Chapter 62: The Funeral (Part I)
Ever since Uchiha Kei was certain that the Third Hokage and the higher-ups of Konoha were too preoccupied to keep a close eye on the Uchiha clan, he had been spending more time at his small hidden base.
Still, Kei didn't dare let his guard down completely. Even when researching and recording details about his Mangekyō Sharingan, he always left behind a shadow clone in the nearby forest.
This clone wasn't just to fool any potential (albeit unlikely) surveillance—it could also deter any passerby. And of course, it doubled as a tool for training, something Naruto Uzumaki had already proven effective.
Since it worked, Kei wasn't going to let the opportunity go to waste. The only regret was that his chakra reserves weren't large enough—otherwise, he might've tried training like Naruto too.
In any case, Kei was finally able to study and document his Mangekyō Sharingan properly, just as he had always wanted.
Unfortunately, he had barely begun making preliminary notes when he had to put everything on hold. News of Minato Namikaze's sweeping victories on the front lines had begun pouring into the village like snowflakes in winter.
Iwagakure, having already lost all hope in this war, couldn't stand up to the combined force of Minato and Jiraiya—especially with their supply lines severed.
Although some Iwa-nin were still determined to fight to the bitter end, even attempting to ambush negotiators like Shikaku Nara, the truth was that the Land of Earth no longer had the will to continue expending resources on the Grass Country front.
Now, their focus had shifted toward preserving strength and ending the war with dignity—and figuring out how to deal with the muscle-headed Cloud nin from the Land of Lightning.
Apart from a few squads left behind to guard against Iwa-nin and protect the negotiators, most Konoha shinobi had already returned home.
It was hard to believe that just a month ago, they had been fighting tooth and nail. But thanks to the Land of Earth's own mistakes—and Minato Namikaze leading Kei's team in the daring assault on the Kannabi Bridge—the war was now drawing to a close.
Of course, the main credit went to Minato. Though Kei had earned recognition during this operation, everyone remembered it as "under Minato Namikaze's leadership."
And rightly so. Every battle Minato joined ended in overwhelming victory. His reputation soared, and for a time, "The Yellow Flash of the Leaf" eclipsed every other name in the ninja world.
Riding that wave of acclaim, Minato returned to Konoha. The war in the Grass Country no longer required his presence.
Kei heard that the Third Hokage had already struck a deal with the Sand, and now the Ino-Shika-Cho trio was being sent to negotiate with Iwa.
Kei couldn't help shaking his head when he learned this. It seemed the Third had been truly rattled by the war—after all, it was strange for the victors to approach the defeated with peace talks rather than waiting for them to surrender.
Perhaps the losses Konoha suffered had been too great. The Hokage must have believed the village could no longer afford prolonged conflict. And so, he made a decision unbecoming of a victorious nation—especially when considering the generous terms he offered.
Ōnoki was already under pressure, and the Iwa-nin had been thoroughly intimidated by Minato. The Third's decision might, well harm the interests of many from the village.
Still, Kei wasn't surprised. This mirrored the events that would later befall the Hyūga clan.
The methods might differ, but the essence was the same—sacrificing part of the whole to preserve the greater interest of Konoha. That "part" could be a single clan or all the shinobi of the village.
But what exactly constituted the "greater good"? Was it the village's welfare, or just that of the leadership? That was a question worth pondering.
Regardless, these matters didn't concern Kei at the moment. He was focused on his Mangekyō Sharingan research, documenting the differences between it and the standard Sharingan.
The differences he examined weren't just in dōjutsu techniques, but also in the raw enhancements the eyes provided—like heightened perception, body coordination, genjutsu amplification, and ninjutsu control. Sadly, before he could compile and analyze all the data, he was forced to stop.
The Third Hokage had announced a grand funeral in Konoha.
War always demanded sacrifice. Everyone knew that. But as battles dragged on, people grew numb.
Shinobi, in particular, became killing machines. They didn't just disregard the lives of others—they grew indifferent to their own.
Yet when the casualties finally hit close to home—someone they knew, someone they cared about—they realized they weren't as numb as they thought.
And so, a memorial was necessary. A ceremony to remind these hardened warriors that they were still human, capable of feeling.
Of course, this was also a political performance. Whether it was a sincere tribute to the fallen or a move by the village elders to show respect and gratitude, it was a necessary event.
Kei wasn't particularly interested, but as a jōnin of Konoha who had fought in the war, he had no choice but to attend with Uchiha Fugaku.
"I guess this is part of what it means to have status, huh?"
Most of those attending were jōnin. Some were decorated civilians; others were clan heads. Kei spotted Kakashi and Minato among them.
Dressed in a formal black kimono, Kei stood in the second row reserved for the Uchiha clan. The outfit felt awkward and restrictive—he much preferred his battle gear.
Gazing at the dense crowd and the stone monument covered in names, Kei couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion, despite the numbness that war had instilled in him.
There was no rain today, but the sky was overcast, heavy—just like the hearts of many attending villagers.
No one recited eulogies. No one cried. The silence was absolute.
Everyone just stood quietly, each mourning in their own way.
They all knew that words wouldn't bring the dead back. From this day forward, no one would speak of that person again—because their name had become synonymous with sorrow.
Their story would fade into the forgotten past, swallowed by history, leaving only a name on a spirit plaque—meaningless to some, yet carrying tremendous weight.
"Clan leader," someone near Kei whispered quietly, "I've heard rumors that the Third Hokage may step down… Some are suggesting you run for the Fourth."
"Don't speak of such things again," Fugaku replied, eyes still closed, his voice firm with rejection.
"What about Kakashi?" the voice pressed on. "He's not of our clan, yet he possesses the Sharingan."
"If you say something like that one more time," Kei suddenly cut in, his voice sharp, "I won't hold back."
As he spoke, his eyes turned crimson. The three tomoe of the Sharingan spun slowly in his gaze.