Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

"We're going to protect those who are still alive! We're going to stop the village from being destroyed further!"

Naruto's voice became exceptionally loud at that moment.

"Isn't this what you wanted to teach me?!"

Jiraiya's breath hitched.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze passing over the two boys in front of him, to examine Konoha after the battle.

Giant snakes continued to wreak havoc throughout the village, flames soared into the sky, and screams and cries filled the air.

Naruto is right.

The teacher has just died in battle, and the village is facing its greatest crisis yet.

He was angered by Sasuke's arrogance and wary of his deal with Orochimaru, subconsciously wanting to eliminate this "threat".

Orochimaru has already escaped far away, and the Sound Four are there to help him. Even if I were to chase after him now, I might not be able to catch up.

The Sasuke before us possesses unfathomable strength; if a fight were to break out, it would only cause even more severe damage to Konoha.

The cost was too high.

"Ugh......"

Jiraiya let out a long sigh, and the fierce aura around him slowly dissipated.

He looked at Sasuke amidst the black flames, then at Naruto's tear-streaked face, and the anger in his heart gradually subsided.

“…You’re ruthless, kid.” He turned his gaze to the figure enveloped in black flames.

Jiraiya's voice returned to calm: "I've noted what happened today."

Having said that, he didn't hesitate any longer. He turned around, his tall figure leaped up, and rushed towards the most chaotic battlefield in the village.

Then, Naruto turned his head and called out to the figure shrouded in black flames in an almost pleading voice.

"Sasuke, I know you're strong! But please, please stop destroying the village!"

"This is... the place that Grandpa Hokage protected with his life!"

Sasuke raised his hand, clenched it tightly at his lower abdomen, and pulled the Amaterasu black flames outward.

The black flames around him slowly faded, returning to the pitch-black "Indra".

He glanced in the direction Jiraiya had left, then at Naruto who was slumped on the ground, and sheathed his sword.

"Naruto..."

Sasuke's eyes held a complex expression. "I'm actually looking forward to the day you find out the truth."

"The truth?" Naruto looked puzzled.

"Humph."

Sasuke let out a cold snort that had no clear meaning.

Without explanation, his figure flickered and disappeared from the rooftop as well.

Chapter 82 Naruto: Danzo must be a hero! (4.7K, transitional chapter)

It rained heavily on the day of the Third Hokage's funeral.

The sky was overcast, and the cold rain enveloped the entire Hidden Leaf Village in a sorrowful silence.

The ninjas, dressed in black, gathered at the foot of the Hokage Rock.

Without an umbrella, she let the rain soak her clothes and slide down her cheeks.

Silence, silence.

In this oppressive atmosphere, the two Konoha advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, stood solemnly at the front of the crowd, their aged faces appearing even more grave in the rain.

Their gazes kept drifting towards the edge of the crowd, as if they were waiting for something.

A moment later, a masked figure appeared silently behind them; it was the Dark Guard.

"How is it?" Mitokado Yan didn't turn around, his voice was muffled by the sound of rain.

"...Not found."

The voice of the Anbu member carried a hint of confusion, "Lord Danzo's aura has completely disappeared."

"Moreover, all of 'Root''s' strongholds have been deserted, leaving no trace."

The two elders stiffened almost imperceptibly.

They exchanged a glance, and in each other's eyes, they saw deep shock and a hint of barely perceptible solemnity.

"Go down." Koharu, who was turning the dorm, waved her hand, her voice still steady.

The secret agents received their orders and their figures disappeared into the rain once more.

"What exactly happened...?"

Mitokado Homura's voice carried a hint of barely suppressed confusion, "Danzo... he's really dead?"

"Only an inexplicable, huge crater remained at the scene, with no signs of battle, and even the 'root' had vanished along with it."

Koharu Utatane's eyes turned cold. "This doesn't seem like Orochimaru's doing, nor does it seem like something a Sunagakure ninja could do."

Her gaze swept subtly across the back of the crowd, to those few figures who, though saddened, still stood tall and straight.

"After Hiruzen's death, besides Orochimaru, who else is the most unsettling element in the village?" she asked pointedly.

Mitokado Homura instantly understood her meaning, a hint of lingering fear flashing across his aged face: "You mean, the Uchiha's orphan? And White Fang's son?"

"One of them displayed extraordinary strength during the collapse plan, while the other happened to disappear from everyone's sight during that period."

Koharu Utatane's voice was devoid of any emotion, "I'm not making a conclusion, but Danzo's death, for them, was too coincidental in timing."

Mitokado Yan remained silent.

He knew this was just speculation, without any evidence.

But as a high-ranking official in Konoha, he had to consider the worst-case scenario: if it really was those two who did it...

"There's no point in pursuing these matters now."

Koharu Utatane's eyes sharpened, filled with the decisiveness unique to politicians. "Hiruzen has just died in battle. The village must not be allowed to have another scandal involving high-ranking infighting and assassination. This would completely shake the foundation of Konoha."

Mitokado Homura instantly understood her meaning, his brows furrowing: "You mean...?"

"An inexplicably deep pit, and Shimura Danzo who disappeared along with his 'roots'."

Koharu Utatane spoke slowly, each word like a cold raindrop, "And, there's a powerful enemy who invaded the village."

She paused, her voice devoid of any emotion.

"Isn't it natural to connect these things together?"

"Danzo died at the hands of an enemy, and he could only perish together with the enemy."

Mitokado Yan remained silent.

But they also know that this is currently the only option, and the one that best serves the village's interests.

After a moment, he nodded heavily.

The rain was getting heavier and heavier.

Finally, Koharu Utatane stepped forward, facing all the ninjas who had come to mourn. Her aged voice, amplified by chakra, clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Everyone, while we mourn the Third Hokage, I have another sad piece of news to announce."

Her voice was filled with just the right amount of sorrow.

"In the recent Konoha Crush plan, Elder Danzo Shimura sacrificed himself in battle against the invading enemy while protecting the village."

These words, like a boulder, stirred up a tidal wave among the already grieving crowd.

"what?!"

"Even the Hokage's assistant..."

"Damn Sunagakure and Orochimaru!"

The sounds of discussion and suppressed roars rose and fell.

Koharu Utatane watched all this with satisfaction and continued, "Lord Danzo perished with the enemy at the end of the battle, protecting Konoha's last dignity with his own life."

"He is also a hero of Konoha!"

hero?

Sasuke, who was lurking in the shadows, curled his lips into a mocking smile.

How can a bloodthirsty executioner who slaughtered his fellow countrymen be transformed into a hero who protects the village?

This village is truly rotten to the core.

Kakashi slowly closed his eyes, unwilling to watch the two elders' performance any longer.

Not far from them, Naruto Uzumaki was standing with Konohamaru and the others, his small face full of sadness.

He listened to the people around him discussing Danzo, his eyes filled with confusion.

Although I don't know that old man named Danzo, he must have been a very powerful person to sacrifice himself for the village like the Hokage...

As he thought this, his hatred for Sunagakure intensified.

In the rain, the portrait of the Third Hokage was hung high, his always smiling face appearing somewhat blurred in the rain.

Mitokado Yan stepped forward and began reading the eulogy that had been prepared beforehand.

Sasuke didn't listen anymore.

He took one last look at the fake portrait, then glanced at Naruto, who was lost in grief not far away.

What a pathetic world.

Sasuke turned around, used Shunpo to leave, and finally merged completely into the endless rain.

.........

The funeral of the Third Hokage has ended, but the dark clouds hanging over Konoha have not yet dissipated.