Seeing the Hokage attacked and injured, several elite members of the Hokage Guard Platoon responsible for his safety instantly appeared.
Knowing the old woman before them held an extraordinary status, they dared not act recklessly and escalate the situation. While preventing Mito Uzumaki from further harming the Hokage, they hurried to check on his condition.
Sarutobi Hiruzen wiped the blood from his mouth and shook his head slightly before pushing away the guard who had come to support him.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Mito's face was flushed with anger, and she coughed uncontrollably.
Seeing her agitated state, Hiruzen feared she might collapse from sheer fury.
Regarding Ryun's death, Hiruzen felt he bore undeniable responsibility. He did not wish to make excuses, so under Mito's reprimand, he remained silent and accepted her scolding.
"If it were the First or the Second, they would never have sacrificed a hero, a child, to preserve the village out of fear of war. Your teacher always said you inherited the 'Will of Fire,' yet in the end, this is how you twisted its meaning!"
Mito's voice was filled with disappointment and anger.
Hearing these words, Hiruzen lowered his head even further. Mito's criticism pierced his heart deeply.
He had always believed he understood the 'Will of Fire,' yet now Mito claimed he had completely misinterpreted it.
"The founders established Konoha so children could grow up safely, free from the ravages of war. Yet you have reversed this principle... trading a child's life, Konoha's future, for this fleeting, laughable peace!"
"You blindly believe in 'sacrificing the small for the greater good,' but have you ever considered that without the 'small,' there is no 'greater good'? Without children, what is the village?"
Mito's words echoed in Hiruzen's mind like a tolling bell.
As one of Konoha's founders, she made him realize that the 'Will of Fire' was never just about 'sacrificing the small for the greater good.' The true meaning of Konoha's existence was to protect and nurture the next generation!
"You are right, Lady Mito. I have failed the expectations of the previous Hokage and you. As Hokage, I bear undeniable responsibility for Ryun's death. Please calm your anger and take care of your health. Once the war ends, I will resign as Hokage."
Hiruzen knelt once more, bowing his head in acceptance of his fault.
"What you do is your own affair..."
Mito showed no intention of stopping him.
Seeing Hiruzen's sincere remorse and lack of excuses, her anger subsided somewhat.
"Is there any chance the child could be revived?" Mito suddenly asked sorrowfully.
Hiruzen shook his head lightly. "Three days have passed. It is unlikely he can return to life now..."
"Little Ryun... such a good child..."
The boy who cooked soft, delicious meals for her, who kept her company and eased her loneliness, had died young, just like her grandson.
Remembering these moments, Mito's tears fell silently. Overcome by emotion, her vision darkened, and she nearly collapsed. Fortunately, Hiruzen caught her in time, preventing a fall.
For someone of Mito's age, a fall could be fatal.
Not long after, Kushina awoke from unconsciousness. The moment she opened her eyes, tears streamed down her face again. Ignoring her grandmother, she rushed toward Ryun's home.
Mito watched her leave with sorrow but did not stop her. She only hoped Kushina would not do anything reckless after seeing the body.
Kushina ran without stopping until she reached Ryun's doorstep. But as she stood before the door, she froze, overwhelmed by terror.
She feared seeing Ryun's body, feared confronting the reality she still refused to accept.
"No... He was so strong, so resilient. How could he give up so easily? He hasn't married me yet. Aunt Asuka is still here. How could he leave us like this?"
Kushina leaned against the door, panting as she muttered to herself.
After a long pause, she finally gathered the courage to push the door open.
Inside, she immediately encountered a female Anbu operative assigned to watch over Asuka.
"You're Ryun's friend, right? If possible, please comfort his mother. She hasn't eaten or drunk anything for two days. If this continues, her body won't hold up..."
The Anbu spoke worriedly. Hearing this, Kushina wiped her tears and rushed into the main room.
As soon as she entered, she saw the refrigerated coffin placed in the center and Asuka, who sat beside it in despair.
The sight made Kushina cover her mouth. Tears fell uncontrollably as she trembled, stepping closer to the coffin.
When she saw the pale, lifeless face inside, her heart twisted violently, and the pain sent her collapsing to the floor.
"No... He can't be dead..."
Kushina clutched her chest, enduring the agony. Beside her, Asuka seemed unaware of her presence, her gaze fixed only on the boy in the coffin.
After struggling for a long time, Kushina finally managed to stand. She opened the transparent lid and hugged the body, sobbing loudly.
Gradually, her voice grew hoarse, and her tears ran dry. Exhausted, she fell asleep while still holding onto him.
Later, the Anbu operative carefully pried her hands away and separated her from the body.
The coffin's refrigeration was necessary for preservation, but prolonged exposure would harm a living person.
As the Anbu carried Kushina out, Asuka, weakened from days without food or water, also collapsed.
Sighing, the Anbu fetched a blanket from the inner room and laid both women on the same bed.
She then prepared some liquid food in the kitchen and spoon-fed it to Asuka.
Upon waking, they would have to face reality.
For the next few days, the two women remained like lifeless husks, numbly keeping vigil over the body.
This hopeless existence continued until the sixth day after Ryun's death.
Suddenly, Asuka seemed to regain clarity, as if emerging from despair. Her mind cleared, and the pain lessened, as though she had finally accepted the truth.
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