Chapter 6: Uchiha Obito's Funeral
Konoha Village.
Though called a shinobi village, its prosperity exceeded even the Fire Country's capital and Daimyo's palace. Only in these past two years had continuous warfare caused Konoha to grow slightly desolate. A somber, oppressive atmosphere shrouded the village streets and alleyways.
Aside from innocent children who could still giggle with laughter, most passersby wore tense expressions.
Years of constant war. Endless bloodshed.
While not every household in Konoha wore mourning white, funeral services were held every few blocks. Nearly everyone had lost acquaintances, relatives, or friends who'd remained forever on the front lines. What returned were either corpses—or not even that.
Ritsu had just returned to the village and hadn't walked far when he heard wailing carried on the wind.
Turning a corner, he saw scattered pedestrians dressed in black formal wear. Every face wore solemn, heavy expressions. Some women wept softly, their grief infectious enough to drag down one's own mood into melancholy sorrow.
Had someone's funeral just concluded?
Ritsu couldn't help wondering.
Just then—
"Ritsu-kun?"
A quite familiar voice came from ahead.
Ritsu focused his gaze. Before him stood a man with yellow hair, blue pupils, and handsome features so perfect one could barely find a single flaw.
"Minato-senpai?"
Ritsu was startled.
He truly hadn't expected to encounter Namikaze Minato here, under these circumstances. Why was the renowned "Yellow Flash" attending a funeral in the village instead of fighting Rock ninja in the north?
Suddenly, an ominous guess surfaced in his mind.
This funeral... could it be for Uchiha Obito?
"May I ask who was lost?"
Ritsu asked softly.
"It was Obito."
Minato's expression turned sorrowful, his voice somewhat hoarse.
It truly was Uchiha Obito.
So the Battle of Kannabi Bridge had already concluded, and Obito had fallen into Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu's hands?
Ritsu pressed his lips together and spoke quietly. "Minato-senpai, please accept my condolences."
"Ritsu-kun, why did you return? The war with the Mist ninja on the Eastern Front hasn't ended yet, has it?" Minato had no desire to discuss his fallen student further and instead inquired about Ritsu's situation.
If one asked how Ritsu became acquainted with Namikaze Minato?
The answer was simple.
Ritsu's teacher was Hiruko. Minato's teacher was Jiraiya, one of the Sannin. That Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku happened to have the best temperament among the Sannin and maintained a decent relationship with Hiruko. Ritsu and Minato had thus become acquainted through their teachers.
And Minato's question reassured Ritsu.
It seemed Minato had just returned from the northern battlefield and didn't yet know what had occurred on the Eastern Front.
He answered softly. "The war with the Mist ninja has no hope of ending anytime soon. I returned because something happened within the clan that required my presence. Once matters are settled, I'll return to the front lines."
"I see."
Minato nodded.
"What about you, Minato-senpai? Has the war with the Rock ninja ended?"
"The Rock ninja have retreated, but the Cloud ninja's Fourth Raikage recently succeeded to his position, and they've been growing restless lately. They may strike again. After resting for two days, I'll likely head north again to keep watch on the Cloud ninja."
"The Cloud ninja are stirring up trouble again?"
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before parting ways.
Their relationship was more like acquaintances than close friends.
After watching Minato's figure disappear down the street, Ritsu leaped onto a rooftop and rushed toward the Hyuga clan compound. Meeting Minato, who'd just returned to the village unaware of events on the Eastern Front, was fortunate. Encountering someone who knew the details could potentially obstruct his plans.
Before long, he arrived at the Hyuga clan compound entrance.
As one of Konoha's premier clans, the Hyuga lived together in a concentrated area, occupying a large tract of land within the village. Only Hyuga clan members resided within this compound. It had streets, shops, parks—clan members could purchase most daily necessities without leaving, never needing to venture outside.
The shop owners were all clan members—those who hadn't awakened their eyes.
Awakening the Byakugan wasn't as difficult as awakening the Uchiha clan's Sharingan.
However, not all Hyuga clan members could awaken the Byakugan. Many never activated it their entire lives. Ritsu's parents were examples—neither had awakened their Byakugan even now. Conversely, Ritsu—perhaps because his soul had transmigrated as an infant—awakened his eyes very young, earning himself a reputation as a prodigy.
As one of their own, Ritsu easily infiltrated the compound without alerting the Branch Family guards.
Then he vaulted over walls and through alleys, breaking into a certain residence.
"Ritsu-aniki?"
In the training ground, a youth diligently practicing Gentle Fist looked up in shock at Ritsu's sudden intrusion. "How did you get back? Did the clan head and elders capture you?"
"Arima, who are you cursing?"
Ritsu glared at the loose-lipped youth.
"But the clan head, Elder Daichi, and Elder Hisho went to the front lines saying they'd punish you. I was thinking if those Main Family bastards really harmed you, Ritsu-aniki, I'd wrap myself in explosive tags and—"
"Enough, enough! Arima, stop rambling. Go quickly and call Takuma and Akiba here. I have something to tell you all."
"Oh! Okay."
Hyuga Arima agreed without hesitation.
Without even asking why, he charged out like an unleashed wild horse.
This left Ritsu alone in the spacious compound. Arima was a Branch Family member, fourteen years old this year—one year younger than Ritsu. He'd recently been promoted to Special Jonin. Both parents deceased, he currently lived alone.
Since childhood, Arima had been one of Ritsu's loyal followers. During his first battlefield deployment, he'd nearly been killed by Mist ninja. Ritsu had snatched him back from death's door. Since then, Arima obeyed Ritsu's every word. Even if ordered to assassinate the Third Hokage, he'd charge forward without hesitation.
Ritsu sat cross-legged on the veranda facing the courtyard, waiting patiently.
Roughly seven or eight minutes passed before Arima returned, dragging along one man and one woman, shouting loudly. "Ritsu-aniki! I brought Takuma and Akiba!"
"You little punk, Arima. You call Ritsu 'aniki' but address me by name directly?"
Seventeen-year-old Hyuga Takuma irritably rapped Arima's head.
Then he looked toward Ritsu sitting cross-legged on the veranda, confusion showing on his face as he urgently asked, "Ritsu, what's the situation at the front lines? How did you get back? Didn't you meet the clan head and elders?"
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