Three days later, beneath a gloomy morning sky, heavy gray clouds hung low overhead, creating an oppressive atmosphere that made it difficult to breathe.
A fine drizzle fell silently, wrapping all of Konoha in a hazy mist, as if heaven and earth themselves were mourning the heroes who had fallen.
Before the Memorial Stone, a sea of people stood in solemn silence.
From respected shinobi to ordinary villagers, from elderly men and women to innocent children, nearly everyone in the village had come.
Dressed in dark clothing, they held white or pale yellow flowers in their hands. The joy of Victory Day had vanished from their faces, replaced by deep sorrow and solemn respect.
Rain soaked their hair and clothes, yet no one wiped it away, and no one spoke.
Only the soft sound of rain falling to the ground could be heard, along with the occasional quiet sob that could no longer be held back.
Upon the Memorial Stone, the newly carved names stood out clearly beneath the rain.
Every name represented a life that had once burned brightly, a family that had been torn apart, and a life that had ended far too soon for Konoha's future.
Uchiha Chiya stood at the very front of the crowd.
Beside him stood the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzō Shimura, the other Konoha leaders, and the heads of the major clans.
Today, Chiya also wore formal black clothing.
Rain slid down his sharply defined face as he quietly gazed at the cold stone monument.
His expression revealed little, but the deep respect and mourning that surrounded him could be felt without words.
When the appointed time arrived, the memorial ceremony officially began.
There were no complicated rituals.
Only sincere remembrance.
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly stepped forward until he reached the simple podium before the Memorial Stone.
It seemed as though he had aged several more years overnight.
The wrinkles on his face appeared even deeper beneath the gloomy sky.
He drew in a deep breath of the cold, damp air.
His voice was slow and heavy with grief, yet it carried a strength that reached everyone's heart.
"Today... we stand here..."
His voice was hoarse at first, but it quickly grew firm.
"We stand here in the rain, before the monument that bears the heroic spirits of countless comrades, not to weep, but to remember."
Rain trickled down his graying temples, but he paid it no attention.
"The war... yes, we achieved victory. A glorious victory unlike anything before.
Konoha's name now echoes throughout the shinobi world, and lasting peace finally seems within our reach. But..."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the grieving faces below before returning to the Memorial Stone.
"But this victory... this peace... did not come without a price.
Its cost is carved upon the monument before us, engraved into every familiar and unfamiliar name!
These brave children, these dependable comrades, these pillars of their families...
It was they who exchanged their blood and lives so that we could stand here today, so that tomorrow's sun could rise upon Konoha!"
His voice gradually rose, unable to contain the emotions within.
"Among them, some dreamed of becoming Hokage. Some only wished to protect the companions by their side. Some looked forward to returning home after the war to see their newborn children. Some simply wished to live peaceful lives...
But when the village needed them, when peace was threatened, they did not retreat!
They took up their weapons and marched onto the battlefield until the very last drop of blood left their bodies!"
"They have left us behind, leaving endless grief and longing. But what can we do?
What we can do is more than simply mourn!
We must remember why they fought and why they died!
We must inherit their will, protect the village they sacrificed their lives for, protect every child here, every family, and every hope for the future!"
Hiruzen's voice choked with emotion.
He paused for a moment before firmly wiping away the rain... and perhaps the tears upon his face.
"Where the leaves dance, the fire burns forever.
The flames will continue to illuminate the village, allowing new leaves to sprout...
The younger generation of shinobi is the future of the village, and it is the duty of the older generation to trust and protect them.
The wills of those heroic spirits who sacrificed themselves shall be inherited by us!
Their spirit shall live on forever in Konoha's future!"
His aged voice echoed through the curtain of rain, carrying endless sorrow and unwavering determination as it struck everyone's heart.
Among the crowd, the suppressed sobs could no longer be restrained.
Many lowered their heads as their shoulders trembled.
Others clutched the flowers in their hands tightly, their eyes red with tears, yet filled with even greater determination.
Hiruzen bowed deeply and remained in that position for a long time.
The entire memorial was enveloped in a heavy yet heroic atmosphere.
After a long while, the flower offering ceremony began.
People lined up in an orderly queue, slowly stepping forward one by one to gently place their flowers before the Memorial Stone before bowing deeply.
Chiya was among the first to offer flowers.
Holding a bouquet of pure white chrysanthemums, he walked to the monument, bowed slightly, and solemnly placed the flowers upon the rain soaked platform beside those offered by the other leaders.
The rain dampened the white petals, making them appear even more mournful.
The flower offering continued for a long time.
The crowd moved slowly and orderly as more and more flowers piled before the Memorial Stone until they formed a mountain of white and yellow beneath the gray sky.
It was a heartbreaking sight, yet one still filled with life.
The memorial ceremony finally came to an end amid the heavy atmosphere.
The crowd gradually dispersed, but the sorrow and reflection remained deeply engraved within everyone's hearts.
Chiya did not leave immediately.
He remained standing quietly in the rain until someone approached him.
"Senior Chiya, is something the matter?"
Minato Namikaze's voice carried both exhaustion and sorrow.
His golden hair had been soaked by the rain and clung softly to his forehead, while grief filled his blue eyes.
Chiya turned toward the Yellow Flash.
"Minato."
"The Third Hokage's words always reach people's hearts."
Minato looked toward the Memorial Stone.
"They only strengthen my resolve to protect the village."
Chiya nodded.
His gaze swept over the crowd as it gradually thinned before he suddenly spoke.
"Want to find somewhere to talk? There are some things I think you should know."
Minato paused slightly.
Seeing the seriousness on Chiya's face, he knew this was important and nodded.
"Alright."
The two did not return to the Hokage Building.
Instead, they entered a quiet teahouse nearby.
They rented a private room and ordered two cups of hot tea.
Steam slowly rose from the cups, driving away some of the chill brought by the rain.
Without wasting time on small talk, Chiya got straight to the point.
He selectively told Minato everything Mikoto had uncovered regarding Obito's encounter with the mysterious masked man, along with their conclusion that the person was most likely Uchiha Madara.
He left out the details concerning the Infinite Tsukuyomi and the stone tablet, only emphasizing the man's overwhelming strength, his deep knowledge of the Uchiha Clan, and the possibility that he was targeting Obito and those close to him.
"...That individual possesses unimaginable strength. His goals remain unknown, but they are certainly not benevolent.
Obito is one of his targets, and because you are Obito's teacher..."
Chiya looked at Minato's face, which had instantly become extremely serious.
"You, and everyone around you, may also be drawn into tremendous danger because of this.
During future missions, stay alert at all times, especially whenever unusual intelligence or strange genjutsu are involved."
After listening, Minato's brows furrowed tightly.
His fingers unconsciously tightened around his teacup.
The name Uchiha Madara alone carried tremendous weight.
He was practically a legendary figure.
Remembering the earlier report from his three students, where they had claimed to encounter someone pretending to be him...
"Uchiha Madara... He's really still alive?"
He muttered in disbelief.
Yet seeing the complete seriousness in Chiya's eyes, he could only accept the shocking truth.
"I understand, Senior Chiya."
Minato nodded solemnly.
The gentleness in his blue eyes disappeared, replaced by the calm sharpness of a top class shinobi.
"Thank you for telling me this. I'll immediately reassess Team Obito's safety measures, especially for Kakashi, Obito, and Rin.
As for everyone else, I'll strengthen security as well. If anything unusual happens, I'll deal with it immediately and report it."
He knew Chiya would never speak without reason.
The importance of this information far exceeded his imagination.
"There's no need to become overly anxious, but remain vigilant at all times."
Chiya took a sip of tea.
"His methods are mysterious. Direct confrontation is unlikely for now. He's more likely to observe from the shadows while waiting for the right opportunity."
"I understand."
Minato replied seriously.
"Against an opponent like that, even the slightest mistake could prove fatal.
Thank you again, Senior Chiya. This intelligence... is extremely important."
The two continued discussing several details and possible countermeasures.
Minato displayed his outstanding analytical ability and adaptability, making Chiya feel that informing him had been the right decision.
There was something else as well.
Minato Namikaze had already successfully completed the Rasengan.
He had even proposed expanding it into innovative elemental Rasengan variations.
Aside from occasionally being a little absent minded, Minato's talent as a shinobi truly was extraordinary.
When their conversation ended, the rain outside was still falling steadily.
The heavy discussion left the atmosphere somewhat tense.
Minato let out a slow breath, trying to lighten the mood.
"We've been talking for quite a while. I'm getting a little hungry. Senior Chiya, there's a pretty good ramen shop nearby. Would you like to eat together?"
Chiya looked at him before nodding.
"Alright."
Leaving behind the heavy discussion of legends and conspiracies, the two walked side by side into the rain toward the small ramen shop.
Their steaming bowls of ramen arrived shortly afterward, and the rich aroma of the broth quickly chased away the damp chill brought by the weather.
Separated by the rising steam, the two quietly ate their meal, looking no different from two ordinary shinobi sharing a simple meal after completing a mission.
After finishing, they parted outside the restaurant.
Each disappeared into the rain, walking toward different destinations.
Chiya looked back once toward the Memorial Stone.
The flowers there still bloomed silently beneath the falling rain.
The dead had passed on.
The living must continue forward.
And the storm hidden within the darkness... was perhaps only just beginning to gather.
━━━━━━━━━━━━
❤️ Enjoying the Story?
⭐ Every 500 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter!
📖 Read 120 chapters ahead on Patreon.
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
Thank you for your support!
━━━━━━━━━━━━