Two days later, in an intensive care room at Konoha Hospital.
A faint smell of disinfectant lingered in the air, along with an indescribable awkwardness.
"Hey, Naruto..."
Shikamaru Nara stood with his hands in his pockets, staring dead-eyed at Naruto on the hospital bed. His voice carried a profound sense of helplessness.
"How exactly did you get hurt?"
Naruto lay stiff-faced on the bed, his eyes wandering as he tried to bluff his way through with his trademark goofy grin.
"Ahahaha... Well, um, I accidentally fell."
"Don't give us that."
Sakura Haruno folded her arms, her brows tightly knitted.
"The Medical Unit said you broke two ribs, and the force came diagonally downward from behind and above... Someone clearly broke them with a kick."
She suddenly leaned in, her nose almost touching Naruto's face. Just then, Sakura remembered the man she had encountered who looked so much like Sasuke.
"Naruto, tell us the truth. Did you sneak off to find Sasuke?"
"Sasuke? No way! Why would I sneak off to find Sasuke?"
Naruto waved his hands frantically, breaking into a cold sweat.
"Then who was it?"
Choji Akimichi asked around a mouthful of chips, crunching away.
"Tell us, Naruto! We'll stand up for you!"
Rock Lee chimed in too.
Naruto opened his mouth, then finally collapsed onto the bed like a deflated balloon. He stared at the ceiling, his voice barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.
"It was... Yūya."
A deathly silence instantly fell over the room.
Even Choji stopped chewing his chips.
"Huh?"
Ino's eyes widened.
"He didn't mean to..."
Naruto defended him in a small voice, trying to salvage a little of his friend's reputation.
"It was dangerous back then. Yūya kicked me out of the way to keep me safe..."
Oh, so that was it. No problem,