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"Wow! What on earth is Konoha up to? Even Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi himself has come to pay respects! They're really giving Hanzo of the Salamander a lot of face," Yashamaru exclaimed in shock, staring at Konoha's funeral delegation.
Leading the group was none other than Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in solemn white robes. To show his respect, even the iconic red hat of the Hokage had been covered with a white cloth. Behind him marched Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and a host of other high-ranking officials. Nearly one-third of Konoha's leadership had turned out for the occasion.
"In terms of reputation, Hanzo barely qualifies for such an honor. However, I believe the Hokage must have another purpose for coming here," Yecang murmured softly.
"Yecang makes a good point. Let's not jump to conclusions; we'll respond as things unfold. Come on, let's go greet them." Jinghang donned his own green hat, also wrapped with a white cloth, and walked toward Konoha's delegation.
"Lord Kazekage."
"Lord Hokage."
The two leaders exchanged respectful bows, and their respective entourages began walking side by side.
"Hanzo of the Salamander was a legendary figure, a hero spanning generations. To see him meet such an end is truly lamentable," Hiruzen Sarutobi remarked as they walked.
"In turbulent times, surviving to Hanzo's age is already a rare feat. For a ninja, dying by the sword seems almost like destiny." Jinghang's words were ambiguous and noncommittal, essentially saying nothing of substance.
"However, the loss of such a powerful figure in the Land of Rain will undoubtedly impact the surrounding regions," Hiruzen continued, clearly uninterested in playing word games with Jinghang. He went straight to the point.
"I would appreciate your guidance. I haven't received any relevant intelligence on this matter yet." Jinghang was slightly surprised. Could there be new trouble brewing? That didn't seem right. The conflicts around Amegakure had mostly settled, and even Chiyo's intelligence department hadn't reported anything unusual. Jinghang glanced at Rasa, who was walking half a step behind him. Rasa shook his head, indicating he was also in the dark.
"There isn't any specific intelligence. It's just that the people have suffered from prolonged wars, and the northern conflicts are intensifying. Now, with this incident in the Land of Rain, the flames of war might spread further. I simply wish to end this chaos as soon as possible," Hiruzen explained.
"Oh?! Lord Hokage, such compassion for the world is truly admirable. As your humble junior, I am willing to follow your lead." Jinghang's tone was polite, but his mind was racing.
So that's it. Hiruzen Sarutobi wants to mediate the war between the Lands of Earth and Lightning. This sly old man must feel that Konoha alone lacks the strength to make the two sides listen. Using Hanzo's funeral as a pretext, he's actually here to meet me. With the combined influence of the Kazekage and Hokage, they could pressure the Tsuchikage and Raikage into a truce. Hiruzen truly is a textbook moderate.
"Thank you, my friend. In that case, after the funeral and the inauguration of the new leader of Amegakure, let's meet at Konoha's temporary residence to discuss this further."
"Allow me to arrange a better venue. There's a large and quiet izakaya by the Shule River, one of our Hourglass Group's properties. Their grilled skewers are simply divine."
"Oh, is that so? Then, how about the evening after tomorrow?"
"I'll be awaiting your arrival."
The Funeral Ceremony
"Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi of Konoha Village, leading his delegation, pays respects..."
"Lord Jinghang, Kazekage of Sunagakure, leading his delegation, pays respects..."
"Bow once..."
"Bow twice..."
"Bow thrice..."
"Family members, please accept our condolences..."
Jinghang was about to bow to the family members when he glanced up slightly. What he saw left him momentarily stunned. Sitting in the family area was an elderly woman flanked by five or six young, tearful, and beautiful women.
Who on earth is the actual family member here? Who's the main mourner? Jinghang shot a questioning look at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who appeared equally baffled.
Noticing the confusion of the two leaders, the Amegakure Jonin Oboro, who was in charge of welcoming guests, discreetly stepped forward and whispered, "The lady in the center is Lord Hanzo's first wife. The others are... his concubines."
Realization dawned on Jinghang and Hiruzen, who both offered a slight bow to the elderly woman.
Damn it, Jinghang thought. So all the money I invested in Amegakure ended up being spent by this old man on his harem! If I'd known, I wouldn't have wasted 20 million ryō hiring mercenaries. I could've just spent a few million to book him a private party for three days and nights. It would've been cheaper and more effective.
The Eulogy and the Sealed Coffin
The next segment of the funeral featured a eulogy delivered by Kongō Nōshin, the chairman of the funeral committee and the future leader of Amegakure. He recounted Hanzo's life in painstaking detail, nearly putting Jinghang to sleep. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the eulogy ended, and the ceremony paused for a twenty-minute break. The final segment—viewing Hanzo's remains—was scheduled next.
During the break, Rasa approached Jinghang to report, "This Kongō Nōshin was Hanzo's bodyguard and steward. With the support of our Hourglass Group, he inherited all of Hanzo's assets and assumed the position of Amegakure's leader. He has also promised to maintain the current tax rates for the next ten years and has given us a green light on all policies."
Jinghang nodded. "Relationships like this must be nurtured. Make sure to send gifts during major holidays. Also, since you're in charge of our intelligence operations here, ensure we maintain contingency plans for infiltrating Amegakure's leadership. We must always have a Plan B."
Twenty minutes later, everyone returned to the main hall, ready to pay their final respects to Hanzo. However, instead of an open casket, they were greeted by a sealed lead coffin. In front of the coffin was a tray holding three of Hanzo's personal belongings: a broken chain sickle, an old respirator, and a rain ninja forehead protector.
As murmurs of confusion spread through the crowd, Kongō Nōshin stepped forward and raised his hand for silence.
"Please do not be alarmed. The lead coffin is necessary for safety reasons. Lord Hanzo had a toxic gland from a black salamander implanted in his body from a young age. The assassin who killed him cruelly ruptured this gland, releasing a deadly toxin. Although several days have passed, traces of neurotoxins still linger. For everyone's safety, we had no choice but to use a lead-sealed coffin. Please pay your respects by viewing Lord Hanzo's personal belongings and cherishing his memory."
Post-Funeral Discussions
After the funeral, Jinghang declined to inspect factories or meet with Hourglass Group executives. Claiming fatigue, he retreated to his room, where Yecang prepared a bath of mugwort water for him to cleanse away the "bad energy." Soaking in the tub, Jinghang called out to a shadowy corner of the room.
"Relax. I've checked within an 800-meter radius using iron sand. There's no one else here. Come out."
"Better safe than sorry. Loose lips sink ships," a figure emerged from the shadows—it was none other than Danzo Shimura.
"What's Konoha's play here? Are you really planning to mediate the northern war? You haven't even cleaned up the mess with Kirigakure in the east, and you've got time for this? By the way, your precious grandson is still recuperating in our hospital!"
"You think I want to deal with this nonsense? This was Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane's idea. They want to team up with Sunagakure to pressure the Lands of Earth and Lightning into a ceasefire. Then, they'll push for a second Five Kage Summit to unite the four nations against Kirigakure. It's a neat plan—ending the war without lifting a finger while bolstering Konoha's international standing."
"Hmm, not a bad idea. If executed well, it might actually work. But it'll hurt my business. No war means fewer sales of ninja tools and canned goods."
"It's not just your business. All the blood and sweat we poured into creating this fragile peace will be reduced to a joke if a few words can settle everything."
Jinghang paused, digesting Danzo's words. After a moment, he burst into laughter. "Danzo, you're as sharp as ever, but your vision is too narrow. This is all about your power play in Konoha, isn't it?"
"What are you laughing at?" Danzo's face darkened.
"I'm laughing at the flaw in your argument."
"What flaw?"
"At the end of the day, the one being mocked is you. I'm the Kazekage. I'll be standing alongside your Hokage, intimidating others into peace. Who would dare laugh at me?"
"You—!" Danzo's face turned crimson with anger.
"Calm down, calm down. Don't take it so personally. If you want to convince Hiruzen and the elders, here's what you should say at the meeting the day after tomorrow..."