In Hyuga Shinichi's room in the Senju Clan Compound in Konoha.
Warm sunlight streamed through the window and fell across Hyuga Shinichi's face.
Lying quietly asleep in bed, Hyuga Shinichi's fingers suddenly twitched. He gradually came to after losing consciousness, but the dizziness in his head kept him from fully regaining his bearings.
As time passed, the dizziness gradually eased, though his body still felt weak.
Hyuga Shinichi tried to open his eyes, but a slight stinging pain washed over him, so he gave up.
He also realized that something soft seemed to be wrapped around his eyes, wound several times around his head.
Was it a bandage?
Hyuga Shinichi could only slowly take in his surroundings. He was lying on a soft cotton mattress with a warm blanket covering him.
He tried to recall what had happened earlier. His last memory was hearing Jiraiya's and Hatake Sakumo's voices. Immediately afterward, he had passed out.
At the thought, relief welled up inside Hyuga Shinichi. It seemed he hadn't died; Jiraiya and Hatake Sakumo had arrived in time and saved him.
Then Inuzuka Gai and Aburame Tomohiro were probably safe too.
Just as Hyuga Shinichi fell into thought, faint footsteps sounded outside the door.
They were quiet, but in the silent room, they were especially clear.
The footsteps drew nearer, and then the door opened gently.
A blond figure walked in, carrying a wooden basin with a towel draped over his shoulder. It was Namikaze Minato. He had heard that Hyuga Shinichi had passed out again and had hurried over to look after him.
Just like last time, Hyuga Shinichi woke up as Namikaze Minato was about to wipe him down. This time, though, his eyes were bandaged, so he couldn't see Minato come in.
Seeing that Hyuga Shinichi was awake,