The attack on Konoha left heavy casualties. The entire eastern district had sunk dozens of meters deep, becoming an irreparable area. From an aerial view, it looked like a giant bite had been taken out of the village, there was a gaping black hole starkly contrasted against the surrounding buildings.
Nearly a thousand ninja lost their lives in this attack. Fortunately, civilians had been evacuated in time, resulting in minimal casualties among them which was a small consolation amidst the tragedy.
A solemn, black-themed funeral was held as scheduled. Black clothes and umbrellas filled the scene, though the clear, cloudless weather eased the heavy atmosphere slightly. However, the shadows in people's hearts remained tangled and unresolved.
Every death represented a family shattered, and the sorrow typically felt only during times of war had returned in this era of peace.
In the vast cemetery, people gathered in groups, each holding a white flower. The flowers stood in stark contrast to their black clothing.
Everyone faced the Will of Fire monument. At the front stood Minato, Hiruzen, and others, heads slightly bowed, eyes closed, silently mourning the tragic loss.
Here in the cemetery, fortune and misfortune intertwined. Those buried in darkness contrasted with the living who still basked in the light.
When the moment of silence ended, people stepped forward one by one to lay their white flowers at the base of the Will of Fire monument. Soon, a mound of pristine blooms formed at its base.
Itachi Uchiha tilted his head back, quietly gazing at the fiery sculpture of the Will of Fire. For days, his mind had been consumed by scenes from the recent battle, each moment replaying vividly like still frames, dozens of them lined up before his eyes like surveillance monitors.
Powerful. Strong. Overwhelming.
Of all the words he could use, only "strong" seemed fitting for the images in his mind.
Itachi had witnessed the battle firsthand, and it completely transformed his perspective. For the first time, he saw a clear goal for his growth.
Only by surpassing such strength could he protect what he wished to protect.
If he had possessed greater power than Ye Zi at the time, Konoha would not have suffered such devastating losses. It was a simple truth, yet the gap between them was undeniable. That battle showed Itachi exactly how far he had to go.
Now understanding the scale of the gap, he had found his target.
He had decided to join the ANBU. This was his choice, made without interference or suggestion from anyone else.
The funeral concluded, but grief lingered like a melody, wrapping itself around everyone's hearts, an echo that would take years to fade.
Even while mourning lost loved ones and friends, life had to go on. Steps forward were a necessity.
The Aftermath...
Recovery efforts were gradually getting on track, but the destruction of the eastern district presented a significant challenge. The massive crater left by Ye Zi, tens of meters deep, was an immense logistical problem.
Repairing the crater would require enormous financial and human resources. After much deliberation, Konoha's leadership decided against restoring the area and instead planned to turn the crater into a massive artificial lake. Since the eastern district was an integral part of Konoha, this solution would prevent the area from being left desolate.
Beyond repairing the eastern district and relocating its residents, a host of other pressing issues awaited resolution.
Minato was overwhelmed, but with assistance from Hiruzen and Jiraiya, he began addressing the most critical matters. Meanwhile, Kushina and Tsunade led the medical teams, working tirelessly day and night to treat the wounded.
The crater created during Ye Zi's escape had injured most of the present Konoha ninjas and claimed the lives of some unlucky few caught within it.
The surge in injured personnel placed enormous pressure on the medical teams. Despite their relentless efforts, a large number of patients remained untreated.
Konoha had entered a state of intense post-attack recovery, with everyone working at maximum capacity to pick up the pieces.
.....
In the Hokage's Office
"Though I've wanted to abolish the 'Root' organization for a long time, I didn't expect the day to come so suddenly," said Hiruzen, the retired Third Hokage, who was still actively contributing.
Koharu Utatane sighed faintly, countering, "Danzo's methods were always extreme, but he acted for Konoha's sake. I believe 'Root' still has its purpose and should continue to exist."
Hiruzen fell silent, and Minato also refrained from speaking. Meanwhile, Jiraiya clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.
Homura Mitokado said calmly, "The system can be reformed, but abolishing it outright isn't the answer. While 'Root' lacks compassion, its value to Konoha is undeniable."
"Ninjas are not tools. After Danzo's death, 'Root' no longer has a reason to exist," Minato said suddenly.
Jiraiya, seizing the rare opportunity, immediately chimed in, "No one denies the contributions 'Root' has made to Konoha, but let's not forget. It served Danzo's personal agenda more often than Konoha's interests. This attack…"
At this point, Jiraiya let out a dissatisfied snort and said, "The members of 'Root' followed Danzo's orders and remained inactive during the attack. Such behavior is inexcusable. If he hadn't gone after Ye Zi and ended up dead himself, I would've personally dealt with him."
Hearing this, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado frowned slightly but found themselves unable to refute.
Indeed, 'Root' remained idle during the attack, standing by as the enemy rampaged through the village, all on Danzo's orders.
Hiruzen shook his head slightly and sighed. "The man is already dead. Discussing this serves no purpose. What we should focus on is how to handle 'Root' moving forward."
After speaking, Hiruzen silently lamented the unpredictability of life. To think that Danzo would ultimately meet his end at Ye Zi's hands, it seemed like poetic justice.
Minato nodded lightly and said in a serious tone, "For now, the loyal members of 'Root' will be reassigned to visible roles. The remaining members will be merged with the ANBU. This will be a significant reform."
With Danzo's death, it was the perfect opportunity to abolish the 'Root' system. Like Hiruzen, Minato had long been displeased with Danzo's methods of training ANBU. It was too ruthless and devoid of humanity. They had both wanted to gradually resolve this issue for years.
However, with Danzo as a significant obstacle, it was no easy task. Even a slow, calculated approach was fraught with challenges. Now that Danzo was gone, things had become much simpler. Minato could take the time to reshape 'Root' until it was fully integrated with the ANBU.
This merger would require capable personnel to serve as team leaders, who could gradually assimilate and transform the 'Root' members over time.
Homura and Koharu pondered for a moment and ultimately had no objections. Their preference, of course, was for 'Root' to continue existing in some capacity. Danzo had been uniquely suited to its leadership, and without him, no one else could fill that role.
Considering this, perhaps merging 'Root' with the ANBU would create new opportunities and possibilities. Moreover, they believed Minato, as an excellent Hokage, would manage the transition effectively.
Hiruzen and Jiraiya naturally supported the decision.
While 'Root' had contributed significantly to producing ANBU talent over the years, its training methods had always troubled Hiruzen. The prospect of merging with ANBU and introducing changes was a welcome development.
As for Jiraiya, his disdain for Danzo ran deep. He absolutely detested the man, so the dissolution of 'Root' was something he wholeheartedly supported.
After discussing and finalizing the matter, Homura and Koharu departed.
A few additional matters remained for Minato to handle independently, with one concerning Kakashi's reassignment and another involving Itachi Uchiha's voluntary application.
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Currently on Chapter 500 - The Commotion Awakens The Rest of Kumogakure