When Naruto and the others returned to the Chunin Exam arena, the fight here seemed to have just ended.
Many Sand ninja, Sound ninja, and Leaf ninja had died, but the guests were still sleeping soundly.
Naruto didn't know whether to be impressed by the guests' ability to sleep or by Kabuto's genjutsu skills.
"You're back. How did it go?" Kakashi saw Naruto and the others return, glanced over them, and relaxed when he saw no one missing.
"Gaara's dead. Naruto and Sasuke killed him," Sakura said.
"I see. Well done, Naruto, Sasuke!" Kakashi smiled and gave them a thumbs-up, but neither showed much expression.
Naruto didn't care about Kakashi's praise at all.
Sasuke felt he didn't deserve it.
Even though he took part in the fight, he hadn't actually done anything to defeat Gaara.
"How's the situation here?" Shikamaru asked, looking at the bodies scattered around.
"The enemy has been driven off, but the main guys got away."
Kakashi spoke, then suddenly looked toward the Hokage's viewing stand.
After the fight ended, some Anbu and jonin had gone there, but there was still no sign of the Hokage. That made him uneasy.
"I'll go check. You stay here!" Kakashi said, heading toward the viewing stand with Guy.
Naruto hesitated for a moment, then followed.
Whether Hiruzen Sarutobi was alive or not mattered for his future plans, so he cared about this information.
Yata no Kagami!
Using the mirror to reflect golden light, Naruto moved even faster than Kakashi and the others.
"Who's there?"
"Wait, looks like one of us."
"Genin Uzumaki Naruto?"
Several jonin and Anbu were startled by how Naruto showed up, but after seeing his headband and face, they relaxed.
Still, they were puzzled—how did a genin get up here? And at that speed…
Naruto ignored their looks and turned his eyes to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was surrounded by people.
The Third Hokage lay on the ground with his limbs spread, motionless. The clothes over his stomach were pushed up, showing a strange mark like the shape of his belly.
The Dead Demon Consuming Seal!
Naruto recognized the seal. Using this jutsu meant Hiruzen could not be alive.
Not everyone could pull an Orochimaru and cheat death like that.
Kakashi and Guy arrived a moment later. They glanced at Naruto, but before they could even comment on his speed, their attention was drawn to Hiruzen's body.
Their faces grew heavy. They seemed unable to accept the loss and stayed silent.
…
The next morning,
The sky was overcast with thick clouds,
It was as if even the heavens mourned Hiruzen's death.
Dressed in black, Naruto went to the crossroads to meet Sasuke and Sakura.
None of them spoke. They just exchanged glances and walked off in the same direction.
Naruto didn't know about Sasuke,
But Sakura was truly saddened by the Third Hokage's passing.
The one who usually brought energy to their team was now completely silent, her eyes filled with grief.
They reached the roof of the Hokage's building,
Above were the stone faces of the four Hokage, and below was the portrait of the Third.
Everyone in the Leaf who had close ties to the Third, or held an important position, gathered to fill the building inside and out.
All were dressed in black—some looked sad, others expressionless.
Then… rain began to fall.
"This funeral is to honor the Third Hokage and all others who died in this battle."
The two advisors stood at the front and rang the bell of mourning.
One by one, people stepped forward to place a sad white rose in front of the Third Hokage's gravestone.
Naruto stood in the crowd, rain falling from the sky and hitting his face.
He wasn't crying, and he didn't feel particularly sad, but the rain seemed determined not to leave him alone.
Beside him, Konohamaru began to cry.
Seeing his little brother cry and feel so down, Naruto reached out to pat his head, but he hesitated.
He could have saved his little brother's grandfather, but he hadn't. Did he really have the right to comfort him?
Naruto looked up at the dark, overcast sky.
It was daytime, yet it was as dark as night.
"Iruka-sensei, why would someone be willing to give up their life for someone else?" Sakura suddenly asked.
"When a person dies alone, everything about them disappears—their past, their present, their future—none of it remains."
"Many people die during missions and wars, and they die so easily!"
"Among those who died, some also had dreams, but each of them had something they cherished!"
"Parents, siblings, friends, lovers—these people were important to them! They trusted each other, helped each other, and from the very beginning, they shared bonds with the people they valued most. And as time passes, those bonds only grow stronger!"
"So there doesn't need to be a reason. People who have these bonds will always do it—because the person is worth it to them!"
"Naruto!"
Naruto didn't expect Iruka to suddenly call his name, so he looked down in confusion at Iruka, who was crouching beside Konohamaru to comfort him.
"What is it, Iruka-sensei?"
"You'll understand this feeling one day. You'll have people you treasure, and people who treasure you."
Naruto was silent for a long time before nodding. "Maybe…"
He glanced at Konohamaru, then stepped forward to place a bouquet of white roses for the old man Sarutobi.
At that moment, the rain stopped.
The clouds began to break apart, and sunlight passed through, landing on Naruto's face and on the Third Hokage's photo in front of him.
He instinctively looked up at the sky, feeling a little lost.
'You never looked out for me before, but now that you're dead, you want to give me some comforting words?'
Naruto lowered his head and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi's photo.
Maybe it was just his imagination, but he thought the once-serious face in the photo now had a faint smile in the sunlight.
Was it a ghost?
Naruto shivered, turned around, and walked away without looking back.
No wonder the weather was so cold—it was because the old man's spirit had returned… Wait, no. His soul was probably still trapped in the Shinigami's stomach, maybe even playing mahjong with the other three Hokage right now. There was no way he could come back.
So it was just his imagination.
Naruto shook his head and walked to Konohamaru's side. "Konohamaru."
"Big bro?"
Konohamaru's tears kept falling, and even his voice sounded choked.
Naruto reached out to wipe his tears and said softly, "From now on, listen to Iruka-sensei more."
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