A Sudden Asura Field

He looked toward Hyuga Aya, who understood and used her Byakugan to carefully observe the changes in the sealing formula as the key approached.

"The chakra field flow is stable; it is safe to attempt."

Yusuke took a deep breath and inserted the key into the depression on the platform; it fit perfectly.

The light flowing across the surface of the key flickered, spreading like ripples in water as it swept across the entire stone pedestal.

Beside him, Hyuga Aya's pure white eyes remained fixed on the invisible chakra field surrounding the stone pedestal and the scroll.

"The chakra flow of the sealing formula has stopped."

"The transparent seal has vanished."

Her cold, clear voice echoed through the secret chamber.

Yusuke nodded and reached out toward the Book of Sealing, passed down through generations of the Uzumaki Clan.

As his fingertips touched the surface of the scroll, the key emitted a soft glow once more, scanning the obscure black runes on the outer layer of the scroll.

The runes faded away slowly, like snow under the sun.

After a few breaths, everything returned to silence.

Yusuke took a deep breath and picked up the heavy scroll, feeling its slight weight in his hands.

Hyuga Aya watched the Book of Sealing in Yusuke's hands, a flicker of emotion passing through the depths of her pure white eyes.

But she quickly suppressed all her feelings.

She did not act like some fools, demanding a share or suggesting a split—words that would only lead to a dead end.

After spending this time together, she had figured out Yusuke's personality—he was the type who responded to soft tactics rather than hard ones.

Pressuring him or making demands would only provoke resentment or even killing intent.

Conversely, showing appropriate weakness was more likely to move him.

Hyuga Aya stepped forward half a pace, her voice still flat but with less coldness and a touch more softness.

"My contribution to this treasure hunt was minimal; I relied mostly on your Flying Thunder God and your judgment."

"But I hope that, in light of my hard work, you will remember your previous promise."

"I can only pin my hopes on you to find a way to break the Caged Bird."

She looked at Yusuke with sincere eyes, which seemed to shimmer with moisture, her posture humble.

Yusuke looked at her and said, "I do not forget what I have promised."

"This is no place to linger; let us talk when we return."

Hyuga Aya nodded, having no objections. Yusuke stepped forward again and wrapped his arm around Hyuga Aya's waist.

"Flying Thunder God!"

After several violent spatial shifts, the two figures finally appeared in Yusuke's home.

The moment his feet touched solid ground, Yusuke breathed a sigh of relief.

However, Hyuga Aya in his arms let out a muffled groan; the burden of multiple long-distance spatial jumps had left her far more exhausted than usual.

Combined with the sudden relaxation after intense mental strain, a wave of intense dizziness washed over her like a tide.

Her head spun, her vision went black, and her legs turned to jelly.

Like a drowning person, she instinctively clung tightly to Yusuke's waist, her entire body hanging off him.

With the sudden, unexpected contact of her soft, warm body, Yusuke's frame stiffened, feeling somewhat awkward.

However, before he could react, a bone-chilling killing intent suddenly erupted from the direction of the doorway.

Buhao, is this sent by Shimura Danzō? Yusuke's scalp tingled instantly.

He never imagined that after a lifetime of brilliance, he would be cornered at his own doorstep.

His chakra erupted instinctively, and he forcibly retreated while holding the clinging Hyuga Aya.

"Swish!"

He instantly created distance, assumed a defensive stance, and cast a sharp gaze toward the doorway.

Standing at the door was a beautiful figure, her golden high ponytail swaying without a breeze.

Her amber eyes were locked onto Yusuke and the still-dizzy Hyuga Aya, who was pressed against his chest with her arms wrapped around his waist.

Her chest heaved violently; she was clearly on the verge of an explosion.

"Yusuke! I need an explanation."

Tsunade's voice sounded as if it were squeezed through her teeth, carrying a bone-chilling coldness.

"I've only been gone for a few days?"

"You seem to be living quite comfortably, don't you?"

Yusuke's heart skipped a beat. "Tsunade, listen to me, let me explain."

"Explain?"

"Explain why you're holding that little girl from the Hyuga Clan?"

"Or explain why you smell like her?"

Tsunade stepped forward, and Yusuke could feel the ground tremble slightly.

"You dare hold her this tight right in front of me? The Hyuga girl, very well!" Her killing intent grew even thicker.

Hyuga Aya finally recovered from her dizziness, realizing the tense standoff and the murderous glare Tsunade was directing at her.

Understanding her predicament, Hyuga Aya quickly loosened her grip on Yusuke and stepped back two paces.

With a calm expression, Hyuga Aya straightened her collar, her pure white eyes meeting Tsunade's angry gaze without flinching.

"Lady Tsunade."

"Things are not as you see them."

Hyuga Aya's voice returned to its usual cold detachment.

"We just returned from executing a classified mission."

"Oh? A classified mission?"

"A mission that requires holding each other this tightly?"

Tsunade sneered, her gaze darting back and forth between Yusuke and Hyuga Aya.

"It's because of the Flying Thunder God."

"Long-distance, multi-person teleportation causes severe spatial vertigo; she was just feeling unwell."

Yusuke spoke quickly, attempting to clarify.

"Flying Thunder God?"

"You're already capable of transporting people with the Flying Thunder God?"

"It seems you've made 'rapid progress' while I was away."

Tsunade's pupils constricted, but her rage did not subside. Her gaze locked onto Hyuga Aya again, filled with scrutiny and undisguised hostility.

"Little girl of the Hyuga Clan, this doesn't concern you anymore. You may leave."

Her tone was icy, carrying an unquestionable order to leave.

Hyuga Aya did not move. She glanced at Yusuke, then looked back at Tsunade.

She bowed slightly, her posture impeccable.

"Lady Tsunade, I understand your misunderstanding."

"But Captain Yusuke just went through a brutal battle, and his body has not fully recovered."

"Besides, I can still be of help with what comes next."

She paused, her pure white eyes fixed on Tsunade, her tone neither humble nor arrogant.

Only then did Tsunade notice Yusuke's pale lips; she had been too blinded by anger to see it before.

She strode over, her hands glowing with the Mystical Palm Technique to examine Yusuke's injuries.

"It's fine. If it weren't for the Healing Potion you prepared for me in advance, I wouldn't have recovered so quickly," Yusuke said with a gentle smile.

Tsunade, however, furrowed her brows. Three broken ribs, nearly ten knife wounds on his body, and the most severe injury was his throat, which had nearly been crushed.

No wonder his voice sounded strange when he spoke earlier.

He faced Tsunade, his eyes sincere. "Tsunade, Aya is my teammate and a comrade I can trust."

"We just went to the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools and found the Book of Sealing of the Uzumaki Clan."

He dropped a bombshell to divert Tsunade's attention.

"What?"

"The Book of Sealing? I only heard that the Land of Whirlpools had fallen; I never expected the Book of Sealing to end up in your hands."

Tsunade's face was full of shock, her gaze instantly landing on the Sealing Scroll strapped to Yusuke's back.

"Yes, the process was complicated, and we even encountered an ambush by Root," Yusuke said quickly.

"Besides, if it weren't for the assistance of Aya's Byakugan, I wouldn't have been able to bring back the Book of Sealing so easily."

Tsunade's anger dissipated by more than half; she was not an unreasonable woman.