Waiting Outside the Operating Room
In the bustling hospital corridors, time seemed to stand still.
The usually imposing and awe-inspiring head of the Uchiha Clan now stood motionless, like a statue.
He held his wife tightly, his hands trembling slightly, as if trying to crush all his anxiety and unease into this deep embrace.
His gaze seemed fixed on the operating room door, a door that had become an unsolvable knot in his heart.
Mikoto's eyes were already brimming with tears, which slid down her cheeks and dripped onto Fugaku's shoulder.
Her body trembled uncontrollably, a tremor stemming from uncontrollable panic and anxiety.
During this long wait, every minute and every second felt like being slowly tortured to death, making it unbearable.
Their eyes never left the tightly closed door, hoping to hear a sound or see a movement through the crack.
Beside Mikoto, Shisui sat upright, his eyes already filled with tears, yet he still held Mikoto's hand tightly, with such force that it seemed he wanted to transfer all his strength to her.
He knew in his heart that any more words would be superfluous at this moment; only silent companionship could provide Mikoto with the strongest support.
Shisui was like a warm stream, flowing into Mikoto's endless darkness and despair, bringing her a touch of comfort.
Meanwhile, Kakashi stood a little distance away, quietly observing everything.
His face was covered by a mask, making it difficult to see his true expression, but deep worry and heaviness could be seen in his sorrowful eyes.
His gaze would sometimes linger on the closed operating room door, and sometimes sweep back and forth between Fugaku and Mikoto, as if searching for some kind of solace deep within his soul.
The atmosphere outside the operating room was unusually heavy, almost suffocating.
The air was thick with the pungent smell of disinfectant, mingling with a faint sadness.
Time seemed to stretch on endlessly in that instant, each second feeling like an entire year. The agony was unbearable, and everyone was silently praying for the success of the surgery and for Koki to be safe and sound.
Mikoto's hands were clenched into fists, her knuckles turning pale from the force. Her lips were slightly parted, but no sound came out; only her faint breathing proved that she was still alive in this world.
In the agonizing wait, time seemed to stand still, and every quarter of an hour felt incredibly long.
Just then, Mikoto seemed to wake up suddenly from a dream, and abruptly turned her head to look at Shisui beside her.
Her voice was filled with anxiety and unease as she asked, trembling, "Shisui, Obito... is he alright?"
Shisui gazed silently at Mikoto, knowing full well that her heart must be filled with anxiety and worry at this moment.
He gently wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, then slowly shook his head, trying to comfort Mikoto in the calmest tone, "You don't need to worry too much. Obito-nii is fine. He's been taken to a ward to rest. He just activated his Sharingan, and the emotional fluctuations caused him to lose strength and faint."
At this point, Shisui paused slightly, seemingly recalling the scene, before continuing, "He didn't have any physical injuries; the main problem was the psychological impact. But it's alright, he should be fine once he wakes up."
Hearing this, Mikoto felt a little relieved, but she still couldn't completely relax.
"That's good." She sighed softly, glanced gratefully at Shisui, and then turned her gaze to the door of the operating room, as if the most important person in her life was there.
"My poor child." Her heart was filled with concern for Obito, and she was also worried about her son. At this moment, she could only pray to God for protection, hoping that all the pain would pass as soon as possible.
The Uchiha Yashiro stood alone in a corner of the cold, desolate corridor, his solitary figure a stark contrast to the anxious crowd outside the operating room.
Yashiro's gaze pierced through the crowd like a sharp arrow, finally settling on Fugaku, a hint of undisguised heartache in his eyes.
He witnessed firsthand the chieftain's anxiety and worry, as well as the lady's vulnerability and helplessness. All these burdens weighed heavily on his heart, making him feel so heavy that he could hardly breathe.
Then, his gaze slowly rose and settled on the glaring and cold red light above the operating room. The red light flashed with indifferent light, as if silently reminding everyone that a fierce life-or-death struggle was taking place here.
Yashiro's thoughts gradually drifted back to this morning, when he had seen Koki.
That child was like the dawn of the Uchiha Clan, full of vitality and vigor. His smile was as bright as the sun, warming everyone's heart.
However, at this moment, this once lively and energetic child lies quietly on the cold operating table, facing a severe test of life and death.
This sudden change filled Yashiro with an indescribable sense of powerlessness.
How he longed to turn back time, to return to that moment in the morning, so he could personally tell Koki to be careful and protect herself.
"Sigh." Yashiro sighed helplessly. He knew that reality was cruel, time could not be reversed, and the gears of fate could not be stopped turning because of personal will.
Uchiha Shu's steps were hurried, and the worry between his brows could not be concealed. His tired expression was also obvious, and he was obviously troubled by the various disturbances in the outside world.
As he walked, he frowned slightly, as if deep in thought about some important question.
When he reached Uchiha Yashiro, he stopped and lowered his voice to say, "Yashiro Yashiro, many more people have come to give gifts. We're almost overwhelmed."
His tone revealed a deep sense of helplessness and exhaustion, as if the gifts that had been sent had become a heavy burden, making him feel powerless.
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Yashiro frowned slightly, his voice firm as he replied without hesitation, "I already informed the clan members, telling them not to send any more gifts. We don't need these things now."
Uchiha Shu shook his head slightly, a hint of helplessness and sigh in his voice, "These things weren't sent by our Uchiha Clan, but were brought by the villagers of Konoha on their own initiative."
Upon hearing this answer, Uchiha Yashiro's already slightly furrowed brows furrowed even more deeply, and his expression became increasingly serious and profound.
His gaze was fixed on the mountain of gifts before him, his tone clearly puzzled. "Why would they do this?"
Uchiha Shu's tone was filled with emotion as he softly said, "They all say that Obito and Koki have been quietly helping them all along, doing whatever they can. They all remember the kindness and sacrifices of those two children, and now that they've heard they're injured, they've all come to visit them, wanting to express their gratitude and wish them a speedy recovery."
Uchiha Yashiro's voice carried a hint of doubt and confusion. He turned to look at Uchiha Shu, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes, before asking, "Why did the news about Koki's attack spread so quickly?"
Uchiha Shu also shook his head, indicating that he knew nothing about it.
A look of confusion appeared on his face as he slowly said, "I don't know the specifics right now, but what I do know is that the news has spread throughout Konoha in a very short time, and it's being discussed everywhere, even in the streets and alleys. I've already sent people to investigate, hoping to find the source of the spread as soon as possible."
Yashiro frowned, pondering the pros and cons of the matter.
After a moment's thought, he said, "In any case, we must first thank the villagers for their kindness, but let them take everything they brought back home."
Uchiha Shu nodded, indicating that he understood. "Understood, I will handle this matter properly."