civilian casualties, the ANBU, the Jonin... and the Third Hokage.
Everyone was dressed in black.
Naruto stood a few feet away from me, his head bowed, the rain plastering his blonde hair to his forehead. He was crying silently. Iruka stood behind him, a comforting hand resting on the boy's shoulder.
Sakura was sniffling next to Sasuke, who simply stared blankly at the Hokage's portrait, his expression unreadable. Kakashi stood behind us, his solitary eye staring at the memorial stone honoring the KIA.
I was standing perfectly still, holding a white lily. I wasn't wearing standard ninja mourning clothes. I had commissioned a custom, tailored black silk suit from the capital. It was waterproof, naturally, but I held a sleek black umbrella anyway to keep my hair dry.
"The Will of Fire," the village elder, Homura, spoke solemnly over the crowd. "It burns brightly in all of you. Hiruzen's sacrifice will nourish the new leaves..."
I zoned out. I had heard this speech in the anime, and it was just as boring in person.
I stepped forward when it was my turn. I laid the white lily gently on the altar in front of Hiruzen's smiling portrait.
You were a good grandpa, I thought, looking at the old man's face. But you were a terrible politician. Your death is the catalyst this village needs. Don't worry, old man. I'll make sure the seat doesn't stay empty for long.
I bowed my head respectfully, playing the part of the mourning Genin to perfection.
[System Notification]
[Event Complete: The Konoha Crush.]
[World State Updated: The Third Hokage is Dead. The Fifth Hokage is required.]
[New Main Quest Triggered: The Legendary Sucker.]
[Objective: Locate Tsunade Senju and ensure her return to Konoha. Bonus points for establishing a 'deep' connection.]
[Reward: 10,000 SP, Legendary Item, and massive village influence.]
I dismissed the blue screen with a subtle blink, stepping back into the line of mourners.
Ten thousand points and a Legendary Item, I smirked inwardly. Plus the chance to meet the woman with the 106-centimeter bust. I'm going to ace this mission
Author's Note:
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