The women's gazes all fell on the center of the room at the same time.
Tsunade folded her arms, propping up that proud capital of hers, undisguised desire surging in her azure Tenseigan.
Mei Terumi licked the corner of her lips, her voice trailing off in a lazy drawl, golden undertones flowing through her bewitching eyes.
"Did we come at a bad time?"
Uchiha Akira stopped.
He turned his head, his golden pupils sweeping over their faces as the corner of his lips curved.
"No. You came at exactly the right time."
He opened his arms and gathered them all into his embrace.
In the blink of an eye, three years passed.
The entire Ninja World was trembling gently.
On the bluestone road, tiny pebbles bounced now and then.
Under the eaves, wind chimes rang out in a tinkling series even when there was no wind.
Ripples spread across the lake one ring after another; the fish had grown used to it, not even changing the rhythm of their swimming.
At first, everyone had been on edge. While eating, someone would always lift their head toward the Floating Island and whisper.
Later, everyone got used to it.
Pedestrians on the street bought vegetables if they needed vegetables, strolled if they wanted to stroll.
When the ground shook a couple of times, they did not even lift an eyelid.
Uchiha Itachi and Hyuga Neji stood atop the walls of the Land of God, their gazes drifting unconsciously toward the Floating Island.
Itachi smiled helplessly, his gaze sweeping over the peaceful, tranquil scene on the streets.
Children chased a ball past the mouth of an alley, an auntie selling dango shouted at the top of her lungs, and sunlight spilled over the rooftops, warming the tiles.
"If not for Brother Akira, the