A/N: Next few chapters will be somewhat slow as its a preparation for the next arc. Make sure to donate some power stones as that's my main source of motivation .
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The tension in the Hokage's meeting room was palpable as the village elders, clan leaders, and medical staff gathered to discuss the aftermath of the Nine-Tails attack. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the veteran Hokage who had temporarily resumed his duties while Minato Namikaze recovered, presided over the proceedings with a sombre expression.
The elderly shinobi folded his hands before him, his brow furrowed in thought. "I was planning on having Jiraiya return," he began, his weary gaze sweeping across the room. "However, I believe now is not the best time. The village is in a dire situation, and Jiraiya's spy network will be invaluable in tracking our enemy's movements."
The discussion soon turned to the Uchiha clan and their actions during the attack. Danzo Shimura, one of the village elders, sat rigidly in his chair, his bandaged arm resting on the table. His single visible eye glinted with barely-restrained irritation as he turned to face Fugaku Uchiha, the stoic leader of the Uchiha clan.
"Fugaku should be punished and held responsible," Danzo growled, slamming his fist on the table and causing it to shudder. "I directly ordered him to assist with the village evacuation, and he disobeyed!"
Fugaku tensed, bracing himself for the inevitable confrontation. Before he could respond, however, Tsunade, the renowned medical ninja and head of the Konoha hospital and Senju Clan, shot up from her seat, slamming the table even harder and causing it to crack under the force. Fugaku couldn't help but sweat-drop, thinking, 'Poor table, what did it ever do to deserve this?'
"If it weren't for Fugaku, the village would be in an even more dire situation!" she shouted, her honey-coloured eyes blazing with fury. "If he hadn't stepped in, Minato and Kushina might have been killed!"
Beside Hiruzen, Tsunade's disdain for the village elders, particularly Danzo, was barely concealed. Her golden eyes narrowed as she glared at the elder, her mouth set in a tight line.
Danzo's face contorted with rage, his thin lips twisting into a vicious sneer. "If Minato wasn't so incompetent , this all wouldn't have happened," he spat. "If I were—"
"If you were what?" Tsunade interrupted, her voice dripping with contempt. "Please, Danzo, there's a reason you're sitting there and not where Sensei is right now. And don't think I don't know about your little underground organisation, ROOT. Your people have always failed at spying on us because I'm aware of your schemes."
The revelation of ROOT's existence sent shockwaves through the room, and all eyes turned to Danzo, whose face was flushed with unbridled fury. Before Danzo could retaliate, Hiruzen's authoritative voice cut through the din, silencing the room.
"Sit down. Now," the Hokage commanded, fixing Danzo with a stern gaze. The elder clicked his tongue in frustration but obeyed, sinking back into his chair. Hiruzen then looked to Tsunade. "You as well."
Tsunade nodded reluctantly, her jaw still set with defiance as she reclaimed her seat. Hiruzen turned his attention to Fugaku, his expression softening slightly.
"I agree with Tsunade," the Hokage said. "Although Fugaku disobeyed orders, it was for the good of the village." Fugaku visibly relaxed, as did Tsunade. However, Hiruzen's tone grew more serious. "However, disobeying orders cannot be overlooked."
Fugaku tensed again, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. Hiruzen continued, "As punishment, you will be relieved of your duties as a shinobi and head of the Police Force for two weeks."
Fugaku knew that even though the Hokage's punishment was technically a harsh one, it was still relatively light, considering the gravity of his actions. The Uchiha clan leader was relieved, as he understood that Hiruzen couldn't make exceptions, no matter how justified Fugaku's disobedience had been. The others in the room shared this sentiment, knowing the Hokage had to set a firm example.
Fugaku stood and bowed stiffly. "Yes, Hokage-sama. I will gladly accept this punishment."
Hiruzen nodded, his gaze sweeping the room. "The meeting is over," he declared, his tone brooking no argument.
The tense atmosphere lingered as the leaders filed out of the room, each consumed by their own thoughts and concerns for the future of the village.
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The next day after the Kyuubi incident, a shroud of grey rain clouds blanketed the sky, casting a gloomy pall over the village. The usual bustling morning scenes were replaced by an eerie quiet, as if the very air was heavy with grief. Every person who ventured out wore black, their faces etched with sorrow. The once-vibrant village now exuded a somber and desolate atmosphere, its streets devoid of laughter and joy.
People of all ages and walks of life - young and old, shinobi and civilians, merchants and wanderers - moved in unison towards a single destination. Today was the day to bid farewell to those who had fallen during the Kyuubi attack, a day that would forever be etched in the collective memory of Konoha.
At the funeral ceremony, thousands gathered, a sea of black-clad figures standing before the Hokage. Hiruzen Sarutobi, also dressed in mourning attire, approached a massive stone tablet. His weathered hand gently touched the cold surface, tracing the countless names carved into it - each representing a life tragically cut short.
With a heavy heart and a voice thick with emotion, Hiruzen began to speak:
"Dear villagers of Konoha," he started, his eyes scanning the crowd, seeing the pain reflected in each face. "Today, we stand together as one, not just to mourn the fallen but to honour the lives they lived and the sacrifices they made.
The attack by the Nine-Tails has left a scar on our village, one that will take time to heal. But as we look upon the faces of those we have lost, we must remember that they did not die in vain.
They fought bravely, with unwavering resolve, to protect our home, our loved ones, and our way of life. They embodied the Will of Fire, a flame that burns within each of us, passed down from generation to generation. This fire is the essence of our village, the belief that even in the darkest of times, our love for our comrades and our devotion to our home will light the way.
The Will of Fire is not just about strength or courage; it is about unity. It is the understanding that we are all part of something greater than ourselves, and that our bonds with one another are what make us strong. Today, we grieve, but we also reaffirm our commitment to this sacred duty. The fallen are not truly gone, for their spirit lives on in us, in the choices we make, and in the future we build together.
As we lay our friends, our family, to rest, let us pledge to keep the Will of Fire burning bright. Let us honour their memory by striving for a future where their sacrifices are not forgotten but serve as the foundation for a stronger, more united Konoha. We will rebuild, we will grow, and we will continue to protect all that we hold dear.
The Will of Fire burns within us all, and as long as that flame remains, Konoha will never falter.
May those who have passed rest in peace, and may we carry their legacy forward with pride and determination.
Thank you."
Silence fell as Hiruzen placed a bouquet of flowers before the stone tablet, his movements slow and deliberate. He stepped aside, allowing others to pay their respects.
What followed was a procession of grief, love, and remembrance. Children, too young to fully comprehend the finality of death, cried out for parents who would never return. Older children, trying to be brave, held back tears, their small bodies trembling with the effort to maintain composure.
Parents mourned children, their faces etched with a pain no one should ever have to endure. Shinobi who had lost comrades stood stoically, their eyes haunted by memories of battles fought side by side. Students grieved for fallen mentors, while teachers mourned pupils whose potential would never be fully realised.
Among the crowd, there were those who seemed broken beyond repair, their grief so profound it manifested as a terrible stillness. These were the ones who had seen too much death, who had grown accustomed to loss but were no less devastated by it.
The air was filled with a cacophony of sorrow - quiet sobs, anguished wails, and the heavy silence of those too shocked to cry. Each person who approached the memorial stone carried not just flowers, but the weight of memories, of shared laughter, of dreams unfulfilled.
As the day wore on, the clouds finally broke, allowing a single ray of sunlight to pierce through. It fell upon the memorial stone, illuminating the names carved there, as if nature itself was paying tribute to the fallen. In that moment, amidst the sea of grief, a glimmer of hope emerged - a reminder that even in the darkest times, the Will of Fire would continue to burn, guiding Konoha towards a new dawn.