When Shisui left the Hokage Building and returned home, it was exactly five in the afternoon.
The sun was setting, and orange-red clouds stretched across the sky. His shadow was cast onto the ground, drawn out long by the fading light.
On the streets, Konoha's villagers came and went. Amid the bustling crowds, the everyday atmosphere of ordinary life lingered everywhere.
If the entire Shinobi World could remain this peaceful and uneventful, with everyone fulfilling their duties, then there would be no more war.
But not every part of the Shinobi World was as prosperous and habitable as the Land of Fire. In order to survive, people had no choice but to continually fight for the resources they needed.
Konoha was the first ninja village ever established in the history of the Shinobi World.
In sheer size, Konoha could be called a "city-state." Its villagers could spend their entire lives within its borders without ever stepping outside, wanting for nothing and still living comfortably. This "metropolis" was situated deep within the forest—a vast city that had achieved material abundance despite being surrounded by a primitive woodland environment.
That was also the main reason Konoha enjoyed a better natural environment and superior conditions.
Rarely, Shisui let down his guard and wandered through the crowd. One moment, he watched street vendors hawking their wares; the next, he watched young men and women, finished with a busy day, buying snacks and treats from both sides of the street. Even his decisive, battle-hardened heart felt cleansed.
Along the way, Shisui simply observed everything at leisure.
By the time Shisui reached his doorstep, thin wisps of smoke were already rising from his courtyard.
Konan had received word of Shisui's return in advance.
"I'm back."
The moment Shisui entered, he saw Konan simmering soup in a