"Mmmh..."
At the same time, in Hyuga Hazuki's hospital room.
After falling asleep to rest, her eyelashes quivered slightly, and her pale complexion slowly began to regain some color.
It was proof that the Uzumaki clan's secret remedy was taking effect.
As the Uzumaki medicine spread through her body, Hyuga Hazuki—like a flickering flame—saw her vital energy rekindle, slowly sprouting anew.
The powerful essence of the tailed beast within her was nourishing her body.
And that also meant she was dreaming... a dream both alluring and mysterious...
Even if such visions didn't come to her during the day, the night could always bring them.
Because... it was all due to the effects of the secret remedy.
Just like Hyuga Aoba, Mitarashi Anko... and Uchiha Izumi at this very moment.
In her dream, Hyuga Hazuki felt like she was flying among the clouds.
A sense of well-being wrapped around her.
Deliciously warm.
So much so that a soft moan escaped her lips in pleasure.
Her curvaceous body shifted slightly under the covers.
The heat radiating from her being caused her to instinctively push the blankets away, revealing her figure clad only in her hospital gown.
"Mmmh..."
A smile formed on her lips as she slept peacefully, cradled by the wondrous dream.
It felt as if she had never experienced such sweet rest before.
And then, more changes... continued to happen silently...
...
The following morning, before dawn.
The shadows faded as Naruto finished "offering" her his milk.
After several servings of his special drink, Uchiha Izumi was finally satisfied.
Naruto walked to the bathroom, took a washcloth, moistened it, then returned to gently wipe the corners of her mouth and her cheeks.
Seeing Izumi glowing once again, he couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.
"So good..."
Thus, the first "treatment" session had come to an end.
On tiptoe, Naruto left the room, gently closing the door behind him... until silence finally filled the space.
"..."
Lying in bed, Izumi stared at the ceiling, eyes wide open.
Her parted lips seemed to whisper a silent complaint.
Her empty gaze, devoid of any light, remained fixed on the ceiling... as if searching for an answer there.
...
"Tweet tweet..."
The chirping of birds echoed outside, perched on the branches.
Hyuga Hazuki slowly opened her eyes.
"It's morning..."
She realized the sun had risen.
"Mmmh..."
The peaceful night she had just experienced filled her with immense joy.
And that dream—so pleasant—had truly warmed her heart.
But...
Her gaze fell on the blankets she had pushed aside.
"I sweated so much..."
Her voluptuous body was covered in a fine layer of sweat, the intense warmth of the dream having released all that energy.
And indeed, she felt better.
Was it thanks to the secret medicine that Aoba had brought her, prepared by Naruto?
She ran a hand through her hair, wiping away the droplets of sweat near her temples.
"Everything's wet... It's... sticky..."
Hyuga Hazuki murmured, slightly embarrassed.
...
Soon after, Hyuga Aoba arrived.
The hospital was coming to life with the start of the day.
In the hallway, nurses and medical-nin began their rounds.
"Good morning, madam... How are you feeling?"
Aoba closed the door behind her, shutting out the noise.
Hyuga Hazuki gave her a smile, signaling that she was feeling better.
"I feel much stronger... The secret remedy Naruto provided is truly effective..."
She sat up on her own, which made Aoba widen her eyes slightly.
Seeing her lady regain her vitality, she didn't know whether to rejoice... or despair.
Her mistress had indeed drunk... the "essence" Naruto had prepared.
And it had been through her... with her own hands.
"Aoba, we really must thank Naruto-kun properly."
Hyuga Hazuki smiled with gratitude.
"Yes..." Aoba nodded, but her eyes clouded with worry.
Because...
"Naruto-sama said that if the treatment worked, he would prepare a second dose... for a second cycle of care..."
She reported his words just as Naruto had asked her to.
Deep down, she wanted to refuse... but she couldn't disobey his orders.
"In that case, let's not bother him too much. Will it take him a lot of effort... or money?"
Hyuga Hazuki spoke her thoughts aloud.
Money isn't the issue...
Aoba knew this all too well.
But the energy... Mmmh... Naruto's energy seemed limitless.
After all, that very morning, he had come from Uchiha Izumi's room...
Dear God... even the Uchiha weren't spared...
"In that case, Aoba, take a bit of my savings and give them to him. He shouldn't have to bear all the costs..."
Hyuga Hazuki wanted to be thoughtful.
If this treatment could truly heal her, it was a life debt.
Far more than just a favor.
Think about it: Naruto had saved her, and also her daughter Hinata.
How could she ever thank him enough?
"Naruto-kun... he..."
She thought she absolutely had to meet him in person.
"Madam, Naruto-sama will probably be very busy these next few days... He said he had to meet with the Priestess to learn 'sealing techniques'..."
Aoba relayed his schedule.
After saving the Priestess the night before last, Konoha's higher-ups had suggested Naruto train under her guidance.
"I see..."
Hyuga Hazuki understood immediately that, as the son of the Fourth Hokage, it made perfect sense for him to study sealing techniques.
Maybe... he even had a natural talent for it.
After all, the Fourth's wife had been an Uzumaki.
"In that case, I'll visit him when I'm better... or when he has some time."
Hyuga Hazuki resigned herself to wait.
Meanwhile, Aoba couldn't stop imagining what the second cycle of treatment would entail.
There would definitely be a second...
And that thought filled her with sorrow.
Whether it was about herself... or the path her lady had chosen...
The wife of the clan head, of such noble blood, was now bound to drink this "remedy" prepared by Naruto.
If the clan head found out...
Aoba didn't even dare to imagine it.
If he ever discovered the truth, Konoha would be shaken to its core.
She suffered deeply, regretting that she had ever learned so much.
And even if she tried to tell the clan head, he wouldn't believe her.
Because of the main and branch house system, he would think it was all her fault...
"Aoba? Aoba?"
Hyuga Hazuki's voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"Madam..."
"Could you bring me a towel and prepare some warm water? I've sweated so much..."
Hyuga Hazuki wanted to freshen up.
Aoba: "I'll help you, madam."
"No, no... I can do it myself..."
Hyuga Hazuki smiled, slightly embarrassed.
After all, she had sweated... a lot...