The night deepened.
One by one, the lights in the city dimmed, until the entire town seemed to press pause—falling into a quiet, dreamlike stillness.
The lively noise from earlier gradually faded away, leaving only the occasional rustle of wind brushing against rooftops and the distant murmur of night insects.
Inside the room—
Little Nao slept soundly beneath the covers.
Her small body curled into a ball, her face buried halfway into the pillow. Her breathing was soft and steady, like that of a kitten, peaceful and untroubled.
One of her tiny hands still clutched tightly onto a plush toy.
It was a prize she had won earlier that day at a small amusement stall.
Even in her sleep—
She refused to let it go.
At the desk nearby—
Aoki Yoru sat quietly.
A faint oil lamp flickered beside him, casting dim golden light across the wooden table.
In his hand—
A pen.
The tip moved swiftly across the paper.
Letter after letter formed, each stroke steady and deliberate.
He was writing.
To his teacher.
To his teammates.
It had been more than half a year since he left the village.
During that time, he hadn't sent even a single letter.
Before his departure—
Kenta and the others had repeatedly urged him to share stories of his journey.
To tell them about the outside world.
To broaden their horizons through his experiences.
And now—
For the first time in months—
He finally had a moment of peace.
So he wrote.
About the places he had visited.
The dangers he had encountered.
The strange and unfamiliar lands beyond Konoha.
Of course—
He left out the most dangerous parts.
There was no need to worry them.
Eventually—
He finished.
Three letters.
He placed each one into its envelope carefully.
"Tomorrow…"
He murmured softly.
"…I'll send them."
From the Land of Fire to Konoha—
Delivery was fast.
Three days at most.
If one paid extra—
A ninja courier could deliver it even faster.
Aoki Yoru placed the pen aside.
Then—
He looked out the window.
The night sky stretched endlessly above.
Stars shimmered faintly.
The moon hung quietly—
Bathing everything in soft silver light.
For a moment—
Everything felt calm.
Peaceful.
But inside—
He knew better.
"…I still need to get stronger."
His hand moved to his chest.
Beneath his skin—
Sealed tightly—
Was something foreign.
A cluster of energy.
From the White Zetsu cells.
It continuously supplied him with life force—
Sustaining his weakened body.
Although he had sealed it carefully—
Preventing any leakage—
And although Tsunade had suppressed the external symptoms—
It wasn't enough.
"…I hate this feeling."
A foreign presence.
Inside his body.
Uncontrolled.
Unfamiliar.
It was like a ticking bomb.
And even though it was currently helping him—
There was no guarantee it wouldn't become a threat in the future.
After all—
It wasn't his own power.
And borrowed strength—
Always came with limits.
He exhaled slowly.
The other solution—
Was even further away.
Extreme Yang Release.
A power that belonged to the realm of the Six Paths.
Something he couldn't reach yet.
"…Still…"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"This time… it wasn't a complete loss."
At the very last moment—
He had glimpsed something.
The essence of Jashin.
It had been fleeting.
Elusive.
But—
It was real.
And if he could see it again—
He was confident.
He could understand it.
Analyze it.
And perhaps—
Take one step closer—
To that unreachable realm.
But—
Not now.
This time—
Had been too dangerous.
He had nearly died.
"…No more reckless moves."
Not without absolute certainty.
Shaking his head lightly—
He pushed those thoughts aside.
There was no immediate solution.
For now—
He needed rest.
He stood up.
Walked over to the bed.
Nao had kicked off her blanket again.
With a helpless sigh—
He tucked it back around her carefully.
Then—
He lay down beside her.
Closed his eyes.
And drifted into sleep.
Rumble—
The sound of wheels grinding against dirt echoed through the air.
A caravan moved steadily along a wide road.
Horses pulled heavy carts.
Dust rose gently beneath their hooves.
Inside one of the carriages—
Aoki Yoru sat quietly.
Eyes closed.
He wasn't sleeping.
He was training.
His spiritual energy—
Expanding.
Refining.
Ever since integrating the White Zetsu cells—
His mental strength had grown explosively.
But—
That rapid growth came with a cost.
He had lost some control.
So—
Whenever he had time—
He trained.
Stabilizing.
Sharpening.
Across from him—
Nao sat happily.
Each hand held a pastry.
She nibbled away with bright, satisfied eyes.
In front of her—
A small pile of snacks.
All gifts—
From the caravan manager.
This caravan—
Was traveling from the Land of Fire—
To the Land of Whirlpools.
For Aoki Yoru alone—
Sleeping outdoors wouldn't matter.
But with Nao—
He couldn't risk it.
So he paid for passage.
"Lord Ninja…"
A voice came from outside.
"Dinner is ready."
Aoki Yoru lifted the curtain.
Accepted the tray.
"Thank you."
The man bowed politely.
Their attitude—
Wasn't without reason.
A few days earlier—
Bandit ninjas had attacked.
The caravan guards—
Were helpless.
Aoki Yoru had stepped in.
Ended it.
Since then—
Everything changed.
The manager provided them with a private carriage.
Meals.
Snacks.
Even toys for Nao.
Aoki Yoru accepted it calmly.
After all—
This was mutual understanding.
If danger came again—
He would act.
Seven days later—
The Land of Whirlpools.
Aoki Yoru stood atop a seaside cliff.
Before him—
Ruins.
The remains of the Whirlpool Village.
Broken walls.
Collapsed structures.
Ancient sealing carvings—
Now weathered.
Cracked.
Weeds grew wildly through stone.
The ocean roared below.
Waves crashing endlessly.
Everything else—
Silent.
Desolate.
"…So this is what's left."
Aoki Yoru's eyes dimmed slightly.
He had hoped—
To find something.
Hidden vaults.
Sealing techniques.
But after searching—
Again.
And again.
Nothing.
Only scraps.
Faded.
Broken.
"…As expected."
This place—
Had been looted countless times.
The great nations—
Were not fools.
Anything valuable—
Was long gone.
Still—
He had come for a reason.
Sealing techniques.
After facing Jashin—
He understood.
Power alone—
Was not enough.
To face beings like that—
He needed something more.
Seals.
Sage techniques.
But now—
"…I'll have to wait."
Until Tsunade became Hokage.
Then—
Perhaps—
He would gain access.
He turned.
Nao was on the beach below—
Chasing crabs.
Laughing.
"…Nao!"
"Let's go! Time to eat!"
She looked up—
Reluctant—
But obedient.
Running over—
She lifted a small bucket.
"Look!"
"Crabs!"
Tiny.
Thumb-sized.
Aoki Yoru chuckled.
"…Too small."
"Let's keep them for now."
"…Okay…"
She pouted slightly.
Then—
Took his hand.
They walked together—
Toward the town.
The Land of Whirlpools—
Was recovering.
Under the Land of Fire's control—
Small towns had begun to form.
Life—
Returning.
Inside a noodle shop—
Aoki Yoru ate quietly.
"…Not bad."
"Still not Ichiraku level…"
"But decent."
Meanwhile—
Nao had already run outside.
She stood near the entrance—
Talking to a fortune teller.
The old man chuckled—
Gently patting her head—
Muttering vague predictions.
Nao laughed brightly.
Carefree.
For the first time—
Since everything began—
She looked like—
A normal child.
And Aoki Yoru—
Watching from inside—
Allowed himself—
A moment of peace.
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