Back in Konoha, Hagoromo Mao let out a relaxed breath, stirring the dense mist that lingered around him.
No matter how many times one experienced it, the weightlessness of traveling through space always brought a disorienting sensation that threw off one's balance.
Once the mist had completely dispersed, the galaxy-like Summoning Jutsu formula before his eyes made Mao feel slightly dizzy.
Furrowing his long brows, Mao lightly tapped his forehead, calming the turbulent thoughts in his mind.
"I'm sorry, Lord Mao." Toad Kosuke, who had handled the Reverse Summoning, wore an apologetic expression. "My understanding of the Summoning Jutsu isn't particularly refined. There are many things I can't do as perfectly as Sage Shima."
"Without you, I wouldn't have returned to Konoha this quickly."
Mao waved it off without concern, soothing the dejected toad. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he took a scroll from his ninja tool pouch and placed it before him.
"This is?"
"Sage Shima asked me to pass along some hometown delicacies for you."
"Mm..."
His horizontal frog pupils seemed unable to hold their shape as ripples quietly welled up within them. Toad Kosuke clutched the scroll tightly, moved as he watched Mao's retreating figure gradually disappear.
"Lord Mao, the next time I use Reverse Summoning, it definitely won't turn out like this!"
The strong, determined shout reached Mao's ears on the breeze. The sincerity in those words made him smile faintly, and he suddenly raised an arm in response.
As Mao strolled down the street, he secretly observed the passing crowds. The rumors he had heard along the way did not seem to be wrong.
Could it be that Sage Jutsu Chakra mixed with Natural Energy had continuously seeped into his brain nerves, affecting his judgment?
After buying several skewers of takoyaki from a street