Naruto: People are in Konoha, the system arrived 20 years earlier Chapter 019

With a loud bang, the Hokage Office door seemed to be violently struck by an invisible force, closing heavily and raising a cloud of dust.

Danzo’s figure disappeared outside the door, leaving Homura and Koharu, two of the Konoha F 4, looking at each other, their eyes filled with helplessness and worry.

They were already well aware of their two comrades’ fiery tempers and could only shake their heads with a wry smile.

After a brief silence, Koharu spoke again, her voice tinged with urgency.

“Hokage, the situation is very critical right now. We must deal with this kidnapping incident as soon as possible. What do you plan to do?”

Homura followed suit, fixing his gaze on Hiruzen, awaiting his final decision.

Hiruzen slowly turned around, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his gaze deep as he looked out at the night sky.

The moonlight was like water, and the Hokage Rock appeared particularly solemn under its glow. He gazed at the statue of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and mused to himself: Sensei, if you were still here, how would you handle a situation like this?

The atmosphere in the room once again became heavy and silent. After a long while, Hiruzen finally spoke, his voice calm and firm: “We absolutely cannot let this matter go.”

Upon hearing this, Homura and Koharu couldn’t help but frown slightly, their worry evident: “Hokage-sama, please consider carefully. The village has just gone through a major war; it cannot withstand too much turmoil now.”

Hiruzen took two slow puffs from his cigarette and said lightly, “I didn’t say we’re directly declaring war. What I mean is, we absolutely cannot suffer this loss for nothing.”

Upon hearing this, Homura and Koharu breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn’t direct warfare, it was fine.

“Tomorrow, I will personally go to meet the Daimyo, report this matter truthfully, and demand a reasonable explanation and compensation from Kumogakure of the Land of Lightning,” Hiruzen continued. “If they refuse to compensate, I do not rule out the possibility of directly declaring war.”

His words revealed an undeniable resolve. Indeed, as Danzo said, to deal with this matter, the enemy must know that their actions will come at a heavy price. Otherwise, they would only become more reckless in infringing upon Konoha’s interests.

Otherwise, if they kept coming to steal people every few days, what was the point of even trying to function?

Although Konoha had only recently emerged from a major war a few years ago, its overall combat strength was not inferior to others.

“If I can’t even protect my own family and children, then I don’t deserve to be Hokage.” Hiruzen’s voice was powerful and resolute, as if proving his determination to everyone, “I believe that if Sensei were still here, he would also support my decision.”

Hearing Hiruzen bring up Tobirama’s name, Homura and Koharu said no more. They knew that the Hokage had made his decision, and they only needed to carry it out.

“Alright, then we’ll proceed as Hokage-sama wishes. We will prepare for war.” Homura pondered for a moment before speaking calmly.

After the two left, Hiruzen slowly sat down in his chair, hands clasped across his chest, his gaze calm and profound, as if contemplating a significant issue.

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Hayato and several other friends agreed to visit Asuma at the Konoha Hospital.

They followed the rounding nurse to Asuma’s hospital room door. The two Anbu members standing at the door merely nodded to the group and said nothing more.

“Asuma, we’re here to see you!” Obito’s booming voice echoed in the hospital corridor.

“Quiet, Obito, this is a hospital,” Rin quickly shushed him.

The rounding nurse nodded with satisfaction, then twisted the doorknob and entered. Before going in, she turned back and instructed the group, “The patient still needs rest, so don’t stay too long.”

Everyone nodded in understanding, then followed the nurse into the room.

Asuma was already awake at this time, slowly sipping some liquid food. Hearing the commotion at the door, he stopped eating and turned his head to look at the entrance.

Soon, he saw Hayato and the others enter. Immediately, he frantically hid the bowl in his hand, pulled the blanket over himself, and pretended to still be unconscious—he wanted to avoid meeting them.

Everyone walked to Asuma’s bedside, looking at each other with a sense of helplessness.

Hayato was the first to break the silence: “Alright, Asuma, we all saw you wake up. Stop pretending.”

Damn, my reaction was a beat too slow. Asuma had no choice but to open his eyes, sit up, glance at everyone, and then close his eyes again: “Go ahead and laugh at me if you want!”

Everyone was a bit speechless—they had all come to see him, and he was being so tsundere. Hayato merely smiled faintly at this: “Haha, your acting is pretty terrible. There’s such a strong soup smell in this room; we’re not without a sense of smell.”

Hearing Hayato say this, everyone realized and then burst into laughter.

Asuma opened his eyes. He understood that Hayato was giving him an out—he had originally thought they would laugh at him for accidentally eating poisonous mushrooms yesterday.

“Asuma, it seems your spirits are high, so we’re relieved,” Obito said, sitting down by Asuma’s bed and putting an arm around his shoulder, “It looks like you’ll be up and running again soon, and you won’t miss too many school lessons.”

Listening to their caring words, a warm current flowed through Asuma’s heart, and his eyes became a little moist: “Everyone…”

They chatted for a while longer, discussing their encounter with the Third Hokage last night.

Then, Hayato checked the time and felt it was about right, so he spoke: “We just came to see you; it’s good that there’s nothing serious. It’s getting late, so we won’t bother you anymore. Get some rest.”

Upon hearing this, everyone stood up and bid Asuma farewell: “Get well soon, Asuma!” “Come to the Ninja Academy soon!”…

After leaving Konoha Hospital, Hayato returned to the Uchiha clan compound and headed straight for the Elder’s house.

“What? You said you’ve already finished learning the contents of the scroll?” The Elder stared at Hayato, his voice filled with disbelief.

No way, it’s only been a few days, and he’s already finished learning?

When he had given Hayato that scroll before, he had thought it would take Hayato at least half a year, if not a year, to learn.

“Yeah, pretty much. I’ve basically memorized everything in it. The rest is just practice and refinement,” Hayato said calmly. “Grandpa, do you have anything new I can learn?”

Upon hearing this, the Elder’s face immediately hardened: “Hayato, there’s a saying, ‘Don’t bite off more than you can chew.’ Do you understand?”

“It’s fine, Grandpa, I have strong teeth,” Hayato said with a chuckle.

The Elder was momentarily choked by this, then he looked at Hayato and said, “Since you say you’ve mastered the contents of that scroll, then show me.”

To be honest, he was still a bit skeptical. After all, the contents of that scroll were not so easy to master.

Hearing the Elder’s skepticism, Hayato understood.

After a slight nod, he looked at the Elder, activated his Sharingan, and gave the Elder a “genjutsu package.”

A moment later, Hayato dispelled the genjutsu.

The Elder came back to his senses, his mouth wide open as he stared at Hayato’s eyes, as if he could fit an egg in it.

He trembled for a while, his voice somewhat shaky and uncertain, “Am I still in genjutsu?”

“Grandpa, I’ve already dispelled it,” Hayato said softly.

“When? Hayato, when did your Sharingan become three tomoe?” the Elder asked in surprise.