Naruto sprinted the whole way and quickly reached Konoha Hospital.
The once spotless and solemn hospital now bustled with grim urgency.
Injured people spilled out of the building, filling the courtyard and even the street outside.
Inside, the corridors were packed with wounded Ninja and a few civilians caught in the crossfire; the air reeked of antiseptic, blood, and stifled groans.
dical Ninja hurried past, weary but focused.
The mont Naruto stepped in, a figure strode up to et him.
It was Shiranui Genma, bandaged in several places, his face pale.
A senbon still rested between his teeth, but the usual sharpness in his eyes had given way to unmistakable exhaustion.
"Naruto-sama, you're here."
Genma stopped in front of him, bowing slightly, respect clear in his voice.
That respect was owed not only to Naruto's decisive power shown monts earlier.
More importantly, as forr captain of the Fourth Hokage's bodyguard, Genma—having been near the main battlefield—had personally heard that this blond youth was the Fourth's orphaned son.
The revelation had sent towering waves through his heart.
Shock, dawning understanding, guilt, and an indefinable sense of mission tangled together.
Earlier, fighting Gaara in his possessed state, Genma had rushed—once Gaara chased Naruto's Shadow Clone—to aid the exhausted and injured Gekkō Hayate against the formidable Baki.
Hayate's poor health gave out after a short bout, and he collapsed.
Three more Sand Ninja arrived; Baki seized the chance to break off and pursue Gaara.
Genma stood alone against three opponents until Uzuki Yūgao arrived—without her, Hayate would have died.
Only after the fighting subsided could he receive treatnt.
From his hospital bed he received Jiraiya's order to wait for Naruto.
Now, seeing him, Genma's tangled feelings over Naruto's origin naturally surfaced as deference.
"Mm."
Naruto showed no surprise at the change in address or attitude; he simply nodded.
"Lead the way."
"Yes—please follow ."
Genma turned and guided Naruto deeper into the hospital.
They threaded through the crowded, hectic corridor.
Naruto glanced left and right: familiar and unfamiliar faces sat or lay in pain.
Along the way he spotted Sakura and Ino.
Together with Hinata they had picked up basic dical Ninjutsu from Inuzuka Hana; once the fighting ended they reported straight to the hospital.
Naruto's pace slowed for a heartbeat, his gaze lingering on the two girls.
Right now they were wholly focused on healing; any distraction could endanger their patients.
He rely took in their images and moved on, following Genma toward the quieter wings.
The hallway grew calr; the passing figures were grave-faced dical Jonin or Anbu.
They finally stopped before a closed office guarded by Anbu.
Genma stepped aside and murmured, "Jiraiya-sama is inside."
Naruto nodded and pushed the door open.
Jiraiya stood with his back to the entrance, gazing out at Konoha Village still wisping with black smoke.
He had swapped his flamboyant costu for plain dark clothes.
Hearing the door, he turned.
No usual roguish grin—only severity, fatigue, and deep worry.
Seeing Naruto, he waved away formalities and explained with wry apology:
"Because we had to rush the Old Man here for ergency care, the hospital director's office has been commandeered as a makeshift command center. Cramped, but it'll do."
His gaze fixed on Naruto, layered with scrutiny, curiosity, hope, and the caution one shows a power greater than expected.
Without small talk he cut straight to the point, voice grave:"Naruto, I saw you use Wood Release in the fight."
He hesitated—after all, the villagers had never treated Naruto kindly.
"Wood Release isn't just a weapon; it's a force of creation and renewal.
The First Hokage used it to end the chaos and found Hidden Leaf Village."
He drew a breath, eyes bright with entreaty:"Now the village is devastated and everything must be rebuilt.
Houses, roads—restoring them will cost vast ti, labor, and materials, while our people are holess. Every extra day is agony.
So… I'm asking you: will you use your Wood Release to help rebuild Hidden Leaf Village?"
The request was nothing if not bold.
To have the boy who had just displayed destructive might turn that sa power to large-scale construction required absolute trust—and shouldering imnse risk and responsibility.
Worse, the boy's childhood had been miserable, thanks to those very villagers.
Yet Jiraiya trusted his own judgnt and the control Naruto—far beyond his years—had shown.
Naruto listened without surprise, as though he had foreseen every word.
He answered almost instantly with a nod.
He had taken it easy during the brawl; ti to show what he could really do.
"All right."
His voice was calm, definite.
Then, practical and precise, he added:"I can rapidly grow building fras or even complete structures on a large scale.
But the streets are littered with rubble, shattered weapons, and enemy corpses.
If we build over that, we risk collapse or worse later.
We need crews to clear the main roads and planned sites down to firm, level ground first."
Jiraiya's eyes lit up.
Naruto hadn't blindly agreed; he had pinpointed the crucial technical snag and safety hazard. That cool competence only confird Jiraiya's decision.
Maybe he should just make the kid Fifth Hokage right now.
Once the Old Man woke up he would recomnd Naruto and then beat a hasty retreat himself.
He'd write the letter at once!
"Good—done!"
Jiraiya nodded emphatically.
"I'll have it arranged right away."
He turned at once to Shiranui Genma, who stood respectfully behind Naruto:
"Genma, go notify Inoichi Yamanaka and have him relay my orders!"
He rattled them off briskly:"First: every patrol and sentry squad is to clear main roads and key areas of battle debris as fast as safety allows.
Second: summon every Ninja skilled in Earth Release to level ground, shore foundations, and haul large wreckage with Earth Ninjutsu.
Third: detail taijutsu specialists to handle scattered fragnts the Earth Release crews can't manage!"
"Understood, Jiraiya-sama!"
Genma bowed without hesitation.
He shot Naruto a look of deeper respect, then spun and strode from the room.
Only Jiraiya and Naruto remained.
Jiraiya exhaled, a weary but relieved smile finally surfacing.
"Then, Naruto… the future of Hidden Leaf Village may truly rest on you."
Naruto waved it off.
"If I wanted to rule Hidden Leaf Village I'd have done it already. I won't beco Hokage until Shikamaru's ready to serve as advisor."
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