bookbashuk Chapter 46 Speech at the Monument to the Heroes – Happy National Day!
Chapter 46 Speech at the Monument to the Heroes – Happy National Day!
Although the smoke of the Second Shinobi World War has dissipated, the images left by the war are deeply imprinted on every corner of Konoha.
To commemorate the ninjas who sacrificed their lives in this brief but intense war, and to appease the villagers, Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the construction of a monument to heroes in the most prominent location in Konoha Village.
On the day the monument was unveiled, Konoha held an unprecedentedly grand memorial service.
A light drizzle was falling from the sky, as if mourning the departed heroes.
Hundreds of villagers and ninjas spontaneously gathered in the square in front of the monument.
They were dressed in black mourning clothes, holding white chrysanthemums, and each of them wore a solemn and sorrowful expression.
The newly erected monument, carved from a single massive block of black granite, soars into the clouds, solemn and dignified.
Unlike the memorial stone, the monument is not covered with densely packed names.
It was as smooth as a mirror, with only a line of large characters engraved in gold at the very top—
"Where the leaves dance, the fire will never die."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in a pure white Hokage robe and wearing a straw hat, slowly walked up to the high platform in front of the monument.
Behind him followed a group of high-ranking officials from Konoha.
Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, Kagami Uchiha, Torifu Akimichi...
All of them wore extremely solemn expressions.
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked to the center of the platform, took off his straw hat, revealing a young face etched with the marks of time.
He didn't speak immediately, but calmly swept his gaze over the dark mass of people below.
His gaze swept over the women whose eyes were red and swollen from losing their loved ones, over the children whose faces still held a childlike innocence but who had already lost their fathers, and over the ninjas whose expressions were forlorn after losing their comrades in the war.
The entire square was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Only the raindrops gently tapped on people's umbrellas, making a soft rustling sound.
After a long while, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally spoke.
His voice, without being amplified by chakra, reached everyone's ears with exceptional clarity.
"Today, we stand here not to celebrate victory."
"We stand here to remember."
His voice was soft yet deep, carrying a power that could penetrate the heart.
"We remember the heroes who went to sleep forever to protect the land beneath our feet."
He didn't shout empty slogans or preach grand theories like he usually does in his speeches.
He simply took out a thick roster from his pocket.
"Hyuga Ao".
He read out the first name.
In the crowd, a middle-aged woman trembled, covered her mouth, and tears silently streamed down her face.
"A Chunin of Konoha, a member of the Hyuga clan's branch family. On the border of the Land of Wind, to cover his teammates' retreat, he single-handedly blocked a fatal blow from dozens of puppets. He was only twenty-six years old when he sacrificed his life."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice narrated calmly.
"Inuzuka Kaze"
He then read out a second name.
"A Chunin of Konoha, a member of the Inuzuka clan. During the battle in the Land of Rain, in order to gather intelligence on the poisonous fog of Amegakure, he and his ninja dog sacrificed their lives to obtain valuable information for the Sannin team. He was only twenty-two years old when he died."
One name after another was uttered from Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth.
Behind every name lies a vivid story, a broken family.
He didn't use the vague word "hero" to describe them, but instead used the simplest language to tell them about their lives.
What do they like to eat? What are their dreams? Who are their best friends?
Suppressed sobs gradually rose from the square.
Those cold names, engraved on the memorial stone, seemed to come alive at this moment.
They are no longer distant symbols, but real, flesh-and-blood people living among them.
In the crowd, a blond-haired, blue-eyed boy stood quietly.
He is Minato Namikaze.
Looking at the man on the high platform, listening to him read out one name after another and tell one story after another.
He didn't quite understand those complex emotions, but he could sense that a great sadness and an even greater warmth were enveloping the entire square.
The Hokage, who was known as the "Professor of Ninjas," choked up slightly as he read out these names.
He saw that even the usually high-ranking figures around him were silently wiping away tears from the corners of their eyes.
At this moment, they were not Hokage, advisors, or clan leaders.
They were just ordinary people mourning their fallen comrades.
Minato Namikaze seemed to understand, but not quite.
But he felt that the man's back on the high platform appeared incredibly tall in the rain.
After reading the last name, Hiruzen Sarutobi closed the register.
He took a deep breath and looked at the crowd below the stage again.
"They, with their lives, demonstrated to us the true meaning of the Will of Fire."
"The Will of Fire is not a slogan for you to blindly sacrifice yourself."
"It is protection."
"It is a legacy."
"More importantly, it's a responsibility."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice suddenly rose in pitch.
"I, as the Third Hokage, hereby pledge to everyone!"
"From this day forward, all the orphans of ninjas who perished in the war will be raised by Konoha Village! We will cover all their living expenses and education costs!"
"I will take half of the war reparations from Kumogakure to establish the Will of Fire Relief Fund! This fund will be personally overseen by me, and its sole purpose is to ensure the livelihood of our heroic families!"
"At the same time, all war orphans will have priority access to the Ninja Academy! They will receive the best education and guidance from the most outstanding teachers!"
"Because they are the children of heroes! They are Konoha's most precious treasure!"
boom!
These words struck like a thunderbolt, resounding in the minds of all the villagers.
Lifetime pension?
Priority admission?
A fund personally overseen by the Hokage?
Is this...is this real?
Everyone was stunned by this sudden and tangible "benefit".
As they looked at the man on the platform, their gazes gradually shifted from sorrow to awe, and finally, to unparalleled fervor and adoration.
I don't know who was the first to shout it out.
Immediately afterwards, a deafening roar of cheers filled the entire square, even drowning out the sound of rain falling from the sky.
At this moment, the "Will of Fire" was no longer an abstract theory, but the most tangible warmth that could provide them with enough to eat and wear, and that could give their children an education.
On the high platform, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado looked at the excited villagers below, exchanged a glance, and saw deep shock in each other's eyes.
They now understood why Hiruzen had gone against all odds and spent so much money on these things.
Buy people's hearts?
No, this is no longer about winning people's hearts.
This is forging the soul of Konoha.
As Minato Namikaze looked at the figure on the high platform who was being adored by everyone, his small hands unconsciously clenched into fists.
In his deep blue eyes, a light shone brighter than the sun.
He wants to become that kind of person too!
Become a great ninja like the Third Hokage, someone who can protect everyone's smiles!
As the speech ended, Hiruzen Sarutobi, standing in the crowd, seemed to feel that burning gaze upon him.
He turned his head, and his gaze met that of the blond boy in mid-air.
He looked at the undisguised admiration and longing in the boy's eyes, smiled, and nodded gently.
It's like a promise that transcends time and space.
Then, he turned around and slowly left the stage amidst thunderous cheers.