Mourning

Author Ilustration in comment <3

***

Tsuyu stood in front of the control panel of Ancor Vantian, overlooking all of Konoha through the glass view from the sky fortress. The crumbling earth wall overcasting giant shadows over what remained of the village.

Danzo stood beside her, also looking at the view. He felt solemn. Konoha had never come close to destruction like this day. His expression grave; worrying about the coming storm.

"Tsuyu. Do you understand what this meant for Konoha…"

"... Possibility of war." Tsuyu knew that the other nations had always been looking out for a chance to take a piece from the Land of Fire. Konoha's current state was more than enough of a chance to cause movements from the other Great Nations. She even had a sense of Déjà vu back when the Empire was attacked from all sides - almost causing the Empire to crumble.

Danzo turned his gaze towards her. His eyes as if looking at his future. "Among the newer generations, I placed my hope on you most, Tsuyu."

Tsuyu's eyes became firm, hearing the words coming from her superior. The expectation may be overbearing, but it meant he recognised her worth and for Tsuyu, that was more than just a praise.

"Danzo-sama, I will do my best to fulfill your expectations."

Danzo nodded. "I have decided to take you as my personal disciple. Would you be willing?" Konoha severely lacked manpower currently, with close to a third of their fighting force eliminated in a single day. But what mattered more was the truly elite that could change the tide of war itself. Danzo could see Tsuyu becoming one of such people - just like her own father - perhaps surpassing him from a long time ago. As for the elite Konoha had right now, he could think of Kakashi, Jiraiya, and finally Might Guy. And that was all. It was baffling that they lost Itachi, Shisui, White Fang, Orochimaru, and Tsunade was also useless. As for Danzo himself going to the battlefield, that was the last thing he would do if Konoha was truly about to be destroyed completely.

Tsuyu had no hesitation hearing the promotion given to her.

"I am willing, Danzo-sama."

"Good."

Soon enough, Ancor Vantian landed just right next to the Earth Wall that stood protecting Konoha.

Most of the shinobi gathered to inquire. Danzo quickly ordered the INT department to take in the prisoners and extract everything useful and made subsequent arrangements for his subordinates and delegate his orders. It was clear Danzo was actually a good leader just from how Tsuyu observed his decision-makings.

An ANBU quickly came over to Danzo seeing him.

"Danzo-sama… we had retrieved Lord Third's body…" His voice was quiet, almost in deep sorrow.

Danzo sighed. "… He died as a hero of Konoha, protecting this village even till his last breath. Let's not delay his burial. Make a headcount and quickly make a list of our of the lives losses today… we will carry out the funeral as soon as possible."

"Understood." The ANBU just as quickly. The shinobi's and administrative staffs moved in groups and made headcounts. Naruto and Tsuyu stood at the side, quickly having their names noted down.

The news of the death of Lord Third soon spread among the villagers. The chaos made many unaware of the circumstances of Hiruzen's death, and only now they realised after the fact.

The sky grew darker as grey clouds rolled over. It seemed as if the earth was also mourning for the death of loved ones and the leader loved by many.

"Lord Third…" One of the ANBU nearby shed tears. For him, Lord Third was akin to a grandpa. Most of them had received words of encouragement from him, giving them the fire in their heart to go on as a shinobi, to protect the village and its people.

A few others followed suit. Expressions of sadness and anguish painted over many of the faces. Sound of thunder rumbled as the clouds gathered more.

"Tsuyu, meet me at the headquarters after the funeral…" Danzo said. His tone was just as solemn.

"Yes, Danzo-sama." Danzo gave a salute and watched him leave. Danzo had many things to do, after all. Calling back Tsunade and Jiraiya was also urgent.

As Tsuyu looked around, she looked at everyone mourning the loss of the village. Many lost their parents and child, had their home turned to smokes and rubbles. Many of their companions and friends were gone in a single moment.

Tsuyu had no deep emotions regarding this. Just a pity. It's such a waste of resources.

Just then, Tsuyu heard a familiar voice screaming towards her.

"Tsu-chan!"

She saw Naruto running over with an expression on his face. "I am alive and well, nii-san." Tsuyu just said blandly, knowing Naruto was worried, she guessed. Not that it was needed.

Naruto turned to look at Ancor Vantian behind her, almost in awe. It was really big, and he saw it flying down to land just now and quickly came over.

Just then, he saw rows of people with their hands cuffed up being guided down the flying fortress.

"Kill them!". "DAMNED SKY SHINOBI!"

Naruto felt his heart stop for a moment, hearing the shout filled with resentment shouting behind him. As he turned to look, he felt a deep sense of discomfort looking at the faces of the crowd. The look of anguish and hatred.

A villager, unable to control his rage took a small rock beneath his feet and threw them at one of the prisoners.

With a thud, blood dripped from his head. "Ahh..-" The prisoner stopped his steps, wincing in pain.

"Move!" The Shinobi leading them was only irritated and pulled on the rope to force him to move forward.

"DIE!". "Kill!". "Die!". "Hang them!". "Execute them!"

Curses, rocks and other objects began to be thrown at the prisoners as they were led away.

Tsuyu noticed Naruto was mortified, and his body was shaking slightly. She didn't say much. It was good that Naruto get to see this. He needed to grow up soon mentally. Tsuyu had a feeling Naruto would be forced into the battlefield if war did start, given that he carried half of the village's strongest weapon like herself. She could only do so much to prepare him.

Naruto couldn't look away. The look the villagers had. The way they threw curses at the prisoners. He didn't know how to describe it. He just hated it. He hated all this. Naruto tugged at Tsuyu's sleeves all of a sudden.

"Tsu-chan… what would happen to those people?"

"Who?" Tsuyu was confused as to who Naruto was referring to.

"Those… um… those people that attacked us."

"Death sentence. After everything useful is extracted." Tsuyu said factually, without any stutter in her words.

"W-what…?".

"What's the problem?" Tsuyu frowned, she didn't understand Naruto's point or feelings with the question.

"Nothing…" Naruto couldn't answer the fact that he was uncomfortable at the idea. But he kept his silence because he knew those people had killed a lot of people and deserved it. But, seeing the look of hatred from the villagers, and the way the prisoners were treated, it was as if a part of himself felt it was wrong. But he knew that a lot of people were injured and saw many lost their loved ones. He did feel angry at them, too.

But Naruto knew how it felt to be hated, and in a twisted sense he couldn't help but be affected by the display just now. Tsuyu just let it go, since he wasn't willing to say it.

After minutes of silence mourning, Naruto tugged at Tsuyu's sleeve once more.

"Tsu-chan, let's get back home…"

"Hm" Their names were already counted in the headcount and it would be no problem. As they headed back, Tsuyu noticed how quiet Naruto was.

"Tsu-chan… Lord Gramp… he… I can't believe he passed away…"

…

Tsuyu personally never cared about him. And honestly she didn't understand why Naruto seemed affected either. All Lord Third did for them personally was checking up on them once every few months, dropping some money, giving some words or something and just leave.

But Naruto had taken Lord Third's initiatives as very personal, and already look at him as a grandpa-figure and also someone - a Hokage - that he would like to be as well.

Naruto remembered what Lord Third had once said to him, back when he was checking on the two and sat down to eat dinner with them.

***

"Jii-chan! What does Hokage do exactly!" Naruto actually asked. Naruto almost thought Hokage only stamp on papers and sat in his office all day doing nothing.

"Ho. So you never know? Hahaha. Very well, let me tell you. Being a Hokage wasn't just about acknowledgement or fame, Naruto. It was about protecting the village and hope."

"Hope?"

"Hokage was akin to the leaves. Giving shelter, giving cover from the sun. And even if they wither, they become nutrients in the soil, providing for the budding leaves so they could grow well in the future. You carried the burden, and along with it, hope for your friends, family, and all of Konoha. Do you understand, Naruto?"

"Uhh… maybe?" Naruto scrunched his eyebrows as he munched away at the food.

"Hahaha. Someday you will understand. But really, Tsuyu, your cooking was really delicious. Hahaha."

"It's not worth mentioning, Sandaime-sama…" Tsuyu was frothing in her mind that this old man decided to freeload when she already had strict budgets. And he ate almost as much as Naruto did!

***

I want to be Hokage, to protect the village and everyone. To protect Tsu-chan and my friends, just as Jii-chan had…

Naruto muttered internally. He raised his head as the Will of Fire was lit up in his heart reflected in his blue eyes. He truly wanted to protect all he cherished. It was as if his reasoning for his goal had changed at this moment. He finally realised the true meaning of a Hokage and what it stood for truly. The family and friends he had made him realise how shallow his reasoning to become Hokage was before. Seeing the deaths and injuries of many people and loved ones - and the fear that Tsuyu and Sasuke too were gone before, and then the death of Lord Third, it deeply affected his mindset. He didn't want to lose any of them.

The day passed as the two returned to their home. Thankfully, their house remained intact. The next morning, the sibling head to the assigned graveyard compound. There were too many deaths, and along with it, too many tombstones to count. Rain fell lightly as the remaining villagers gathered to mourn for the deaths of the villagers and Lord Third.

Seeing thousands of graves in front of him, Naruto's heart also firm once more. To become a strong shinobi, to protect everyone he cherished.

***