Asking about Tsunade

The Katsuyu Sage split into two smaller slugs, crawled onto Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy, and began treating them.

As the healing light appeared, the unconscious Kakashi Hatake's expression gradually eased, as did Might Guy's. The burn scars on their skin also faded considerably.

Seeing this, Asuma Sarutobi came over and said with some exasperation, "Just wait until the old man gives you an earful!"

"But this time, I'm on his side too. Even if you wanted to fight, there was no need to take it this far. Looking at Kakashi now, he probably won't recover for several months."

"What's there to worry about?" Shihōin Naraku gave Asuma a puzzled look and reminded him, "Don't forget, I'm a medical Ninja. With Kakashi in this condition, about a month should do it."

"It's not about how long recovery takes. The point is, you went a little overboard. Besides, what kind of medical Ninja are you? What medical Ninja fights this well?"

Asuma Sarutobi rolled his eyes. Even he, a Ninja dedicated to combat, was no match for the medical Ninja before him.

Kurenai Yuhi nodded beside him, agreeing with her boyfriend.

"There aren't any? How could there not be?" Shihōin Naraku said in surprise. "Have you forgotten my teacher? Lady Tsunade is incredibly strong!"

That left Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma with nothing to say.

Shihōin Naraku turned to Might Guy and asked, "How do you feel? Tell me if anything feels wrong."

"Hehehe, hahaha..."

Might Guy laughed happily, not caring at all about his burns or how exhausted he was. "I'm fine. Absolutely fine."

As he spoke, he even gave Shihōin Naraku a thumbs-up. "You're amazing, Naraku! Make sure you invite me next time you fight! My blood's already boiling now. This is the blaze of youth!"

Seeing Might Guy baring his teeth in a grin, Shihōin Naraku was driven to laugh out loud too.

Shikaku Nara looked at the two of them, then at the unconscious Kakashi Hatake, and could not help sighing.

"Not one of these three makes things easy. We'll have our hands full now."

"Hahaha, as long as everyone's all right."

Choza Akimichi patted Shikaku Nara's shoulder and laughed loudly too.

"Speaking of which, Director Naraku, why aren't the flames at the training ground showing any signs of going out?"

Hyuga Hiashi, who was not particularly close to him, pointed at the flames still blazing across the ruined training ground and asked curiously, "If it's difficult to answer, never mind."

"Oh, that."

Shihōin Naraku smiled and waved a hand casually. "Don't worry. They'll probably stop after burning for a while."

Shihōin Naraku had now made great progress in developing the Mera Mera no Mi's powers, but he had not yet mastered them completely.

Even so, with Shihōin Naraku's talent for Fire Release, combining the Mera Mera no Mi with Fire Release Ninjutsu had made the flames he unleashed not only hotter and harder to extinguish, but also more damaging.

That was also why Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy had so many burns.

Noticing everyone's curiosity, Shihōin Naraku continued explaining, "Maybe my Ninjutsu keeps getting stronger because my talent for Fire Release is so outstanding."

Though his explanation was rather vague, no one asked any more questions.

After all, this concerned his personal strength, and no one wanted to reveal their trump cards to others.

After that, everyone chatted as they watched the Katsuyu Sage treat Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy.

"The stretchers are here! The stretchers are here..."

While everyone was chatting, a group of youngsters hurried back carrying stretchers.

Looking at the panting youngsters, Shihōin Naraku wasted no time on formalities and directed them to lift Kakashi Hatake onto a stretcher.

Might Guy indicated that he was mostly fine and did not need a stretcher, but Shihōin Naraku refused. Might Guy might not have been as badly injured as Kakashi, but he had exhausted a great deal of his stamina.

"Lie down on it. Are you the doctor, or am I?"

With no other choice, Might Guy obediently lay down on the stretcher.

Rock Lee and his two teammates gathered around him worriedly. Faced with his students' concern, Might Guy simply told them he was fine.

"Huh? What's that? That's scary..."

Only then did Naruto Uzumaki notice the Katsuyu Sage attached to Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy, and he cried out in alarm.

Smack!

Shihōin Naraku slapped Naruto Uzumaki to make him behave. "Keep your voice down. Show the Katsuyu Sage some respect. Even the Hokage wouldn't put on airs in front of her!"

"Huh?"

Naruto Uzumaki scratched his head in confusion, not understanding what he meant.

But he soon put the matter aside and looked at Shihōin Naraku with shining eyes instead. Though he wanted to say something, he could not figure out how to put it into words.

"What are you standing around for? You lot, carry the stretchers and follow me to the hospital."

"Oh."

All the adults present watched as the youngsters enthusiastically lifted the stretchers and walked ahead with their heads held high and chests out.

"I still have clan matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave. Take care, everyone."

Hyuga Hiashi said his farewells with all the bearing of a clan head, then watched everyone leave.

"I have things to do too. I'll be going."

"Let's go together."

"I'm so hungry. Let's get something to eat first."

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio soon left as well, while Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi stayed and accompanied the others to the hospital.

Along the way, the Katsuyu Sage had more or less healed both men's injuries. Shihōin Naraku would take over from there.

"I'll be leaving now, little Naraku."

The Katsuyu Sage gently said goodbye and was about to return to Shikkotsu Forest, but Shihōin Naraku stopped her.

"Lady Katsuyu, has my teacher summoned you lately?"

"Tsunade? No, Tsunade hasn't summoned me in a long time."

"I see..."

With a puff of smoke, the Katsuyu Sage departed. Shihōin Naraku held his chin. He had originally intended to ask her how Tsunade had been doing lately.

That made sense. Outside of wartime, even if Tsunade encountered people seeking medical help while wandering around, she could treat them herself. There was no need to summon the Katsuyu Sage.

It seemed that if he wanted to see his teacher, he would have to wait until after the Konoha Crush Plan.

With these thoughts in mind, Shihōin Naraku returned to the ward.

"Guy, stay put in the hospital. You can leave after three full days."

Shihōin Naraku saw at a glance what the restless Might Guy was planning and immediately pointed at him, telling him to stay in bed.

Then he stood beside the other hospital bed. Kakashi Hatake was still lying there unconscious.

After examining him, Shihōin Naraku confirmed that his earlier guess had been right. Kakashi Hatake would need to spend at least a month in the hospital to recover completely.

Thinking about it now, it was no wonder everyone thought he had gone a little overboard.

But Kakashi Hatake was at fault too. Didn't he know what condition he was in? Yet he had insisted on pushing himself.