Konoha Hypocrite (Part-1)

Chapter 15, Mourning Parents' Death, Heart-Wrenching Act

Author's Note:
Byakugan, literally meaning White Eye, is one of the three great visual jutsu, the others being Sharingan and Rinnegan.
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Two days later, the frontline combatants returned. The first thing they did was bury those who died. Under Sarutobi Hiruzen's leadership, the Uchiha clan members accounted for one-third of the dead in the war with Kiri.

The remaining casualties comprised various support and a large number of cannon fodder shinobi. The bodies of the fallen were covered with white cloth and placed on the turf.

Their relatives came to bid their final farewells.

"Father, don't go!"

"Brother, Brother..."

"Rest in peace. I'll take good care of your wife."

...

Heart-rending cries rang out all around. Tonan tied a white cloth around his forehead and knelt in front of Kotoura and Nanako's remains, a dim expression on his face.

The key to a crying scene was not the tears, but convincing others that you were suffering in agonizing grief.

Howling and mourning wouldn't make you stand out. Sadness must be presented with calmness, and then complemented by contrasting expressions at the right moments.

Tonan placed the cups he prepared in front of Kotoura and Nanako's bodies. Sake and tea were poured into the cups respectively. The tea was brewed strong, and the sake he chose was the most fragrant kind.

In an instant, the aroma of the sake and tea filled the air, drawing people's attention. "Dear father, you had a sharp tongue, but I knew you had a soft heart. You never spoke a single kind word to me, but I knew you gave up a lot for my sake."

Tonan looked at the remains of his parents, and as happy memories passed through his eyes, he said in a calm voice, "I was so nervous on the shinobi entrance exam day. You had a cold face and told me I was worthless. You told me not to disgrace you and the clan. But I knew that you were more nervous than me, your palms were covered in sweat."

"The sun was so strong that day. I was taking the exam in the classroom but you stood outside waiting for me the whole time. When I told you I'd passed, all you said was 'not bad'. But you drank three jars of sake that night when you would usually drink just one cup. You said that ninja must stay sober at all times, but you got drunk that day."

"My grades were always bad, and you would reprimand me every day. But you would also lead me by the hand to teach me how to refine chakra and throw kunai. Work was already hard on you, but you still stayed up late with me."

"You told me that ninja improve strength in danger, so you were just setting an example for a worthless son like me. You gave up your secure position in the police force and chose to fight on the frontlines. You said that you would teach me the Phoenix Sage Fire technique if my skills weren't the worst by the time you returned."

Speaking up to this point, a stiff smile spread across Tonan's face as he said senselessly.

"Now, not only have I unlocked the three tomoe, but I also secretly learned the Phoenix Sage Fire technique, so that I could surprise you when you returned."

By this point, Tonan's voice became hoarse. He was holding back his grief, yet he kept smiling on the surface. Tears spilled from the corners of his eyes. Wiping it off, he stood up and began forming hand seals.