Seeing that his subordinates were all seriously injured, Shinsei clasped his hands together, and a large amount of steam burst from his hands.
Lightning Release Chakra adhered to the water vapor, reforming the medium for Flying Thunder God Technique.
He swept Hinata's slender waist around his arm and helped her toward Kurenai Yuhi.
Hinata blushed, the pain in her body instantly disappearing, replaced by immense shyness.
She dared not refuse, nor dared she speak; her face flushed like an autumn persimmon, and she quietly pressed her face against Shinsei's shoulder.
Shinsei didn't notice Hinata's actions; he simply helped her to Kurenai Yuhi's side and then gathered the remaining subordinates around.
He extended his chakra, enveloping his subordinates. After Flying Thunder God Chakra God Technique, everyone vanished from their spot.
After several transfers, Shinsei led the four back to Konoha and arrived next to the Konoha Hospital.
The younger version of Tsunade sat on the roof of the Konoha Hospital building, one foot dangling below, her right hand holding a bottle of liquor, taking sips here and there.
Seeing that there were a few more people at the entrance of the hospital building, he immediately flipped over and jumped off the building, landing on the ground with a thud.
"What happened? How did you get so badly injured?"
The younger version of Tsunade was somewhat surprised. How could a Konoha Jonin with several disciples suffer such severe injuries?
Kurenai Yuhi wasn't considered particularly strong among Konoha Jonin, but she wasn't exactly weak either.
However, there is a special member in the team: Hinata Hyuga.
Tsunade, of course, knew that Hinata was her adopted disciple, and had long ago taught her the techniques for cultivating internal energy.
Hinata has recently mastered Sage Mode. Although it's still a bit of a stretch, she's not someone that just anyone can defeat.
"Something unexpected happened." Shinsei handed Hinata to the arriving medical-nin, straightened up, and pointed to the moon. " The Ōtsutsuki Clan on the moon. A kid named Toneri wants Hinata to come back and be his wife."
Tsunade took a swig of sake, raised an eyebrow, and looked Shinsei up and down with a playful gaze.
Then he looked at Red, Kiba, and Shino, who were being carried onto stretchers. Red was the most seriously injured, with her right shoulder bone shattered beyond recognition.
Despite being covered in injuries, he stubbornly refused to be lifted and limped towards the hospital on his own.
Shino appeared to have no bloodstains, but his Chakra was depleted, and his steps were unsteady.
"From the moon?" Tsunade the bottle down on the windowsill. "Alright, your three-year agreement hasn't even expired yet, and all sorts of Gyuki are already showing up. I don't have much information on the Ōtsutsuki people; have Orochimaru compile a list for me later."
Shinsei nodded, and the medical-nin had already carried Kurenai inside. Hinata insisted on not using a stretcher and slowly walked in herself. When she reached the door, she glanced back at Shinsei as if she had something to say, but in the end, she just nodded slightly and turned to enter the hospital.
Shinsei was still standing there, looking at his palms. Those few punches just now weren't quite satisfying; if he had restricted himself a bit more, he could have thrown a few more.
"You figure it out yourself." Tsunade glanced at him and slapped Shinsei on the shoulder. "Call me if you need to fight; my hands are itching lately."
Shinsei readily agreed and followed Tsunade into the hospital building.
His injuries were not serious, and the bloodstains on his arm and the burns on the web of his hand were treated quickly.
Tsunade did it herself, her movements swift and efficient, causing Shinsei to gasp in pain.
Tsunade's actions in treating her injuries were very professional, but they seemed more like a form of self-punishment.
He didn't know where this inexplicable punishment came from, but he dared not ask.
After dealing with things at the hospital, it was already evening.
The news that the Lord Hokage was holding Hinata in front of the Konoha Hospital quickly spread throughout Konoha.
The villagers of Konoha didn't know why the Hokage returned covered in blood, nor did they know what the " Ōtsutsuki Clan on the moon" was.
But this doesn't stop them from using their imagination.
By the next morning, more than a dozen versions were circulating among the general public.
Some say the Hokage punched a crater in the moon, others say a white-haired monster came down from the moon to steal the bride, and the most outrageous is that someone confidently claimed the Hokage and the monster fought in the forest for three days and three nights, flattening half a mountain.
Unsurprisingly, the rumors centered on Hinata.
In the hospital room, Hinata leaned against the headboard, her left leg in a splint and her right arm wrapped in bandages.
The injury wasn't too serious, but the side effects of Sage Mode, combined with the exhaustion after the fierce battle, left her feeling listless.
The sunlight outside the window was lovely. She turned her head to look at the ginkgo tree in the yard. Most of the leaves had turned yellow, and every now and then a few would fall down, spinning in the air a few times before landing on the ground.
"Oh, my dear young lady, admiring the scenery, huh?"
The door was pushed open.
Ino walked in, carrying a bag of fruit, a smile on her lips, but her eyes Fudo swept over Hinata's bandages all over her body.
She placed the fruit on the bedside table, pulled over a chair, sat down, crossed her legs, and looked completely nonchalant.
"What, you've caught the eye of someone on the moon after just a few days? Your luck is something others would envy."
Hinata whispered in protest, " Ino, don't make fun of me... I almost... I almost didn't make it back."
"What are you afraid of? Someone will come to rescue you."
Ino took an apple out of the fruit bag and tossed it in her palm.
"I heard that Shinsei helped you up from the ground in front of a group of people. He even put his arm around your waist to help you up."
Hinata's ears turned bright red. "That's... that's because my leg is injured..."
"Yes, he's injured, so he's holding his waist. That makes sense."
Ino took a bite of the apple, making a crisp crunch, and her eyes crinkled with laughter.
"Guess what their aunt said to me before I came? ' Ino, your Lord Hokage is amazing! He flew back from the sky carrying Hinata.' What was I supposed to say? I said, 'How would I know? I've never been carried around like that.'"
" Ino..." Hinata's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.
"Alright, alright, I'm not teasing you anymore." Ino put down the apple, her expression becoming more serious. "How's your injury?"
"I've seen it. Lady Shizune said she'll rest for half a month."
"That's alright."
Ino breathed a sigh of relief, then seemed to remember something and said with a rather envious tone.
"If I get injured too, I wonder if he will too."
Ino realized she had said something inappropriate and didn't continue.
Hinata didn't respond, and an awkward atmosphere filled the air.
Her relationship with Shinsei was always ambiguous.
The rumors were rampant in Konoha: one leading two women, two female protagonists, and how many Lord Hokage would marry in the future.
She had heard these rumors before, and the more she heard them, the more awkward she felt when she was with Shinsei.
They used to be able to put their arms around each other's shoulders back in the Ninja Academy, but now...
The first thing they do upon meeting is polite greetings like, "How have you been lately?" and "Is the mission going smoothly?"
Ino turned to look out the window and suddenly sighed.
"That idiot Shinsei, if he continues to be so clueless about girls' feelings, I think he'll just be destined to grow old alone."
Hinata said softly, "He won't."
"Snort."
Ino glanced at Hinata, tossing her golden ponytail, and didn't continue speaking. However, Hinata instantly understood what she meant.
Ino was silent for a moment, then reached out and gently patted Hinata's uninjured arm.
"Anyway, get well soon. I'll treat you to barbecue after you're discharged. Let's invite Shinsei too; he probably hasn't been eating properly lately."
"Should we call Shikamaru and the others?" Hinata asked.
"No way," Ino said firmly. "It'll just be the three of us. I want to see if that idiot, sitting between the two of us, still dares to eat his barbecue so comfortably."
Hinata blushed again at her words, but couldn't help but smile.
A few more ginkgo leaves fell outside the window, golden yellow, swirling in the wind, slowly drifting to the windowsill of the ward, like a small patch of gentle autumn.
Shinsei stood at the corner of the corridor, just about to enter the ward, when he heard Ino's last words. He paused, touched his nose, and quietly turned and walked in the opposite direction.
Facing this situation is much more difficult than facing Madara Uchiha.