102 Tears

Konoha.

Groups of Civilians were gathered in the streets as they looked at the wooden notice board's message at the corner of the streets.

"Why did Hokage Sama call us?"

"It must be something important."

Looking at the message written on the board that ordered the villagers to gather under the Hokage building tomorrow, everyone couldn't help but ask each other.

This was the first time they saw such a notice without any details, so everyone was curious.

Soon, the news to gather tomorrow under the Hokage building spread throughout the village as every villager wondered about its reason.

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Night.

Konoha Cemetery.

The silvery moonlight sprinkled on the cemetery as it lit up the entire cemetery.

The whole cemetery was quiet, but a lone figure could be seen standing in front of a monument.

"Tomorrow, one of your enemies will be brought to justice; rest well, Kozuki, anyone who had a hand in this, they will pay for it."

In front of a monument on which the Words "Kozuki Shiro the hero of Konoha" was engraved stood a girl with long untamed black hair reaching her upper back with a sad expression on her beautiful face that was completely visible under the moonlight.

She had red eyes, and her outfit consisted of a red mesh armor blouse with only the right sleeve visible, and above it, she wore dark grey Kimono.

Her hands and upper thighs were covered with bandages and a Konoha headband coiled around her right arm, and also a violet diamond-shaped mark was visible on her forehead.

Kurenai placed a white flower in front of the monument of Kozuki and closed her eyes, remembering her time with Kozuki.

These memories flashed in her mind like when fighting with Kozuki against the enemy, eating in the restaurant.

"I... miss... you... Kozuki"

Tears fell uncontrollably from her eyes, remembering those sweet times.

During these years, she had trained hard as she quickly surpassed everyone among her peers, with only Guy and Kakashi being equal to her.

The will to avenge Kozuki made her even complete the hundred seal Jutsu passed on to her by Tsunade.

Even Shizune, who Tsunade was more optimistic about, could not wholly learn the Jutsu while Kurenai was able to, which explained her hard struggle.

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Land of Iron

In an Inn,

Kozuki wearing the Akatsuki robe, sat at the center of the room on the floor as he wiped the Gryphon.

It's been some days since he joined the Akatsuki; since he was alone, he could travel and hunt someone with a high bounty which was really a criminal to fund the Akatsuki.

White Zetsu was responsible for collecting the funds, who would come on the fixed date to collect the funds.

"Huh"

Suddenly, Kozuki frowned as he didn't know why his heart suddenly felt as it was about to rip apart.

"I'm... crying"

Kozuki brought his hand near his wet eyes, and his face had an unbelievable look on it.

Kozuki's gaze fell on the picture in the frame placed on the table.

In the picture, he stood in the center with a weak smile; Kurenai, on his right, with a big grin on her face, was making a V sign right besidehis face, and Shizune on the left with hands on her hips looking at them angrily.

Shinku had the same helpless expression on his face looking at his troublemaker students.

Looking at the smiling face of Kurenai, Kozuki felt more and more pain in his heart.

Kozuki took out a bottle from the system space as he arrived beside the window and looked at the clear starry sky above and the moon that seemed even more beautiful tonight.

"I'm sorry..."

Kozuki sat between the window as he gulped the wine down and said, while looking towards the moon in which he seemed to see the face of the smiling Kurenai. (maybe Toneri, just kidding)

He knew the one who would be the saddest on his death would indeed be Kurenai, and he really felt guilty about deceiving her.

But he didn't regret it since this was necessary to get them ready to face the strong enemies in the future.

Madara, Kaguya, and the whole Otsutsuki Clan, who even he didn't know what was the limit of their strength.

Everyone, including Kurenai, needs to get strong, and his death can work as a catalyst and make them stronger.

At least strong enough to have some self-protection against the strong enemies in the future.

So he could only silently say sorry to Kurenai as he promised himself that one day he would return to that village and they would be together forever.

Read 35 chapters ahead on P@treon.com/NavyKing6666

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Some readers mentioned about chapter's getting shorter, actually the minimum length for my chapter is around 800 words.

It's been like this from the start.

I have a certain plot set for a chapter in my mind.

So whether it's 2000 words or 800, the plot progression would be the same.

Stay Good.