In front of the memorial tablet, Danzo Shimura accused Hiruzen Sarutobi before all the ninjas attending the funeral, holding him responsible for Konoha's losses in the Third Ninja World War.
As everyone grieved, Danzo began his performance.
"Hiruzen, you caused Konoha to suffer immense losses. You must take responsibility for this!"
"You are not young anymore, and your energy isn't what it used to be. It's time for you to step down!"
Danzo noticed the astonishment in Sarutobi's eyes but concealed his satisfaction behind a sorrowful expression. With a trace of righteous indignation, he spoke loudly.
His words stirred whispers among the crowd. Some ninja families had lost loved ones in the war, and Danzo's accusations gave them an outlet for their grief and frustration.
Although the Third Hokage still commanded respect, many harbored dissatisfaction, though they kept their thoughts buried. However, some, like the members of the Shimura clan, were not afraid to voice their discontent.
"Danzo-sama is right! It was because of you, Hokage-sama, that my 11-year-old brother died on the battlefield!"
"Your incompetence forced the village's children into war!"
Emboldened by the sentiment, more voices joined in, and soon the weight of public opinion bore down on the Third Hokage. Those attending the funeral were the very backbone of Konoha, and under Danzo's influence, the tide of discontent grew.
"Danzo's tactics are effective, but this alone isn't enough," Uzumaki Raiden mused as he observed the condemning voices. Among the large crowd, only about a quarter were openly criticizing the Third Hokage—still insufficient to shake his position.
"What are you all saying?!"
"If not for Hokage-sama's leadership, Konoha's losses would have been even greater!"
"Is your child the only one who died? From the moment they became a ninja, they knew the risks they would face!"
"Those buried here are Konoha's heroes. They must have made peace with their decision to fight!"
"Are you trying to insult their resolve?"
Jiraiya stepped forward, his voice firm as he confronted the first person who had spoken. No longer the impulsive youth he once was, he recognized that someone was behind this sudden outburst and aimed his response at the ringleader.
His words temporarily silenced the crowd, but before he could continue, the Shimura clan member shot back:
"You're talking nonsense!"
"My brother hadn't even graduated from the Academy! It was the Third Hokage who sent him to the battlefield too soon!"
"My brother wasn't ready to be a ninja, yet he was forced into war."
"It's all because of the Third Hokage's incompetence that he died!"
"Have you ever seen Cloud Ninja children on the battlefield? Huh?"
The accusations left Jiraiya momentarily speechless. Indeed, in the entire ninja world war, Konoha had been the only village forced to send children to fight, as they battled on four different fronts—something Cloud Village never had to do.
Even though Konoha could be considered the victor now, it was also the village that had suffered the most losses.
"You...!" Jiraiya struggled for words, but Tsunade stepped beside him, gently patting his shoulder.
"Enough, Jiraiya. Don't argue anymore," she whispered.
"But this is aimed at sensei! If ninjas don't go to the battlefield, should ordinary villagers fight instead?"
"Surrounded on all sides, Konoha managed to survive! Isn't that proof of the Third Hokage's abilities?" Jiraiya argued furiously.
"Abilities? Credit?"
"Konoha's victory was thanks to those who fought on the front lines!"
"It was Uzumaki Raiden who infiltrated the Land of Wind and forced the Sand Ninja into peace talks! It was Danzo-sama and Orochimaru-sama who repelled the Stone Ninja and pushed them back! It was the leaders of many clans who stood against the Mist Ninja!"
"You and Tsunade-sama stalled the Cloud Ninja's advance, buying time. You have credit too."
"But what about Hokage-sama?"
"Is sitting safely in Konoha a contribution?"
The Shimura clan member stepped forward from the crowd, loudly criticizing the Third Hokage without hesitation. His impulsive words resonated with many, fueling the discontent.
"That's right! Staying in the village isn't a contribution! Orochimaru-sama should be Hokage!"
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, who has done nothing, is unworthy of the title of Hokage!"
The voices rose in waves, growing louder and more confident. Throughout it all, Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent. Meanwhile, Danzo and his subordinates continued fanning the flames.
"Enough! Silence!"
Mitokadu Homura stepped forward, raising his hands to calm the crowd.
"What do you think you're doing?! Do you even know where you are?"
"Hokage-sama made mistakes, but is this the place to discuss them?"
"There will be a Jonin meeting tomorrow morning at the Hokage building! We will discuss everything there!"
"For now, disperse. Do not disrespect the spirits of our fallen heroes!"
His words, though appearing neutral, actually favored Danzo, subtly pushing the situation in his direction. This sudden intervention caught the Third Hokage off guard. His eyes flickered with surprise, but soon his expression fell into sadness and exhaustion.
Mitokadu Homura's presence commanded respect, and those who initially stood against the Third Hokage calmed down. The crowd began to leave in an orderly manner, and with that, the farce ended.
Those with sharp instincts foresaw an impending political upheaval within Konoha. Clan leaders quickly left with their kin to discuss their stance on the matter. It was becoming clear—Danzo and his faction were positioning themselves against the Third Hokage.
Even worse, they had successfully won over Mitokadu Homura. Tomorrow's meeting was shaping up to be an internal earthquake.
Meanwhile, Sarutobi Hiruzen walked away from the cemetery, his figure heavy with loneliness. His two sons tried to console him, but Tsunade stopped them, saying, "The Third needs some time alone."
Jiraiya, deeply concerned about his mentor, called out to Uzumaki Raiden, then gathered Tsunade, Nawaki, Orochimaru, Minato, and Kushina. He invited them to a well-known izakaya in the village.
Everyone knew Jiraiya's true intention—it wasn't just a casual gathering. He wanted to discuss how they could support the Third Hokage in the upcoming Jonin meeting.
Seated in a booth, the dim lights cast a warm glow over the table. Under normal circumstances, they would be celebrating Konoha's escape from war and their long-awaited reunion.
But the solemn atmosphere made it clear—the coming days would determine Konoha's future.
(End of this chapter)
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