Seated beside the quietly squirming Ino, Sakura observed and questioned as much as everyone else around her. Though she is curious about his lineage, as a budding healer, she also noticed an injured and bleeding Karin. Though Sakura hasn't taken her oath yet, she's already memorized it and knows it's about important ethical interactions between doctors and patients. Aside from the oath establishing that the practitioner of medicine gives deference to the creators, senseis, and students of medicine, the oath serves as a contract for doctors to work towards the benefit of the health of the public.
To Sakura, it means the physician is accountable for their actions should problems arise, so she takes Ino's hand—surprising a small moan for her lips—and calls, "come on," before heading to a patient in need. With Chōji tagging along, they reach them as Kakashi lands on the railing beside Kurenai, and before he can ask one thing, a blushing Ino asks to know, "is it true?"
As Asuma walks over to the gathering, Kakashi looks out to the field, observing Naruto beside Sasuke, then side-steps the young Yamanaka's question with, "mmn, I wonder." Ino groans at the evasion as Kakashi simply turns his single eye to Karin and asks, "more importantly, what happened?"
"I was knocked out," Karin repeats to the revered Sensei. "And when I came to, Naruto-sama had already rescued me and was heading here."
Kurenai adds, "she recalls seeing an older man; dark hair, half his face covered in bandages and walking with a cane," certain that both Kakashi and Asuma have noted the implication.
"I see," Kakashi hums looking around the stands. He can't be certain of any suspicious patterns or irregularities but his intuition is telling him everything is off, even if only by a little. Returning his attention to Karin, he explains, "I'll take you to the Tower to debrief-"
"You can't," Kurenai asserts, mentally realizing she doesn't have the authority to give Kakashi orders.
Kakashi raises a peaceful palm as he reassures Kurenai, "I won't let anything happen to her."
"Naruto-" Kurenai cuts herself off to change tactics, stating, "Uzumaki-dono gave strict instructions that she is to stay with me until he or Jiraiya-sama retrieve her. As he is the Head of their clan, I can't let you take her unless Hokage-sama expressly orders me to."
The moment of silence is the only indication that Kakashi was surprised by Kurenai's response. Asuma was observing her as if searching for any shred of evidence, all the while suspecting the truth underneath and being unable to accept it. Sakura, Ino, and Karin give each other side glances in that tense moment, though Ino is completely thrilled by Kurenai's defiance. Kakashi reminds Kurenai, "I'm his sensei." He didn't have to say, 'and your superior,' because she heard it nonetheless.
"Uzumaki-dono trusts you, as we all do," Kurenai tries diplomacy. "He knows she'll be fine with me because I'm certain he would rather speak to you. If the man responsible for this is who we think it is, Hokage-sama should be made aware." Kurenai hates Kakashi's poker face. With his bored face, she rarely has any way of gauging where her responses stand with him; whether positive or negative, but she doesn't flinch either.
"I'll speak with Naruto," Kakashi asserts. "Asuma stay with Kurenai and Karin. You three, back to your-"
"I just want to make sure Karin-chan's fine," Sakura declares, asking for permission to check her.
"Understood," Kakashi responds, nodding his consent. "Then to your seats… and everyone, stay alert."
Kakashi disappears as Sakura begins using her Iryō-ninjutsu to monitor a grateful Karin's health. Though Karin feels fine, she feels more comfortable with Sakura, Ino, and Kurenai by her side.
MABUI & SAMUI
Under the breezy shade of section D, Mabui, Samui, and Atsui subtly observe the red-headed girl Naruto had carried in his arms moments before and the group of ninjas around her, while all around them, people groan and gossip about what they've just witnessed. To the Kumo-nin, it was like being surround by disgruntled noise pollution and a flurry of heated movements. Mabui and Atsui didn't understand the uproar and the logic Samui's mind was proposing had no intelligence—factual or otherwise—to back it up. Samui quietly confirms to her team the red-headed girl is Naruto's cousin, Uzumaki Karin, before ordering them to remain vigilant.
Two gambling men in front of the Kumo-nin are arguing loudly in half sentences, and to clear the confusion, Mabui taps a shoulder before calling, "excuse me." Ignoring their instantly lecherous eyes, Mabui internally sighs as she asks, "can you tell me why everyone is making a fuss about that contestant?"
"I'll tell you anything you want, Sweet Stuff," the spiky-haired one with facial tattoos coos. He eyes her up and down as he slyly adding, "over dinner."
With a tight and disingenuous smile, Mabui replies, "I have a boyfriend."
"A girl as hot as you deserves two boyfriends," the spiky-haired man replies with a grunting moan. "Not that you have to tell him about me if you don't want."
"Excuse me, I meant to say no other man exists in my eyes unless I'm beating them to within an inch of their life," Mabui returns, daring him with stern green eyes to say more. Atsui groans as his body wilts like a limp noodle.
"Alright, alright," the spiky one grumpily returns. "Can't a guy show a little interest anymore?" Before Mabui threatens him again, he points to Naruto in the sunny and spacious arena below and explains, "the way the kid's dressed… it's just messing with peoples' heads, is all."
Drawing her brows together curiously, Mabui asks, "why?"
The man's eyes shamelessly travel down to the alluring roundness of Mabui's supple chest as he slowly asks, "you're not from around here are you?" It's almost as if he forgot she threatened his life.
"That ain't it," his heftier companion with round cheeks and small eyes interjects. He also has a problem looking above her neck, of which Mabui only tolerates so he can explain, "there are plenty of others who don't get it either. I'm thinkin' maybe you're all too young to've been in the last war."
The spiky-haired man continues, "those who remember are freakin' out because he looks way too much like the Fourth Hokage."
"Shiiit," the heftier one calls out. "For a minute, I thought he was the Fourth!"
All three of the Kumo ninjas visibly sit up straighter at the implication, though it's more of a confirmation for Samui. Her mind begins making alternate plans as she comments for further information, "I wasn't aware the Fourth Hokage had any children."
.
.
.
.
🎉The novel is available in PDF with more than 400 chapters, visit us in our Ko-Fi store🎉
🎉ko-fi.com/horizon2075🎉