The area around the stretcher erupted into noise.
Naruto, Ino, Kiba, and Shino all crowded around at once. Shikamaru and Sasuke had just left the Hokage Building and hurried over too.
Akamaru squeezed in beside Kiba at the foot of the stretcher, barking nonstop.
The children talked over one another, blocking the two medical ninja carrying the stretcher.
"How's Hayashi?!"
"Is he badly hurt?!"
"Hey, say something already!"
"Hayashi! Just focus on getting better!" Naruto pushed to the front, his voice the loudest of all. "I won't slack off! I'll definitely get stronger!"
"Quiet!"
The lead medical ninja frowned, his expression stern.
"The patient needs rest. We're taking him home."
"What do you think you're doing, crowding around like this?"
Lying on the stretcher, Hayashi coughed twice.
"Don't worry, I'm fine." He smiled at everyone around him. "I'll probably just need a few days of rest at home, then I'll be back on my feet."
"Hayashi, don't talk."
Ino gripped the edge of the stretcher and followed it for a couple of steps, her eyes reddening.
"Just go home and rest. Nothing else matters."
Sakura stood on the other side of the stretcher, looking down at Hayashi. Her lips moved, but she was too choked up to speak.
The medical ninja signaled for everyone to step back, then lifted the stretcher and hurried away.
As the stretcher rounded the corner, Hayashi turned his head and looked back at the figures still standing there, growing more distant. He sighed helplessly.
These kids all look gloomier than I do.
Before he could finish that thought, a sudden boom rang out in his mind-
``` [Mission issued: Save Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, who have suffered prolonged bullying, and soothe their hearts.]
[At present, Sasuke Uchiha has deviated from his original path