"Then it is time for us to deal with our own matters."
After Chiba and Hokoma left, Tazuka and the other four Anbu turned their gazes toward the two young Hyuga Clan members.
Then, the two Hyuga youths and Hyuga Soji were carried out rather carelessly by four Anbu. Cries of pain rose along the way as they headed for the hospital.
After all, they were ninjas of the Hyuga Clan. The Anbu could not simply leave them to fend for themselves. Since they were injured, they could only be sent to the hospital.
"Mr. Hokoma... you..."
Meanwhile, Chiba followed Hokoma toward the Hokage Building. With Hokoma leading the way, the hidden sentries along the route behaved much more properly, no longer regarding him with the same wariness as when Sato Hide had led him before.
However, seeing Hokoma's slightly unnatural gait ahead of him, Chiba could not help but speak up.
"What is it?"
Hokoma naturally turned back at Chiba's hesitant words and asked. An irrepressibly joyful smile curved his lips, and his tone carried a buoyant delight. Clearly, Hokoma was in an excellent mood.
"Your leg..."
At that moment, Chiba finally voiced the rest of his sentence.
Oh no!
But the moment the words left his mouth, Chiba regretted them. Hokoma was in such a good mood right now—wasn't mentioning his leg just rubbing salt in the wound?
For a moment, Chiba was at a loss for words, unsure how to continue.
"Oh, you mean this leg? I was injured in battle. There was no way to heal it completely."
Yet Hokoma did not seem to mind. He patted his right leg as he spoke.
This kid's eyes are still as sharp as ever!
That only made him happier.
Along the way, Chiba had noticed that Hokoma