Chapter 72: Hospitalization

As the ocular power Obito had left inside Yagura and the Three-Tails finally vanished completely, Yagura's consciousness gradually returned.

Cries of anguish and sorrow filled his ears, leaving Yagura utterly lost.

Although he was still undergoing the Tailed Beast Transformation, he could see the outside world.

The village lay in ruins before him. The Mist Ninjas within his sight gazed at him with hatred and grief in their eyes.

Floods of memories surged into his mind, leaving Yagura astonished.

Why don't I remember doing those things?

At that moment, the Three-Tails' indignant roar seemed to echo in his ears, as though his consciousness would be swallowed again.

"No, no—I can't go back like that…"

Outside, Terumi Mei and others helplessly watched as the Three-Tails' chakra grew increasingly unstable after releasing two Tailed Beast Balls.

Roaring furiously, its released techniques weakened and became erratic, seemingly without any specific target.

The Mist Ninjas continued launching various ninjutsu and throwing kunai at the Three-Tails.

About ten minutes passed before the tailed beast's chakra disappeared entirely, revealing a green-haired young man roughly the size of a teenager lying on the ground.

Through intense struggle and sheer willpower, Yagura successfully reclaimed control of his body. He reabsorbed the tailed beast's chakra, returning to his original form.

Only then did Terumi Mei and the others dare to slowly approach him.

Looking at the wary and conflicted expressions on the ninja's faces, Yagura was overcome with guilt and couldn't bring himself to meet their gazes.

"It's me… I was manipulated by someone with ill intent! It's my fault. I caused all these deaths and turned our village into ruins…"

He stammered, reaching out with one hand and picking up a kunai smeared with blood.

Ever since becoming the Mizukage—the leader of the Hidden Mist Village—he had dreamed of reforming Kirigakure and restoring life to this village.

Unfortunately, halfway through his mission, he encountered the man wielding the Mangekyo Sharingan.

What happened afterward, he could no longer recall.

Now fully conscious, as he looked around, Yagura realized that none of the legendary Seven Swords of the Bloody Mist—who once stood beside him to realize his dreams—remained in the village.

A deep sense of shame overwhelmed him.

"I'm no longer worthy of being the Mizukage, nor do I deserve to face anyone from the village!"

He closed his eyes with sorrow.

A soft hand landed on his, as Terumi Mei took away the kunai meant for suicide. She shook her head calmly.

"Mizukage-sama, you cannot die yet. If you perish, the Three-Tails will run wild, causing even greater destruction."

After glancing toward a certain direction, Terumi Mei signaled several sealing team members, who immediately stepped forward, sealing Yagura's chakra pathways and restraining him.

Yagura offered no resistance.

Regaining her composure, Terumi Mei joined the other ninja in tending to the injured and counting the casualties.

"Judging by his appearance, he must belong to the Kaguya Clan…"

Kimimaro, although only grazed by the Tailed Beast Ball, suffered severe injuries and fell unconscious.

After confirming he was still breathing, the Mist Ninjas carried him onto a stretcher.

"…"

"Hmm? This kid doesn't seem to be from our village either?"

"Could it be a spy or infiltrator?"

Hearing the voice, Mei Terumi turned her gaze.

Seeing Hiroki Hyuga with both eyes closed and lying motionless on the ground, she hesitated for a moment before walking closer.

"He still has a heartbeat and breath. It's truly amazing he survived..." After checking him out, she murmured to herself.

She hadn't heard anything about the Hyuga clan having particularly strong constitutions, yet he emerged unscathed from such a powerful strike.

As she pondered, Mei pulled open Hiroki's upper garment but still couldn't identify anything unusual.

"Take him to the hospital," she instructed.

Subsequently, Hiroki was also carried onto a stretcher and transported to the hospital in Kiri.

After a full day of frantic efforts, the Mist ninja managed to rescue everyone still alive across the village.

In an ancient courtyard:

A frail old man holding a snake-shaped wooden staff listened carefully to Mei Terumi's report.

Finally, he spoke: "It's over at last. This matter must not be disclosed outside. The Mizukage remains in control as before. From now on, the affairs of the village rely on all of you."

"Oh, by the way, do you think it necessary to relocate the Three-Tails?" Genshi asked, recalling Yagura's condition.

Yagura, having regained consciousness and memory, felt his heart like ashes, appearing completely soulless. Genshi worried greatly whether he could continue controlling the tailed beast in this state.

"Well, perhaps there isn't a suitable candidate," everyone hesitated.

Inside Kaguya Palace.

The perspective belonging to Hiroki Hyuga faded into darkness.

Kaguya gazed emptily.

She had sworn he wouldn't be harmed, yet ended up breaking her word at a time like this.

His body, blasted by the Tailed Beast Ball, had been repaired by her, and his life sustained only through her intervention.

However, when he would awaken, Kaguya wasn't certain.

His consciousness had suffered severe damage, leaving it confused and unstable even in its spiritual form, so she could only temporarily stabilize it.

Of course, Kaguya could still enter his body and control his movements. But what purpose would that serve?

"If only you'd pleaded with me just now... everything could've still been different..." Kaguya murmured silently, a flicker of gloom flashing across her eyes.

Cradling the person in her arms, Kaguya's aura turned somewhat somber.

"Hey, wake up already. Isn't this what you secretly hoped for? My arms around you..."

The next day.

The bustling hospital corridors were filled with people coming and going, the sharp scent of disinfectant stinging their nostrils.

Genshi followed Terumi into a pristine ward.

Inside the spacious ward were two white hospital beds.

Both persons lying on the beds were wrapped tightly in bandages.

Genshi glanced briefly, then walked toward one bed.

The person on this bed breathed steadily but showed no sign of awakening.

Quickening his pace, Genshi removed part of the bandages around his head.

A smooth forehead came into view before Genshi's eyes, and a glimmer of surprise flashed across his otherwise calm expression.

He extended his fingers, hovering them above Hiroki's eyes.

Mei hesitated, clearly wanting to say something but choosing not to.

He paused for quite some time as if contemplating something deeply, then withdrew his hand, a faint smile forming on Genshi's face.

Turning around, he addressed Mei: "Mei, find a way to keep him here."

His expression froze for a moment before he continued, "If... he can survive."

"And that child... he's now the last remaining member of the Kaguya clan."

Genshi shifted his gaze elsewhere.

On another bed, wrapped like a mummy and lying unconscious, was Kimimaro Kaguya.

"What if people from Konoha..."

"He's been gone for so long. People from Konoha have never appeared. Perhaps they don't even know," Genshi said calmly.

Terumi Mei nodded solemnly.

After they left, Kimimaro Kaguya lying on the bed suddenly opened his eyes. His gaze was filled with coldness.

He glanced toward the direction Terumi Mei and the other had left, then closed his eyes again.

Like nothing had ever happened.

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