Chapter 272

Just after Dong Shilang and the others left!

A white figure emerged from beneath the spot where they had just been standing.

"What do we do? Obito has returned to Leaf Village!"

Seeing that no one answered his question, the strangely shaped white humanoid creature slowly sank back into the ground, as if it had never appeared.

The next morning.

Bright morning light streamed through the window, falling on a white hospital bed.

The sleeping figure on it was startled awake.

"Turns out I'm in the Leaf Village hospital!"

He looked around at his surroundings and the smell of disinfectant filling his nostrils, then realized he wasn't in the Leaf Village's frontline camp.

Last night, Dong Shilang, who had experienced a Flying Thunder God technique, was sent to the Leaf Village hospital by Minato Namikaze, and after receiving treatment, he fell into a deep sleep.

Click!

The door opened from outside, and a long-absent figure appeared at Dong Shilang's bedside.

It was Yuzhibo Meixiang, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

As a relatively rare medical ninja in her family, she had been well protected and was now serving in the Uchiha Guard Unit.

"Are you awake? How do you feel?"

Early this morning she received news of Dong Shilang's injury; worried, she was also able to keep her emotions under control.

After so many years of war, she had seen plenty of life and death; knowing he wasn't seriously hurt, she still found time to go home and make him breakfast to bring over.

"Sister Meixiang, you've gone to trouble again!"

"What nonsense? We're all family—do I need to be polite with you?"

While saying this, Yuzhibo Meixiang leaned in and lightly kissed his forehead.

"Next time you save someone, remember to protect yourself—don't let me and your uncle worry!"

"Ugh! Sister Meixiang, I'm no longer the little kid I used to be!"

Smelling the fragrant scent at his nose and feeling the coolness on his forehead, Dong Shilang's heart remained warm.

Having someone care about his safety—this feeling wasn't bad.

"No matter how old Dong Shilang gets, in my eyes he's still that little brat who used to run around naked and soak in medicinal baths!"

Seeing Dong Shilang still a bit shy, Yuzhibo Meixiang pointed her sword at his throat, leaving him unable to speak.

"Ugh……"

Thinking back to when he first arrived in this world and all that had happened, Dong Shilang fell into reverie—before he knew it, almost twelve years had passed.

She placed the flowers she'd brought on the windowsill to dispel the sharp antiseptic smell, put the breakfast she'd brought on Dong Shilang's bedside table, and then added a teasing remark.

"Should I feed you?"

Having said that, she didn't forget to wink at Dong Shilang, her eyes brimming with laughter.

"No need—I'm not hurt that badly this time!"

When he had just stepped onto the battlefield not long ago, he often got injured, and whenever the wounds were serious, Sister Meixiang would look after him with great care.

In fact, there were several times when his severe wounds were tended to by Sister Meixiang feeding him.

Yuzhibo Meixiang was merely teasing this increasingly outstanding 'little brother' of hers. At that moment she was carefully examining Dong Shilang's medical chart from his bedside.

Only after thoroughly reading the entire medical record from start to finish did she finally feel at ease.

At that moment, his hospital room door opened once more, and entering were his former teammates, now members of the Guard Unit—Yuzhibo Yan and her group.

They were friends who had come to check on Dong Shilang's condition after hearing the news.

This ongoing series of visits, which lasted quite a while, left Dong Shilang feeling more exhausted than if he had fought the Mist Ninja again.

……

What? You're saying that Yeyuan Lin's body is sealed with the Mist Ninja's Three-Tails?

In the Hokage's office, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't maintain his Hokage decorum; he jumped up from his chair, his face full of shock.

He couldn't help but be astonished; the news brought back by Minato Namikaze was too shocking, leaving this old man momentarily unable to accept it.

Yes! According to Yeyuan Lin and Kakashi, the Mist Ninja intended to use Yeyuan Lin, letting the Three-Tails rampage in the village, dealing it a heavy blow!

This……

If it weren't Minato Namikaze reporting to him, but his teacher Zilaiye, he would have thought the other was joking with him.

Tell me the full story in detail!

He knew that Yeyuan Lin had been captured by the Mist Ninja, or perhaps it was the distress signal he had sent to Orochimaru at the Water Country front-line camp, hoping he could send someone to rescue her.

How did things turn out like this in the blink of an eye?

That's the full account of this mission; there's also a written report here that includes Kakashi and Yeyuan Lin's entire experiences!

While recounting the events in full detail, Minato Namikaze also handed a scroll to the Hokage.

……

Without opening the scroll, the Third Hokage's memory is excellent; by now he already understands the situation fairly well.

In other words, the Mist Ninja originally intended to use Yeyuan Lin as a temporary jinchuriki, and when she returned to the village, they would let her inner Three-Tails rampage, but Yeyuan Lin was rescued by Kakashi.

Afterwards, Orochimaru sent over Yuzhibo Dongshilang for rescue, successfully defeating the relentless Mist Ninja, and holding out until your arrival?

The Mist Ninja's maneuver also made him break out in a cold sweat, leaving him speechless!

Third Mizukage, did you really have water in your brain? To actually carry out such a harebrained plan, and the funniest part is, not only did the mission fail, but you even lost your own village's tailed beast!

Yes! They also encountered Uchiha Obito midway!

After hearing the Third Hokage finish speaking, Minato Namikaze still added a sentence.

Is it Uchiha Obito who sacrificed himself in the previous Kannabi Bridge mission?

"Yes!"

I don't know why, but as soon as I hear the name of Uchiha Obito, a sense of conspiracy rises from his heart.

"Forget it! I'm really too sensitive~"

In this matter, Uchiha Obito is irrelevant; even Yuzhibo Dongshilang is more important than him.

"Where is Yeyuan Lin now?"

"Now at my house, with Kushina accompanying!"

"Hmm! That's good too!"

With Kushina by his side, he has nothing to worry about; given Minato's proficiency in sealing techniques, there's no need for him to fret.

It's just that this matter...

"Minato! How do you think this matter should be handled?"

Having looked at his chosen successor, the Third Generation wanted to see how Minato would handle this matter.

This also counts as the final test, to see if he lives up to expectations and can bear the weight of the Hokage's duty.

This position is not something a naive do-gooder can take on.