Rescue Mission Complete 1/2

Shimizu Shunsuke and Hayato headed toward the tower together.

The enemy had been cautious. Under Hayato's Byakugan surveillance, they discovered several traps along the way. Without the Byakugan, those traps would clearly have caused Shimizu Shunsuke no small amount of trouble. Shimizu Shunsuke was therefore glad he had brought Hayato along; it had been the right decision.

By the time they reached the tower, the enemy had indeed already retreated. The open ground outside bore obvious signs of battle and was stained with blood.

The tower's main door was tightly shut.

As soon as the two approached, several kunai flew out from the windows. Their aim was slightly off, and they landed crookedly at the pair's feet.

"Who are you? Don't come any closer!"

Someone shouted loudly from behind the door. The voice was childish, likely one of the genin.

Shimizu Shunsuke took a step back to show that he meant no harm, then pointed at his ninja forehead protector. "Don't be afraid. I'm reinforcements from the village—a Ninja Academy teacher, Special Jonin Shimizu Shunsuke. How are things? Who is the jonin leading the team? Why isn't he here?"

The person behind the door replied, "Teacher Hasebe isn't here. He's patrolling the tower and will be back soon."

"Hasebe?" Shimizu Shunsuke said. "Is it Senior Hasebe Kazuaki?"

"Yes! Do you know Teacher Hasebe?" the voice behind the door asked excitedly.

"I do. Senior Hasebe and I have fought together before. Are you Fukuda Yuta or Yamada Bujitsu?"

Whenever he occasionally gathered with Shimizu Shunsuke, Hasebe Kazuaki loved talking about his three adorable subordinates. Shimizu Shunsuke had been deeply impressed.

The tower door opened a crack. A head poked out, then quickly withdrew.

Behind the door.

Fukuda Yuta—the one who had poked his head out—said to his companion, Yamada Bujitsu, "He knows our names, and he's wearing a Konoha forehead protector. The guy beside him has pale eyes. He's from Konoha's famous Hyuga Clan, so they aren't enemies."

Creak. The door opened.

The two boys stumbled out. Unable to bear the pressure any longer, they burst into loud sobs. "Teacher Hasebe is hurt..."

In just a few words, Shimizu Shunsuke understood the situation.

Hasebe Kazuaki had not gone out on patrol. He was injured and lying down, with a genin looking after him.

The boy named Fukuyama Yuta led Shimizu Shunsuke and Hayato inside.

Before long, Hayato saw Hasebe Kazuaki.

Hasebe Kazuaki was somewhat older than Shimizu Shunsuke. He lay on a bed now, pale-faced, with blood seeping through the bandages around his chest. He looked rather miserable. When he saw Shimizu Shunsuke, the corner of Hasebe Kazuaki's mouth twitched. Unable to speak, he finally forced out an ugly smile.

Beside him was a girl with a single ponytail, her eyes red from crying. Pale green chakra radiated from both hands as she pressed them against Hasebe Kazuaki's chest.

Shimizu Shunsuke asked, "How bad is it?"

The girl shook her head, and dried tears began pouring down her face again.

Shimizu Shunsuke looked at Hayato.

"Byakugan."

Hayato observed carefully for a while before saying, "His lung was injured. There's internal bleeding, and he's not out of danger yet." Hayato looked at the ponytailed girl. "Are you a medical ninja?"

Hasebe Kazuaki's wound was diamond-shaped, caused by a kunai. The kunai had happened to sever an artery in his lung. Without someone treating him, Hasebe Kazuaki would already be dead. That was why Hayato asked.

The girl nodded through her tears.

Hayato said, "The internal bleeding is still continuing. Even if Senior Hasebe holds on until a high-ranking medical ninja arrives, he'll be left with serious aftereffects."

The girl cried even harder.

Shimizu Shunsuke asked, "How serious?"

Hayato named someone. "Moonlight Hayate."

Moonlight Hayate was a Konoha Special Jonin, skilled in Konoha-Style Swordsmanship and Dance of the Crescent Moon. Dance of the Crescent Moon and Moonlight Hayate's Kekkei Genkai—Transparent Escape—were a match made in heaven. If not for a lung injury leaving serious aftereffects, with Moonlight Hayate's talent, he would definitely have become an elite jonin.

No further explanation was needed. Shimizu Shunsuke understood. His expression darkened as he asked, "Do you have a way?"

If there was no way, why would he ask so much?!

Hayato said, "Let me try. At the very least, it won't get any worse."

The two spoke in front of Hasebe Kazuaki. In truth, they were saying it for Hasebe Kazuaki to hear.

Shimizu Shunsuke looked at Hasebe Kazuaki and waited for him to decide. After all, it was only natural to hesitate before entrusting himself to an unfamiliar genin—Hasebe believed Hayato was a genin.

In the end, Hasebe Kazuaki nodded at Shimizu Shunsuke and Hayato.

"I'm starting." Needle-like chakra gathered in Hayato's hand. Through the vision of the Byakugan, he controlled the chakra needles and gently tapped them against the blood vessels.

There were many damaged blood vessels, and this was delicate work. Before long, Hayato was drenched in sweat, while the ponytailed girl occasionally helped wipe his brow.

Fortunately, nothing unexpected happened.

After a while, Konoha's reinforcements arrived, and Hasebe Kazuaki's treatment was taken over by more professional medical ninja.

A large number of ninja arrived, and the investigation of the scene proceeded in an orderly fashion. Hayato's Byakugan also spotted several ninja wearing animal masks standing guard around the area. They hid in the darkness, watching coldly.

ANBU or Root?

Hayato had to admit that these people who walked in the darkness were extremely sharp. The moment his gaze lingered on them, they noticed.

Hayato quickly looked away.

After further treatment, Hasebe Kazuaki was carried back to Konoha to continue recovering. The three genin could not leave yet. As the first reinforcements to arrive, Shimizu Shunsuke and Hayato were also questioned nearby.

From the three genin's fragmented account, Hayato gained a rough understanding of the invasion.

The enemy had one jonin, two chunin, and five genin. The ones who infiltrated the tower were the jonin and three genin. One chunin waited outside the tower to provide support, while the remaining chunin and two genin had set an ambush in the direction of Konoha.

During the infiltration, one of the enemy genin accidentally triggered the alarm.

A battle broke out between the two sides.

Hasebe Kazuaki fought the enemy jonin. Their strength was about equal, and neither could gain the upper hand in a short time. There were three genin on each side, and the rookies fought each other in a similarly deadlocked battle. Then the enemy chunin responsible for support entered the fight and ambushed Jonin Hasebe. Hasebe was injured, and just then Hayato detonated the traps. Only then did the enemy ninja retreat unwillingly.

Afterward, the interrogators explained a few matters to them. Once they had made it clear that they were not allowed to leave Konoha for the time being, they let them go.

Finally, the three genin's parents came to take them home and repeatedly thanked Shimizu Shunsuke and Hayato. Without Shimizu Shunsuke and Hayato, they would have had to bury their children today.

Only Shimizu Shunsuke and Hayato remained.

Hayato stretched and said, "That was more exhausting than fighting."

Shimizu Shunsuke said, "That's Konoha's procedure."

"Slow! Tedious!" Hayato judged.

Shimizu Shunsuke smiled. "If you don't like it, become Naruto and change it yourself."

Trying to trick me into becoming Naruto again. Hayato smiled.

A member of the Hyuga Clan becoming Naruto? Was he afraid the clan would not be wiped out quickly enough? Not to mention that he was a Branch Family member. The first slap to come down would definitely be from the Hyuga Main Branch.

When Hayato read manga in his previous life, he had considered it from the perspective of conspiracy theories. If Nawaki Senju had not always gone around saying he wanted to become Naruto, perhaps he would not have died—or at least, not so quickly.

If Konoha were compared to a company.

Hashirama founded the company, Tobirama scientifically managed it, and in the end, Hiruzen developed its corporate culture.

Tobirama Senju was the one who had formulated these procedures.

What right did a Ninja Academy student have to comment on Naruto? Hayato quickly changed the subject. "Is this matter over now?"

"For us, it's over. But the interrogation department will question the captives and find the employer behind this. The pursuit unit will hunt down the enemies who escaped." At this point, Shimizu Shunsuke sneered. "What kind of place is Konoha? Do they think they can come and go whenever they please?!"

Seeing how proud Shimizu Shunsuke was of Konoha, Hayato sighed. "In terms of merit, Sarutobi Hiruzen was no worse than the First and Second Naruto. As long as Konoha ninja like Shimizu Shunsuke have not all died out, Konoha will never perish. Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen said: 'Wherever leaves dance, fire will burn. The firelight illuminates the village and lets the trees sprout new buds. The Will of Fire shall never be extinguished.' Perhaps that is why Sarutobi Hiruzen was called the strongest Naruto."

The next chapter will be at 8:00 tonight. Please recommend and bookmark this new book.