After Black Zetsu left, Madara Uchiha closed his eyes and entered a light slumber, but soon opened them again, muttering a single word: "Leave!"
White Zetsu, who had planned to sneak closer to observe him, immediately dove into the earth and left at high speed.
"Such stinginess!"
"Old Madara's temper is only getting worse!" Afu appeared outside the cave, scratching his head and tilting it.
"I'll definitely find a chance to observe you!"
"Haru-sama, is Seisui-sama really okay?"
"He's fine." Uchiha Haru glanced at Asami Kumo, who asked the question, then frowned. "You've already asked more than ten times."
"Yuki Seisui is on his way."
"That's good, that's good." Asami Kumo patted his chest.
They were somewhat cut off from information here and didn't yet know that Yuki Seisui had slain the Third Kazekage.
All they knew was that he had single-handedly intercepted a major Sunagakure force, keeping them at a safer distance. One ninja against an entire village—how could that not worry anyone?
"When Seisui arrives, we can finally head back." Minato stepped out from the edge of the forest and stood before everyone.
He had received the Hokage's orders this morning to return to the village.
All that remained was Seisui; once he arrived, they could leave.
Minato hadn't told them about the order to return—he let Uchiha Haru relay it to Seisui instead.
But it no longer mattered; Minato had already spotted Seisui's figure in the distance.
"Is the war really over?!"
"This is a war!"
"Unbelievable!"
"When I took on this mission, I thought I was going to die!"
"Exactly! I even wrote my will—hope my wife didn't see it!"
Hearing Minato's words, everyone was in disbelief.
This was a war. The Sunagakure had charged fiercely—and now it was over?
It was almost too incredible to accept, but once they did, their faces lit up with pure joy.
Who would willingly fight if they could live in peace?
"Are you all really this happy?" Asami Kumo, unlike the others, felt his heart nearly stop upon hearing the news.
Everyone turned to look at him, confused—including Minato and Uchiha Haru.
Seeing their puzzled faces, Asami Kumo fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face.
"This is all thanks to Seisui-sama!"
"Think about it—if Seisui-sama hadn't gone to stop those damn Sand ninjas, would the war have ended?"
"Seisui-sama must have been hiding to recover from severe injuries, which is why we hadn't heard from him all this time!"
"He risked himself for us, and what are you doing right now?"
Asami Kumo grew increasingly emotional.
"Seisui-sama is severely injured, barely making it here, and yet you're cheering!"
"Can you even call that cheering?!"
His words made everyone except Minato and Haru hang their heads in shame.
One lower-ranking ninja, missing an arm, clenched his teeth and stood.
"Asami Kumo is right!"
"Seisui-sama protects us, and yet we never once worried!"
He slapped himself hard across the face, blood flowing from his mouth.
Seeing him, others knelt and began slapping themselves as well, tears of shame streaming down.
"I'm so damned stupid!"
"Seisui-sama shields us, and I cheered for Sunagakure's retreat!" Another couple of self-slaps followed.
Watching them, Minato twitched his mouth, exchanging a silent glance with Uchiha Haru.
He hadn't even asked about Seisui's condition. Based on what he knew, Seisui wouldn't risk it without near-perfect certainty.
The memory of Seisui confronting Madara's Susanoo giants had left Minato deeply shocked.
With Susanoo, Seisui could barely die.
Even without it, he still had that chakra cannon, capable of devastatingly wide attacks.
And he also possessed explosive clay—summon, blow, run. Many would die.
There was never any real danger for Seisui.
Uchiha Haru thought the same, though she worried a little about Seisui's eyes.
The Mangekyo Sharingan gradually diminishes vision with repeated use. Recovery is slow, painfully slow.
As the others continued kneeling and slapping themselves, Seisui suddenly appeared before them, leaving everyone stunned.
Minato said nothing, merely shrugged.
"Seisui-sama!"
"You're not seriously injured!"
"This is wonderful!" Seeing Seisui in perfect condition, only wearing a pair of glasses, everyone finally exhaled.
"Seisui-sama!" Asami Kumo's tears flowed again.
"I didn't expect you to tidy yourself up just to avoid worrying us!" He cried, noticing Seisui's intact clothing and unscathed body.
"We don't deserve this!"
Everyone who had seen Seisui return safely paused at his words.
"So Seisui-sama is like this…"
"Meeting Seisui-sama is the greatest fortune of my life!"
"The greatest Seisui-sama in the world!"
"For Seisui-sama, I'd stand against the entire world!"
Hearing these words, Seisui felt a little awkward. Why would anyone want to fight the whole world for him?
Especially seeing Asami Kumo kneel before him, he glanced at Minato and Uchiha Haru.
Haru nodded subtly, conveying, This is just how they are.
Understanding immediately, Seisui looked back at the group, feeling slightly uneasy.
Was he really turning the ninja world into a fandom?
Their words felt strangely familiar, as if someone had said something like this in a past life.
After letting them vent for a while, Seisui looked at the one-handed ninja, his brow furrowing.
The ninja, Akagami, felt unbearable shame under Seisui's gaze.
One hundred people had survived, yet he had lost a hand.
"I'm sorry… for letting you—" he began, but Seisui stepped forward and patted his shoulder.
"Sorry for letting you lose an arm."
Everyone froze.
Instead of lecturing, Seisui took the blame upon himself.
"No!" Akagami cried, tears streaming. "This isn't Seisui-sama's fault!"
"I was careless and got ambushed!"
"If it weren't for Seisui-sama, none of us would be alive!"
"Compared to that, losing one hand is already remarkable!"
Akagami knelt, weeping, and the others looked on, touched.
Minato stared quietly.
Perhaps Seisui was more worthy of the Hokage than he was.
Since childhood, he had loved the village, listening to the Third Hokage teach the Will of Fire.
And he saw that same will in Seisui—not the nurturing warmth of the Third, but a different interpretation of the Will of Fire.
Helping Akagami to his feet, Seisui said:
"Remember, don't kneel. Stand tall and proud."
He smiled, then turned and walked forward.
Watching his back, everyone felt he was radiating light.
At that moment, he was the light.
But as he turned, he cursed inwardly:
Why is this damned sun right in my eyes?!
Still, he showed no expression, drew his sword, and pointed forward.
"I'll take you all back!"
"One hundred and three went out, one hundred and three returned."
=============
100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
100+ Advance Chapters on P@treon(.)com/Veltoria