In Konoha.
Just off the airship, tied to vested interests.
!?
Before Rikusei and Naori could even take a proper look at Konoha, Anbu agents emerged from the reception crowd and led them toward the Hokage Building.
They could only observe Konoha's changes along the way.
Konoha had outgrown the scope of its original village. No longer constrained by city walls, its urban development had expanded to an unprecedented degree.
They had seen Konoha's full layout from high above, but now, standing within it, they could take in every change with their own eyes.
Beyond the prosperity brought by the dazzling array of shops, the most striking feature was that the roads had been widened to standards suitable for Tailed Beasts to run across.
Four great roads leading toward the Sand Shinobi, Mist Shinobi, Rock Shinobi, and Cloud Shinobi—connecting the entire Shinobi World—were being built at rapid speed.
Such massive projects naturally required the assistance of shinobi skilled in Water Style and Earth Style, as well as those with the Kekkei Genkai of Lava Release and Boil Release.
Most crucially, the Tailed Beasts' assistance had greatly increased construction efficiency.
Lush vegetation decorated the newly widened roads, making Konoha increasingly worthy of its position as the foremost city in the Shinobi World.
The Hokage's Office remained as it had been. Rikusei knocked first, then entered alongside Naori after receiving a response.
The first thing that met Rikusei's eyes was the overworked dark circles, giving him a powerful visual shock. White Zetsu stood nearby with a pale face, easing the contraction of his pupils.
"I heard you had quite a pleasant time in Rōran?"
The voice squeezed out through clenched teeth carried jealousy so intense that there was no need to analyze it.
Rikusei immediately shook his head and angrily declared that