The Konoha memorial for martyrs was located on a quiet slope on the north side of the Village.
Rows of tombstones stood neatly; some were engraved with names, while others were blank.
On the nameless tombstones, only the words "Konoha Ninja" were written.
No one knew who they were, when they died, or what they died for.
Nobunaga stood before the tombstones, saying nothing.
The others stood there too.
Might Duy stopped speaking, Yuhi Shinku stopped smiling, and Sakumo Hatake stared at those nameless tombstones, his eyes heavy.
Orochimaru stood with his hands in his pockets, his face expressionless, but his hands were clenched tight.
Jiraiya was uncharacteristically quiet, looking at those tombstones, lost in thought.
Zixiao Mitarashi had not brought any sake.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke stood at the very back, his eyes red.
Nobunaga spoke up.
"Do you know why these people died?"
No one answered.
"For the Village. For the will of fire. For those pretty words."
Nobunaga paused.
"But I don't think so."
He turned around to face them.
"They died because of war. War exists because someone wants more. More land, more money, more people to die for them. The Daimyo wants it, the nobles want it, and even some Ninja want it."
His voice dropped.
"If one day, everyone has food to eat, clothes to wear, and can live with dignity, would anyone still fight?"
No one spoke.
"No."
Nobunaga said: "No one will die for a meal. No one will kill out of fear of hunger. War will disappear. Not through Tailed Beast deterrence, not through the suppression of the strong. It will be because everyone can survive."
He looked at those tombstones.
"This is what Lord Hashirama truly wanted to do. Not to build a Village, not to shout slogans. It is to let everyone survive."
The wind blew, and the wildflowers in front of the tombstones swayed gently.
Might Duy was the first to speak. His voice was a bit hoarse.
"My dad died right here. A nameless grave. I don't know why he died. But if, when he died, he had known that future children wouldn't have to be like him—"
He didn't finish.
Yuhi Shinku continued.
"My grandfather too. He died in the First Great War. My grandmother waited for him for three years, only to receive the words 'Konoha Ninja'."
Sakumo Hatake didn't speak, but his hands were clenched tight.
Orochimaru suddenly spoke. His voice was very soft: "My parents too. They died on the battlefield. No one told me why."
Jiraiya was uncharacteristically not smiling.
He stood there, looking at those tombstones, and said:
"I used to think that living was just about having fun. But standing here, I feel—"
He thought for a moment, "Like I should do something."
Zixiao Mitarashi leaned against a tree, looking up at the sky.
"My uncle, he was also nameless. When I was a kid, I asked him why he wanted to be a Ninja. He said, to let others not have to be Ninjas."
Sarutobi Shinnosuke stood at the back, tears already streaming down.
But he didn't wipe them away, just stood there, letting the tears flow.
"I've decided." He said, "I want to help Brother Nobunaga."
Nobunaga looked at them. He looked at these teenagers.
There was light in their eyes. It was the light of ideals, passionate, refusing to be worn down by reality.
"This path is very difficult." He said.
"I know." Might Duy said.
"It might take a long time."
"Then we'll walk for a long time." Yuhi Shinku said.
"We might die."
"Then we die." Sakumo Hatake said.
Nobunaga looked at them. Then he smiled. A faint smile.
"Then let's go."
That night, they gathered at the back mountain.
That place was discovered by Might Duy, a clearing hidden by bushes, from where one could see the Hokage Rock in the distance.
The cliff face didn't have the faces carved yet, but the statue of the First Hokage already stood there.
Moonlight fell on the statue, illuminating that gentle face brightly.
Eight people stood in the clearing.
Might Duy spoke first. "I am Might Duy. Thirteen years old. I want to protect everyone."
Yuhi Shinku. "Yuhi Shinku. Fourteen years old. I want all those nameless graves to have names."
Sakumo Hatake. "Sakumo Hatake. Fourteen years old. I want to end war."
Orochimaru. "Orochimaru. Eleven years old. I want to know—if this world can become different."
Jiraiya. "Jiraiya. Eleven years old. I want to do something meaningful."
Zixiao Mitarashi. "Zixiao Mitarashi. Fourteen years old. I want to live. And let others live too."
Sarutobi Shinnosuke. "Sarutobi Shinnosuke. Nine years old. I want to help Brother Nobunaga."
Finally, it was Nobunaga. "Senju Nobunaga. Thirteen years old. I want to pacify the chaotic times and unify the Ninja World."
They ranked themselves by age.
Sakumo was the oldest, fourteen.
Then Zixiao, twelve.
Shinku Yuhi was twelve, one month younger than Zixiao.
Nobunaga was thirteen, ranked fourth.
Might Duy was thirteen, a few days younger than him, ranked fifth.
Orochimaru was eleven, ranked sixth.
Jiraiya was eleven, ranked seventh.
Shinnosuke was nine, the youngest, ranked eighth.
Sakumo stood at the front, looking at them.
"Is it decided?" He asked.
"Decided." They said.
Sakumo turned around, looking at the statue of the First Hokage.
Under the moonlight, the face of Senju Hashirama was very calm.
He stood there, arms crossed over his chest, as if watching them.
"Clear the obstacles." Sakumo said.
"Inherit the will." Zixiao said.
"Pacify the chaotic times." Shinku Yuhi said.
"Let everyone have food to eat." Nobunaga said.
"Clothes to wear." Might Duy said.
"Dignity." Orochimaru said.
"To live." Jiraiya said.
"Not to die in vain." Shinnosuke said.
The voices of the eight people drifted in the night wind.
Then they heard another voice.
"I support it!"
Everyone turned their heads. Behind the bushes, stood a person.
A golden ponytail, white clan clothing, hands on hips, chin slightly raised.
Tsunade.
She walked over and stood in front of them.
"I heard everything you said." She said.
Might Duy's eyes widened. "You were eavesdropping?"
"What do you mean eavesdropping?" Tsunade rolled her eyes, "I was taking a walk over there, your voices were so loud, it was hard not to hear."
Nobunaga looked at her. "And?"
Tsunade looked at him. Moonlight fell on her face, making those eyes shine very brightly.
"So—" She paused, "I want to join too."
Everyone was stunned.
"You?" Jiraiya opened his mouth wide, "Aren't you the one who hates us the most?"
"Who hates you?" Tsunade glared at him, "I just think you're too noisy."
Yuhi Shinku laughed: "Then why join?"
Tsunade didn't answer. She looked at Nobunaga. She looked for a long time.
"Those things you said," She said, "The things you said in front of the martyrs' tombstones, I heard them."
Nobunaga's eyelashes flickered.