Mission Complete, Return to the Village

No one knew how much time had passed before Yamei slowly opened his eyes. At the Tanzhong acupoint on his chest—the location of his middle dantian—a special seal resembling a Yin-Yang Fish had appeared.

"Phew..."

He exhaled a breath of stale air, clenched his fist to feel the strength within his body, and smiled in satisfaction.

"The Life Force that was already abundant has increased by who knows how many times! My Chakra reserves have increased severalfold too!"

"Even Senju Hashirama's Sage Body probably can't compare to my vitality now! Once I obtain the Senju bloodline and the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, heh heh heh! I'll be invincible!"

The joy on Yamei's face grew even stronger. The Myriad Gods Seal had not sealed it away completely; rather, it was like a faucet—he could draw as much as he needed.

At the same time, he discovered that the energy from the Source of Life was continuously nourishing and transforming his body.

Perhaps in a few years, once he had fully accepted this power, it would become part of his Bloodline Power!

With that thought, Yamei took out his ninja blade and cut his skin...

Looking at the white mark on his arm, Yamei was slightly surprised. "Hm!? Has my skin's toughness increased too?"

He applied a little more force, and only then did a wound appear. Yet before any blood could seep out, the wound healed completely.

Grinning, Yamei was extremely satisfied with his current condition.

"They must be getting anxious too. It's time to go out."

Outside, the moment the deep space began to dissipate, it drew everyone's attention.

Yūhi Kurenai and the others gathered and leaped to the edge of the cliff, gazing down with nervous anticipation.

Whoosh...

A piercing sound rang through the air as a figure sprang upward and landed before them.

"Ahem, um... good morning, everyone!"

Yamei looked at the rising sun, then at everyone's tense stares, and could not help scratching his head.

"Yamei!"

The instant Yamei spoke, Hinata and Ino could no longer hold themselves back and threw themselves into his arms.

Yamei froze, then understood something. He held the two girls, a gentle smile appearing on his face as he stroked their soft hair. "Sorry for making you worry."

"W-Wah... As long as you're all right, Lord Yamei." Tears shimmered in the two girls' eyes as their little faces flushed slightly.

The worries in their hearts were completely put to rest at that moment, replaced by a touch of shyness.

Letting go of Yamei, the two girls stood awkwardly to the side under everyone's gazes.

After comforting the two girls, Yamei could not help lifting his eyes toward Yūhi Kurenai.

He had clearly seen just now that Yūhi Kurenai had wanted to come over and hug him as well, but stopped because of Hinata and Ino.

"Hmph!"

Seeing Yamei looking at her, Yūhi Kurenai gave a delicate snort.

Yamei chuckled. Under Yūhi Kurenai's somewhat panicked gaze, he walked over, pulled her slightly stiff body into his arms, and hugged her.

"And you too, Kurenai. Sorry for making you worry."

Hearing Yamei's gentle whisper, Yūhi Kurenai gradually relaxed and shook her head. "As long as you're all right..."

Watching this strangely charged scene, Kakashi, Shikamaru, and the others felt that the sweetness in the air was almost unbearably thick. They could not help turning away, unwilling to watch any longer!

Wasn't this infuriating? There were still so many people standing here watching!

Did he really have the heart to make so many people play third wheel for him?

Ino and Hinata exchanged a glance, a glimmer flashing in their eyes.

Because of Yamei, Hinata and Ino had become very close, and they had both sensed that Yamei's attitude toward Yūhi Kurenai differed from that of ordinary siblings!

Now, it seemed they had been right after all!

"This bad guy!"

The two girls cursed him in their hearts at the same time, finding him both lovable and hateful...

As though they had made some decision, the two girls stepped forward at the same time and took Yūhi Kurenai's hands. "Teacher Kurenai, let's go first. This guy does nothing but make people worry! Ignore him!"

"!!??"

Yamei stared blankly at the backs of the three girls as they left.

What was going on!?

Ino, Hinata! That was way too fast a change of face! And when did you two go bad? You're actually starting to badmouth me!

"Hehe, Yamei, how does it feel to have a girl in each arm?" Kiba stepped forward with a smug grin and nudged Yamei with his elbow.

"Bastard!"

Yamei gritted his teeth and sent him flying with a punch.

"Ahem, since everyone's here, we should head back too." Kakashi coughed twice and drew everyone's attention back.

Timsi and the old man followed the group the entire way. His dream had become an empty joke, and Timsi's spirits had sunk into a slump.

After returning to where the caravan was, the group had a meal there before saying goodbye to the caravan and preparing to return to the village.

As for Timsi, he had completely joined the caravan, which counted as returning to his own kin.

Four days later, the group returned to Konoha. At the gates stood the same two gatekeepers as always, Kotetsu Hagane and Gōzu Tetsu.

It was said that the two of them were such powerful men that even Pain did not dare enter through the front gate...

Arriving at the Hokage's office, Kakashi and Yūhi Kurenai gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a detailed account of the mission before submitting the mission scroll.

Hiruzen Sarutobi calmly reviewed the scroll. Then, under everyone's delighted gazes, he raised the mission's difficulty from C+ rank to A-rank and distributed the rewards before they finally departed.

Watching the group downstairs through the Hokage office window, Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze remained fixed on Yamei.

"His strength is unfathomable, and he now has a force sealed within him no weaker than the Nine-Tails... perhaps even stronger?"

"Yamei, Yamei... to Konoha, are you an opportunity... or a calamity?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi furrowed his brow slightly before finally letting out a soft sigh.

"To celebrate everyone completing an A-rank mission for the first time, come to my house for dinner tonight! Bring your own ingredients!" Yamei shouted, raising an arm.

"Got it!!" Everyone smiled. Compared with going out for barbecue, wasn't Yamei's grilled food even better!?

After making plans with everyone, they all said goodbye. After all, they had been gone for over a week—their first time away for so long—and they naturally missed home.

Yamei returned home with Yūhi Kurenai as well. After washing up briefly, he lay on the bed and opened the Sea of Derivations.

Materials obtained: Lightning Release: Lightning Blade, Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique, Evil Sealing Method, Shadow Imitation Technique, Secret Technique: Shadow Stitching, Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.

He had obtained all of these from everyone over the past few days. Kakashi had contributed the first three, and there was no need to mention the rest.

As for the others, either Yamei did not like their techniques, or, like Ino, they had not yet learned anything better.

Analysis: Evil Sealing Method to be integrated into Myriad Gods Seal.

Analysis: Shadow Imitation Technique and Secret Technique: Shadow Stitching to be integrated into Secret Technique: Shadow.

Analysis: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms to be integrated into Art of a Hundred Refinements.

Analysis successful. Estimated duration: 6 hours.

"Perfect. Next, I'll rest. If I'm not mistaken, the Chunin Exams should be coming up soon, right?"

Yamei's eyes flickered. This was an important turning point in Konoha's history. He wondered whether things would change?