When Tenten and the others returned to the Tenshukaku, more than a month had already passed since their departure.
Most of that time had been wasted on the journey.
Traveling by ship was genuinely slow, after all. Even with everything going smoothly, there was no way to make it fast.
Winter had arrived, and it was now Konoha Year 63.
In other words, this was the year the curtain would rise.
"We're finally back!"
Standing on the sea, Tenten looked at the enormous city ahead of her and relaxed.
She had not felt it while living in the Tenshukaku, but after leaving for a while, she realized just how much she missed it. Even her memories of Konoha had grown rather vague.
It could not be helped. Compared to Konoha, she liked this place far more.
"So this is the largest and strongest place in the Shinobi World?"
Fisher Fire followed along in the seawater and sighed in awe.
The team had come straight across the sea. They had no interest in taking an airship or riding in merchant caravans, which was why they were standing on the water.
Naturally, they had "passed through" several layers of blockades along the way.
However, the people manning them seemed to have problems with their eyesight and had failed to see them entirely.
Well, that was also a tacit understanding between Blazing Sun Country and Chiki Maru.
They simply handed the money to him for distribution, and certain routes would be overlooked. If anyone took a different route, they had to pay again.
No matter who came, they would only think the Tenshukaku was sealed off so tightly that not even water could pass through. Anyone who suspected something was wrong had met with unfortunate accidents.
For example, was there really nothing suspicious