Aoi Fallen, Hana Wounded

When Hana Inuzuka returned home again, it was already the next morning.

After working through the entire night, she looked utterly exhausted.

This incident had sounded an alarm for Hana Inuzuka. There were many security loopholes at the veterinary station, and after discussing matters with the other team members the previous night, she had already made adjustments to several aspects of the station.

At the same time, Laiyun was placed under close watch.

"Hua, you came back at just the right time. I made breakfast."

Ye Fan was placing the food on the table when he saw Hana Inuzuka enter and hurriedly greeted her.

"You go ahead and eat."

Hana Inuzuka had no appetite. All she wanted now was to catch up on sleep.

"Hua, was Laiyun found?"

Although Ye Fan already knew the answer, he still asked.

For the time being, he did not want Hana Inuzuka to know some of his secrets. That was also why he had suddenly concealed himself last night.

"Mm! Don't worry, Laiyun has been found."

Whenever Hana Inuzuka thought of what had happened yesterday, a dull ache rose in her heart. She understood Laiyun very well.

To the Inuzuka Clan, Ninja Hounds were important companions.

The emotional bonds built through countless daily moments could even transcend life and death.

Laiyun had ignored its own injuries and gone to find its master, Aoi Inuzuka, even knowing it might die. That was understandable.

It was precisely because she understood that Hana Inuzuka felt so miserable. As a senior and sister who had looked after Aoi Inuzuka many times, how could she not worry about her?

May the gods bless Sister Aoi and bring her back safely!

"Hua, you don't look well. Are you sick?" Ye Fan put down his bowl and chopsticks and moved closer.

"I'm fine. I just didn't rest well."

"Then I'll make some restorative soup. Have some, Hua, and get a proper rest afterward. Unless there's an important mission, don't go out."

As Ye Fan spoke, he reached out and checked Hana Inuzuka's forehead for a fever.

At last, a faint smile appeared on Hana Inuzuka's exhausted face.

This younger brother before her, though not related by blood, always knew how to give her warmth at the right moment.

Compared with him, her actual younger brother was...

Well.

As long as he did not make her angry, that was already a blessing.

"Sis, why is Brother Ye Fan making breakfast today?"

After washing up in the bathroom, Kiba Inuzuka saw Hana Inuzuka standing in the living room and casually asked.

This biological younger brother of hers did not even know that his sister had not come home all night.

"Kiba, come help me."

Ye Fan's voice came from the kitchen. Clearly, he did not want Kiba Inuzuka to pester the exhausted Hana Inuzuka too much.

Hana Inuzuka smiled faintly.

But her smile suddenly froze as she stared out the window.

In the courtyard outside stood a man and a huge black Ninja Hound.

Hana Inuzuka recognized the visitor. After all, they were both from the Inuzuka Clan, but why had he suddenly come here?

With a puzzled expression, Hana Inuzuka walked outside. The man in the courtyard said coldly, "The clan head summons you!"

"The clan head summons me?"

Hana Inuzuka froze, unable to understand why the clan head wanted to see her.

The current head of the Inuzuka Clan was Inuzuka Goya. Because of certain conflicts, his relationship with Hana Inuzuka's family had been poor over the past year or two.

"Fine, I'll come right away," Hana Inuzuka said in a low voice.

Her mother, Tsume Inuzuka, was away on a mission. Otherwise, Hana Inuzuka might not have been the one summoned this time.

"Hua, are you going out again?"

Ye Fan had only just finished making the soup, yet Hana Inuzuka, who had only just returned home, was leaving again.

"Sorry. Don't wait for me. You two eat first!"

After saying goodbye, Hana Inuzuka followed the man away.

They entered an antique residence, the home of the Inuzuka Clan head.

Upon reaching the reception hall, Hana Inuzuka saw the stern-faced Inuzuka Clan head, Inuzuka Goya, seated in the seat of honor.

Besides the clan head, there were many clan members with influence in the family. When they saw Hana Inuzuka enter, every one of them wore strange expressions.

The atmosphere throughout the reception hall was somewhat oppressive.

"Clan Head! You sent for me?"

Hana Inuzuka swept her gaze across everyone present before finally resting it on Inuzuka Goya.

"Now that everyone is here, I will explain why I gathered you all," Inuzuka Goya suddenly said in a low voice.

Hana Inuzuka chose a place to stand, already turning the matter over in her mind.

Judging from this gathering, something major was about to be announced.

It was more than merely major!

Inuzuka Goya's next sentence left Hana Inuzuka rooted to the spot.

"I have just received word that Aoi Inuzuka has fallen. Her body will be transported back to Konoha tomorrow." His voice was neither fast nor slow, without the slightest trace of emotion.

Hana Inuzuka felt her head buzz, and her vision blurred in an instant. She did not hear anything Inuzuka Goya said afterward.

The thing she had feared most had happened after all!

Sister Aoi had actually...

"...With Lord Shimura Danzō's support, our Inuzuka Clan will usher in rapid growth and will surely become one of Konoha's foremost clans..."

Inuzuka Goya's words suddenly drifted into Hana Inuzuka's ears.

Hana Inuzuka had not yet emerged from her grief, but Inuzuka Goya's words shocked her all over again.

The "Lord Shimura Danzō" Inuzuka Goya spoke of was one of Konoha's higher-ups. He was deeply calculating, and rumor had it that he had always coveted the position of Hokage. He was an extremely dangerous man.

"I object!"

Hana Inuzuka suddenly spoke. Though tears filled her eyes, her expression was resolute.

"Hana Inuzuka, you need to understand something." A cold glint flashed through Inuzuka Goya's eyes as he continued, "I am not asking for your opinions. I am informing you of my decision."

Some of those present, like Hana Inuzuka, greatly disliked the idea of having close ties with Danzo. Yet they did not show it, seemingly each with their own plans.

By noon, Hana Inuzuka wandered down the streets as though she had lost her soul.

Sister Aoi was dead!

The pain in Hana Inuzuka's heart was so great that it felt as though her heart were being torn apart.

She did not know how she was supposed to face Laiyun.

She did not even know how to comfort herself!

Her heart was bleeding.

It felt as though something inside her had been hollowed out.

Scenes of her days with Aoi Inuzuka flashed through her mind like a slideshow.

Aoi Inuzuka's bright laughter and encouraging words echoed so clearly in her ears.

She would never again watch the sunset with Sister Aoi.

She would never again talk about their dreams for the future with Sister Aoi.

Never again...

"Hua, what... happened to you?" A concerned young voice suddenly reached Hana Inuzuka's ears.

Hana Inuzuka raised her head and realized that she had unknowingly walked back home. Before her stood Ye Fan, his face full of concern.

The emotions building within her erupted like a mountain flood.

Hana Inuzuka could no longer suppress them. She suddenly threw her arms around Ye Fan and burst into tears.

"Hua, tell me. Who bullied you?" Ye Fan's voice was calm, but a cold gleam flashed in his eyes.