126-Final Respects(2)

After they returned to the village, the bodies of the deceased remained in the base, with only their families and close friends allowed to view them. The bodies were to stay there until the burial day, which was today.

The plan was for the bodies of the deceased to be moved to the clan tombs to be cremated, and their ashes would be stored in the very tombs which were beneath the Naka Shrine.

This tradition was a way to honour the fallen and keep their memory alive within the Uchiha clan's sacred ground.

The reason why the Uchiha clan chose to cremate the bodies of their shinobi instead of just burying them was so that no outsider would get a chance to study their bodies as they were still a treasure trove since they offered more than their sharingans.

Inside the base, the bodies of the fallen were laid out, each draped in fresh bandages. The sight of them brought a fresh wave of sorrow to the people present.

When they arrived at the base, Renjiro felt a sense of relief seeing the crowd already forming. It meant they wouldn't have to wait long for the procession to the tombs.

The base was filled with the quiet murmur of conversations and the subdued sounds of people preparing for the solemn event. The rain had finally let up, leaving behind a cool, damp air that matched the mood of the day.

After an hour of waiting, the procession began. The families of Tobe, Toda, Tsuji, and the other two deceased led the way, their expressions a mix of sorrow and dignity.

Renjiro scanned their faces and finally met Tobe and Toda's relatives who were holding photos of the two fallen shinobis,

'So the mother and daughter pair I met the other day talking to Sinoda were their relatives. Their sister is young, I know they said she was around my age but losing most of your family by that age must be tough.'

The families walked in front of the bodies with a measured pace, guiding the bodies of their loved ones to the clan tombs. This tradition signified the families leading their deceased to a peaceful afterlife, a reminder of the bonds that tied them together in life and death.

After a couple of minutes, the procession neared the Naka Shrine,

'I'm surprised we got here quickly. I expected the procession to the clan tombs to take most of the time. It is completely different from what I was used to in my previous life. I guess with the majority of the clan here, they have to consider the time they take.'

The shrine stood solemnly at the end of their path, with a path below it that headed to the clan tombs where the ashes of the fallen would find their final rest.

The entrance to the clan tombs was marked by a large, ancient stone door engraved with the Uchiha symbol. It was a place steeped in history and reverence, where generations of Uchiha shinobi had been laid to rest.

When they reached the clan tombs, the procession came to a halt.

In front of the ancient stone entrance, a raised wooden platform had been prepared, its polished surface gleaming dully in the muted morning light.

The bodies of Tobe, Toda, Tsuji, and the other two shinobi were carefully placed on the platform.

Daichi, the clan head as well as the leader of the force, stepped forward. He stood tall, his presence commanding attention.

After the murmurs subsided, he began to speak, his voice carrying over the gathered shinobi and their families.

"Today, we gather to honour the brave souls who gave their lives for the village. Their courage and dedication are a show of the strength and spirit of the Uchiha clan. They fought not just for their own lives, but for the safety and prosperity of Konoha. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten, and we owe them our deepest gratitude."

Renjiro listened to Daichi's speech, but a wave of frustration bubbled him.

'I thought that Hiruzen was the only one who excelled in peddling propaganda, but I guess I was wrong. From the very start, the mission was issued because the village couldn't let go of Ishigakure and its strategic capabilities.'

'It's not like Konoha could not survive with it, so, in the end, all this could be avoided. But as they say, shinobi are tools and so am I, hopefully, it won't be for long.'

Renjiro had heard speeches like this, or in this case, eulogies, many times before, filled with words of valour and sacrifice.

To him, it often felt like propaganda, a way to justify the endless cycle of violence that the shinobi world. At this point, he began to understand a certain mercenary group.

Daichi's speech finally came to an end, and a murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd.

Renjiro took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions within him. He glanced at Miwa, who stood silently beside him, her eyes fixed on the platform.

"I guess, this is my cue," Renjiro muttered.

Renjiro, along with a few other shinobi, stepped forward. They were to perform the final burial rite, which involved cremating the bodies of the deceased.

This group was composed of friends and comrades of the deceased. They had the honour of 'sending' the deceased to the afterlife.

The group of twenty shinobi moved with quiet reverence, forming a circle around the raised platform where the bodies of Tobe, Toda, Tsuji, and the other two shinobi lay.

As they took their positions, the twenty shinobi began to perform the required hand signs with slow, deliberate movements. While they could do it faster, their synchronized gestures reflected their shared purpose and the deep respect they held for their fallen comrades.

Renjiro focused his chakra, feeling its familiar flow through his body, and channelled it to their hands. As the final hand sign was completed, he joined his voice with the others, uttering the words,

"Eien no Tsuioku no Honō!"

The incantation resonated through the silent crowd, a solemn prayer for the departed. White flames, pure and radiant, emerged from their hands and seeped into the bodies of the deceased.

The jutsu used was the Eternal Flame of Remembrance, a sacred Uchiha clan jutsu. These flames were unlike any fire jutsu he had ever seen. This sacred jutsu was designed specifically for the cremation of Uchiha shinobi, a mark of ultimate respect and reverence.

For a long time, Renjiro had been attempting to alter the colour of his flames during training and see whether it could bring about a new effect, but he had never achieved anything like this.

What made this jutsu even more unique was its reliance on Yin chakra, in stark contrast to the Yang chakra typically used in fire jutsus. This shift in chakra nature gave the flames their distinctive colour and properties, defying the conventional logic Renjiro had learned about ninjutsu.

The jutsu was highly restricted within the clan, and only the twenty shinobi were granted the ability to perform it during the ceremony. This privilege came with a price, a seal was placed on their shoulders, enabling them to use the Eternal Flame of Remembrance.

The seal was a complex design, interwoven with symbols and patterns that Renjiro couldn't fully comprehend. It was said to be a seal that allowed the user to defy the natural laws of ninjutsu, a concept that both fascinated and unsettled him.

Renjiro's innate paranoia compelled him to seek assurance about the seal's safety. Kushina had assured him that the seal was harmless and solely meant for this sacred purpose, which reassured him.

He had no choice but to accept the seal, because he felt that refusing it would mean dishonouring his fallen friends.

The seal had a significant limitation, it allowed the shinobi to perform the jutsu only once. This restriction underscored the Jutsu's sacredness and the immense responsibility bestowed upon those who wielded it.

The flames were not harsh or consuming; instead, they seemed to caress the shrouded forms gently, beginning the cremation process with a respectful, almost tender touch.

The gathered crowd watched in respectful silence, each person lost in their own thoughts and prayers.

As the cremation progressed, the white flames slowly consumed the shrouded forms, reducing them to ashes. The process was gradual, almost serene, a stark contrast to the violence and chaos that had claimed their lives.

When the flames finally subsided, leaving behind only ashes, a profound silence settled over the tomb. The twenty shinobi lowered their hands, the ritual complete.

Daichi stepped forward once more, his voice breaking the silence. "We honour their sacrifice and cherish their memory. Let us strive to live our lives in a way that would make them proud, carrying their spirit with us in all that we do."

The gathered shinobi and clan members nodded in solemn agreement. The families of the deceased stepped forward, collecting the urns that held the ashes of their loved ones. These would be placed in the clan tombs where they would be safeguarded for eternity.

As the crowd began to disperse, Renjiro remained for a moment longer, his thoughts lingering on the friends he had lost. He felt a gentle touch on his shoulder and turned to see Miwa standing beside him,

"Ready to go?" she asked softly.

Renjiro nodded. "Yeah. Let's go."

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