The Master of Konoha's Legacy

Upon hearing of Shinnosuke's death and Asuma's disappearance, he returned home and had a huge fight with himself, ending in a bitter argument.

He threatened that if he couldn't find Asma, he would never go home again.

During this time, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a little lonely.

I can only come to the Hokage Rock every morning to relax, and then use my busy work in the Hokage Building to numb myself.

Perhaps because he had experienced so many separations and deaths, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that he had gradually accepted this fact.

My mood gradually calmed down, and I was no longer so sad.

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was gazing down at Konoha Village and sighing...

Suddenly, a mournful, poignant, and deeply moving sound of a flute came from the woods.

Almost instantly, Hiruzen Sarutobi broke through his defenses.

He stood there, lost in thought, listening to the sound of the flute, his mind filled with memories of Shinnosuke and Asuma.

An indescribable sorrow welled up in my heart, seemingly resonating with the sound of the flute.

After listening for a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi subconsciously took a step and walked towards the source of the sound.

Climb the steps and enter the dense forest.

After walking several dozen steps, I took the wrong path and had to go around it.

Finally, pushing aside the tall plants in front of him, Hiruzen Sarutobi saw the person playing the flute.

Uchiha Tonan sat on a tree branch, leaning against the trunk, his eyes lowered, playing the flute with a gloomy expression.

It seems that the sound of the flute is used to express the sorrow in one's heart.

The morning breeze stirred Uchiha Tonan's robes, carrying with it a few green leaves that passed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's line of sight.

Hiruzen Sarutobi reached out and grasped a green leaf, whispering in a barely audible voice, "Where leaves dance, fire will never cease."

This phrase is so overused that it almost threw Uchiha Tonan off track.

Fortunately, Uchiha Tonan had enough composure and did not show any abnormality, continuing to concentrate on playing the flute.

Uchiha Tonan could also understand Hiruzen Sarutobi.

After all, as a ninja, his level of education wasn't very high.

If you finally learn a couple of sentences that sound philosophical, of course you'll want to say them all the time.

Seeing Uchiha Tonan's appearance, Hiruzen Sarutobi assumed he was still grieving over Shinnosuke's death.

He immediately coughed lightly twice.

Uchiha Tonan seemed to be startled awake; the sound of the flute stopped abruptly, and he turned to look over.

Upon recognizing the newcomer as Hiruzen Sarutobi, he immediately jumped down from the tree.

Maintaining a distance of about five meters from Hiruzen Sarutobi, he placed his hands on his knees and bowed, saying:

"Lord Hokage, I am so sorry, I did not mean to disturb you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed and beckoned to Tonan Uchiha, signaling him to follow.

The two arrived together on the platform above the Hokage Rock.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood before the fence, gazing down at the entire Hidden Leaf Village, and said with a touch of sadness:

"Tunan, I know that Shinnosuke's death has been a huge blow to you."

If Shinnosuke were still alive, he certainly wouldn't want you to be so depressed because of him.

Uchiha Tonan knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi was saying these words as if he were trying to comfort him.

It's actually just another way of remembering Shinnosuke.

He immediately lowered his head with a sullen expression and replied dejectedly, "Yes."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, turned around and glanced at Uchiha Tonan, who was keeping his distance, and frowned slightly as he said:

“I’ve noticed that you seem to be deliberately keeping your distance from me ever since you returned to the village.”

Are you hiding something from me?

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Tonan trembled, pursed his lips, and remained silent, his expression growing increasingly somber.

Hiruzen Sarutobi studied Uchiha Tonan's expression and ruled out the possibility of him betraying him.

She sighed softly, "Tu Nan, you've grown up. You've learned to keep your feelings to yourself."

As he spoke, he walked toward Uchiha Tonan, wanting to stroke his hair as he used to.

However, when Uchiha Tonan saw Hiruzen Sarutobi approaching, he took a few steps back in a panic.

He said in an almost pleading tone, "Lord Hokage, please don't come near me."

"Tunan, what's wrong?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, looking puzzled.

Uchiha Tonan lowered his head and said sadly, "I...I am an unlucky person."

Father, Mother, Tenyu-san, Chihaya, Mina, Grandpa Motoyoshi, Shiroya-senpai, Shinnosuke, and Asuma.

These people I cherish and respect will all die one after another.

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised an eyebrow slightly, shook his head, and said, "Tunan, these things were all accidents and have nothing to do with you."

Uchiha Tunan opened his eyes, activated his Sharingan, and a vast amount of chakra overflowed.

He shouted, "What if!"

Actually, I've suspected this for a long time.

That's why I deliberately kept my distance from Kakashi, Minato, and Kushina.

After what happened in the City of Fire, I'm even more certain that I'm an unlucky person.

Hokage-sama, please don't come near me, I'm afraid that one day you will...

Hiruzen Sarutobi sensed Uchiha Tonan's chakra level, which was comparable to that of a Jonin, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Such incredible talent, far surpassing Kakashi's.

[Chapter 102. Clothes Delivered to the Sarutobi Clan's Territory]

(Bonus chapter for _Dreamy_ who donated to become a patron)

Hiruzen Sarutobi held Uchiha Tonan in even higher regard and immediately offered his words of comfort:

"Tu Nan, you haven't experienced enough."

If you were born in my time, you would find that death is just a very common thing.

Almost every now and then, a familiar face disappears from my life.

I know far too many people who have died.

According to you, does that mean I'm also an unlucky person?

Hiruzen Sarutobi's words seemed to have an effect, and Uchiha Tonan said weakly, "Really...it's not because of me?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled slightly and said, "It's alright. Once you have enough power, you can protect the people you want to protect."

As he spoke, he moved closer to Uchiha Tonan again and reached out to stroke Uchiha Tonan's hair.

This time, Uchiha Tonan did not dodge, but stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi with grateful eyes.

"Lord Hokage..."

After a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tonan Uchiha arrived at the fence and looked down at Konoha Village.

Bathed in the morning light, the two seemed to relax.

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, seemingly casually:

How have you been lately?

Uchiha Tonan pondered for a moment and said:

"It's alright. The only one in the clan who has ever been kind to me is the First Elder."

For some reason, other people always look at me with strange eyes.

Silly child, they don't like you because they think you're one of their people.

Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled lightly:

"People of the Uchiha clan are like this; they are arrogant by nature and don't like to get close to others."

"What's wrong? Is there something on me?"

Suddenly, Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed that Tonan Uchiha was staring intently at his clothes, and even leaned in to sniff them.

"Lord Hokage, your clothes are dirty."

Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled that he had been wearing the same divine robe without changing it for a while because he was feeling troubled.

With a slightly embarrassed expression, she said, "It's okay, I have another one in the office. I'll wash this one when I get home tonight."

To everyone's surprise, Uchiha Tonan said solemnly, "Lord Hokage, you are busy with the affairs of the village all day long. How can you put your mind on trivial matters such as washing clothes?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand and said, "It's nothing, just a small matter."

But Uchiha Tonan reached out and grabbed Hiruzen Sarutobi's divine robe, saying, "Hokage-sama, take it off. I'll go back, wash it, and bring it to you."

"Uh, okay."

Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't refuse Uchiha Tonan's kindness, so he took off his divine robe.

The two then chatted casually for a while.

Seeing that it was almost time, Hiruzen Sarutobi left the Hokage Rock and went to the Hokage Building to work.

In the evening, Hiruzen Sarutobi finished his official duties and returned to the Sarutobi clan's territory.

Then they saw Uchiha Tonan outside the clan's gate, holding a folded sacred robe, squatting there with his head buried in the robe.

At that moment, a Sarutobi clan ninja patrolling outside the clan's territory happened to pass by Sarutobi Hiruzen and immediately pointed at Uchiha Tonando:

"Lord Hokage, that little guy is here to see you. He's been waiting here since this morning."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, walked up to Tonan Uchiha, and coughed lightly, saying, "Tonan, what are you doing here?"