At the gates of Konoha—
"Are they back yet?"
"Should be soon…"
"Haha! Our heroes are returning!"
Early in the morning, the village entrance was already packed with people.
Today—
Was the day the Konoha army returned.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the front, leading all of Konoha's higher-ups.
Behind them—
Civilians, families, and shinobi alike gathered, all eager to welcome the victors home.
The atmosphere was lively, filled with joy and anticipation.
At the back of the crowd—
Kushina Uzumaki, Mikoto Uchiha, Konan, along with Minato and Nawaki, stood together—
All staring into the distance.
"When are they coming…"
Konan muttered again, her angelic face full of excitement and longing.
"You're way too anxious, Konan," Kushina teased.
Mikoto smiled softly.
"And who was it that dragged me here so early?"
Kushina's face instantly turned red.
"I-I wasn't waiting for him!!"
The other two burst into laughter.
Tsundere, through and through.
Nearby—
Nawaki muttered with a complicated expression:
"Big sis is coming back… Yoru too…"
"You skipped training again, didn't you?" Minato Namikaze said with a smile.
Nawaki broke into a cold sweat.
"Yoru won't beat me up again… right?"
Meanwhile, Minato's expression was also complex—
Happy for Yoru's return…
Yet also slightly envious of his achievements.
"Look! They're here!!"
"They're back!!"
From the horizon—
A powerful formation of shinobi appeared.
At the very front—
Senju Senluo, Yoru, Tsunade, and Orochimaru.
The crowd erupted instantly.
Cheers shook the sky.
"Yoru-sama!!"
"Yoru-sama!!!"
His name—
Was shouted the loudest.
Hiruzen smiled faintly, his gaze deep and unreadable.
Beside him, Danzo Shimura stood with a dark expression.
Yoru's popularity…
Had already surpassed his own.
"Welcome back, warriors of Konoha!"
Hiruzen's voice rang out.
The crowd gradually quieted.
"You fought for Konoha—and achieved glorious victory!"
"Konoha's strength… is built by your blades and blood!"
"Cheer for our heroes!!"
The crowd exploded again.
But then—
Hiruzen's tone shifted.
"This victory… came with sacrifice."
A group of shinobi stepped forward—
Carrying urns.
Silence fell.
Soft sobbing echoed through the crowd.
"These are Konoha's heroes…"
"They gave their lives for the village."
Hiruzen bowed deeply.
Gasps spread across the crowd.
"Fire Shadow-sama, you don't need to—!"
But he didn't stop.
"I may be Hokage… but I am also one of Konoha."
"I honor them… from the bottom of my heart."
Tears flowed.
Families cried openly.
Even Yoru couldn't help but admit—
Hiruzen's performance…
Was flawless.
Danzo, watching from the side, felt only hatred.
"This… is why you took the Hokage seat…"
Finally—
"Let our heroes… return home!"
And just like that—
The formation broke.
Families rushed forward.
Laughter. Tears. Embraces.
Life and death—
All mixed together.
…
And then—
Yoru stepped forward.
Smiling.
Before he could say anything—
"YOU IDIOT Yoru!! I MISSED YOU!!"
Kushina threw herself into his arms—
Crying uncontrollably.
"You idiot… why did you take so long…?! Do you know how worried I was?!"
Mikoto and Konan couldn't hold back anymore.
They rushed forward too—
All three clinging to him.
Blaming him.
Missing him.
Complaining.
Because—
That's what people in love do.
Yoru gave a helpless smile.
Holding all three—
Trying to comfort them.
(And silently wishing his chest were just a bit wider…)
He instinctively glanced toward Tsunade—
She snorted and turned away.
"Idiot."
But—
In her eyes—
There was something else.
Jealousy.
Regret.
And something she didn't want to admit.
Around them—
The villagers smiled warmly.
To them—
Yoru's greatness made everything natural.
Even this.
From the shadows—
Danzo watched silently.
His single eye flickering.
Calculating something.
…
And in that moment—
Konoha was filled with laughter and warmth.
But beneath it—
A new storm
Was already beginning to form.
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