Three Months Later

December 30th, the fiftieth year of Konoha. Today is the final day of the year, or in other words, New Year's Eve.

In the blink of an eye, three months have passed since Tokiju returned to Konoha.

During these three months, he has spent almost every day training his control over sunlight, moonlight, and starlight, while also delving deep into the art of sealing.

After such a long period of training, he is now able to easily condense various high-precision objects using moonlight.

Coupled with his proficient mastery of sunlight, he can now manifest thrusters behind his back—and they are even thrusters capable of directional control.

That is to say, the current Tokiju is capable of soaring through the skies; finally, he will no longer have to jump across those damned tree branches when traveling.

Of course, he has certainly done more than just this over the past few months; he has also developed many diverse applications for the three types of Heavenly Light.

Even the semi-finished Light Clone he developed in the past has been perfected over these last few months.

He is currently contemplating how to develop a Light Transformation Technique similar to Konan's Paper Transformation Technique.

Regrettably, this idea is still in the embryonic stage, and he currently has no leads.

However, the Aburame Clan possesses a secret technique called the "Insect Transformation Technique," which might provide Tokiju with a bit of inspiration.

But that technique is clearly a closely guarded secret of the Aburame Clan, and they certainly wouldn't let an outsider like Tokiju observe it.

Since he cannot obtain it in Konoha, Tokiju has no choice but to set his sights on Konan of the Akatsuki.

After three months of hard work, Sigurd now possesses a small fortune and has even established a small trading company named "Nibelungen."

Naturally, when he established the trading company, he did not forget to provide funding to the Akatsuki, and he provided quite a significant amount.

His goal is to get close to Konan and see if he can obtain her secret paper technique.

Furthermore, unknown to the people of the Ninja World, Nagato had long since quietly manipulated the Six Paths of Pain to kill Salamander Hanzō.

On the day Nagato made his move, Sigurd specifically went to join in the excitement and witnessed the end of the so-called demigod of the Ninja World.

It was precisely after that day that the mercenary organization known as the Akatsuki was quietly born within the darkness of this Ninja World.

Back to Tokiju's side.

Over these past few months, Kushina would occasionally come over to visit.

That's right, whenever she came over, Tokiju would pull Uzumaki Miku along to discuss the sealing techniques of the Uzumaki Clan with her.

Because Uzumaki Miku is now showing, Kushina once said that after the child is born, she must be the godmother.

And once she and Minato have children, they must have their child call Uzumaki Miku godmother as well.

Because Uzumaki Miku's morning sickness has been severe these past few months, Tokiju and Kushina only let her learn the basics of sealing techniques in short bursts.

In fact, Tokiju believes it would be more efficient to start learning once her first trimester of pregnancy symptoms subsides.

But she refused; she always felt that eating and drinking at home every day without doing anything made her feel very uneasy.

Therefore, she desperately wanted to find something to do, which is why she begged Tokiju and the others to let her do some work every day.

What could Tokiju say to that? He had absolutely no way to deal with this kind of pregnancy-related anxiety.

Thus, a helpless Tokiju could only spend some time every day teaching her the knowledge of sealing techniques.

Uzumaki Miku studied very earnestly, because she felt that as long as she mastered sealing techniques, she would definitely be able to help Tokiju in the future.

While teaching Uzumaki Miku, Tokiju discovered something outrageous.

That is, Uzumaki Miku's talent for sealing techniques is truly high.

Even under the severe debuff of pregnancy symptoms, she still easily mastered the basic knowledge of sealing techniques; it was truly impressive.

Then, one day when Kushina came to visit, she accidentally discovered Uzumaki Miku studying sealing techniques in earnest.

And so, as one would expect, Kushina joined the ranks of the instructors.

After all, as her only remaining clanswoman, Kushina never thought about holding anything back; as long as Uzumaki Miku wanted to learn, she dared to teach.

Tokiju was more than happy to see this; while teaching Uzumaki Miku alongside Kushina, he also quietly "fleeced" some knowledge from Kushina.

And he managed to get quite a lot, after all, this Kushina was raised and personally tutored by his own grandmother, Uzumaki Mito.

And as for Tokiju? After obtaining the detailed explanation of the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques, he went missing for twenty years.

He was self-taught for those twenty years; whenever he had questions, there was no one to clear them up for him, so he had to rely on himself to slowly grope his way forward—a purely unorthodox path.

Now that there is suddenly a master of sealing techniques with the surname Uzumaki who can clear up his doubts, he has to study with all his might.

Just like that, Tokiju's attainments in sealing techniques have been steadily improving through these months of "fleecing."

As for Uchiha Hikari?

A while ago, because she was bored, she went to the hospital with Tsunade and the others to study medical ninjutsu.

Moreover, she is also very interested in the medical system established by Tsunade.

After all, in the chaotic Warring States period, if every clan cultivated medical ninjas, how many lives could have been saved?

And Tsunade is also very fond of this prospective sister-in-law she has approved of, even teaching her the Yin Seal.

According to Tsunade, a woman who joins their Senju lineage cannot be without the Yin Seal.

Uchiha Hikari was not actually that enthusiastic about learning the Yin Seal.

After all, the Yin Seal's method of storing chakra and the chakra absorption of her ocular technique, Yachihoko, were essentially different paths leading to the same destination.

In truth, after spending these past few months together, Uchiha Hikari had grown quite fond of this boisterous older sister, which allowed her to feel a long-lost sense of familial affection.

That was the only reason she hadn't refused to learn the Yin Seal—to save face for Tsunade.

But once she heard Tsunade say that mastering the Yin Seal would allow her to maintain eternal youth just like her, everything changed.

After all, what woman wouldn't want to remain forever young? With such a secret technique right in front of her, she had no choice but to study it like a madwoman!

As for Shizune?

Once she became familiar with the work at Konoha Hospital, Tsunade stopped paying much attention to her.

It wasn't that Tsunade had found a new favorite in Uchiha Hikari and forgotten her old flame, Shizune.

Rather, everything Tsunade could teach Shizune had already been imparted during their time traveling abroad; the rest was simply a matter of time and steady effort.

After all, filling the reservoir that was the Yin Seal would take several years of work.

Of course, whenever Shizune had questions, Tsunade would still provide her with answers.

And just as Tokiju and the others were preparing to spend a harmonious and happy New Year, things were looking miserable for Sigurd.

Because today, the Vermilion Ring he had worn on his thumb for so long without a stir suddenly transmitted a message.