"Let's go."
Naruto's simple two words reached the ears of most of those present.
They effectively put a temporary stop to this sudden conflict.
Those who had stood at the center of the conflict earlier, including Kakashi, naturally followed Naruto as he left.
As they passed where Hyuga Hiashi stood, Hinata, who had been quietly following at Naruto's side, slowed slightly.
She raised her head, first shooting Naruto a quick glance before turning to her stern-faced father. Her voice was soft but clear enough. "Naruto... I'm back."
Naruto stopped and turned to look at Hinata, a gentle smile appearing on his face. "Hinata, thank you for standing up for me just now."
At the same time, Naruto sincerely thanked Kakashi beside him, as well as Shikamaru, Choji, and the others nearby.
Although Shikamaru and the others had not directly taken part in the conflict, Naruto had seen their support amid the rumors and public pressure over the past month.
Hyuga Hiashi took in the entire scene. His expression remained stern, but a trace of complicated emotion appeared in his eyes.
He saw that his daughter—the eldest daughter he had always considered timid and weak-willed—was so close to the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki who had just crushed Danzo to death with overwhelming strength and confronted the Third Hokage head-on.
Thinking of the terrifying power Naruto had displayed earlier and his unfathomable background, the anger Hiashi had felt over Hinata defying his orders was now replaced by more practical considerations.
Hiashi stiffly nodded at Hinata as she returned to his side and said in a low voice, "It's fine as long as you're safe."
Though his tone was dry, with little concern audible in it, the harshness from before had faded.
He understood that making trouble for Hinata now would not only be meaningless,