White Fang lay in the Hospital for a day, gazing mournfully at the evening glow outside the window.
Fresh and gentle purplish-red hues dyed the entire sky, with half a red sun faintly peeking through the clouds.
This wasn't the first time White Fang had suffered such severe injuries; he'd had worse.
Sitting alone in solitude, his mind empty, he couldn't help but recall the details of the mission.
Something was off.
That arrogant old man with the spiky hair and spiral eyes.
He felt as if he had seen him somewhere before.
Where exactly was it?
White Fang tried hard to remember.
Wood Release, why did that old man possess the First Hokage's power? It couldn't possibly be a bastard child, could he?
Speaking of which, the Mushi-Hime seemed to know him.
He felt like he had gotten involved in something serious.
Wait!
White Fang's eyes suddenly widened!
He remembered, the giant statues in the Final Valley!
Instantly, White Fang gasped sharply.
Yabai!
He seemed to know the reason for the mission's failure.
So that's how it was.
For the squad to return intact was already a lucky outcome.
However…
"dog senior~"
With a sweet, childish shout after the door opened, White Fang's hairs stood on end in alarm.
He stiffly turned his head to look at the three devils who had pushed their way in.
Why were they here?
For fun?
White Fang looked at Miki, who was leading, and in less than a second, shifted his gaze.
Almost immediately, White Fang felt Miki's gaze linger on him, constantly roving, sizing him up and down.
A drop of cold sweat slid down his temple to the tip of his nose, about to fall.
She's too sharp!
This guy!
So scary!
She couldn't have found out, could she?
More cold sweat seeped out from his body, gradually dampening his patient gown.
"Huh, senior, why are you sweating so much?" Hitomi asked curiously, "Is it very hot?"
Saying that, Hitomi turned on the ceiling fan, setting it to maximum.
Chiri, meanwhile, put down her condolences gifts and looked at White Fang, saying, "It's not the weakness symptom after opening the Eight Gates."
"Heatstroke?" Hitomi asked, then lightly shouted, "Byakugan!"
White Fang felt a gaze penetrate his entire body, and uncomfortably squeezed his legs together.
He was seen completely!
"Wow, his heart is beating very intensely," Hitomi said, "He looks quite ill. Is this symptom anemia? After Miki's insects tormented him like that, he lost quite a bit of blood."
Hearing this, White Fang felt relieved.
"How naive…" Hitomi said gleefully, "His heart rate has dropped. There's no organic lesion, no intense physical activity, and red blood cells are sufficient. It's not anemia. I said he's very healthy, so it seems to be…"
"Wow, it's gone up again!"
"It's a neurological factor…" Chiri said, "A rapid heart rate caused by extreme nervous tension."
"Do you need genjutsu treatment?" Chiri smiled, "I guarantee you'll tell everything, no longer bottling it up, accumulating stress. Too much stress can lead to autism, depression, and possibly self-harm or suicidal tendencies, you know."
Ah!!!!!!
White Fang roared internally!
So scary!!!!
He was really seen completely!!!!
"dog senior, you're not right!" Hitomi affirmed.
White Fang's mind raced frantically!
How was he going to get through this?
"Captain White Fang…" Saying that, Miki pulled up a chair and sat down, looking at White Fang and saying, "Rest well recently, don't overthink things."
"!!!" White Fang looked at Miki, forcing a difficult smile.
"I asked the Third Hokage for half a month's vacation," Miki continued nonchalantly, "The original words were, 'cannot recover in less than half a month.' Do you understand what I mean?"
White Fang couldn't help but nod. Yes, lying in the Hospital for half a month.
"Hime, will I have to come to the Hospital every time I go on a mission from now on?"
White Fang said hoarsely.
"Regarding that, Captain White Fang, you can rest assured," Miki said, "I'm not some devil; I wouldn't do something so excessive. This was just an accident; it just so happened that you were poisoned, and I was merely detoxifying you. You also admitted that I was very gentle, right?"
White Fang nodded repeatedly.
"Very gentle! Yes, yes, yes!"
"That's how it is. But you did remind me, so there's this way of taking leave? When the time comes, if I ask the Captain, such a good person, he wouldn't refuse, would he?"
Mushi-Hime! And you say you're not a devil!?
White Fang was numb, staring blankly at the familiar ceiling. He had counted it several times throughout the day, and each time it was the same number.
"senior's soul has flown away," Hitomi said, then gasped, her Byakugan observing the subtle changes in White Fang's body.
Ah, he's hiding something.
"How pitiful," Chiri said, "Let him rest well."
Narrowing her eyes slightly, the crimson San Ba (Three Tomoe) had already opened. Chiri was reading the micro-expressions on White Fang's face.
This guy.
He's playing dumb!
Miki hugged her arms and propped her chin, constantly scrutinizing White Fang, analyzing the pheromones in the air.
This reaction.
How interesting.
The smell of fear.
Miki didn't think White Fang was afraid of her.
This man had never been afraid of her.
He was afraid of someone else.
Who?
The answer isn't already obvious?
Had he seen that person before?
But the ages don't match up.
So it's…
Miki thought carefully for a moment and found the crucial point.
The statues in the Final Valley.
How unexpected, is this guy a dog's nose? What keen'smell'!
Miki said softly, "This time, to visit the Captain, I brought a small token of my appreciation, thanks to the Captain's care during this period."
"Ah, it's me who should thank you for your care," White Fang said weakly and feebly.
"It's only right," Miki said, "We are comrades who entrust our lives to each other. Your life is my life; feel free to entrust it to me."
Was it a delusion?
White Fang felt there was something slightly off about that sentence.
"That…"
"Rest well, Captain White Fang," Miki said, "During this time, don't overthink things, or you'll easily accumulate unnecessary stress. This is the doctor's advice."
"Okay," White Fang responded, "I won't think about anything."
"The Third Hokage, as the Hokage, isn't easy. Doing so many things every day, he must have accumulated a lot of heavy stress," Miki said, "When stress is high, people tend to age quickly. This won't do."
"I've already briefly reported the mission."
"The assassination of Hanzo failed; that guy is very strong."
"Even if he cracked the poison, his Water Release is masterful. In the Land of Rain, a natural advantage for Water Release, that guy is terrifyingly strong."
"I call him Hanzo the Demigod."
"Once your body recovers, Captain, you can explain the mission details to the Third Hokage. This is originally your duty as Captain."
"Can I really say?" White Fang inquired.
"What do you think?"
I don't know!
But if he doesn't say anything, wouldn't the Village be unprepared for him?
White Fang was conflicted.
"Don't worry, Mito knows."
Miki said.
"Remember what I said before, he doesn't have much longer to live."
Is that so…
If Lady Mito knows, then I don't need to worry about it.
"Captain, now you are with us. Both the Village and the Third Hokage believe that."
"And we are with the future Fourth Hokage."
"The Third Hokage's era is also coming to an end soon."
"And this is also for the Third Hokage's health, you know. Being a Hokage is too tiring; it's better to dance."
Is that so…
Is this Lady Mito's plan?
He really got involved in something serious.
White Fang said, "I understand."
Understand what?
Hitomi blinked her big eyes, confused.
Everyone seems to be hiding something from me!
Noticing Hitomi's gaze, Miki got up and placed her hand on Hitomi's head, saying, "Be good, don't overthink. Leave it to me to handle; you just need to draw your sword."
"Mmm!" Hitomi responded.
Miki looked at Chiri, who smiled and nodded.
I understand.
She mouthed silently.
White Fang glanced at the three girls, finally looking at the bewildered Hitomi.
She's truly naive…
This guy.
It's going on sale tomorrow.
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