"Welcome home, heroes of Konoha."
The Third Hokage's voice echoed across the village entrance.
The villagers immediately erupted into cheers.
The returning shinobi slowly entered through the gates.
Dust covered their clothes.
Many carried scars from the war.
Some walked normally.
Others leaned on their comrades for support.
Yet every step forward was welcomed by applause.
Because they had returned alive.
The families waiting near the gate could no longer stay still.
Children rushed forward.
Wives searched through the crowd.
Parents looked anxiously among the returning shinobi.
Soon—
The first reunion happened.
A little girl suddenly cried out.
"Father!"
A shinobi stopped walking.
Then immediately opened his arms.
The girl crashed into him.
The crowd smiled.
Nearby—
An elderly couple tightly hugged their son.
A woman buried her face in her husband's chest while crying.
A younger brother proudly showed his missing front tooth to the sibling who had returned from the battlefield.
Laughter slowly spread through parts of the crowd.
But not everywhere.
Several families continued looking through the returning shinobi.
Waiting.
Searching.
Hoping.
One woman stood on her toes.
Her eyes moved through every face.
Again.
And again.
And again.
But the person she was looking for never appeared.
Slowly—
The smile on her face disappeared.
Nearby—
A young boy tugged at his mother's sleeve.
"Mom..."
He pointed toward the returning shinobi.
"Where is father?"
The woman opened her mouth.
But no words came out.
Not far away—
Several shinobi quietly approached a group of waiting families.
The moment people saw the expressions on their faces—
The atmosphere changed.
A mother covered her mouth.
An old man lowered his head.
A young woman simply froze where she stood.
The cheers gradually became quieter.
Because everyone understood what those shinobi were carrying.
Not everyone had returned.
The war had ended.
But some people would be waiting forever.
The village entrance slowly became divided.
One side celebrated reunions.
The other mourned losses.
Joy.
Grief.
Relief.
Pain.
All mixed.
The Third Hokage quietly watched everything.
Then slowly—
He stepped forward.
"Life and death are the natural outcomes of war."
His calm voice spread through the crowd.
Many villagers looked toward him.
"The people we lost cannot return."
Several people lowered their heads.
"But their will remains here."
Hiruzen's gaze swept across the village.
"The will to protect Konoha."
"The will to protect future generations."
His voice remained steady.
"And that will continue to be passed on."
Many villagers wiped away tears.
The older generation quietly comforted the younger ones.
Because they understood something clearly.
The war was over.
But the people left behind would carry its memory for years to come.
The atmosphere at the village gate remained heavy.
Some families were celebrating.
Others were still mourning.
Seeing this, Elder Homura stepped forward.
His aged voice carried across the crowd.
"This war has taken a heavy toll on every shinobi who fought for the village."
The villagers gradually became quiet.
Homura slowly looked toward the returning shinobi.
"Now is the time for them to rest."
Several exhausted shinobi looked up.
"For the next three months, every shinobi returning from the battlefield will be exempt from missions."
A small murmur spread through the crowd.
"And during that period, they will continue receiving full pay according to their rank."
Many shinobi immediately relaxed.
Some even smiled.
For those who had spent years on the frontlines—
Three months without missions sounded almost unreal.
Then Homura's expression softened slightly.
"As for the shinobi who did not return..."
The atmosphere became quiet again.
"Their families will continue receiving their salary according to rank for the next three months."
Several grieving families lowered their heads.
At least they would not be abandoned immediately.
Then Koharu stepped forward.
"This is only the village's initial reward."
Her voice remained calm.
"Once the Five Kage Peace Talks conclude, additional rewards and battlefield compensation will be distributed to the deserving shinobi and their families."
The crowd visibly relaxed.
Even many civilians nodded in approval.
At least the village was acknowledging the sacrifices made during the war.
Nearby—
Several shinobi quietly exchanged smiles.
Then the Third Hokage stepped forward once more.
His gaze swept across the gathered crowd.
"The village will never allow its heroes to feel forgotten."
His voice echoed throughout the entrance.
"And no sacrifice will be allowed to fade into nothing."
Conversations slowly died away.
Even the children stopped speaking.
Heads turned toward the Hokage.
"This war has taken many of our comrades."
For a brief moment—
Several people lowered their eyes.
"But it has also given rise to a new generation of heroes."
Hiruzen's gaze slowly moved through the returning shinobi.
"A generation carrying forward the will of those who came before them."
The villagers unconsciously followed his gaze.
Then—
Hiruzen smiled.
"And among them..."
His eyes stopped on a familiar blond-haired shinobi.
"...is Minato Namikaze."
The crowd immediately erupted into whispers.
"The youngest battlefield commander in Konoha's history."
A trace of pride appeared on Hiruzen's face.
"And despite his age..."
His voice became firmer.
"...he showed every enemy village that Konoha's new generation is no weaker than the last."
Applause immediately spread through the crowd.
Many villagers looked toward Minato with admiration.
Some shinobi nodded in agreement.
Others smiled proudly.
Meanwhile—
Minato scratched his cheek slightly.
A little embarrassed by the attention.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama."
His voice remained humble.
"But none of this was accomplished by me alone."
The applause gradually quieted.
Minato looked toward the returning shinobi.
"I was supported by countless people."
His gaze moved across the crowd.
"The Ino-Shika-Cho clans."
"The Hyuga clan."
"And many other shinobi who fought beside me."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"The credit belongs to all of them."
Several shinobi immediately laughed.
Some shook their heads.
Others smiled knowingly.
Because that answer sounded exactly like they expected from him.
Hiruzen heard Minato's words and laughed softly.
"Yes, yes. You had support from many people."
Nearby, Nara Shikaku shook his head.
"You don't need to be so modest, Minato."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Everyone knows how much of this victory rests on your shoulders."
Several shinobi nodded in agreement.
Even some villagers began whispering among themselves.
"The Yellow Flash..."
"The youngest commander in village history..."
"He really carried that battlefield."
Minato could only smile awkwardly.
Then suddenly—
another group appeared at the village entrance.
The crowd instinctively turned their heads.
Jiraiya.
Fugaku Uchiha.
And behind them—
dozens of battle-worn shinobi returning from the Mist border.
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Unlike the other returning forces—
this group carried a different feeling.
Many Uchiha ignored the villagers entirely.
The moment they entered the village, their eyes searched only for clan members.
Some immediately walked toward waiting relatives.
Others remained silent.
Meanwhile, several shinobi continued following behind Fugaku and Jiraiya.
"Old man."
Jiraiya grinned slightly.
"Don't tell me you forgot about our arrival."
The words pulled Hiruzen's attention away.
His gaze had unconsciously settled on Shinnosuke.
The deep scar across his face remained visible.
One arm was still wrapped in bandages.
For a brief moment—
something unreadable flashed through Hiruzen's eyes.
Then he smiled once more.
"How could I forget?"
His voice echoed through the entrance.
"The Uchiha Clan stood as the wall that blocked the Mist."
Many villagers immediately looked toward the Uchiha group.
"Under the command of Fugaku Uchiha, they prevented the enemy from breaking through the battlefield."
Several people began clapping.
Fugaku straightened slightly.
A trace of pride appeared on his face.
"I only did what a Konoha shinobi should do, Hokage-sama."
The applause continued briefly.
Then Homura suddenly stepped forward.
His gaze landed on a certain green-clad shinobi.
"And how could we forget another hero?"
The crowd quieted.
Homura pointed toward Might Duy.
"When the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist secretly crossed the border..."
His voice rose slightly.
"...a single genin stood against them."
The villagers immediately became shocked.
Many had already heard rumors.
But hearing it confirmed publicly was different.
Hiruzen nodded.
"Duy."
A warm smile appeared on his face.
"You proved that taijutsu is no weaker than ninjutsu when pushed to its limits."
The crowd immediately erupted into applause again.
"For your contribution..."
Hiruzen continued,
"...Konoha is grateful."
Might Duy's eyes immediately lit up.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
His voice carried genuine excitement.
"My youth has not failed me!"
Several villagers laughed.
Even some shinobi smiled.
"It allowed me to be acknowledged by so many great people!"
Duy placed a hand over his chest dramatically.
"That alone is enough for me!"
Nearby—
Might Guy looked as if he might explode from happiness.
The atmosphere became noticeably lighter.
For a brief moment—
it felt like the village had finally escaped the shadow of war.
Then—
a voice suddenly cut through the celebration.
"Is he trying to bury his bastard son's traitorous behaviour?"
Suki spoke.
Not loudly.
But just loud enough.
The nearby crowd heard every word.
The laughter vanished.
Several heads immediately turned.
The atmosphere froze.
Then another voice followed.
"What can he do other than that?"
Toyoma said casually.
His eyes remained fixed on the Grand Elder.
Not the Hokage.
Not the villagers.
Not anyone else.
"All he has done during the war is sit in his office gripping his a*s on that seat."
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P@treon - Hear_tteeth [18 +]
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