"
That… quite honestly sounded like the most sinister poison Hound had heard about in the last five years.
"That said, he is still in pain and will likely suffer the symptoms of kidney failure for a week or two. He is not necessarily stuck on soft foods, but I still have some diet recommendations for his convalescence, and in any case he will need to drink many fluids for the duration.
He should be ready for home care in one or two days, but I would like him to come back once or twice a week in case he relapses, and to encourage his excretory channels to regenerate as quickly as possible. Right now we have him on painkillers, which, I will note, have a reduced effect on him compared to the norm, same as the sedatives – he woke up twice on the operating table, we had to up the dose both times to keep him under.
He has surprising vitality for a civilian. "
The Third hummed, puffing smoke through his pipe. "Could it be a bloodline limit?"
"You believe he might be of the Uzumaki as well then?" And wasn't that the elephant in the room? "He certainly has the phenotype. The red hair and green eyes are characteristic of the clan.
I cannot say anything conclusive, however. The eye-color test is obviously useless relative to the young Uzumaki, and the blood-type test was inconclusive.
Young Naruto has blood Type B, while Masanari has blood type O, but this hardly proves or disproves paternity, let alone whatever degrees of removal we are talking about here, if any. Perhaps if his past records hadn't been lost in the Kyuubi rampage…"
That was a moot point, Hound knew. If the Masanari family had any ties to the Uzumaki, it would have come up from the very moment the grandfather applied for citizenship, and would have been triple checked on approval all over again.
Unless they were descended from outcasts?
"The attack left all of us poorer," the Third commiserated. "How is he now? Not too tired, I hope.
"
"He was not keen to go back under now that the sedatives have passed from his system, but the Uzumaki boy might have changed his mind since you brought him in. Nurse Honoka is keeping an eye on them just in case.
"
Why was Naruto there? If the man was as bad off as the medic claimed, shouldn't visits be restricted until he was in good enough shape to actually cope? Just how keen was the Hokage on throwing those two together? Why?
"Where are they now?"
The woman frowned slightly, looking to Hound and back. "Observation room VIC-01, as the Anbu instructed.
"
It was only Hound's familiarity with the Third's mannerisms that let him catch the man's grip tightening on his pipe. "Lead the way.
I should like to observe him for myself. "
Hound frowned behind his mask as he shadowed the Third, slipping from one blind spot to the next under camouflage. VIC.
Very Important Criminal. One of just a handful of rooms that could be stormed from all directions and turned into a chakra-draining cell at a moment's notice.
As the name implied, they were only intended for dangerous nin detainees.
He waited until the Hokage dismissed the doctor and nurse so that they were the only ones outside the one-way mirror. Sound Muffling Technique, Loose Lips Technique, perimeter closed, all entrances covered, handsign Owl to check for Byakugan spies, none reported.
"Lord Third. None in my team sent such instructions.
"
"Nor did I," Said Sarutobi Hiruzen, voice grim. "Certain people just can't live without testing my patience, it seems.
"
Shimura Danzo is playing with lightning. "Speaking of patience, is there a reason the man was not questioned while he was still loose-lipped from the sedatives?"
"He was, but all we got was slurring gibberish in one or more languages never heard of before. We weren't even able to build a working cypher, never mind anything else.
His claims to Crow were no mere boasts. "
That was all the Hokage said, choosing instead to watch the latest results of his meddling unfolding on the other side of the glass.
"-and then the Old Man actually said I ate too much ramen, can you believe it, he's crazy I tell you!"
Laid out in his hospital bed, Masanari Hanzo was the very picture of despair looking to the heavens for strength.
Futilely. "Why are you looking at the ceiling, don't do that, it's creepy, believe it! I saw a funeral last week and the guy had his eyes open, they had to put coins on them and they kept sliding off and whoever-it-was kept goggling up at me, it was creepy, you're not going to do the same when you're dead, are you – wait, you're not dead, right? Right? Hey don't be dead, you can't be dead, hey, NURSE HELP, HELP-"
"NARUTO!"
Naruto shut up.
Masanari visibly sagged in exhaustion. "The Third is an asshole.
"
What did he just say?
"Hey! Don't diss the old man, what's your problem?"
"You're my problem. "
"Don't start that again, you said we were good!"
"No I didn't, I said I was rooting for you if you were serious about changing for the better. Foolishly, it seems, since I just got disappointed all over again.
"
"What? Why? What did I do this time?"
"Got used as a pawn in old men's power games," the man said weakly. "At my expense.
As usual. "
This man is dangerously perceptive.
"I-well… But… I finished the book!"
Masanari blinked tiredly, trying to sit up in bed and giving it up with a wince of pain. He just turned his head.
"Kid… It's, quite literally, been less than a day. Don't you sleep?"
"I do so! I'm just quick, duh. "
"You're certainly quick to drain the last of my life, you little vampire. "
"Hey!"
"This is what I get for not squeezing a promise out of you," Masanari said weakly, eyes drifting shut. "Shame on me for wanting to believe in you, I guess.
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