The Ninja World War, concerning the lives and deaths of countless people, began just like that with Hiruzen Sarutobi's announcement.
However, these things had nothing to do with the small fry, Tatsumi and Minato.
As for Minato, he had endless things he wanted to say to Tatsumi. So, he inadvertently spoke for so long that he lost track of time.
Minato looked at the clock on the wall and patted his golden hair somewhat awkwardly. "Ahaha, I talked for quite a while, keeping you from resting."
Tatsumi waved his hand. "It's fine, I'm just idle anyway. Otherwise, I'd just be reading the manga Nawaki bought."
"Right! Speaking of manga, I almost forgot—Jiraiya-sensei asked me to bring you something." Minato quickly rummaged through his bag.
Seeing Minato's mysterious expression, Tatsumi grew curious. Could it be that Minato brought him Jiraiya's treasured books?
Minato searched for a long time before finally pulling out a book.
"Here you go."
Tatsumi took it and saw the title: The Twenty Years of Konoha's Ups and Downs, authored by Jiraiya.
"..."
Minato said proudly, "This is a novel that Jiraiya-sensei spent three years writing. He said he's now a real writer and will reach the peak of his career with this book."
"He still remembers that you once said he would write erotic novels back in second grade. So, as soon as this book was published, he asked me to bring it to you to keep you entertained."
Uh… Jiraiya still remembers that? But Minato, why are you so proud? It's not even your book.
Believe it or not, I'll write a novel too—one where you never get a wife.
Tatsumi glanced at the book and casually placed it under his pillow.
"By the way, tell Jiraiya that I wish him a quick flop."
"..."
After seeing Minato off, Tatsumi lay back on the bed, just about to read his H manga when there was another knock on the door.
Patients have human rights too!
Tatsumi thought for a moment. The people who would visit him at this hour definitely weren't Kushina or Mikoto. Tsunade and Nawaki wouldn't bother knocking. Those brats had already visited him a few days ago.
So, Tatsumi really couldn't guess who it was. Since it was someone unexpected, he decided to ignore them.
Lying back on the bed, he pretended to be asleep.
But unexpectedly, the person outside was persistent. After getting no response, they didn't leave. Instead, they kept knocking, locked in a silent standoff with Tatsumi.
The knocking continued. Tatsumi's intuition told him the person outside was trouble.
After a long time, he finally couldn't bear it and hummed weakly.
"The door isn't locked, come in."
Hyuga Himeji pushed the door open and walked in.
As expected, trouble had arrived.
Tatsumi never expected it to be her. Their last interaction had been three years ago.
Since that night, Tatsumi hadn't seen much of Hyuga Himeji.
After all, back then, she was already in the fifth grade. A year later, she graduated and became a full-fledged genin.
Later, he heard that her brother, Hyuga Hizashi, had been branded with the Caged Bird Seal and became the next branch family head. After that, there was no news of her.
Tatsumi looked at Hyuga Himeji. What's with your Byakugan?
Her Byakugan was activated—was she checking if there was anyone else in the room?
Hagoromo Otsutsuki must be crying.
Hyuga Himeji was carrying a bouquet of decorative flowers. Thankfully, it wasn't a funeral wreath. It seemed her visit wasn't much different from Minato's.
Without a word, she walked over to Tatsumi's bed.
Then, she picked up the fresh flowers Minato had just placed and replaced them with her own bouquet.
Tatsumi: "..."
What's going on here?
Tatsumi, who had sat up in shock, was forcibly pushed back onto the hospital bed by Hyuga Himeji.
After tucking him in, she walked over and opened the window.
It was already sweltering in July, and the little bit of cool air the hospital's air conditioner had managed to produce was gone in an instant.
"Are you here to pick a fight with me?" Tatsumi asked.
"I'm just here to visit a patient," Hyuga Himeji replied expressionlessly.
She sat in front of the hospital bed, and the two of them sat in silence. The atmosphere in the ward felt strange.
Then, she casually picked up the apple Minato had brought, peeled it, and wordlessly handed it to Tatsumi.
After a while, as the heat in the room intensified, she got up again and—without hesitation—closed the window.
"Good ventilation is beneficial for your recovery."
After saying that, Hyuga Himeji bowed slightly to Tatsumi, then turned and left the room.
"..."
After seeing her off, Tatsumi lay back down again.
He was just about to eat the apple when there was another knock at the door.
What's going on? Tatsumi was tempted to call the police.
Military Police Force, are you even doing your job?
This time, Tatsumi learned his lesson.
"The door isn't locked, come in."
A woman walked in.
She looked to be in her thirties. Her features were sharp, her hair was piled on top of her head, and a pair of earrings dangled from her ears.
Her presence was undeniable. The aura she carried was that of someone accustomed to power—a strong woman who had been in a high position for a long time.
Tatsumi was sure he had never met this still-beautiful auntie before.
Sitting up, he politely asked, "May I ask who you are?"
The woman looked at Tatsumi in a daze, then smiled and walked over to sit beside his bed.
"You can call me Auntie Koharu. I was a close friend of your father when he was alive. Like him, I was a disciple of the Second Hokage-sama."
Tatsumi was momentarily stunned before he finally recognized her.
She was one of the personal disciples of the Second Hokage, a high-ranking elder advisor with considerable political power. She had played a role in multiple Hokage selection discussions. A true political heavyweight.
When she appeared in the manga, she was already in her sixties or seventies, so it was understandable that Tatsumi hadn't recognized her at first.
In fact, among his father's old teammates, the only one Tatsumi had met in recent years was Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Your eyes really resemble your father's," Koharu Utatane said, gazing at Tatsumi.
"Huh?"
Tatsumi had definitely heard that line before.
Auntie, are you in the wrong storyline?
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