Dawn was just beginning to break.
Minato woke up and lay on the hospital bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Other than weakness, he felt no other discomfort. He pulled open his hospital gown and found a sealing pattern on his abdomen at some point, preventing him from using even a bit of Chakra.
The ward was quiet. The window beside him was open, and a cool breeze occasionally blew in.
Kushina, who entered from outside, was overjoyed to see that Minato was awake and hurried to his bedside.
"Minato!"
"Kushina..."
"Minato, you're okay. That's wonderful." Kushina was so happy that tears welled up in her eyes.
"..."
Minato's expression, however, was especially calm. Looking at Kushina before him, he reached out and wiped away her tears.
"How is the village now?" he asked.
"Right now..." Kushina hesitated.
The entire village was talking about how Minato and Orochimaru were traitors. Konoha's former hero had now become someone everyone despised.
Seeing her like this, Minato could more or less guess what had happened. There were probably quite a few Anbu monitoring him around this ward even now.
He had completely become meat on the chopping block, at the mercy of others.
Seeing Minato lower his eyes in silence, Kushina held his hand and comforted him. "Don't worry, Minato. Everything will get better. You used to protect me. Now it's my turn to protect you."
Minato only forced out a smile at that.
Given the village's current situation, Kushina, as a Jinchuriki, would probably become a tool in those people's hands as well.
He had never imagined he would fall this far.
Originally, he had thought that as long as he could kill Orochimaru, it would be enough, even if it cost him his life. Yet after that battle, Minato had continued