After the Nine-Tails was sealed, Hoshiyomi returned to Konoha along with the members of the sealing team.
Although the sealing had been completed, the night's chaos was far from over — after all, the true culprits, the Uchiha clan, still had not been properly dealt with.
Thanks to Tsunade's prior precautions, most of the villagers had no idea what had actually happened. They only knew that the Nine-Tails had broken free of its seal and gone berserk, but the reason behind it remained unknown.
And it was precisely this problem Hoshiyomi had to address — he and Tsunade needed to handle the matter of the Uchiha clan's rebellion in a way that wouldn't ignite further turmoil.
When Hoshiyomi arrived back in the village, Konoha was unnaturally quiet. But there was no sense of despair hanging in the air. Partly because Tsunade's emergency evacuation measures had been swift, minimizing civilian casualties, and partly because Hoshiyomi and Minato's timely arrival had reassured everyone.
To the people of Konoha, Hoshiyomi was that kind of figure — a pillar of safety and strength.
By now, in their eyes, he was a living legend, on par with the brothers Hashirama and Tobirama. As long as he was there, Konoha would never fall — no matter how severe the damage.
So when the villagers and shinobi saw Hoshiyomi leading the sealing team back into the village, cheers erupted across the streets. The shinobi who had been tending to the wounded and assessing the destruction stopped what they were doing and shouted with joy — if Hoshiyomi had returned with his team, it meant the Nine-Tails had been completely subdued.
Hoshiyomi smiled and took the time to comfort the exhausted shinobi around him before spotting Pakura — who was currently organizing rescue efforts under her codename, "Enthusiasm."
Pulling her aside, Hoshiyomi lowered his voice and asked,
"Where's Tsunade right now? And what about the Uchiha rebels — have they all been taken care of?"
Pakura glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping before answering quietly:
"Lady Tsunade is currently at Konoha Hospital, treating the injured. As for the rebel Uchiha, you needn't worry, Lord Hoshiyomi — they've all been captured."
That was only to be expected. With both of the rebel leaders dead, the remaining Uchiha couldn't stir up much trouble.
The ones near the Hokage's office had already been subdued, and those near the Uzumaki compound were wiped out by the ANBU forces Tsunade had dispatched later on.
After a brief pause, Pakura hesitated, then added softly:
"However… there's one more thing, Lord Hoshiyomi. You should probably prepare yourself."
Hoshiyomi's brows furrowed instinctively.
"What is it? Speak."
Pakura took a deep breath and said:
"Your disciple — Uchiha Kuugetsu — she was gravely injured earlier while trying to stop the ringleader, Uchiha Yamashiro, from releasing the Nine-Tails. She's currently in Konoha Hospital undergoing emergency treatment.
In fact, the reason Lady Tsunade went there first was to treat her injuries. But… from what I've heard, her condition doesn't look good."
At those words, Hoshiyomi's expression darkened instantly.
He and Kuugetsu had shared a bond of master and student for nearly twenty years. To suddenly hear that she might be dying — how could he not feel furious?
Without another word, his voice dropped to an icy tone as he asked:
"Where is Uchiha Yamashiro now?"
Pakura froze. She had never seen Hoshiyomi like this before — the temperature in his voice was enough to chill the blood. Every word he spoke sounded as though it could cut through ice itself, and the look in his eyes made her shiver.
"Uchiha Yamashiro is already dead," Pakura said quietly.
"He was old to begin with, and forcing himself to control the Nine-Tails exhausted what little strength he had left. He died midway through the rampage from sheer overexertion. That was the Third Hokage's judgment — it shouldn't be mistaken."
Hoshiyomi, who had rushed back and immediately thrown himself into fighting the Nine-Tails, hadn't yet learned all the details. Hearing Pakura's report now, the pieces began to fall into place.
To control the Nine-Tails, an ordinary three-tomoe Sharingan would never suffice. And a regular Sharingan certainly couldn't have overpowered Kuugetsu's Mangekyō. For Kuugetsu to have been pushed to such a state… that old man must have used his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Realizing this, Hoshiyomi — who had been hurrying toward Konoha Hospital — suddenly stopped and turned back.
"Has Yamashiro's body been found? No one is to touch it until I've seen it myself. After I've checked on Kuugetsu, we'll decide what to do next.
As for things here, leave them to Shikaku and Dan. Once you've finished assigning tasks, head to the hospital as well — I'll need your report there."
Without waiting for a reply, Hoshiyomi turned away, stepping onto his Grass Long Sword, Kusanagi Blade and flying straight toward Konoha Hospital.
...
Konoha Hospital was the busiest place in the entire village at that moment. It was packed wall-to-wall with patients — no matter how well-prepared they had been, facing a disaster of this magnitude, casualties were inevitable.
Fortunately, with the Slugs of the Great Slug Sage aiding the medical staff — and thanks to Tsunade's years of dedication to medical training — the hospital was handling the crisis with surprising efficiency.
But Hoshiyomi had no mind for such details. His heart was filled with only one thought — Kuugetsu's condition.
As people greeted him respectfully in the halls, he didn't slow his pace or respond. He strode straight for the top floor of the hospital.
The top floor housed Konoha's core operating rooms, used for high-level medical procedures and surgeries involving the village's most important personnel.
Outside one of the operating rooms, someone was anxiously pacing back and forth — Minato.
It was clear that Kushina had already been taken inside. Through the window, Hoshiyomi could see Tsunade leading her elite medical team — personally trained by her — performing surgeries on Kuugetsu, Kushina, and Mikoto.
The three close friends from their academy days had, by fate's cruel twist, reunited here on the operating table.
Seeing Hoshiyomi arrive, one of Tsunade's medical-nin quickly approached and bowed respectfully.
"Lord Hoshiyomi, Lady Tsunade instructed me to deliver a message before she began the surgery. She says there's no need for you to worry too much — while Kuugetsu's condition is indeed dangerous, it's not beyond saving. With her there, Kuugetsu's life will not be in danger."
Hearing this, Hoshiyomi finally exhaled in relief.
If Tsunade could say that with confidence, it meant she had the skill and certainty to back it up. It seemed Kuugetsu truly had a chance to survive.
Still, Hoshiyomi couldn't help but ask about the specifics of her injuries.
The medical-nin's expression grew complicated — a mix of lingering fear, fervent admiration, and regret.
"When Lady Kuugetsu was brought in, we were all terrified. Her chest had been completely pierced through by a ninja blade. What's strange is that the wound's trajectory clearly went through where her heart should have been — yet somehow, it curved just enough to miss it.
It was nothing short of a miracle. Even so, we thought there was no hope left. But Lady Tsunade examined her and said there was a way to save her.
She decided to use an almost lost technique — the Ultimate Medical Ninjutsu: Healing Resuscitation Regeneration Technique.
It's a pity I couldn't witness it myself… If I could have observed that surgery firsthand, I'm sure my medical ninjutsu would have reached an entirely new level."
...
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