Chapter 57: Comes and Goes as He Pleases?

Jiraiya turned around.

Naruto had already vanished into the shadows beneath the brightly lit streets.

He and Kakashi exchanged a silent glance.

After a long while—

Jiraiya raised his head and gave the order: "Have the Root agents back off. They're not allowed to probe further."

"ANBU... leave two at the door to keep watch. No matter what happens, do not engage Naruto."

"The rest, disperse!"

Two ANBU immediately obeyed and vanished to the doorway.

The others, taking the Root agent with them, disappeared in a flash.

Hokage Tower.

Inside the meeting room.

Three top council advisors, Nara Shikaku—the captain of the Jonin squad—and a group of elite Jonin including Might Guy had all gathered.

The village was on high alert. Tension filled the air like a drawn bowstring.

They were waiting—for a signal, or the return of two people.

Soon, the door was pushed open.

"No need to be so tense," Jiraiya said with a hearty smile. "Naruto doesn't have hostile intentions. He didn't come to destroy the village. He's a good kid."

Everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief.

Danzo clenched his teeth and slammed the table in fury. "Ridiculous! Jiraiya, is that your official response to us?"

"You indulge the Jinchuriki like this?"

"What do you think Konoha is?"

"He comes and goes as he pleases?"

"Trampling on the dignity of this village, and you still—"

Jiraiya narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp. "Danzo-sama, as a matter of fact, I do have something to report to you."

He had always disliked this senior advisor.

Especially after what happened with Naruto.

Danzo's face darkened, waving his hand.

Jiraiya continued softly, "Naruto told me... if Konoha is willing to hand you over to him, to deal with as he sees fit, he might consider it."

Everyone in the room froze.

Consider what?

Returning to Konoha? Or something else?

Danzo frowned. Was that a threat?

He looked around the room—and felt his heart sink.

Quite a few Jonin were actually considering the proposition.

"Jiraiya-sama. Danzo-sama," Nara Shikaku spoke up. "We can't deny that Naruto is a shinobi of the Leaf."

It was both a reminder—and a fact.

Konoha's current situation…

Isn't it true that all they can do is let Naruto come and go as he pleases?

What else could they do?

Would anyone dare curse Naruto to his face right now?

Koharu Utatane followed up calmly, "Enough, Danzo."

"We haven't even decided if you're still allowed to speak as a senior advisor."

"Jiraiya, what was the Jinchuriki's reason for returning this time?"

Jiraiya replied, "It was for a boy named Rock Lee."

"His target is Rock Lee?" Might Guy exclaimed.

"To treat his condition," Jiraiya explained, voice gentle, trying to soothe him. "Kakashi is keeping an eye on things over there. Don't worry—it'll be fine."

Guy nodded, still having faith in his friend.

"A Genin's illness is enough to bring the Jinchuriki back here?" Homura Mitokado pondered. "Could he have other motives?"

Guy shook his head, his voice weary and lacking its usual spirit. "Lee's condition is serious."

"Konoha has no one currently able to cure him."

"Last time Naruto came to visit, I think he was already preparing for this."

Koharu was surprised. "Even Konoha's medical ninja can't help him?"

In terms of skill and medical capability, Konoha was unquestionably top-tier.

That was thanks to one of the Legendary Sannin, Tsunade, who pioneered the "medical ninja" system.

Though not fully implemented—

At least within Konoha, a solid training system for medical ninja existed.

"Lee overused forbidden techniques, causing bone fragments to become embedded in his nervous system," Guy clenched his fists. "Konoha's medical ninja are helpless."

"They said…"

"Maybe only if Lady Tsunade returns, there's a chance to heal him."

Tsunade—the woman at the pinnacle of the medical ninja field.

"Does the Jinchuriki have that kind of skill?" Koharu asked.

No one answered.

Jiraiya frowned in deep thought.

If it had been before—

He would have answered with a decisive no.

Training in medical ninjutsu isn't something you can master overnight.

It requires extensive practice.

But…

With Naruto's talent—and the power of the Nine-Tails—he genuinely couldn't give a definite answer anymore.

The room fell into silence. No one spoke again.

Guy asked Jiraiya for permission and rushed toward Konoha Hospital, still worried about Lee.

When he arrived—

(Perfect, no typos version!)

In Rock Lee's hospital room, only Kakashi was there.

"Where's Naruto?" Guy peeked inside, not spotting that familiar blond figure.

Kakashi answered, "He's already gone."

"How's Lee?" Guy's eyes turned toward the boy lying in bed.

The bowl-cut youth wore a peaceful expression, snoring lightly—fast asleep.

It startled Guy.

Lee hadn't slept like this in a long time.

Because of his injuries, he had to sleep on his side.

Lying flat would cause too much pressure on his spine.

"According to Naruto, the surgery was a success," Kakashi said, walking over to the table and picking up a surgical tray. "These were taken out of Lee's body."

Inside were densely packed fragments.

Some as small as half a sesame seed, others as large as a fingernail.

These were the same bone fragments embedded in his nerves that Konoha's medical ninjas had diagnosed.

"I wanted the doctors to check on him," Kakashi continued, "but Lee was too exhausted. He fell asleep right after the surgery."

"However, before he nodded off, Naruto had him stand and test things out. He can now walk without crutches—and his back is straight again."

"Seems like he's healed."

"I didn't want to disturb his rest."

Guy collapsed into a chair like all the energy had left his body. "That's such a relief."

"We'll still have the medical ninja check him again once he wakes up, just to be sure."

He said that—

But he wasn't tense anymore.

Staring at the blood-stained fragments in the surgical tray, he couldn't help but grin stupidly.

With those fragments removed, and Lee's current condition—

It was almost certain that he had completely recovered.

He only wanted confirmation from a medical ninja to turn this "highly likely" result into an "absolute certainty."

"Naruto left too quickly. I should've properly thanked him," Guy looked up, gazing fondly at Lee.

Kakashi said nothing, eyes also on Lee—

But his thoughts were on the just-departed Naruto.

He didn't seem to care at all that he had severed ties with the Leaf.

He came back simply because he wanted to see someone he cared about—and once he did, he left again.

To Naruto, the village was like air.

Before Lee was treated, Kakashi had felt guilty toward Naruto—but also somewhat resentful.

He'd felt Naruto had abandoned his comrades.

But did he?

If Naruto had truly abandoned them, he wouldn't have come back to save Lee.

Kakashi now remembered what he said during Team 7's very first mission together—

"Why force yourself to accept people who never accepted you?"

So…

To him, comrades are comrades. The village is the village.

Kakashi turned slightly to glance at Might Guy beside him.

The oversized bowl-cut man was still grinning like an idiot.

Kakashi thought—

If he became a rogue ninja, as long as he wasn't in conflict with Konoha, if he were in danger, Guy would absolutely come save him.

Kakashi sighed.

Naruto really is so free.

But why is he able to be so free?

(End of Chapter)