Anna?
Still bent at the waist in a ninety-degree bow, Hada Ichiba and Hada Ryuhiko both glanced back at the sound behind them. They saw Nao, pale-faced and utterly exhausted, and concern flashed across both their faces.
"Thank you, little girl. Please go and get some proper rest. If you need anything, feel free to ask. I will arrange for Konoha ninja to see to your needs. And the little girl's two teammates, please raise your heads."
At that moment, the Third Hokage's voice carried over.
Rest?
Konoha ninja would be assigned specifically to meet the needs of the three from Kusagakure?
Raise their heads? The moment those words were spoken, nearly half the people present pricked up their ears.
Lord Third Hokage...
At the same time, Konoha's rookies looked toward the Third Hokage with surprise, confusion, or displeasure.
Yet, with their level of perception, they could read nothing from the elderly man, who remained as calm and peaceful as ever.
They could see nothing at all.
Nor could they make out anything from their Hokage's tone, unable to tell what he really meant.
What was this? Hada Ichiba had struck Naruto for no reason, yet the Hokage not only refused to blame him, but even seemed prepared to treat them favorably.
What was going on? Why?
This was far too unfair!
Such thoughts flashed through the minds of some of Konoha's rookies.
Was it because the little girl named Hada Anna had saved Hinata?
No matter what, the village had to show some appreciation.
At the same time, a different thought flashed through the minds of the other Konoha rookies.
Hada... Ichiba.
Meanwhile, apart from those rookies, Neji Hyuga, one of those directly involved, wore an inexplicably complicated expression.
He stood there somewhat stunned, seemingly unsure how to react.