Naraku gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath.
"You damn Black Zetsu, may your mother be trapped on the moon for all eternity until the universe itself is destroyed!"
After cursing the creature, there was still one episode of the anime left to watch.
Time rewound to the moment Naraku headed toward 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 the pipe from his mouth, his face growing serious.
"Order them to contain the situation first. Do not let any serious conflicts escalate. Everything awaits my decision."
"Yes, sir."
After the Anbu left, Hiruzen Sarutobi muttered to himself, "What is Danzo doing now?"
[So the Hokage works non-stop all year? Is he in the office 24/7?]
[How is that possible? It's probably a Shadow Clone.]
[Danzo didn't do anything; he was busy being slaughtered by Sakumo.]
[That's right. After being cut down by Sakumo, he got stabbed by Naraku too.]
The perspective switched to the Anbu squad.
Naraku had already broken through the blockade and was heading 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 is…"
Just as the Anbu hesitated, a ninja dressed in Anbu gear jumped out and announced loudly.
"Hokage-sama's latest order! Sakumo Hatake has attacked Root and must be arrested! Do not let him escape!"
"But," a young man quietly retorted, "that's not the direction someone goes to escape, is it?"
His senior colleague slapped him.
"Stop talking nonsense and chase him!"
[Damn you, Hiruzen Sarutobi! I knew you'd cause trouble!]
[Old man, it's a good thing I can't reach through the screen, otherwise I'd show you a piece of my mind.]
[He can't do anything right; he's the number one at holding people back.]
[Give me back the former Shinobi Hero, Hiruzen Sarutobi!]
[Now he's just a timid old bear.]
The Anbu tried to intercept Naraku.
Perhaps due to insufficient strength, or perhaps out of reluctance, they ultimately failed to significantly impede him.
This allowed Naraku to successfully reach the hospital entrance with Sakumo.
At this point, another order arrived, instructing all pursuers to immediately retreat.
Everyone, more or less, breathed a sigh of relief and silently vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.
[Looks like everyone is an experienced actor today.]
[He wasn't trying to escape; what's wrong with trying to save a life first?]
[Moreover, this is Sakumo Hatake! Konoha wouldn't benefit from his death.]
[Danzo: Am I a joke to you?]
Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was filled with worry, the wrinkles on his face seeming to deepen by several lines.
"Hokage-sama," the Anbu kneeling in the center reported in a deep voice.
"According to the surviving Root ninja, Sakumo Hatake first ambushed Root, was severely wounded by Elder Danzo, and was then escorted away by Uchiha Naraku."
"Currently, both have arrived at Konoha Hospital, and Lady Tsunade is performing emergency treatment."
"Tsunade?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked in surprise.
He quickly regained his calm expression.
"What is the situation?"
"Both are unconscious, but their lives are no longer in danger."
"What about Danzo?"
"Elder Shimura is severely injured and remains in critical condition."
"Good. You may go."
"Yes, sir."
After smoking his pipe for a long time in the silence of the office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly.
He was contemplating how to suppress the fallout of this matter.
Finally, he summoned another Anbu and instructed them.
"Seal off the news. Do not allow anyone to discuss it. Announce to the public that tonight's disturbance was the apprehension of a foreign spy."
"Yes, sir."
[Damn, Danzo isn't dead?]
[Naraku's strike was aimed at his heart and it still didn't kill him? Is he 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 wonder why Sakumo went mad, and Danzo's dirty laundry would come to light.]
[I feel like something's not right. Just a moment ago, he ordered Sakumo to be hunted down; he wasn't acting like he didn't care.]
[It's probably because the Anbu reported that Sakumo wasn't fleeing the village. That's why the order was revoked.]
[Hmm. Naraku taking Sakumo to the hospital proves he has no intention of defecting, so it's not appropriate to make a scene.]
The difficult night finally passed, and the eastern sky gradually lightened to a pale white, marking a new day.
Minato and Kushina, having just received the news, rushed over with Kana.
They met Fugaku and Mikoto at the entrance of the Intensive Care Unit.
Minato anxiously asked, "Elder Fugaku, how are they?"
Who would have thought that overnight, Sakumo Hatake and Uchiha Naraku would both end up on the verge of death?
If it weren't for his well-informed comrades in the Jonin squad, 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. By the time I arrived, Lady Tsunade was still performing emergency resuscitation."
"What exactly happened? Do you know, Elder?"
Kushina's sensory range was vast, much stronger than Kana's.
In her sleep, she had sensed a disturbance in the early hours of the night, but she hadn't thought much of it.
Now, thinking back, that must have been when Sakumo and Naraku got into trouble.
She was filled with immense regret.
If she had known the situation, she would have checked on them no matter what.
"The Hokage's explanation for last night is that the Anbu were apprehending a spy from outside the village, which is why the battle occurred."
"If that's truly the case, it's one thing for Elder Sakumo to be involved, but why was even Naraku—"
Kushina's words were cut short as Minato gently pulled her hand.
He subtly shook his head, signaling her not to delve any deeper.
Since the Hokage had already made a definitive ruling on the matter, they could only accept it.
Whether it was the truth or not.
[...They won't wake up, will they?]
[The deepest regret in the world is 'I could have helped.']
[Even if Kushina had gone out, it would have been useless. As a high-priority target under surveillance, the Anbu wouldn't have allowed her near the battle site.]
[Minato still has some survival instincts.]
[The Hokage has already made a statement; questioning it is an act of defiance.]
Kana pressed against the glass, staring fixedly through a gap in the curtains at the master and disciple in the ICU.
Both were wearing oxygen masks.
One was more severely injured than the other, and both were covered in wires and tubes.
She couldn't help but sob softly, and Kushina hugged her, comforting her gently.
[Why aren't they using the medical ninjutsu that makes flesh grow and heal quickly?]
[That stuff drains life force, and these two are already barely clinging to life.]
[Forget 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 the state he'll be in.]
Naraku stared at the final comments, filled with his own sorrow.
When Kakashi returned to the village and saw Sakumo and him in such a miserable state, the blow would undoubtedly be massive.
And Black Zetsu, lurking in the shadows and waiting for an opportunity, was completely unpredictable.
Naraku thought to himself.
Since he had failed to awaken the Mangekyo this time, would Black Zetsu try to target Kakashi once he woke up?
He needed to find a way to put an end to the creature's schemes.