The long-haired man stepped inside, wearing wooden clogs.
The Tomb of Sins of Ten Thousand Generations was roughly the size of an ordinary training ground, allowing everything inside to be seen at a glance.
The perimeter was enclosed by iron railings, and green weeds grew all around.
In the very center, there were three cast statues kneeling on the ground, facing Konoha.
Washed by the rain, the three statues looked as if they were weeping.
They were Sarutobi Hiruzen, Mitokado Homura, and Koharu Utatane.
Below the statues, content related to the three people's lives was inscribed.
"Teacher..."
Jiraiya took two steps forward, carefully read the inscriptions beneath the statues, and a heavy expression appeared on his face.
Long ago, he had already been deeply disappointed in Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The spirited man from back then became increasingly unfamiliar after he seized power.
But no matter how hard he tried to imagine it, he never thought his teacher would use forty thousand living people as sacrifices to activate the Impure World Reincarnation Technique... Now, look at him, reduced to a figure scorned by ten thousand generations.
"Alas... Teacher, the man you were shouldn't have ended up this way."
Jiraiya muttered to himself, but another voice came from behind him: "Jiraiya, people change."
Jiraiya looked back and saw Orochimaru and Tsunade slowly approaching.
The two stood on either side of him. Tsunade leaned down and placed a bouquet of flowers in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen's statue.
Regardless of the enmity between them, he had taught her for many years.
This final offering served to fulfill the teacher-student bond between them.
Orochimaru looked at Jiraiya and asked softly, "I hear you're leaving Konoha?"
"To search for the so-called child of prophecy?"
Jiraiya shook his head. "I don't want to get involved in this mess anymore. Now, I just want to gather material across the Ninja World and properly refine my novel."
Hearing this, Orochimaru smiled faintly, sounding somewhat sentimental. "When I defected from Konoha, you once said you would bring me back, even if it cost you your life."
"But now I'm back, and you're leaving."
Jiraiya finally managed a wry smile and sighed, "Life is unpredictable. Perhaps we were simply destined not to mesh."
Hearing their conversation, Tsunade couldn't help but get goosebumps. "Honestly, why does the conversation between you two grown men sound so weird?"
Hearing Tsunade's words, Jiraiya couldn't help but look at her. "Tsunade..."
"No, we are not going out. Absolutely not."
Seeing Jiraiya's look, Tsunade knew exactly what he was about to say and immediately waved her hand in refusal.
Jiraiya's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but yell, "Who would date a violent woman like you? You punch and kick people at the drop of a hat! Being your man would probably cut your lifespan in half!"
Tsunade raised her almond-shaped eyebrows, rolled up her sleeves, and challenged, "Say that again?"
Jiraiya immediately calmed down, took two steps back, and said, "I just wanted to have a good drink with you two before I leave."
"I'm busy."
After saying that, Tsunade turned around and left immediately.
Jiraiya's feelings for her were known to all, and she couldn't possibly get entangled with him.
"She really is a heartless, violent woman..."
Seeing Tsunade's retreating back, Jiraiya couldn't help but complain.
Orochimaru chuckled, his voice raspy. "Tsunade is indeed like this when facing everyone, except for that one person."
"That person? Who are you talking about?"
Seeing Jiraiya's puzzled expression, Orochimaru slowly replied, "Uchiha Yuzuru."
"In front of Yuzuru-kun, Tsunade is as docile as a little lamb."
"If you stay in Konoha, you might have the chance to see it."
Hearing this, Jiraiya couldn't help but shiver. "Then I definitely need to leave Konoha even more."
After speaking, he added somewhat begrudgingly, "Tsunade is something else. Uchiha Yuzuru already has so many wives, yet she still throws herself at him..."
"A man like me, on the other hand, is completely unappreciated."
Hearing Jiraiya's complaint, Orochimaru couldn't help but burst into laughter.
He patted Jiraiya on the shoulder. "Jiraiya, that's not Tsunade's problem; it's yours."
Seeing Orochimaru heading outside, Jiraiya couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you going to have a drink with me?"
Orochimaru didn't answer, merely raising his arm and giving a small wave.
The expression on Jiraiya's face gradually vanished. After a long silence, he sighed and disappeared alone into the curtain of rain.
----
----
Time flew by, and another month passed in the blink of an eye.
Konoha's streets were draped with banners and colorful silk, and everyone's faces were filled with excitement as they walked toward the center of the Village.
Today was the Hokage Succession Ceremony, and everyone was given a day off work.
But since such a grand ceremony was a rare occurrence, the people of Konoha Village gathered on the plaza in front of the Hokage Building early that morning.
Among them, the members of the Uchiha Clan were the most excited.
Several days earlier, they had already received the news: the person succeeding as Hokage this time was a member of their Uchiha Clan—Uchiha Fugaku.
Although it wasn't Uchiha Yuzuru, which was slightly disappointing, it was already enough.
Since the founding of Konoha, what the Uchiha Clan members had always dreamed of was having an Uchiha Hokage.
However, over the decades, the Uchiha Clan had never realized this wish and were even once forced to the brink of leaving Konoha.
Now that this dream had finally come true, how could they not be excited?
Many clan members even evolved their Sharingan directly due to the immense joy.
Just like outside, the faces of the people inside the Hokage Building were also filled with joy.
Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uchiha Yuzuru and asked with some apprehension, "Yuzuru, do you really want me to be the Hokage?"
"I feel like the Hokage everyone truly wants is you..."
Uchiha Yuzuru smiled and said lightly, "The Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire are currently completely under my control. If I were to succeed as Hokage, what would the people of the Land of Lightning think?"
"Just do a good job, and don't disappoint me."
Uchiha Fugaku immediately responded respectfully, "Understood!"
"Alright, time is running short. Let's head out."
Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, Uchiha Yuzuru slowly walked to the rooftop of the Hokage Building.
Beside him were Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Shisui, and Uchiha Obito... Uchiha Yuzuru didn't say much, merely handing the Hokage Hat and the Hokage Robe, symbols of the Hokage's authority, to Uchiha Fugaku.
"Starting today, Uchiha Fugaku succeeds as Hokage!"
Uchiha Yuzuru's voice echoed in the air, followed by enthusiastic cheers rising and falling.
Colorful flags fluttered, and fireworks erupted.
Although the protagonist today was Uchiha Fugaku, the crowd still shouted Uchiha Yuzuru's name.
Everyone knew that the true ruler of this land was Uchiha Yuzuru!