"Come on, get on my back."
Natsume turned around and crouched down in front of her.
"Huh?"
Hinata Hyuga didn't understand what he meant at all.
"We need to avoid the guards of your clan when we go out later, so it's better for me to carry you on my back."
Natsume paused for a moment and then smiled, "If you want me to carry you in my arms, that's okay too."
"No... no need..."
Hinata Hyuga took a deep breath, tiptoed, and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Natsume held her body with both hands and walked outside.
After the last incident where the Cloud Ninjas tried to kidnap someone, the Hyuga clan had strengthened their defenses.
It was difficult to either get in or get out.
Because there were patrols everywhere.
Natsume had to use his Mangekyo Sharingan. He would take advantage of the visual blind spots created by the movement of the guards and rush out.
Hinata Hyuga's body was tense and she was very uneasy. She was worried that they would be discovered.
It would be okay for her, but Natsume might get into trouble.
But at the same time, lying on his back and feeling his warm breath, her face couldn't help but turn red and her mind became muddled.
She didn't come to her senses until she heard Natsume's voice.
Hinata Hyuga landed on the ground and stood firm. She subconsciously looked around and immediately showed a bright look in her eyes.
She had been staying at home for too long. Even an ordinary street made her feel that it had a special charm.
"Let's go."
Natsume led the way in front, and Hinata Hyuga immediately followed.
He didn't hold her hand for fear that she might faint. If that happened in public, he really wouldn't know how to explain it.
It didn't take long before they reached their destination.
"The orphanage?"
Hinata Hyuga was stunned when she saw the words on the plaque.
"The medical ninja I mentioned is Nonou Yakushi. She happens to be off today and didn't go to the Konoha Hospital."
Natsume introduced with a smile, "I used to grow up here. Just like me, call her the dean."
Grow up here?
That means he's an orphan?
Hinata Hyuga looked up at Natsume's well - defined side profile.
There was a gentle smile on it.
But Hinata Hyuga didn't know what to say. She felt a bit of a lump in her throat.
Even though he had such a tragic background, he was so optimistic in front of her.
"Brother Natsume!"
"Big bro!"
"Sweets, I want sweets!"
"What's so good about sweets? I want chips!"
As soon as Natsume entered the orphanage, he was surrounded by the kids again.
Because every time he came back, he would bring them snacks.
"Everyone will get some. Don't fight."
Natsume opened the Storage scroll.
Hinata Hyuga blinked her eyes.
If before it was just gratitude because she was saved, now a different kind of emotion was brewing.
Well, Brother Natsume is really a great guy.
"Na..."
Nonou Yakushi heard the noise and came out of the door, only to see Hinata Hyuga at the door.
She had attended her birthday party, so she recognized her at a glance.
What's going on?
There wasn't even a single guard with her.
How could Natsume bring her out alone?
Nonou Yakushi instantly came up with a lot of scenarios in her mind.
Could it be that the Hyuga clan wants him to be a son - in - law?
Don't blame her for thinking like this. It's just that the Hyuga clan has always been very traditional and has extremely strict family rules.
"Dean, please help treat Hinata's hands."
Natsume noticed her and quickly spoke up.
Nonou Yakushi immediately nodded and gave him an approving look.
Not bad.
Kid.
Unlike Tsunade, she had a purely elder-like mindset.
Seeing Natsume with a young girl, she was quite pleased.
Especially since she was the Hyuga Heiress.
"Hinata, stretch out your hands."
Nonou Yakushi squatted down and said gently.
The little girl in front of her was so cute that she couldn't help but soften her voice and movements.
"Okay."
Hinata Hyuga rolled up her sleeves and stretched out two fair and delicate arms.
"Who did this?"
Nonou Yakushi immediately frowned.
"It was because I was practicing punches with my father."
Hinata Hyuga spoke quite normally in front of others.
"Punch practice should have a limit."
Nonou Yakushi sighed. A green light appeared on her palm and circled around Hinata's arms. All the blue marks disappeared.
"Thank you, Dean!"
Hinata Hyuga felt the continuous warmth coming from her arms and quickly said.
"What a well - behaved child."
Nonou Yakushi stroked her little head and was a bit reluctant to let go.
Hinata Hyuga lowered her head shyly.
Natsume saw the little girl off, then walked over and asked, "Dean, is it okay now?"
"Don't you trust the dean? This minor injury is nothing."
Nonou Yakushi stood up and said, "Alright, you two talk. I still have something to do."
She left quite consciously on her own, leaving enough space for the two of them.
"Let me show you around."
It was rare to come out once, and he couldn't waste it.
Natsume's words made Hinata Hyuga stunned for a moment, but she quickly nodded.
She really didn't want to go back now.
Actually, there wasn't much to see in the vicinity of the orphanage.
But Natsume didn't dare to take Hinata Hyuga to places with many people. If he bumped into a ninja from the Hyuga clan, he'd be in serious trouble.
He wondered if he could shoulder the blame for abducting the Hyuga Heiress.
"Wait a moment."
Natsume vanished with the use of the Shifting Body Technique.
Hinata Hyuga came to her senses and immediately felt a bit flustered.
Thankfully, Natsume reappeared after a minute, his hands full of Three Coloured Pills.
He had just cleared out an entire store, but unfortunately, there were only a few skewers, not enough for Hinata Hyuga to eat.
In the original story, the Three Coloured Pills were the culprit that turned Anko Mitarashi into "Sweet Potato Anko."
But it was different for Hinata Hyuga. When she put on weight, it went to the right places.
Eat as much as you want.
Natsume was even looking forward to seeing this scene earlier.
Ahem. No other intentions. He just wanted to know if Hinata Hyuga's talent would increase after she was full.
While the two were wandering around, in the Hokage's office, the atmosphere was extremely intense.
Tanzo Shimura, with his severed arm, had been healed by Tsunade, but his arm couldn't grow back and he could only leave it empty.
Besides him, there were also Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, and Fugaku Uchiha who came later.
All the high - level officials of Konoha were gathered here.
After Jiraiya finished recounting what had happened, Fugaku Uchiha's face turned the ugliest.
After Sasuke Uchiha went missing, Shisui Uchiha also disappeared.
Moreover, they got the news that Orochimaru and Tanzo Shimura had attacked Itachi Uchiha.
It was simply challenging the Uchiha clan's bottom - line.
At this moment, he showed some backbone for a rare time.
"Lord Hokage, I need an explanation. Otherwise, it'll be hard for me to calm down the anger of the Uchiha clan."
His meaning was very clear.
If the old Hokage didn't take action, the Uchiha clan might really rise up.
"What do you mean?"
Tanzo Shimura was already angry because of losing his arm. Hearing this, he exploded and roared, "Are you threatening Konoha?!"
"Shut up!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi slapped the table hard and said, "Haven't you done enough? Is it your turn to butt in now?"
"I..."
Tanzo Shimura noticed his intimidating look and immediately shrank back.
Based on his understanding of him, he was really angry this time.
"Orochimaru, where is Sasuke?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to look at Orochimaru, who had been silent all the time, and asked.
"I didn't kidnap him. How would I know?"
Orochimaru smiled and said, "You should ask Tanzo. After all, he's in charge of this."
"???"
Tanzo Shimura was completely confused.
Are you shifting the blame at this time?
But he suddenly found that he seemed to really have to take the blame.
Because it was really him who did it.
"Tanzo!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes sharpened, as if a sword was stabbing at him.
Given Tanzo's previous performance, he didn't hesitate to believe Orochimaru's words.
But he was also involved, just not directly.
"This has nothing to do with me."
Tanzo Shimura immediately retorted and said, "I've always thought it was the Uchiha clan who staged this to express their long - standing dissatisfaction."
"You're slandering!"
Fugaku Uchiha was so angry that he laughed. "How could I joke about my own son?"
Just then, an Anbu Ninja flashed in.
"Lord Hokage, Sasuke Uchiha has been found. He's at a waterfall in Minakawa within the Uchiha clan's territory. There are no injuries on him. It's just that his chakra is exhausted. It's speculated that he over - practiced ninjutsu."
The Hokage's office suddenly fell silent.
"This is a frame - up!"
Fugaku Uchiha said anxiously.
He couldn't bear the big pot of self - staging that Tanzo Shimura had thrown at him.
And he didn't want to be the Second 'Blame - Kage'.
"Enough!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi glared at Tanzo Shimura, making him shut up again.
He took a deep puff of his pipe, looking very embarrassed.
"This matter isn't that simple."
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly said, "Sasuke's disappearance is too much of a coincidence. It seems more like a certain mysterious powerful person planned it all, just to make the four of them conflict with each other so that he could take advantage of it."
It sounded reasonable, but in fact, it was full of loopholes and didn't hold up to scrutiny.
Hearing this, Orochimaru and Tanzo Shimura didn't raise any objections, as it was very beneficial to them.
Jiraiya, who had witnessed the truth, frowned but didn't say a word.
Orochimaru is his teammate and close comrade - in - arms.
If the charges are proven, he'll face one of the following fates: expulsion from Konoha, severe punishment, or even execution.
He can't just watch Orochimaru go down this path.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, being the peace - makers, naturally won't say a word.
Among all the high - ranking members of Konoha, is there really no one daring to speak up?
Fugaku Uchiha gritted his teeth and said, "Lord Hokage, the conflict between Orochimaru and Tanzo Shimura can't be so easily brushed off."
He suspected that Tanzo Shimura was mostly to blame for Sasuke Uchiha's disappearance, but he had no evidence.
Currently, the evidence pointed against them instead.
But if no explanation was given, a rebellion from the Uchiha clan was almost inevitable.
With the clan's pride, they wouldn't swallow such an insult.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was well aware of this.
He pondered for a moment and made a decision on the punishment.
"Orochimaru and Tanzo Shimura are largely to blame for Shisui's disappearance. As high - ranking members of Konoha, they've been negligent. From today on, they'll be confined to their quarters for self - reflection and are prohibited from interfering in Konoha's affairs. Root will also be reorganized. After Shisui is found, they'll be ordered to visit his family and apologize. If anything happens to Shisui, they'll be further punished without leniency."
"I disagree!"
Tanzo Shimura immediately jumped up to voice his dissatisfaction.
He could tolerate the previous part.
It was basically what Hiruzen Sarutobi usually said.
On the surface, they weren't allowed to interfere, but secretly they could do whatever they wanted.
But making him visit and apologize was worse than killing him.
"I AM the Hokage!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi glared at him with a murderous look.
Tanzo Shimura stiffened, rarely showing a hint of panic, and didn't dare to say another word.
Oh!
The fact that he had Wood Release was already known.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't punish him, probably because he wanted to deal with the Uchiha clan and the mysterious powerful figure first.
Tanzo Shimura knew that if he provoked further, things would go wrong.
The show had reached this stage.
Fugaku Uchiha had nothing more to say.
Because he knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi had done the best he could.
After all, he couldn't kill Orochimaru and Tanzo Shimura.
"All is up to you, Lord Hokage."
Fugaku Uchiha said in a low voice.
Hiruzen Sarutobi secretly let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Fugaku Uchiha was the clan leader. His personality was easy to handle.
"Shisui is not only a genius of the Uchiha clan but also a pillar of our Konoha Village. No matter what, we must find him. From today on, a rescue team composed of Anbu and the Konoha Police Force will be formed, and Fugaku will be in charge of this matter."
It's the old 'carrot and a stick' trick.
Hiruzen Sarutobi still understood this principle.
"I'll also join."
Jiraiya said.
Previously, he thought Shisui Uchiha was the person in the prophecy.
But now it was clear that it was this mysterious powerful figure. With Wood Release and the Mangekyo Sharingan, how terrifying his strength would be.
Just thinking that such a figure emerged because of his own mistake.
Jiraiya felt deeply ashamed in front of the Great Toad Sage.
Not only had he failed to handle the matter well, but things had also become even worse.
"Alright."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and then said, "Now, let's talk about the mysterious powerful figure."
But no one knew the specific situation.
Failing to reach a conclusion in the discussion, they had no choice but to call it off.
The meeting came to an end.
After seeing everyone leave, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately ordered the Anbu ninjas to summon Itachi Uchiha.
He even postponed dealing with the matter of Tanzo Shimura's possession of Wood Release.
Because after the disappearance of Shisui Uchiha, Itachi had become the only link.
"Itachi, don't let me down."
Hiruzen Sarutobi squinted his eyes slightly.
Actually, it wasn't difficult to eliminate the impact of today's events.
He was truly in the dark, and the Will of Fire hadn't been tainted either.
He could just shift the blame onto Tanzo Shimura.
Given Itachi's faith in the Will of Fire, he must know what to do.
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