No Protagonist's Fate, Yet...

No Protagonist's Fate, Yet...

Shiraha quickly ran to the third floor and headed for the operating room at the corner.

Orochimaru stood silently outside the operating room. His Jōnin uniform was covered in blood.

Though he looked relatively calm, without much visible emotional change, Shiraha noticed that his fists were clenched tightly.

Shiraha approached Orochimaru, bowed respectfully, and asked,

"Lord Orochimaru! How is Nawaki?"

"Tsunade is inside trying to save him," Orochimaru replied, his voice unusually hoarse and dry.

Trying to save him... Shiraha's heart sank.

The operation continued, and the entire corridor was deathly silent.

Before long, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi hurried over.

"Orochimaru, how is Nawaki? Why did this happen?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone was somewhat stern, carrying a hint of accusation.

He had never expected that sending Orochimaru to take Nawaki for some training in the not-so-dangerous Land of Rain, partly to curry favor with the Former Senju Clan's Jōnin and ease their relationship, would end this way.

Nawaki had been severely injured right under Orochimaru's nose and had nearly died.

Orochimaru was the disciple he had placed high hopes on, the strongest contender for the Fourth Hokage position, and the successor he considered best suited for the role!

Nawaki was also quite talented. More importantly, he was the First Hokage's grandson and might even have had a chance to become the Fifth Generation Hokage in the future.

Although the Senju Clan had dissolved on the spot, abandoned its surname, and fully integrated into Konoha, those people were still in the village and still felt a sense of belonging to the Senju Clan. They were a considerable force.

Though Tsunade and Nawaki had also abandoned the surname "Senju," they could still draw on the prestige of the First and Second Hokage in the village to gain support from shinobi of the Former Senju Clan.

Quite a few old members of the Former Senju Clan wanted to rebuild the Senju Clan. In the future, Nawaki might only need to raise his arms in a call, and the Senju Clan surname could be restored.

Orochimaru came from a civilian shinobi family and enjoyed great prestige in the village. After taking Nawaki as his disciple, he would gain the support of Tsunade and the Former Senju Clan's shinobi.

Combined with the support of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, even the renowned Konoha White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, would be unable to gain an advantage in competing with Orochimaru.

Now that this had happened, what would the former Senju members think?

No matter what, they would have to bear considerable responsibility.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's position as Third Hokage had originally carried the implication of being personally appointed by the Second Hokage. It had not been chosen by everyone.

Although he had secured the Hokage position through his own efforts and the aid of his three companions, earning support among civilian shinobi and small-to-medium clans, great clans like the Hyūga and Uchiha were still somewhat unconvinced.

The Uchiha Clan in particular. Their reconciliation with the Senju Clan had been crucial to Konoha's founding.

The First Hokage had even once promised to make Uchiha Madara the Second Hokage, but the others had opposed it, and the matter was dropped.

Yet the Uchiha Clan had never stopped coveting the Hokage position.

"It was my negligence," Orochimaru said in a low voice.

Soon, the other three Hokage Advisors—Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzō—also arrived outside the operating room.

Among Konoha's Jōnin and Chūnin, at least one-fifth of them had deeply intertwined ties with the Senju Clan.

If Nawaki died, it would certainly cause an enormous uproar in the village.

Soon, the indicator light above the operating room door changed from red to green.

The operation was over.

When the operating room doors opened, the Medical Corps Captain, Minami, and Nonō were the first to emerge.

"Lord Third Hokage, Lords Advisors."

"How is Nawaki?"

"Nawaki is temporarily out of danger, but his legs... couldn't be saved."

At that moment, the medical staff wheeled the unconscious Nawaki out of the operating room.

Shiraha noticed that Nawaki's lower legs, including his knees, had been amputated.

His life had been saved, but his shinobi career was over.

For shinobi, their hands were the most important. Losing even one hand meant losing nearly all ninjutsu.

The extremely advanced technique of forming hand seals with one hand was not something everyone could master.

Next came losing one's legs. If Nawaki had already been an adult, with his body fully developed and his strength having reached a certain level, then losing one leg would still have allowed him to retain some combat ability with a prosthetic limb.

But he was only twelve, in the midst of rapid growth. Both his legs were gone, and even his knees had been amputated. He would likely spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

Shiraha noticed that the bracelet he had given Nawaki no longer reacted with an Energy Field. Clearly, the barrier spell had activated.

He had tested it before. If a single Exploding Tag detonated at close range, the combined effect of two barrier spells could completely block it.

At point-blank range, an Exploding Tag could cripple or kill anyone, whether they were a Jōnin or a Kage, unless they possessed powerful defensive measures.

As a Demonic item made with a 0th-Level Spell, its defensive power was already quite formidable.

For Nawaki to be so badly injured, he must have stepped directly onto multiple Exploding Tags.

Shiraha felt rather heavy-hearted.

In the face of brutal war, no matter how gifted someone was or how illustrious their status, once they went onto the battlefield, they had only one life.

There could not be the slightest carelessness.

Shiraha had not only made Demonic items; during their usual training and before Nawaki left, he had repeatedly reminded him to be cautious.

Although Nawaki's fate of dying in battle had now been changed, this outcome felt as though it had already "killed" him.

Limb Regeneration was not yet possible with the Medical Ninjutsu of the Shinobi World.

Even in the Wizarding World, low-level Wizards could not accomplish it.

Perhaps Shiraha would find a way in the future, but he clearly could not help Nawaki now.

"Gather the best medical resources. We must keep Nawaki alive," Hiruzen Sarutobi said gravely. "Where is Tsunade?"

"Lord Tsunade is still in the operating room. She..." Minami's face was somewhat pale, partly from exhaustion and partly because her heart ached for Nawaki. The child had been quite lovable.

"Ah..." The Third Hokage let out a long sigh, deeply troubled.

"Lord Third Hokage, may I go see Tsunade-sensei?" Shiraha asked softly.

"You?" Hiruzen Sarutobi was taken aback, then nodded. "Go."

None of them would likely be able to offer Tsunade any comfort.

"Orochimaru, come with me," Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a low voice.

Orochimaru silently followed him away, while Danzo and the others left as well.

Shiraha took a deep breath and entered the operating room.

Tsunade was huddled in the corner beside the operating table, her body curled up. She was covered in bloodstains, trembling slightly as she tried desperately to suppress her sobs.

Shiraha came to Tsunade's side and knelt down.

Hearing the movement, Tsunade slightly raised her head. Her eyes were swollen and as red as a rabbit's.

"Tsunade-sensei, if you want to cry, then cry out loud. You'll feel better," Shiraha said, gently wiping away Tsunade's tears.

Obtained Powerful Radiation Creature's Tear (1/1). Emotional Power complete. Requirements met. Quality: Perfect.

For the first time, the information displayed by the Eye of Truth brought Shiraha not the slightest joy.

"Waaah—!" Tsunade let out a world-shaking cry. Seeing Shiraha, who was about the same age as her younger brother, she suddenly threw her arms around him.

Inside the Hokage Office.

"Orochimaru, do you know what consequences this will bring?!"

"It was my negligence."

Faced with his teacher's questioning, Orochimaru finally stopped suppressing his emotions. His voice carried regret and self-reproach.

"Fortunately, Nawaki survived! Tsunade is not in the right emotional state to return to the battlefield immediately. Leave the village at once and lead the forces on the front lines first," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a sigh.

In the end, he could not bear to rebuke the disciple he had placed such high hopes on. Nawaki's accident had been unforeseen, and Orochimaru now needed to continue building military merit to make up for his mistake.

"The people disguised as wandering shinobi within the Land of Rain Territory were from Kumogakure. I want to go to the Land of Lightning first!"

Orochimaru spoke in a low voice.

"What are you planning to do?!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed in alarm. "If you provoke Kumogakure at a time like this and they enter the war, the situation will worsen rapidly. The main battlefield needs you to oversee it."

"Jiraiya has already received word. He will arrive at the front lines soon. I'll return quickly."

Orochimaru's expression turned cold.

"I'll make sure Kumogakure has no ability to enter the war!"

With that, he turned and left.

Orochimaru, who had always remained aligned with Hiruzen Sarutobi on major matters.

For the first time, chose to disobey orders.