Naruto Karyuden

Chapter 78: Hidden Moon VI - Connection

HIDDEN MOON VI - CONNECTION

Hidden Moon Village hospital

Shino stands guard over Kashiwama's hospital bed. He doesn't need to, of course; the dangers have passed, but he can't shake the guilt that he allowed his student to be injured to this extent in the first place. He's stood motionless since Shinga's plan was thwarted yesterday and hasn't left the boy's side.

On the neighbouring beds, Genzai, Jiriki, and Hifumi are also recovering from their heavy wounds but they're at least conscious. Bored and antsy but conscious.

Jiriki grumbles under his breath and shifts to the side of the bed to get off, but Shino stops him without even turning around.

"You shouldn't move. Your injuries may be relatively minor, all things considered, but you still need to stay put."

"Well I can't just lie here forever!" Jiriki protests. "Everything went crazy out there and Kashiwama is..." He lowers his gaze. "Kashiwama ended up like this."

"You won't be here forever. Just long enough for you all to heal and for Kashiwama to wake up." Shino explains.

"About that..." Genzai chimes in. "He was acting kind of weird when he ran off on his own. He kept saying... that he could hear 'it'? That he needed to protect 'it'."

"Was he... talking about the Goshinboku?" Hifumi asks. "He went right for it, could they somehow communicate?"

"That, I don't know." Shino says. "There're many questions we need answered but that will come with time."

"He didn't even bother to explain, he just... went all on his own." Jiriki grumbles.

Shino lets out a faint smile. "That must be the Uzumaki part of him."

Before Jiriki or Genzai can question what he means, the door opens for Tambo Sugibashi and Yozora to enter the room. Yozora herself only has light injuries as she took on a more support role to get everyone organized during the attack. Tambo, on the other hand, has his arm in a full cast held up in a sling, along with other more minor patched up wounds.

"How is he?" Tambo asks, motioningto Kashiwama.

Shino shakes his head. "Hasn't shown signs of waking up yet."

"I'm sorry." Tambo bows so far that Shino can see his neck. "It was my responsibility to look after your team during your stay, and I let this happen by not being with them."

"Nonsense." Shino answers bluntly. "Your task was to look after them during missions. What happens in their free time is not your responsibility to carry."

"That's right!" Genzai says. "It was supposed to be a normal day of training, after all. It's not your fault, Tambo-sensei."

Hifumi looks down at her legs. "It was my idea to go so far out of the village. Maybe if we went training somewhere closer..."

Jiriki groans and falls back in his bed. "Is everyone just going to blame themselves? Is that what we're doing?"

"As I said, you've no reason to apologize." Shino nods to the man.

"Still, I can't help but feel guilty." Тambo says.

Yozora steps forward, having waited for Tambo to say his word. "May we have a word in private, Shino?"

Shino looks to her for a moment and then back to Kashiwama.

"I'll stay with them." Tambo chimes in. "It's the least I could do."