Watching the busy Medical Ninja around him, Mizuki slowly got up after regaining his energy and walked out the door. Outside, Inoichi Yamanaka had already been waiting for a while. To Mizuki's surprise, The Third Hokage was also there.
"Why are you here?" Mizuki quickly bowed in greeting.
"No need to be so formal. You've worked hard," The Third replied kindly. "How is everything going inside?"
"He's stabilized now. The Sealing Technique was successful. Based on chakra consumption levels, he won't wake up for a few days at least. After getting through this transition period, it'll depend on his luck from then on."
"Hmm, you did well this time. What comes next belongs to the Medical Department." The Third nodded satisfactorily, then turned to Inoichi. "This isn't the place for reports. Come to my office later and tell me everything. I need to know exactly how serious this situation has become..."
...
When he walked out of the hospital, he once again found himself walking out late. As he thought about how often he'd returned home in the middle of the night lately, Mizuki couldn't help but let out a bitter smile. Even in his past life, being forced into overtime hadn't been this draining.
However, as Mizuki prepared to head home, he noticed two familiar figures. Yugao Uzuki and Tsubaki were both standing outside chatting, apparently waiting for news from inside.
"What are you two doing here?" Mizuki asked.
"Hello," Yugao seemed very anxious. "Do you know how Hayate is doing?"
Lately, as an ANBU member, Yugao had access to more intelligence than Mizuki. She fully understood the pressure The Third Hokage was facing. Now that they finally found a solution, even if it involved slight risk, given Hayate's current condition, it was worth trying.
"Don't worry," Mizuki smiled. "There shouldn't be any problems for now."
Hearing those words, Yugao finally relaxed the tension she'd maintained.
"I told you there would be nothing to worry about," Tsubaki added happily beside her.
"They're currently conducting some tests. You can go see him later," Mizuki explained briefly.
"Thank you so much," Yugao bowed gratefully.
"You're too kind. After all, we're compatriots—this is just what I should do. You should go in and see him soon."
"I'm sorry to make such a scene," Yugao wiped away tears of happiness. "I'll take my leave now."
As they watched the anxious figure hurry away, Tsubaki linked arms with Mizuki and said, "We should go too."
"Okay," Mizuki agreed. "Why did you wait for me so late again? I told you to go back and rest earlier."
"You've been very busy these days. You weren't this tired before. Since I can't help much, I can at least do these small things."
"Nonsense. Don't think too much about it," Mizuki comforted her. "Right now, I'm starving. I haven't eaten anything since noon. I'm completely exhausted..."
"Then let's make your favorite sushi when we get back." When it came to cooking skills, Tsubaki completely leaves me in the dust—I can barely boil water for instant noodles. Without Tsubaki taking care of him, he honestly wouldn't have known how to survive.
"I can't wait for sushi though. Let's just grab something quick somewhere outside~"
"At this hour? Everything's probably closed already. Where are we even supposed to find food out there?"
"These past few days have been really busy for the two of us. Just having a meal together makes me very happy," Tsubaki-Chu said, even though it was already this late at night.
"Yeah, I guess so," Mizuki sighed slightly. "Earlier, what were you talking about with Yugao? I didn't think you two were particularly close."
"Just chatting randomly. The way she was acting reminded me of myself just over a month ago, so I just wanted to offer her some comfort. Well, everything turned out fine in the end. That's really good."
"Yeah, being alive is already great." Mizuki knew deep down that perhaps Hayate Gekko's death had become something he fixated on. Over the past few months since crossing over, aside from slightly altering his own fate, overall he hadn't made any significant changes to this world. Even after confronting the Forest of Death and Orochimaru, he hadn't changed the outcome of Sasuke Uchiha receiving the Cursed Seal from Orochimaru.
Hayate Gekko was the first person whose fate had fundamentally changed through Mizuki's own power—the first life he'd truly altered. It was hard to describe the subtle sense of achievement he felt. When someone sees a future they already know but still struggles endlessly without being able to change anything, isn't that like leaving no mark upon this world?
Internally, he could accept ordinariness but absolutely wouldn't settle for mediocrity.
"Finally, I feel like I've earned my place in this world. I'm gradually becoming more than just an insignificant side character or mere background presence."
"Tsubaki, our wedding date is approaching. Do you want to postpone it?" Mizuki asked with some concern. Given the current situation in the village, it truly wasn't the time to openly plan a marriage ceremony, especially with the possibility of war breaking out at any moment.
"Of course not! Why would you ask that?" Mizuki replied. "Don't worry too much. Although things are a bit rocky right now, these difficulties will pass."
With Konoha's strength, not only Orochimaru alone, even if combined with Sunagakure, couldn't defeat them. Even if, as in the original storyline, Orochimaru killed the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, causing Konoha considerable damage, Konoha still had enough depth to avoid serious harm. Konoha's greatest loss was actually in its people's hearts.
The fact that a former hero, now a rogue ninja, teamed up with Konoha's allies to launch a surprise attack exposed the truth of Konoha's lack of strong leadership. With the Sannin successively leaving, the Fourth's death, the Uchiha Clan's destruction, and the aging of the "Hokage Hero," while the new generation wasn't yet capable of taking full control, such incidents inevitably raised doubts about whether Konoha still maintained its dominance over the ninja world.
"You decide," Tsubaki said regarding the wedding plans, ultimately leaving the decision to Mizuki.
Just as Mizuki was about to say something else, he suddenly noticed a light ahead.
"Is that Ichiraku Ramen? Why are they still open at this hour?" Mizuki said in surprise. "Tsubaki, let's grab a bite there and then go home early to rest."
"Yeah, sure."
When they arrived at Ichiraku Ramen, they found someone already inside.
"Naruto-kun? It's you! Long time no see!"
"Big Mean Teacher?!" Naruto also felt quite surprised to meet an acquaintance this late at night.
Looking at Jiraiya beside him, Mizuki quickly greeted, "Lord Jiraiya, it's been such a long time since you last returned to the village~" Tsubaki, standing nearby, upon hearing that this was Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, hurriedly bowed as well.
"Hmm," Jiraiya glanced at the somewhat unfamiliar Mizuki, seemingly unable to recall clearly, "Naruto, is he someone you know well?"
"Yeah, he's Teacher Mizuki. He's no good—he even bullied Teacher Iruka!" Naruto still harbored resentment over the disrespect shown to his respected mentor, Iruka.
"Pardon my rudeness, Lord Jiraiya," Mizuki awkwardly chuckled. Kids just say things without thinking sometimes.
"Mizuki... now that you mention it, I do remember something about you," Jiraiya vaguely recalled hearing this name before, though back then Mizuki had still been quite young. "Recently I've heard people mention you around the village too~"
...
Meanwhile, inside the Hokage's Office, after listening to Inoichi Yamanaka's intelligence report, the Third's expression darkened like a storm cloud.
"Has this information been confirmed accurately?" the Third asked.
Inoichi solemnly replied, "There is absolutely no mistake, Lord Third. Yakushi Kabuto indeed conspired with an envoy from Suna. This was witnessed firsthand by Hayate Gekko, and it was Baki, a Jonin from Sunagakure, who gravely injured him."
The Third truly found it hard to believe their long-time ally would betray them, yet the injuries Hayate sustained did match rather closely with Baki's fighting style.
"That will be all for today. Prepare a written report and submit it before noon tomorrow. You may rest now."
"Yes." Inoichi withdrew from the room.
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