Chapitre 54: Chapter 53
Chapter 53
Looking at the broken body of Danzo under his feet, Jiraiya felt disgusted. Kaen has asked to watch over the Third Hokage and has explained what was going on. So, even without his sensei's instructions, Jiraiya still observed the confrontation between his sensei and Danzo. He could see how conflicted his sensei was. It was hard to watch any longer, especially when Danzo started talking about peace.
"Be careful, Jiraiya-sama," Hiashi Hyuga called out as Danzo's body disappeared underneath Jiraiya.
"Won't you give up already?" Jiraiya asked, turning to Danzo, who appeared to be fine. "It is four against one, and you didn't have a chance against my sensei to begin with."
"I have dedicated my life to safeguarding this village, to making the difficult choices that others cannot. Surrendering is not an option, for my path requires to resolve beyond measure," Danzo answered. "You, of all, have no say in this. A coward who chases after ghosts. You should not have returned and continued your purposeless duty outside the village."
"Enough, Danzo," Hiruzen readied his staff. "I promised to stop you, so I will. No matter how often you try to escape your fate, you can't hide from it."
"I will not hide," Danzo replied. "It is you who have hidden under the pretext of keeping the peace, Hiruzen. What you call peace was preparation for war. I have seen the threats that linger in the shadows, and I refuse to let our village fall victim to their machinations. I understand the weight of my actions and am prepared to bear that burden to the very end. The village's survival is at stake, and I will not waver in my commitment. You, of all people, should understand the necessity of making sacrifices that others cannot comprehend. This is my way, Hiruzen, and I will see it through, regardless of the cost."
"Very well," Jiraiya looked at his sensei as he got into a battle stance. "Then I will accompany you to the very end, old friend. Jiraiya, HIashi, Hizashi, please don't interfere."
"I am sorry sensei," Jiraiya said. "But if I need to help you, I will, no matter your orders."
"You never listened to be, Jiraiya," Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled weakly.
In the end, no one had to help the Third Hokage. Even with tricks under his sleeve, Danzo didn't stand a chance, and soon, the last of his eyes on the right arm closed. Even though his sensei was tired, it wasn't the physical wounds that he suffered. Jiraiya could tell that his sensei had a hard time looking at the corpse of Danzo, but he didn't look away.
"Hiashi-san, could you please extract the sharingan from Danzo's right eye?"
"Of course, Hokage-sama," Hiashi went to work.
Jiraiya provided a container for the eye. Jiraiya didn't know what his sensei wanted with the sharingan. It was a powerful eye, but not something that could be used without significant consideration. Jiraiya looked at the Hyuga brothers to determine if they could see if his sensei was under a genjutsu. But both brothers, noticing my look, shook their heads.
Even after the eye was extracted, his sensei stood still without moving. Jiraiya knew how complicated his sensei feelings were. After all, Danzo was a complex person, and for all his wrongs, he was still an old friend to his sensei. But given this mindset, it's unlikely that Danzo would have willingly surrendered, even when facing overwhelming forces.
He would likely see surrender as a betrayal of his ideals and a failure to protect the village. He might have continued fighting not only out of a sense of duty but also to prove the righteousness of his methods to the very end. There was nothing his sensei could have done to change Danzo's actions. But Jiraiya knew his sensei would continue to think that there was a way he had missed.
In the end, Jiraiya had to help his sensei away from Danzo's corpse. But just as Hiruzen took a few steps away, he pressed his hand to his heart. Jiraiya saw that his sensei was out of breath and was sweating profusely. It shouldn't be anything unexpected after the fight, but Jiraiya felt something was wrong and held his sensei tighter. As he did it, he felt that his sensei collapsed.
"Hizashi, bring a medic, quickly!" Jiraiya didn't take any risks. "Hiashi, check it if there is anything wrong with Hokage."
"His heart is tightening," Hiashi, activating his byakugan, looked over Hokage. "We need to bring him to a medic ASAP."
"Then help me!"
Jiraiya was scared for his sensei and quickly, with Hiashi's help, took his sensei to the hospital. He could already predict a panic spreading through the village after distributing the news. Hiruzen Sarutobi was a solid rock that the village could always lean on in hard times, so hearing that he was brought to a hospital had many people worried, especially when it was so close to the final chunin exam test.
…
Kaen was returning to the village with Kazekage when a messenger bird approached him. After taking a look at the letter the bird brought, Kaen sighed. He was still overcoming the difference between his internal chakra and the artificial external chakra that was exhausted long ago. He would return to top condition only after a few days, but there was no time to be conservative about it now.
"Yugao," Kaen said. "I will be leaving first. Protect Kazekage and return at your own pace."
Even though it was hard to control his chakra, Kaen pushed himself and used transformation jutsu to turn himself into a bird. He flew away toward Konoha before Yugao could reply or ask anything. Kaen trusted Yugao to take care of the rest of the mission. He had to rush to Konoha as fast as possible.
…
A bird flew at high speed and crashed through Konoha's central hospital window. As the glass shattered in the hospital's top-floor hallway, ANBU shinobi quickly came in to interrupt whatever came. What they found was Kaen coughing up and wheezing in pain. After a few long moments, Kaen regained his breathing and looked at the shinobi gathered before him.
"What's going on? I heard crashing sounds," Jiraiya came in soon after.
"It is me," Kaen said. "Sorry, I had a hard time controlling my transformation."
"You look like shit, Kaen," Jiraiya said. "I didn't intend for you to try to rush back so fast with the message."
"Shut it and lead me to Hokage's room," Kaen said.
"Insolent brat," Jiraiya sighed but nodded.
Jiraiya led Kaen to a heavily secured part of the hospital. Hokage's room was hidden under powerful sealing jutsu and genjutsu, so only a few could enter it. Even Kaen would have trouble entering it without Jiraiya leading the way. Once they entered the hospital room, Kaen quickly found the Hokage lying on a bed with a team of medics overseeing him.
"Report," Kaen went to Hokage and said to the medics.
"Excuse me?" And the elderly man asked.
"Report his condition," Kaen repeated.
"And who are you?"
Feeling impatient, Kaen took a medical record from the medic and read through it. With each word, Kaen was more concerned. A severe heart attack caused by too much physical exertion and suspected to be worsened by emotional shock. He didn't doubt the medics in the hospital, but Kaen still went to the Hokage to see for himself.
"Do not disturb Hokage's rest no matter what," Kaen ordered, then turned to Jiraiya. "Double the guards and only let the family visit. Spread that it is only a check-up and nothing serious happened to Hokage. As the medics have advised, he is fine and will return to his duties after some rest."
"You sure took reigns into your hands," Jiraiya commented.
"I have no time for your comments. I will prepare a list of herbs. Bring it to me as fast as possible," Kaen said. "I will make some medicine to help alleviate some of the symptoms and lessen his stress. Chop, chop, Jiraiya, there is no time to lose."
Kaen was completely serious. Even though he knew that the medics surrounding him, Hokage, would be fine, he was still worried. There was no time to report his mission; aside from Hokage, only Jiraiya could be trusted with the information about the mission. He quickly went to his home and started rummaging through his stuff, looking for what he would need.
…
Kaen has spent the rest of the night working on medicine. To be honest, Kaen was exhausted. After fighting Orochimaru while using powerful but untested jutsu, he rushed to Konoha and worked until the dawn of the medicine. Even if his mind could keep up, he could feel his hands tremble with exhaustion, but he still pushed himself to finish the medicine.
"You should rest," Jiraiya said after looking at Kaen.
"Mix a teaspoon with green tea and give it to Hokage," Kaen provided a flask. "If Hokage has trouble sleeping, mix it a couple more teaspoons. It should help."
"I knew you cared, even if you are an insolent brat," Jiraiya replied, taking the flask. "I will see if it is safe for you to report to Hokage about your mission."
"Tell him everyone is fine," Kaen said just as Jiraiya left.
It wasn't time yet for the Third Hokage to fall. Kaen needed the Third Hokage to be strong to pursue Orochimaru and eliminate the Sound village. Then, he needed to investigate the Akatsuki and ensure they didn't get what they wanted. Kaen knew he shouldn't have let the Hokage take on Danzo. He should have taken off that old bastard sooner and been done with it.
Still, it seemed that the old age of the Hokage was catching up. There was nothing Kaen could do for Hokage not to feel guilty about what happened to Danzo. Kaen decided to nap because he would only push himself more if he continued to think about it. With a clearer mind, he would start thinking of a plan for the future.
…
When Kaen woke up, he first checked the clock. His bones cracked, but otherwise, he felt fine. The three-hour nap did clear his mind, and after eating a few sandwiches, he felt refreshed. Even though his chakra hadn't fully recovered, after checking his body for a bit, he found no issue. So, he didn't worry about it for now.
Yugao should return with Kazekage tomorrow at dawn, just before the final test of the chunin exam. He had to check on his students, but he first needed to visit the Hokage and see how he was doing. Kaen needed to be sure that the Hokage didn't think of participating in the chunin exams. Even if it would put the Konoha citizens and the Land of the Fire leaders at peace, the Hokage needed rest, and it was too soon for him to resume his duties.
Kaen had his answer when he entered the Third Hokage's hospital room. Even the ANBU guards looked concerned and looked at Kaen for help. Kaen sighed at seeing the Third Hokage covered in his attire, ready to return to work, while the medics were all around him trying to persuade him. Jiraiya stood by the doors, not letting the Third Hokage escape.
"Kaen, you are here," Jiraiya looked at Kaen as he entered the room. "Maybe you can put some sense in that old fool."
"I am fine," The Third Hokage said, ignoring the medics telling him otherwise. "The chunin exam is tomorrow. I have to greet the leaders of the Land of the Fire and put the citizens of Konoha to peace."
"No, you don't," Kaen said. "Your heart is weak. Any stimulus could put you in more danger. You will stay in his hospital room until the medics or I ensure you will be fine. So, get comfortable and rest."
"Even you won't listen to my orders anymore," The Third Hokage sighed. "With one word, the ANBU will put you down if you don't stand down now."
"They will try," Kaen replied, activating his sharingan. "And they won't succeed. I won't repeat myself. Please forget about your duties and rest, Hokage-sama."
"Neither will I repeat myself," Kaen sighed at the stubborn reply of the Third Hokage and nodded to Jiraiya.
Before the Third Hokage could make the situation worse, Kaen moved. It indicated how weak the Third Hokage could not react to Kaen's speed. Kaen efficiently managed to subdue the Hokage, holding him from behind. As the Third Hokage tried to yell something, Jiraiya stuffed a teacup into his mouth and forced him to drink what was inside.
The medics quickly took over and checked on the Hokage, who was slowly losing his strength and getting drowsy. From how much Kaen saw Jiraiya put medicine into the cup, it should keep the Third Hokage asleep till the night. The ANBU whistled and looked around, ignoring that they just attacked the Third Hokage. At least they were sensible.
A.N. I probably won't post for couple of days, as my laptop charger stopped working, so until new arrives, I won't be able to do anything.
As always, If you want more, up to seven advanced chapters, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852. And if you have any requests for stories, I will only take them on my pa treon.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone