Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 296 Hiruzen Sarutobi's Fear

"This is really..."

Inside the ward, Jiraiya stood at the foot of the bed, abandoning his usual frivolous and unruly demeanor. His gaze fell on Hyuga Kumokawa's pale face, and he scratched his head in slight distress.

"We finally found the 'Child of Prophecy,' but it turned out like this."

He sighed, "Don't just fall asleep like this. This turbulent world needs guys like you."

Tsunade didn't scold him for being delusional as usual. Instead, she walked to the bedside, reached out and touched Hyuga Kumokawa, checking his physical condition.

Vital functions such as breathing, heartbeat, pulse, and blood pressure are extremely weak, and common clinical examination methods may not even be able to detect vital signs...

Clearly, he is in a state of "mild death," also known as "feigned death."

"You also believe the old man's and those two old guys' suspicions?" Jiraiya couldn't help but frown as he watched her actions.

"..." Tsunade glanced at him slightly, without explaining, and just muttered to herself, "The preliminary casualty statistics for the village are out, and they are very heavy."

"If it weren't for this kid's final burst of energy that saved many people, the number would have been even more terrifying."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "This kid accomplished something that none of us could."

“Of course,” Jiraiya said. “He is the child of prophecy.”

For the first time, Tsunade did not refute his so-called "prophecy".

The two walked out of the ward.

------

"You've slept for so long, shouldn't you wake up by now?"

Kakashi, with his hands in his pockets, slowly strolled to the bedside, his gaze sweeping over the various instruments before finally settling on Hyuga Kumokawa's tightly closed eyes.

"There's a limit to laziness, you bastard," he muttered.

Just then, a series of gasps came from the side. Kakashi turned his head and saw a twitch at the corner of his dead fish eyes.

Might Guy buried his face in Kakashi's shoulder, his shoulders shaking, tears and snot smearing onto Kakashi's vest, causing Kakashi to sigh helplessly.

------

Hyuga Iroha and Hyuga Takashi entered the ward, their expressions far more somber and bewildered than the others.

"Iroha".

Looking at Hyuga Kumokawa on the hospital bed, Hyuga Takashi whispered to Iroha beside him, "Did we do something wrong? Did we cause Kumokawa-nii to become like this?"

"If we hadn't accepted Neji Hyuga's suggestion and had waited for Brother Kumokawa to return, would things have turned out differently...?"

Hyuga Iroha pursed her lips and remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, "I don't know."

“But I think if Lord Yun Chuan had been there at the time, he would never have stood by and watched you be executed by the main family.”

------

"..."

With Sasuke's help, Uchiha Shisui entered the ward. Although his eyes, which were wrapped in black cloth, could not see, they were turned toward Hyuga Kumokawa.

"Sasuke, I used to think that having powerful eyes would allow me to see further."

His tone was meaningful as he whispered to Sasuke beside him, "But when I lost my eyes and used my inner eye to 'see' the people and things around me, I finally understood everything."

"In a way, being able to not see things now is also a kind of luck."

At this point, he tilted his head slightly, as if looking at Hinata Kumokawa: "But even so, I still haven't been able to truly see what kind of person he is."

------

After all the visitors had left, the Third Hokage led Naruto into the hospital room.

Naruto's azure eyes gazed quietly at Hyuga Kumokawa on the hospital bed, his face expressionless, only serene and settled.

Hiruzen Sarutobi patted his head and asked, "Naruto, aren't you going to say something?"

Naruto shook his head and said calmly, "He will wake up." After saying that, he turned and walked out of the ward, with Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand, which was touching his hair, hanging in mid-air.

After a moment, he slowly lowered his hand and turned to look at Hinata Kumokawa on the hospital bed.

"..."

Looking at the incredibly faint Caged Bird mark on Hinata Kumokawa's forehead, Hiruzen Sarutobi's murky eyes gradually revealed an unyielding doubt and an imperceptible chill.

Hinata Kumokawa, what kind of person are you?

Orochimaru's initial defection, the massacre of the Hyuga main clan, and the subsequent Akatsuki attack...

All of this seems to have nothing to do with you, and seems to be just a coincidence, but because of this, you broke free from the shackles of the main family and gained the hearts of the people and prestige.

As the biggest beneficiary, what role did you play in all of this?
How much of what you have done and said to me, to others, and to Konoha is genuine, and how much is just a facade?

What exactly is your purpose?
The Hokage position? Or more?
If you were to become Hokage, where would you lead Konoha? Would you still be the same Hyuga Kumokawa?
Staring intently at Hyuga Kumokawa's face, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a sense of powerlessness.

Can't see through.

It felt like staring into a bottomless abyss, and there seemed to be some monster staring back from below.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was terrified by this.

------

Beep beep... Beep beep...

In the stillness of the night, only the dim light from the medical equipment and the faint moonlight seeping in from outside the window filled the ward.

Shimura Danzo emerged from the shadows, leaning on his cane, and walked to the bedside. He coldly looked down at the unconscious Hyuga Kumokawa, his face devoid of any sympathy or concern, only scrutiny.

"You've been acting for so long, isn't that enough?"

His voice was deep and hoarse: "How could an ambitious and scheming fellow like you possibly sacrifice your own life for someone else?"

A cold smile flashed across Danzo's face as he thought about how, although he hadn't managed to obtain a Hollow of the Espada level, he had managed to get the Caged Bird Seal from Hyuga Higo.

In this way, as long as I support Hyuga Kumokawa, this puppet, to take the position, the Hokage position will be mine.

Just then, faint footsteps and the sound of a trolley came from outside the ward.

Click.

The ward door was pushed open, and the nurse on night shift pushed a cart in.

The ward was empty except for Hinata Kumokawa. A window had been opened a crack, and the cold night wind made the curtains sway erratically.

The nurse went over and closed the window, then began her routine check of the instrument data.

Inside the ward, it was as if nothing had happened. Only Hinata Kumokawa remained lying there quietly, seemingly oblivious to everything that had occurred that day.

------

Meanwhile, inside the makeshift, simple Hokage office.

"call!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, with a pipe dangling from his mouth, took a deep drag, inhaled the smoke, held his breath, and finally exhaled.

He looked down at the intelligence report submitted by the secret service, his aged face shrouded in smoke, making it impossible to see his expression.

Just then, a crisp knock on the door broke the silence inside.

dong dong dong.

"Come in." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was hoarse with a hint of weariness.

The door was gently pushed open, and Hinata Aoi walked in.

She walked to the desk, bowed respectfully to Hiruzen Sarutobi, and said calmly, "Third Hokage, you wanted to see me?"

(Please wait a moment)

(End of this chapter)