Escape

"Konoha has gained another formidable talent!"

In the Hokage's office, Utatane Koharu, one of Konoha's senior advisors, remarked as Hiruzen Sarutobi looked over Gu Qi's file.

"Indeed! At such a young age, he was able to fight an elite Jonin from Kumogakure and survive. If he grows, Konoha will have another pillar," Mitokado Homura said.

"This kind of talent should be entrusted to me for training. I will train him to become Konoha's pillar," Shimura Danzō stated.

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. "Kakashi Hatake is Gu Qi Hatake's cousin. I believe Kakashi's abilities are sufficient to train Gu Qi Hatake into a powerful ninja."

"Hmph!"

Shimura Danzō snorted coldly. If Kakashi were to train him, Gu Qi would ultimately become part of the Hokage faction.

Danzō was very optimistic about Gu Qi's talent.

With proper training, he would become an outstanding ninja in Root before long.

It was a shame that with Kakashi Hatake around, he wouldn't be able to get his hands on Gu Qi Hatake.

"Hiruzen, what are your plans for Gu Qi Hatake?" Utatane Koharu asked.

The Third Hokage took a puff of his pipe. "I asked Kakashi, and he decided to let Gu Qi Hatake attend the Ninja Academy normally."

"Hmph, this is simply a waste of Gu Qi Hatake's talent," Shimura Danzō said with great dissatisfaction.

The Third Hokage shook his head. "I don't think this is wrong! It's not wartime now. Letting Gu Qi Hatake grow step by step is the most appropriate."

"Although it's not wartime, only constant combat will allow him to grow," Shimura Danzō retorted.

"Gu Qi Hatake needs to accumulate experience, and the Ninja Academy is an excellent platform. If we rashly interfere with his growth, we will only harm him," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, not backing down.

"Suit yourself! By doing this, you're only harming him." Shimura Danzō finished speaking and left directly.

"Danzō is getting more and more out of hand!" Mitokado Homura frowned.

"Let it be!" Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head.

"Although the matter with Kumogakure has subsided, unfortunately, we also lost a powerful ninja on our side."

Thinking of the deceased Hizashi Hyuga, the Third Hokage couldn't help but sigh.

"It's a pity, but we had to do it. If the war had continued, we would have been sinners of Konoha," Utatane Koharu also sighed.

If a war truly broke out, unless the Sannin returned and the Fourth Hokage was revived, Konoha would surely be defeated.

"Sigh! I hope the ten years we've bought are enough for Konoha's new generation to grow!" The Third Hokage walked to the window and gazed into the distance.

"I'm telling you, Kakashi, if you have nothing to do, just go back! I heard the latest version of Icha Icha Paradise is out, hurry up and buy it!" In the Konoha Hospital, Gu Qi said to Kakashi, who was leaning against the windowsill.

Kakashi put down the book in his hand, his only exposed right eye twitching. "Heh heh, you want to sneak out again? Don't even think about it, it's impossible."

"How could I!" Gu Qi said stubbornly. "I'm so well-behaved, how could I sneak out?"

"Heh heh!"

Kakashi rolled his eyes. If it were before, he might have believed it.

But after the other party had recently snuck out of the hospital, scaring Kakashi and the Hyuga clan into thinking it was a reprisal from Kumogakure and nearly causing chaos, Kakashi had basically stayed at the hospital watching Gu Qi all day.

Even when he went back at night, Kakashi would leave at least two Ninja Dogs to watch Gu Qi.

If it were just one, Gu Qi's personality would likely lead him to threaten or tempt it into leaving.

"Damn it, how can I get discharged from the hospital!" Gu Qi was furious.

Since getting injured, Gu Qi had been lying in the hospital for a month.

In this month, Gu Qi had recovered well; at least he could get out of bed and walk.

But staying in the hospital for so long made Gu Qi incredibly miserable.

Although he could pass the time by reading, it became quite unbearable after a while.

"Discharged? You can leave when the doctor says you can," Kakashi said casually.

"..." The doctor had already said that given Gu Qi's current condition, it would take at least half a year to be discharged.

One had to know that Kumogakure had attacked with the intention of killing Gu Qi at the time. If it weren't for the shield that absorbed most of the force, Gu Qi would probably have gone to another world by now.

He had the Secret Brew, which could heal his injuries immediately.

But he couldn't say it due to various reasons, which showed how depressed Gu Qi was.

"Alright, it's getting late, I should be going back." Kakashi glanced at the sky outside and stood up.

"Summoning Jutsu."

After a puff of smoke, two Ninja Dogs appeared in the ward.

"Bru, Guruko, you two keep a close eye on Gu Qi, don't let him leave the hospital, understand?" Kakashi instructed.

"Don't worry, Kakashi, we'll watch Gu Qi closely." Guruko and Bru straightened up, their faces firm, indicating there was no problem.

"I'm leaving. I'll see you tomorrow." Kakashi said.

"Heh heh, I don't want to see you tomorrow."

"Gu Qi is so cute." Kakashi left with a smile.

As soon as Kakashi left, it was just Gu Qi and two Ninja Dogs left staring at each other.

As for Saye and the other two, they would be trained by Pakkun and the Inuzuka Clan while Gu Qi was hospitalized.

"Guruko, Bru, if you let me go out and play, I'll treat you to Dried Meat." Gu Qi said to the two Ninja Dogs with a fawning expression.

"This... it's probably not a good idea..." Bru's expression seemed to soften. After all, Bru was large and ate a lot.

"No, Gu Qi, your injuries aren't healed yet, you can't move around." However, Guruko resolutely refused.

Gu Qi's eyes rolled, and he put on a dejected expression: "Alright then, Guruko, can you go to my room and get the scroll on the second shelf for me?"

"Hm?" Guruko squinted at Gu Qi, as if trying to figure out what he was up to.

"I'm just bored and want to study more," Gu Qi said with a look of innocent sincerity.

Guruko thought about it. The hospital wasn't far from Gu Qi's house, and it would only take a few minutes to get back if he was fast.

"Okay then, lie down obediently, I'll be right back." Guruko then said to Bru, "Bru, keep an eye on Gu Qi, and absolutely don't let him leave the ward for even half a step."

"Don't worry!" Bru promised in a deep voice.

Watching Guruko leave through the window, Gu Qi chuckled and took out a piece of Dried Meat, tightly wrapped in a cloth bag, from under his pillow. He then suddenly threw it: "Bru, Dried Meat!"

Bru instinctively opened his mouth and caught the Dried Meat, swallowing it without much chewing.

"Why does it taste a bit strange?" Bru tilted his head, looking at Gu Qi with some confusion.

"I'm sorry, Bru, you should rest well!" Seeing that Bru had eaten the Dried Meat, Gu Qi got out of the hospital bed and changed into his usual clothes.

Bru was about to stop him but found his eyelids getting heavier and heavier, and Gu Qi's figure becoming more and more blurry.

Thump!

When Bru's massive body fell, Gu Qi, with a triumphant look of a successfully executed scheme, left the hospital through the window.

"Damn it!"

When Guruko arrived at Gu Qi's room and saw that there was no scroll on the bookshelf, he realized he had been tricked by Gu Qi.

He hadn't expected that after rushing back, he would still be too late.

"Bru, Bru, wake up." Guruko nudged Bru hard, but the latter was sleeping soundly.

"Damn it! This is infuriating!" Guruko twitched his nose and immediately smelled a faint scent in the air.

Although it wasn't the first time Gu Qi had played a trick on him, Guruko always felt an urge to bite him.

"No, I have to notify Kakashi immediately."

Realizing that Bru wouldn't wake up anytime soon, Guruko could only leave him to sleep there for now.

So, Guruko jumped onto the windowsill, twitched his nose, and then ran off in a certain direction.

"So, Gu Qi just ran off?" Kakashi, who had been engrossed in reading Icha Icha Paradise, couldn't help but twitch his eye upon hearing Guruko's words.

"Kakashi, what should we do now?" Guruko asked.

Kakashi asked, "Can't you smell Gu Qi's scent?"

Guruko shook his head: "No, Gu Qi intentionally erased his scent. I can't track him."

Kakashi rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on: "Forget it. Since Gu Qi doesn't want us to find him, we'll just wait for him to come back on his own."

"That's all we can do."