Chapter 174: Awakening
"Drip-drip-drip-"
The heart rate monitor beeped
steadily. Kiba's eyelashes twitched as he lay on the hospital bed next to the
heart rate machine. Slowly, he opened his eyes.
Where am
I?
Kiba tried to move his hands and
feet but found them fixed by something, unable to move an inch. An itchy
feeling spread across his body.
My heart
tightened.
Could it
be that I forcibly opened the Eight Gates and my hands and feet are disabled?
Then he felt a tingling sensation.
If his hands and feet were truly useless, he wouldn't be able to feel anything.
I...
survived! I can feel my hands and feet. I must have been treated and am now
recovering.
Kiba's initial joy faded as his
thoughts turned gloomy.
Kushina...
are you okay? That attack...
No! It
can't be!
If Kushina
had died, there would be no Naruto. The story of Naruto would continue. She
can't have died from this incident...
But
Kushina blocked that blow to save me. I don't exist in Hokage's history! If
Kushina dies prematurely because of me...
Kiba's mind raced, and his face
showed conflicting emotions. He was obsessed with manga in his previous life
and had read many stories where characters' actions affected future events.
Because of
my appearance, it's not impossible for Kushina to die prematurely.
"Look, he's awake!" a
familiar voice said, snapping Kiba out of his thoughts. The sound came from his
left side, but his neck seemed to be fixed, limiting his view to the ceiling.
"What a worrying guy,"
said another voice, filled with helplessness.
Is that
Kakashi?
Kiba couldn't turn his eyes but
recognized the voices.
Was the
female voice Rin?
He heard two more breaths of relief.
"He's awake!" another
voice said.
Is that
Shiga?
"I'll call Yuriko right
away," said someone else.
Is that
Kiuchi?
Just then, a beautiful face appeared
in Kiba's line of sight, a strand of red hair brushing his cheek. His eyes
widened, his heartbeat quickened.
Kushina!
She's
okay!
But Kushina frowned, her expression
unhappy. "You look like you've seen a ghost!"
Kiba's expression probably did look
like he had seen a ghost.
"You think I'm dead?"
Kushina stared into Kiba's eyes, a forced smile on her lips.
A hand with throbbing veins slowly
rose beside Kushina's face.
"Kushina sama , I definitely
don't think that. You just startled me. How could I think you were dead?"
Kiba said quickly.
"Really?" The smile on
Kushina's mouth was strained, and the veins in her fists throbbed faster.
Kiba forced a smile. "Really,
10,000% true!"
"Oh?" Kushina raised her
fist higher.
Kiba's eyes closed subconsciously.
It's over!
I'm going to get beaten again!
He braced for the pain, but it
didn't come. Instead, a gentle hand stroked his hair.
He opened his eyes slightly,
surprised. Kushina's big smile greeted him. "Great, we all survived!"
Hearing this, Kiba was taken aback,
and his eyes felt a little teary.
The battle
with Yotsuki was really dangerous. If it
wasn't for Yotsuki bi getting weaker and weaker, if it wasn't for the last
moment when crazy emotions drove the strong mental power and opened the Eight
Gates...
There were
too many 'ifs'. They could have died.
But they
survived!
After opening the Eight Gates, Kiba
had disregarded life and death. He hadn't expected to survive and receive
medical treatment.
Hearing Kushina's words and seeing
her familiar smiling face brought a sense of relief. He unconsciously said,
"Well, that's great."
Kushina's face suddenly became
serious. "But next time, you must not use the Eight Gates again!"
Kiba was slightly taken aback.
How did
she know I used the Eight Gates? No, she didn't know, but seeing my injuries,
she must have guessed. If someone really cares about you, they will say such
things.
Kiba frowned slightly.
Should I
tell Kushina about the Eight Gates to ease her worries?
At that moment, Kiba heard the ward
door open, and Kushina left his sight. He heard her say, "Yuriko, you're
here. Take a look, Kiba has woken up. Is he all right?"
"Hmm." Yuriko's voice
followed.
Next came Yuriko's inspection.
Afterward, she said, "He's all right. As long as the bones heal, he can be
up and about."
While speaking, Yuriko seemed to
exhale in relief. "Kushina sama , I need to see the other wounded
now."
"Well, you also need to rest
more," Kushina said.
"I understand." Yuriko
replied. Then, she paused and said, "Rin, I heard you healed Hyuga Yutaka's
injury?"
"Yes." Rin seemed
surprised by the question.
"Can you help me take care of
the wounded?" Yuriko asked again.
"Yes!" Rin responded
nervously after a pause.
Then, with soft footsteps, Yuriko
and Rin left the ward.
"Come on, Rin!" Kakashi's
cheering voice echoed as they left, followed by Rin's joyful, "En!"
The door of the ward closed gently.
Kiba frowned slightly.
Wounded?
And from Yuriko's tone, it seems there are many wounded. Could there have been
other incidents?
The four
Kumo ninjas, no matter how powerful, couldn't have caused too many wounded!
As Kiba pondered, the door of the
ward opened again.
"Kushina sama , the Third
Hokage has something to discuss with you."
"The Third Hokage?"
Kushina's tone was surprised. "I'll be right there."
"The Third Hokage requests that
you come with me now."
Kushina seemed to pause for a
moment, then said, "Okay, I'll leave this place to you. Take care of
Kiba."
Footsteps and the soft closing of
the door indicated Kushina had left with the person.
The Third
Hokage seeking Kushina? It must be to ask about the situation.
Thinking of this, Kiba asked,
"Kakashi, did something else happen in the village? And what about
Hirohiko and Yukina? How long have I been in a coma?"