This man had plunged him into a despair unlike anything he'd ever known.
This pain also deserved to be borne by such a bastard.
"However, everything will change tomorrow."
The Hokage Office in Konoha was brightly lit, with The Third still seated at his desk, poring over documents.
Yet today, his mind couldn't calm down for a long time.
Smack!
Another pile of documents landed on the desk. The Third leaned back in his chair, taking deep breaths.
"I'm really getting old. I actually feel so tired just reading some documents."
Sarutobi's voice revealed the bitterness of aging.
Yet what he cared about more was Orochimaru.
He had already grown very old, and his strength could no longer stop Orochimaru.
Even though the village had already taken many precautions, he still felt uneasy.
"If The Fourth Hokage were still alive, this situation wouldn't exist now."
He murmured this sentence. In fact, he wasn't the first one who said it.
The first person to say this was Anko, back when they were in the Forest of Death. After confirming Orochimaru's presence while discussing in the tower.
Anko had already said these words back then.
Yes, if The Fourth were still here, such a situation would not have occurred.
But The Fourth had passed away carrying the Will of Fire, even though he himself was still just a Green Leaf.
Yet newer, tender leaves hadn't matured yet, while he himself had already withered, yellowing like dust.
A crisp sigh broke the night's tranquility. The Third took his pipe from the table and slowly lit it.
Huff!
Exhaling a puff of smoke, Sarutobi appeared much calmer mentally.
"I wonder how Shiki Uzumaki is doing?"
Speaking, the Third pushed back his chair and stood beside the window, gazing through the transparent glass at the scattered lights below in Konoha Village beneath the darkness.
The Chunin Exams would begin the day after tomorrow, but Shiki Uzumaki still hadn't returned.
If he had already found Tsunade, regardless of whether there was hope of curing his injuries or not, at least he should've received an answer by now and returned.
But since he still hadn't come back, it probably meant merely a meaningless search. Whether success or failure, meaninglessness itself was the most heartbreaking thing.
"But even if he did find that child Tsunade, whether she would agree to treat Shiki remains another question. Everyone she ever placed her hopes upon has died. That's precisely why she now avoids meeting anyone from the village. She must have sunk deeply into loss and self-blame."
The Third withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes.
"If it weren't for that incident, Tsunade should've been an excellent candidate for Hokage. And with Tsunade, Jiraiya would have settled down as well. Back then, Konoha would have advanced full of hope."
"Shiki Uzumaki, then, whose light will illuminate your future?"
As The Third sighed emotionally, his vision momentarily shifted—seeing changing figures: Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Kakashi, Minato Namikaze...
Chapter 177 Beginning Treatment
Suzume chirped noisily, waking up Shiki in the morning.
Shiki threw off the covers, picked up the white shirt beside the bed, and put it on.
The curtains were drawn open, letting in the morning sunlight. Shiki took a deep breath of the fresh air.
It felt as though the stale air built up from the night was exhaled, leaving him feeling refreshed.
Thump, thump—urgent knocking echoed through the door.
"Big brother, big brother, wake up and have breakfast quickly."
Yuuma's voice was sweet and filled with joy.
Shiki opened the door, his eyes revealing a hint of affection. "You really don't know how to sleep in, do you?"
Yuuma tilted her head slightly, giving off an air of cuteness. "But today, your wound gets healed—you know I couldn't possibly sleep through that!"
Shiki gently ruffled Yuuma's hair, a faint smile forming at the corner of his mouth. "Not yet, definitely not yet. And besides, why are you even more excited than I am?"
"I don't care, I'm just happy."
As Yuuma spoke, she lifted her nose slightly, her soft and delicate face glowing. It was only now that Shiki noticed something unusual—Yuuma had rarely ever worn casual clothes instead of her ninja uniform before.
She looked every bit like a dainty, cherished little girl from an ordinary family.
If there were no turmoil or strife, Shiki thought to himself, staying by her side like this wouldn't be so bad. He could find a seaside home and build a little house overlooking the ocean.
They could wake up to the sunrise, and drift off to sleep watching the tide roll in every night.
However, some people are simply born destined for anything but an ordinary life.
Because such individuals often carry far too much on their shoulders.
After breakfast, Shiki set off alone toward Tsunade's room.
Actually, Hayate and Yuuma wanted to come along too, but Shiki refused—it was better to handle some things with fewer people around. Moreover, he had an uneasy feeling that whatever scene awaited during this treatment would probably not be very pleasant.
The inn's wooden door was brown, and when knocked on, it emitted a muted thud—likely made from aged pine.
Thump, thump.
Shiki curled up his index finger and tapped lightly against the pine surface, the echo of the knock reverberating down the hallway.
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