Always Stay with Me (End of Volume)

Fugaku looked at him with a puzzled expression. Although the Uchiha and Hyuga had always been the two major Dōjutsu clans in Konoha, the two clans were not close.

There exists a delicate balance and competition between them, with little direct communication or cooperation.

He didn't know Hyuga Hiashi had called him over, and he couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.

Hyuga Hiashi Fugaku with steady steps, a faint smile on his face.

Fugaku frowned slightly, secretly wondering what the other party's intentions were.

Hyuga Hiashi addressed Fugaku first, his tone sincere. "Clan Chief Fugaku, congratulations on regaining control of the Military Police Force."

Fugaku nodded slightly, his tone calm. "Thank you."

It turns out that during the meeting just now, Tsunade also proposed reforms to the Six Departments, and put forward many sweeping suggestions.

For example, the Medical Department could add a medical-nin to each class, which would ensure that injured people receive timely treatment during missions.

The Intelligence Department, on the other hand, can involve members of the Uchiha Clan in interrogation, fully utilizing their expertise in Genjutsu to improve the efficiency of intelligence gathering.

There's also the Military Police Force, which is now open for recruitment. Although it's still managed by the Uchiha Clan, other ninjas from the village also have the opportunity to join, no longer limited to a single clan.

Members of the Uchiha Clan can also be assigned to other departments, thus ensuring impartiality.

There are many more...

Hyuga Hiashi continued, "Lady Tsunade's reforms may present a new opportunity for our two clans and even the entire Konoha."

After listening, Uchiha Fugaku pondered for a moment before replying, "I hope so, but the road to reform will certainly not be smooth sailing."

Hyuga Hiashi nodded in agreement. "That's true."

After a moment, Hyuga Hiashi finally revealed his purpose. He looked earnestly at Fugaku and said slowly, "Clan Chief Fugaku, I would like to invite you to my home today. There are some things I would like to discuss with you."

Upon hearing this, Fugaku was taken aback!

Hyuga Hiashi's invitation left him somewhat puzzled.

His mind drifted to Koki in the hospital and his beloved wife. He wanted to see them as soon as the meeting ended, so how could he possibly go to Hyuga Hiashi's house now?

Fugaku looked troubled and quickly declined, saying, "I'm so sorry, I'm afraid it's not possible today. My child is still in the hospital, and I'm worried about his condition. I really don't have time to visit you. I can come and pay a visit another day when I have time."

Hyuga Hiashi paused slightly, a hint of disappointment flashing across his face, but he quickly regained his composure. He nodded understandingly and said, "I see. That was my oversight. Clan Chief Fugaku should prioritize his family. Let's reschedule then."

Fugaku said, "Thank you for your understanding. I will definitely go another day."

Hyuga Hiashi said no more, nodded to Fugaku, and left.

Fugaku watched Hyuga Hiashi's departing figure, breathed a sigh of relief, then quickened his pace and ran towards the hospital, his heart filled with longing and concern for his wife and children.

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio stood silently under the eaves, their eyes fixed on the unusual scene between Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi through the rain.

Shikaku Nara frowned, his gaze deep, his mind racing: When did the Uchiha and Hyuga become so close?

Although these two families are both important forces in Konoha, their relationship has always been delicate, with undercurrents and constant competition and entanglement.

Is their interaction a harbinger of a major shift in Konoha's situation, or merely a chance encounter?

Shikaku Nara's thoughts were a jumbled mess as he tried to deduce Konoha's future from this seemingly ordinary scene.

Inoichi Yamanaka looked grave; he keenly sensed that Konoha was truly about to undergo a major upheaval.

Lady Tsunade's proposal to reform the Six Departments has already caused quite a stir in the village, and now the Uchiha and Hyuga Dōjutsu, are having this unusual interaction.

He couldn't help but worry about the future of his family. Would the power balance in Konoha be broken? How would a new order be established? These questions swirled in his mind, making him feel a strange anxiety.

But Akimichi Chōza's expression was completely different from theirs!

He pulled a large piece of roasted meat from his pocket and began to eat it heartily, oblivious to everyone around him, his satisfied expression suggesting that nothing around him mattered.

The rich aroma of meat filled the air, seemingly out of place with the tense atmosphere at the moment.

Shikaku Nara and Inoichi Yamanaka looked at him helplessly. Shikaku Nara couldn't help but say, "Chōza, what time is it and you're still only thinking about food?"

With his mouth full of grilled meat, Akimichi Chōza mumbled, "Ugh, why think so much? Let's fill our stomachs first."

Inoichi Yamanaka shook his head and sighed, "All you ever do is eat. You never care about anything important in the village."

Akimichi Chōza swallowed the food in his mouth, wiped his mouth, and said, "There's no use in rushing. Let's just wait and see. No matter how things change, we, the Ino-Shika-Cho, can't afford to lose our composure."

Shikaku Nara gazed at the still-drizzling rain outside and said thoughtfully, "I hope all these changes are for the better, otherwise Konoha can't withstand any more turmoil."

Inoichi Yamanaka chimed in, "Yes, I just hope we can find a place for our family to stand in this turmoil."

Akimichi Chōza took another big bite of grilled meat and muttered, "Don't worry, things will work themselves out."

The three fell into a brief silence, the only sounds being the raindrops hitting the ground and the chewing of grilled meat by Akimichi Chōza.

Amidst the pattering rain, Fugaku and Yashiro hurried back to Konoha Hospital.

Yashiro deftly folded the umbrella, raindrops dancing lightly along the tip, creating tiny ripples on the ground.

"Clan Chief, please spend some time with your family. I'll take my leave now," Yashiro said with a slight bow.

Fugaku nodded with a smile, his gaze gentle. "You should get some rest too."

After watching Yashiro disappear into the rain, Fugaku quickened his pace and headed straight for Koki's hospital room.

Before I even reached the door, the sounds of laughter and chatter drifted on the breeze, clearly indicating a lively atmosphere inside.

Fugaku carefully pushed open the door, afraid of disturbing the person inside. When he saw the scene inside, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.

Koki sat excitedly on the hospital bed, while the others sat around it, each holding a deck of cards.

It turned out that Koki was so bored that he dragged everyone to play cards with him. Even Hatake Sakumo joined in the game. They played cards and chatted and laughed, creating a lively atmosphere.

"Husband!" Mikoto's gaze fell on Fugaku at the door, and her eyes instantly lit up with surprise. She stood up excitedly, almost jumping for joy.

Fugaku strode forward and embraced Mikoto tightly, holding her close as if he wanted to pour all his longing and concern from the past few days into that embrace.

He said softly, "I'm back."

Seeing the two embracing tightly, Koki blinked and gave a mischievous smile, then teased, "Oh dear, how embarrassing!"

Everyone was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter. The laughter echoed in the ward, making the atmosphere even warmer, as if the storms outside could not penetrate this peaceful world.

After releasing Mikoto, Fugaku gently walked to Koki's bedside and patted his head softly, saying, "You're the most mischievous one."

Koki winked mischievously, then made a face at Fugaku and stuck out her tongue before quickly returning to the lively card game.

From the very beginning of the game, Koki was surprised to find that her hand was exceptionally good, and she could easily suppress her opponents with each move.

In contrast, other players often make seemingly unintentional mistakes when playing their cards, which allows Koki to win time and time again.

Koki was unaware of anything amiss. He naively believed it was just good luck and his card-playing skills, so he always wore a smug smile.

"Haha, look at my incredible luck and unbeatable skills! None of you can beat me!" he shouted excitedly.

As the game progressed, Koki won several more rounds in a row, his confidence soaring. He even picked up Itachi beside him and kissed him several times, shouting loudly, "I'm simply a peerless genius at the card table!"

Itachi, standing to the side, blushed slightly from the kiss and adorably covered his cheek, nodding repeatedly.

After winning another round, Koki was so happy that she danced around, her clear and melodious laughter echoing throughout the room.

Kakashi and Obito, standing to the side, watched his smug expression with eyes full of doting affection, while Shisui slightly curled the corners of his mouth, his eyes revealing a hint of tenderness.

Fugaku sat to the side, observing everything, and sighed inwardly, "This silly child, he really thinks he's so great."

However, when he saw the innocent joy on Koki's face, he couldn't bear to expose this well-intentioned lie. This joy was so precious, so let it continue.

Koki was so engrossed in the joy of winning that he was oblivious to the passage of time. The minute and hour hands raced across the clock face, round and round, until a cool breeze swept by and Koki's body trembled slightly. Only then did he snap out of his reverie.

He glanced at the sky outside the window and was surprised to find that the once bright sky was now shrouded in darkness, with twinkling stars twinkling in the night sky.

A pang of guilt welled up in Koki's heart, and she quickly said to everyone in the room, "It's already dark, everyone should go back and rest."

They've all worked very hard these past few days.

However, everyone inside the room said in unison, "We'll stay here with you."

Koki was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, then a warm smile bloomed on her face.

"Okay, everyone, stay with me!"

"Good!"

----End of this volume----