"I knew it. This kid was never going to die that easily! Even if his opponents were five thousand Iwa ninja."
Watching Chiba's back slowly disappear at the end of the road and blend into the passing crowd, the guard ninja who had spoken first could not help but turn away and look up at the sky. His voice trembled slightly as he spoke.
"Yeah. That's right."
Hearing his old teammate's words, the guard ninja who had spoken later could not help but nod and respond.
He had never expected that child from back then to grow into someone so outstanding, someone who had even created miracle after miracle.
As he answered, scenes flashed through his mind: the babbling infant, the little boy living alone in that familiar little cabin, the somewhat gloomy youth who had often worn a thoughtful expression while being loathed by everyone, then the most outstanding participant of the Chunin Exams, who had made a name for himself in a single battle and shocked all of Konoha's ninja... and finally, the figure before him, who had created countless miracles during the Third Great Ninja War and shone brighter than anyone here save the Fourth Hokage.
In the end, what remained in his mind was that somewhat blurred face—fearless, hearty, and fond of laughing.
Maha, did you see that?
The height you never reached, your son had already reached. He had even surpassed it.
Thinking of this, the guard ninja who had spoken later could not help but turn away as well and look up at the sky.
Meanwhile, Chiba, who had left the Hokage Building, naturally knew nothing of what the two guard ninja did afterward. Having blended into the crowd, he was now making his way toward the hospital.
It was just that the