"Question: If a teammate suddenly collapses during a mission and you ask if they're okay, and they respond with 'I'm fine', what does it mean?"
"It means…" Hinata held a piece of fish, frowning as she fell into deep thought. The orange sunset shining on her made her look even more adorable.
The two were sitting on a picnic cloth, playing a question-and-answer game. Although the game was a bit childish, for two teenagers who had feelings for each other, it was just perfect.
Hinata had also received the Shinobi God's Diary. Naruto told her that he received it too, and brushed off the topic with a few vague sentences, claiming he didn't understand it.
"It means your teammate needs medical attention." Hinata answered softly.
"Wrong." Naruto gently tapped Hinata's head and said seriously, "This means that your teammate's airway is unobstructed and not blocked by blood."
"So that's how it is." Hinata nodded confusedly, thinking that Naruto was imparting knowledge seriously.
"So what should you ask them at this moment?"
"Where does it hurt?"
"No, you should ask them what is one thousand minus seven."
"A-choo! A-choo! A-choo!"
"Kiba, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing." Hinata's teammate, Kiba stopped and sniffled, then said, "Maybe I inhaled some pollen."
Kiba's sister, Inuzuka Hana, walked over and squatted in front of Akamaru to check his injured leg. As the only veterinarian in the medical department, Akamaru's minor injury was no big deal for her.
"Sis, those things that appeared in our minds just now... I'm a bit concerned." Kiba said worriedly.
"Kiba, this matter involves Danzo-sama, a high-ranking figure in Konoha. It's best if we don't talk too much about it." Hana, being a mature woman, was naturally more stable than Kiba.
She and Itachi graduated from the same batch. Relying on the resources of the Inuzuka Clan, she is now a Chunin in Konoha.
Having spent so many years in the medical department, she had heard a lot of secrets, but in order to avoid trouble, she had always kept quiet about them.
For example, she knew about the time when the Konoha Corpse Disposal Unit was blocked by Root's Shinobi outside the Uchiha Clan's compound, and then how the Uchiha Clan's bodies were cremated overnight by Root.
Then, there are also some unsavory rumors, such as the claim that the Hokage secretly allowed Root to conduct Kekkei Genkai experiments on humans.
There are many such rumors and secrets. The true and false interwoven, making it hard to discern reality.
Hana 't want her only brother to get involved in these troublesome matters, nor did she want Kiba to do something foolish and attract Root's attention.
'That organization was notorious for its unethical actions. If Kiba got dragged into it, his life would be ruined.'
Kiba had no idea of his sister's good intentions, and due to the pressure of his age, he could only suppress his curiosity and squat beside his beloved dog, Akamaru.
"Sis, how's Akamaru?"
"He'll be fine."
…
Similar scenes were happening all over Konoha. In the training ground, Kakashi looked at the gloomy-faced Sasuke, not knowing what to say.
It was getting late, and night was falling.
Kakashi could only see the dark outline of Sasuke standing in the training ground, his heart suddenly pounding with anxiety, sensing something was wrong.
"Sasuke, don't fall for it. This might be an enemy's Genjutsu."
Sasuke didn't respond. He just stood there without moving, his whole body exuding a chilling aura of resentment. He raised his head and looked at Kakashi, and asked through gritted teeth.
"Why does Danzo have my clan's eyes on him?"
Kakashi was also stunned. He knew Danzo was unscrupulous, but he didn't expect him to be such a beast.
'Too many eyes? Could he have transplanted eyes on other parts of his body as well?'
Thinking of this, Kakashi felt a chill in his heart. But despite this, without absolute proof, he couldn't explain such matters to Sasuke.
Pulling out one rotten radish could bring up more dirt. Danzo wasn't clean, but he wasn't the only one. From Kakashi's understanding of Danzo, things were never that simple.
"Sasuke, calm down."
"Kakashi, how can I calm down?"
Sizzle~!
The prepared fish slid into the frying pan, crackling and popping by the fire, its aroma wafting through the night air.
"Naruto-kun, you brought a pan?" Hinata asked, slightly embarrassed.
"Of course I bring it. For a picnic, you need to be fully equipped!" Naruto pointed at the pile of utensils and said, "A frying pan is a must. I'll show you something nice later."
"What is it?" Hinata was stunned for a moment and her face turned red again.
Naruto glanced at Hinata, seeing her face flushed from the fire, and smiled mysteriously as he flipped the fish in the pan.
"You'll find out soon."
The Hokage Tower was brightly lit at this time, and many Shinobi were rushing in and out of the entrance, with nervousness and anxiety on their faces.
At the higher-ups meeting, Hiruzen and his old peers, including Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, all stared gloomily at Danzo, who was seated at the table.
"Danzo, do you have anything to say?" Koharu asked sternly.
"I have nothing to say." Danzo said with his hands crossed, "Shouldn't the focus of this matter be the Ninjutsu that can appear in everyone's mind?"
"If the person behind this can say whatever they want, the village will be in a passive position. Today, it's me being targeted. Tomorrow, it could be anyone."
"I suggest we take a wait-and-see attitude towards this matter and let our people investigate it." Danzo said in a deep voice.
After he finished speaking, Koharu, Homura and Hiruzen looked displeased, but they didn't say anything else or continue to hold him accountable.
They also knew that it was unrealistic to ask Danzo to prove his innocence on the spot. It was not that it was impossible, but it would be counterproductive.
After all, if proven true, it would only make things awkward. The village still needed Danzo, so they couldn't just dismiss him. Besides, what Danzo said made sense.
Every higher-ups present had their own secrets, though not as extreme as Danzo's. If there truly was an all-knowing Shinobi God, the next exposed could be any one of them...
Bang!
Several fireworks rose into the night sky, illuminating Hinata's upturned face, and the beautiful appearance of the gorgeous fireworks exploding was reflected in her eyes.
Joy spread across Hinata's face as she gazed at the night sky, feeling an unparalleled sense of happiness. And all of this was thanks to the boy beside her, the one lighting fireworks in the distance.
Naruto had completely forgotten about the Shinobi God's Diary, not giving it a second thought, let alone the huge disturbance it caused to the village.
He trotted over to Hinata and stood beside her. The two of them looked up at the fireworks, and their hearts are filled with happiness.
At this moment, they couldn't help but think happily in their hearts.
'This is great! To have Naruto-kun by my side, I'm so happy!'
'This is great. I've finally spent some money, I'm so happy!'