chapter 201 part 2
Hearing that Tsunade might become the new Hokage, the shinobi's fighting spirit was rekindled.
After all, most of them had met the legendary Sannin, and some of the older ones had even been fortunate enough to witness Tsunade's heroic performance during the Great Ninja War.
If they were to replace the old and weary Sarutobi Hiruzen with a younger Tsunade as the new Hokage, it didn't seem like a bad thing at all!
The clan heads collectively voiced their approval, but Tsunade directly refused. "I don't want to do it. After I cure Kakashi's poison and treat the village's wounded, Shizune and I will leave the village."
"Ah! Lady Tsunade! How can you say that!"
"That's right, Lady Tsunade! You've only just returned to Konoha. Now that the Third Hokage... you must take charge of the situation!"
"Lady Tsunade, please reconsider! What will Konoha do without you!"
Tsunade shook her head. "I don't think I'm qualified to be a shinobi again, let alone a shinobi's leader. This nomination, let's just drop it!"
Homura Mitokado sighed. "Tsunade, don't refuse just yet. Then, is there anyone who volunteers to be the Fifth Hokage?"
At these words, the grief-stricken people's hope was rekindled.
After all, no matter what, in a place like the Land of Fire, male leaders were still more revered.
Everyone talked for a long time, and in the end, the vote was nineteen for Jiraiya and ten for Tsunade.
"In that case..." Uchiha Ren raised his hand. "As the last of the Uchiha, I should also have the right to vote, right? I think Tsunade is pretty good."
Several days passed in a flash.
In the blink of an eye, it was the seventh day since Sarutobi's death.
The sky over Konoha was gloomy, and a fine, dense rain fell like threads of sorrow, casting an even heavier pall of grief over the funeral of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The entire village was immersed in an atmosphere of solemnity and grief, and the streets and alleys were filled with a gloom that could not be dispelled.
The people attending the funeral were all dressed in black, lined up neatly and quietly. Their faces were filled with sorrow, and many had tears in their eyes, sobbing softly.
Within the crowd, Uchiha Ren stood quietly beside Sasuke, who was in a wheelchair, holding an umbrella steadily over the young boy.
Rainwater slid down the surface of the umbrella, forming a curtain of crystal droplets.
Sasuke's small body appeared exceptionally frail in this oppressive atmosphere. His eyes were blank, his tender face full of confusion and sorrow.
He seemed unable to fully comprehend the solemn meaning of this funeral, and was only infected by the sorrowful emotions around him, staring blankly at the scene before him.
Uchiha Ren then slightly tilted the edge of his umbrella, just enough to hide his own facial expression.
He bit his lip, desperately suppressing the inappropriate urge to burst out laughing.
He couldn't help it. In his eyes, this so-called funeral was more like a farce.
He remembered Sarutobi Hiruzen's past actions, the injustices and persecution against the Uchiha Clan, and an uncontrollable sense of mockery welled up in his heart.
If not for the need to hide his true feelings, he was afraid he would have actually laughed out loud on the spot.
The ceremony slowly began, and solemn, mournful music drifted through the air.
One by one, shinobi with sorrowful expressions slowly stepped forward, holding fresh flowers that symbolized respect and remembrance, and gently placed them before Sarutobi Hiruzen's monument.
Their movements were gentle and slow, as if they were afraid of disturbing the deceased Hokage.
Even Hatake Kakashi, who was in a wheelchair, struggled to the front with the help of others to lay down his flowers.
With Kakashi's action, the surrounding sobs grew louder.
Everyone was immersed in this thick atmosphere of grief, tears streaming down their faces.
Seeing this, the urge to laugh in Uchiha Ren's heart became even more difficult to suppress.
His shoulders trembled slightly, and his body, which was forcing back the laughter, began to twitch.
To avoid being noticed, he could only bite the bullet and start "sobbing" along with the crowd, trying to use the sudden sound to cover up the laughter that was about to burst out.
While pretending to weep, he mocked this hypocritical scene in his heart. Yet, on the surface, he had to put on an appearance of extreme grief, which made him feel incomparably ridiculous and ironic.
A Hokage's death is a death.
But the deaths of over six hundred and fifty Uchiha clan members was not a death.
And now, who would remember them?
What a hypocritical village Konoha was.
Just then, a yellow-haired brat burst into the crowd.
Seeing Naruto's figure, a few shinobi hurriedly grabbed him. "Naruto! This is Lord Sarutobi Hiruzen's funeral! Don't cause trouble!"
Naruto held back his tears. "I! I know! I... I came to offer flowers!"
Seeing that Naruto was indeed holding flowers, the shinobi felt embarrassed and cleared a path.
Naruto walked forward and came before Sarutobi Hiruzen's heroic monument, placing a yellow flower on it.
He turned to look at the faces of the crowd, rubbed his nose, and said, "Hmph! One day, I'll become Hokage too! I'm leaving!"
The people in the village had long understood Naruto's penchant for showing off, so no one bothered with him.
Naruto walked away, trying to look cool, but his eyes were still filled with tears.
He pretended it was just the rain, wiped his face a couple of times, and walked to the edge of the crowd.
"Hm? Big Brother Good Heart?"
Following Naruto's gaze, he indeed saw Uchiha Ren, who was holding back his laughter.
"Big brother!" Naruto Uzumaki went forward and gave Uchiha Ren a bear hug from behind. "Why are you here too?"
Uchiha Ren stifled a laugh. "I heard there'd be food, so I came."
"Really! Is that true? There's food?!"
"Shh!" Uchiha Ren was speechless for a moment. "Keep it down! Are you afraid people won't know we're hungry?"
"Oh, right..."
Just then, Naruto Uzumaki noticed Sasuke's blank expression. He curiously waved his hand in front of Sasuke's face. "Hey, what's wrong with you?"
The terrible things Sasuke had experienced in one night were more than what Naruto had gone through in his entire life.
advance ch on my p@treon up to 200ch [email protected]/c/mr_ceruoo