Konoha Hospital's Conspiracy and Utatane Koharu's Madness

Konoha Hospital, special care ward.

The air was thick with the pungent smell of disinfectant, mixed with the monotonous, rhythmic beeping of medical equipment, like a countdown to the life of the old man lying in the hospital bed.

Utatane Koharu stood beside the bed, her withered fingers clenched tightly, her nails digging deep into the flesh of her palm from the excessive force, sending waves of pain through her. But that pain was nothing compared to the fury and humiliation in her heart, as though they would burn her whole being to ashes.

Her gaze was fixed on the unconscious Mitokado Homura in the bed. The old friend who had once assisted the Third Hokage and wielded Konoha's power alongside her for decades now looked pale as paper, an oxygen mask over his mouth, his chest rising and falling faintly like the dying flame of a candle.

"Beep—beep—"

The sound struck Koharu's taut nerves like a heavy hammer, blow after blow.

"Enough!" She suddenly turned around, her bloodshot eyes glaring viciously at the medical ninja recording data nearby. "We don't need you here anymore. Get out, all of you!"

Her voice was hoarse and shrill, filled with the unquestionable authority of someone long accustomed to power.

The medical ninja were startled by the madness in her eyes. Daring not to disobey, they hurriedly bowed, swiftly filed out of the ward, and gently closed the door behind them.

Only she, the unconscious Mitokado Homura, and a young "medical ninja" who had been standing quietly in the corner with his hands at his sides since the beginning, as inconspicuous as a shadow, remained in the room.

The moment the door shut completely, the last trace of false calm in the ward was torn apart.

Koharu's body began to tremble violently. Bracing