[Naruto: Superpower Roulette] Chapter 358 (Patreon)

"What about Dad? Inojin, what are you—"

Ino groggily stirred awake, her hand brushing against someone beside her. Still half-asleep, her mind struggled to register what Inojin had said. But the moment her eyes landed on Yoichi's face, she snapped into full awareness. Inojin had meant Sai.

Quickly getting out of bed, Ino hurried to dress herself, giving Yoichi a gentle shake to wake him. Placing a finger to her lips, she gestured for him to stay silent. After putting on her clothes, she carefully opened the door just enough to step out and closed it behind her to block Inojin's view.

"Inojin, what happened? What's wrong with your father?" she asked, keeping her tone steady despite her rising panic.

"I don't know," Inojin replied. "A Konoha shinobi came to inform us. They said the Seventh Hokage wanted to see you and mentioned that Dad is at the hospital."

"Come with me," she instructed, ushering him downstairs. Handing Inojin some money, she added, "Get breakfast outside today. I have something urgent to take care of."

"Alright. I'll visit Dad after school," Inojin said with a nod.

After seeing her son off, Ino rushed toward the hospital, her heart heavy with worry. She thought briefly about Yoichi still in her room but dismissed the thought. She trusted him not to cause trouble, and there was no time for a conversation.

As she ran, Ino felt an uncomfortable stickiness on her skin from the previous night. She hadn't had time to clean herself up before leaving, and the evidence of her night with Yoichi weighed on her mind.

At Konoha Hospital, Ino quickly found Sai's room. Sakura was already there, treating him. Seeing his condition, Ino's heart tightened with guilt.

Though she had been with Sai for years, the feelings she once held for him were overshadowed by her growing attachment to Yoichi. Still, the sight of Sai injured stirred complex emotions within her.

"Naruto, what happened? How did Sai get hurt? Is he going to be okay?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Don't worry, Ino. Sakura's taking care of him. He'll be fine," Naruto reassured her. "Sai was investigating the theft of Hashirama cells. This attack is likely tied to the mastermind behind that incident. Sai must've uncovered crucial information, which led to them pursuing him all the way to the Fire Nation's border."

Hearing this, Ino's emotions surged. While Sai was risking his life for Konoha, she had spent her nights in the arms of another man. Her guilt deepened, yet she couldn't ignore her feelings for Yoichi.

After a while, Sakura managed to stabilize Sai and administered a recovery pill. His color improved, and he regained consciousness.

"How do you feel, Sai?" Naruto asked.

"Better, thanks to the recovery pill. Its effects are remarkable," Sai said weakly.

"It's a pity you didn't take one with you," Sakura remarked. "If you'd had it on hand, your injuries wouldn't have been this severe."

Naruto's expression grew serious. "Sai, who attacked you?"

"Victor Pharmaceuticals in the Land of Valleys. They're behind the theft of Hashirama cells," Sai revealed. "They're attempting to cultivate a God Tree."

"A God Tree?" Naruto exclaimed, his shock evident.

The God Tree, tied to the history of the Ōtsutsuki clan, was a concept everyone involved in the Fourth Great Ninja War understood. The mere mention of it sent a chill through the room.

"Victor's group is trying to recreate the God Tree using Hashirama cells?" Shikamaru asked, his voice heavy with concern. "How far along are they? What else did you learn?"

"I managed to gather some evidence," Sai replied, producing a scroll. "There are photographs in here."

Naruto took the scroll, passing it to Shikamaru to examine.

"There's something else," Sai added. "I saw someone working with Victor. He wore a mask and used space-time ninjutsu. The technique… it was identical to Obito's Kamui."

"What?" Naruto's disbelief mirrored the others' reactions. Obito Uchiha had perished during the war, and his Sharingan's power had vanished with him. The thought of his abilities reappearing was chilling.

"Are you certain, Sai?" Shikamaru pressed.

"Absolutely. I saw it with my own eyes. The space-time technique was unmistakable," Sai affirmed.

Naruto and Shikamaru exchanged uneasy glances. Sai's credibility was unquestionable, making his report all the more troubling.

Naruto finally spoke. "We'll need to consult Kakashi-sensei about this. As for Victor Pharmaceuticals, we'll assign a team to monitor them for now. Once the otherworldly beast crises are resolved, we'll launch a thorough investigation."

"Agreed," Shikamaru said. "But we should also inform the other Kage. If Victor is growing a God Tree, this is a threat all five great nations must address."

Naruto nodded. "I'll convene a Five Kage Summit tonight. For now, we focus on preparing for the next beast attack."

Turning back to Sai, Naruto added, "Rest and recover. Ino, I trust you'll take care of him."

After Naruto and Shikamaru left, the room grew quiet. Sakura broke the silence, suggesting they move Sai to a regular room for his recovery.

"Ino, can you get Sai some breakfast?" Sakura asked, sensing the tension between the couple.

"Of course," Ino replied, seizing the opportunity to leave.

Later that evening, Ino returned home, exhausted from the day's events. As she stepped inside, she remembered the state of her bedroom and winced.

"Ino, dinner's ready," Inojin called, stepping into the hallway with a puzzled look. "You were gone after cooking. What happened?"

"Ah… something came up. I forgot," she replied, laughing nervously. Her mind raced as she processed his words.

Curry? she thought. Yoichi must've cooked.

"I'll check on something upstairs first," she said hastily, heading to her room.

Opening the door, she found the space spotless. The bed was made, and a vase of cosmos flowers adorned the nightstand. The sight filled her with warmth and gratitude.

"Yoichi…" she murmured, her heart swelling with affection for the man who had quietly taken care of her.

(End of Chapter)

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