Naraku gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath.
"You damn Ōtsutsuki Chenxiang, may your mother be trapped on the moon for all eternity until the universe is destroyed!"
After cursing Black Zetsu, there was still one episode left of the anime.
—
Time rewound to the moment Naraku headed to the Root base.
Hokage Office.
An Anbu appeared before Hiruzen Sarutobi and reported in a low voice, "Hokage-sama, there are large-scale Chakra fluctuations from a battle within the village."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression remained unchanged: "Where?"
"At the Root base. A squad has already gone to investigate."
"Hmm," he took down his pipe, his face growing serious, "Order them to control the situation first, and not to let any serious conflicts arise. Everything awaits my decision."
"Yes."
After the Anbu left, Hiruzen Sarutobi muttered to himself, "What is Danzo doing now?"
[So the Hokage works non-stop all year, and has to be in the office 24/7?]
[How is that possible? Probably a Shadow Clone.]
[Danzo didn't do anything, he was busy being killed by Sakumo.]
[That's right, after being cut down by Sakumo, he was cut down by Naraku again.]
The perspective switched to the Anbu squad. Naraku had already broken through the blockade and headed straight for the Hospital. Someone recognized that he was carrying Sakumo Hatake, and voluntarily stopped the pursuit.
"Hey! What are you doing? Why did you stop?"
"That's the White Fang!"
"What?! This…"
Just as the Anbu hesitated, an Anbu-dressed Ninja jumped out and announced loudly.
"Hokage-sama's latest order! Sakumo Hatake attacked Root, he must be arrested! Do not let him escape!"
"But," a young man quietly retorted, "that's not the direction to escape, is it?"
His senior colleague slapped him: "Stop talking nonsense, chase him!"
[Damn you, Hiruzen Sarutobi! I knew you'd cause trouble!]
[Old man, it's a good thing I can't get through the screen, otherwise I'd show you what a big kick looks like.]
[Can't do anything right, number one at holding people back.]
[Give me back my former Ninja Hero, Hiruzen Sarutobi!]
[Now he's a Ninja Bear ~]
The Anbu tried to intercept Naraku. Perhaps due to insufficient strength, or perhaps out of reluctance, they ultimately failed to significantly impede him, allowing Naraku to successfully reach the Hospital entrance with Sakumo.
At this point, another order came, instructing all pursuers to immediately retreat.
Everyone, more or less, breathed a sigh of relief and silently Shunshined away.
[Looks like everyone's an experienced actor.]
[He wasn't trying to escape, what's wrong with trying to save someone first?]
[Moreover, this is Sakumo Hatake! Konoha wouldn't benefit from his death.]
[Danzo:?]
Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was full of worry, the wrinkles on his face seeming to deepen a few more lines.
"Hokage-sama," the Anbu kneeling in the center reported in a deep voice, "According to the surviving Ninja from Root, Sakumo Hatake first ambushed Root, was severely wounded by Elder Danzo, and then escorted by Uchiha Naraku. Currently, both have arrived at Konoha Hospital, and Lady Tsunade is performing emergency treatment."
"Tsunade?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked in surprise, then quickly regained his calm expression, "How is the situation?"
"Both are unconscious, but their lives are not in danger."
"What about Danzo?"
"Elder Shimura is severely injured and has not yet escaped life-threatening danger."
"Good, you may go."
"Yes."
After smoking his pipe for a long time in the office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly, contemplating how to suppress this matter.
Finally, he summoned another Anbu and instructed, "Seal off the news, do not allow anyone to discuss it. Announce to the public that tonight's situation was an apprehension of a village spy."
"Yes."
[Damn, Danzo isn't dead?]
[Naraku's strike was aimed at his heart, and it still didn't kill him. Is he like a cockroach?]
[No further investigation? Sakumo really caused a huge stir this time, didn't he?]
[There's no way to investigate further, otherwise everyone would be curious why Sakumo went mad, and Danzo's dirty laundry wouldn't stay hidden.]
[I feel like something's not right. Just a moment ago, he ordered Sakumo to be hunted down; it wasn't an attitude of not caring.]
[It's probably because an Anbu reported that Sakumo wasn't escaping, which is why the order was revoked.]
[Hmm, Naraku taking Sakumo to the Hospital means he has no intention of betraying the village, so it's not appropriate to make a big fuss.]
The difficult night finally passed, and the eastern sky gradually lightened with a fish-belly white, marking a new day.
Minato and Kushina, having just received the news, rushed over with Kana, meeting Fugaku and Mikoto at the entrance of the intensive care unit.
Minato anxiously asked, "Elder Fugaku, how are things?"
Who would have thought that overnight, Sakumo Hatake and Uchiha Naraku would both be on the verge of death? If it weren't for the well-informed Jonin Squad comrades, he probably wouldn't even know by now.
"It's hard to say if they'll wake up," Fugaku shook his head, his expression grim. "I received a report from The Police Force last night, and by the time I arrived, Lady Tsunade was still performing emergency resuscitation."
"What exactly happened, do you know, Elder?"
Kushina's sensory range was very wide, much stronger than Kana's.
In her sleep, she had sensed the disturbance in the early hours of the night, but hadn't thought much of it. Now, thinking back, that must have been when Sakumo and Naraku got into trouble, and she was filled with immense regret.
If she had known the situation, she would have gotten out of bed to check, no matter what.
"Hokage-sama's explanation for last night is that the Anbu were apprehending an outside-village spy, which is why the battle occurred."
"If that's truly the case, it's one thing for Elder Sakumo to be involved in the battle, but why even Naraku—"
Kushina's words were cut short as Minato gently pulled her hand, subtly shaking his head to signal her not to delve deeper.
Since the Hokage had already decided the matter, they could only accept it.
Whether or not it was the truth.
[Σ(っ °Д°; )っ… They won't wake up, will they?]
[The deepest regret in the world is, I could have.]
[Even if Kushina had gone out, it would have been useless. As a high-priority surveillance target, the Anbu wouldn't have allowed her near the battle site.]
[Minato still has some survival wisdom.]
[The Hokage has already made a definitive statement; questioning it is an act of defiance.]
Kana pressed against the glass, staring fixedly through the gap in the curtains at the master and disciple in the intensive care unit, both wearing oxygen masks, one more severely injured than the other, covered in wires and tubes.
She couldn't help but sob softly, and Kushina hugged her, comforting her gently.
[Why aren't they using that Medical Ninjutsu that makes flesh grow and heal quickly?]
[That stuff costs lives, and these two are already barely clinging to life.]
[Don't even mention Kana, just seeing them like this makes me want to cry.]
[What will Kakashi do when he comes back?]
[The family of three is suddenly down to just him.]
[I can't even imagine what state he'll be in.]
—
Naraku stared at the last few bullet comments, also filled with sorrow.
When Kakashi returned from outside the village and saw Sakumo and him in such a miserable state, the blow would undoubtedly be significant.
And Black Zetsu, lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity, was completely unpredictable.
Naraku thought.
Since he failed to awaken his Mangekyo this time, when he woke up, would Black Zetsu try to target Kakashi again?
He needed to find a way to put an end to its thoughts.
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