He looked at Hyuga Aya. Understanding his meaning, she carefully observed the changes in the sealing formula as the key approached, using her Byakugan.
"The chakra field is flowing steadily. We can try."
Yusuke took a deep breath and inserted the key into the recess in the platform. It fit perfectly.
The light flowing over the key's surface flickered, then spread out like ripples, sweeping across the entire stone platform.
Beside him, Hyuga Aya's pure white eyes stayed fixed on the invisible chakra field surrounding the platform and the scroll.
"The chakra flow in the sealing formula has stopped."
"The transparent seal has disappeared."
Her cool voice rang out in the secret chamber.
Yusuke nodded and reached for the Book of Sealing, passed down through generations of the Uzumaki Clan.
When his fingertips touched the scroll's surface, the key glowed softly again, illuminating the obscure black runes around the scroll as if scanning them.
The runes slowly faded away like snow melting in the sunlight.
A few breaths later, everything fell still.
Yusuke took a deep breath and lifted the heavy scroll. It felt weighty in his hands.
Hyuga Aya looked at the Book of Sealing in Yusuke's hands. A flicker of emotion crossed the depths of her pure white eyes.
But she quickly suppressed it.
She didn't foolishly demand a share or suggest splitting it evenly, the sort of suicidal thing some idiots would do.
After spending this time with him, she had figured out Yusuke's personality: he was the typical sort who responded well to gentleness, but not force.
Pressuring him or making demands would only provoke resentment, or even murderous intent.
On the other hand, showing a little vulnerability could move him more.
Hyuga Aya stepped forward half a pace. Her voice was still calm, but a little less cold and a little gentler.
"I didn't contribute much to this treasure hunt. We relied more on your Flying Thunder God and judgment."
"But I hope you'll remember your promise, considering how hard I worked."
"I can only count on you to find a way to break the Caged Bird."
She looked at Yusuke with sincere, almost tearful eyes, lowering her guard as much as she could.
Yusuke looked at her. "I won't forget what I promised."
"This isn't a place we should linger. We'll talk when we get back."
Hyuga Aya nodded without objection. Yusuke stepped forward again and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Flying Thunder God Technique!"
After several violent spatial shifts, the two finally appeared in Yusuke's home.
The moment his feet touched solid ground, Yusuke let out a sigh of relief.
But Hyuga Aya, still in his arms, let out a muffled groan. The strain of several long-distance space jumps had left her far more exhausted than usual.
On top of that, the sudden release of tension after being on edge had sent a powerful wave of dizziness crashing over her.
Her head spun, her vision darkened, and her legs went weak.
Like a drowning person, she instinctively clung tightly to Yusuke's waist, practically hanging off him.
Her warm, soft body pressed against him without warning. Yusuke stiffened, awkward and unsure what to do.
Before he could react, though—
A bone-chilling killing intent suddenly erupted from the direction of the doorway.
"Buhao, did Shimura Danzō send you?" Yusuke's scalp prickled.
He'd never expected that, after all his cleverness, he'd end up caught in a trap at home.
His chakra flared instinctively. Holding Hyuga Aya, who was still clinging to him, he forced himself to retreat.
"Whoosh!"
He quickly put some distance between them and took a defensive stance, his sharp gaze fixed on the doorway.
A beautiful figure stood there. Her golden high ponytail fluttered behind her, though there was no wind.
Her amber eyes were fixed on Yusuke—and on Hyuga Aya, who was still pressed against his chest, arms wrapped around his waist because she was dizzy.
Her chest rose and fell violently. She was clearly on the verge of losing control.
"Yusuke! I want an explanation."
Tsunade's voice seemed to scrape out through clenched teeth, carrying a chilling edge.
"I've only been gone a few days."
"You've certainly been enjoying yourself while I was away."
Yusuke's heart sank. "Tsunade, listen to me."
"Listen to you?"
"Why were you holding the Hyuga girl?"
"Or should I ask why you smell like her?"
Tsunade stepped forward. Yusuke felt the floor tremble faintly.
"You dare hold her that tightly right in front of me? A Hyuga, no less. Very well!" Her killing intent grew even stronger.
Hyuga Aya finally recovered from her dizziness. She sensed the tense standoff and saw the murderous look in Tsunade's eyes.
She immediately understood the situation. Hyuga Aya quickly released Yusuke and stepped aside.
With a calm expression, Hyuga Aya straightened her collar and met Tsunade's furious gaze without flinching.
"Lady Tsunade."
"Things aren't as they appear."
Hyuga Aya's voice returned to its usual cool tone.
"We've just returned from a classified mission."
"Oh? A classified mission?"
"And it required you to hold him so tightly?"
Tsunade sneered, her gaze shifting between Yusuke and Hyuga Aya.
"It was because of Flying Thunder God."
"She felt dizzy from the repeated long-distance teleports. She was only temporarily unwell."
Yusuke hurried to explain.
"Flying Thunder God?"
"You can already use Flying Thunder God to teleport other people?"
"Looks like you've made 'rapid' progress while I was away."
Tsunade's pupils contracted slightly, but her anger didn't fade. Her gaze locked on Hyuga Aya again, scrutinizing her with undisguised hostility.
"Hyuga girl, this has nothing to do with you. You can leave."
Her voice was cold, the dismissal unmistakable.
But Hyuga Aya didn't move. She glanced at Yusuke, then turned back to Tsunade.
She gave a slight bow, her posture impeccable.
"Lady Tsunade, I understand the misunderstanding."
"But Captain Yusuke just went through a fierce battle, and he hasn't fully recovered."
"Besides, I can still help with what comes next."
She paused, fixing her pure white eyes on Tsunade. Her tone remained neither humble nor arrogant.
Only then did Tsunade notice Yusuke's pale lips. She'd been so furious that she hadn't noticed before.
She strode over and lit her hands with the Mystical Palm Technique, examining Yusuke's injuries.
"Good thing I had the Healing Potion you prepared for me. Otherwise, I couldn't have recovered this quickly," Yusuke said with a gentle smile.
Tsunade frowned. He had three broken ribs and nearly ten knife wounds. The worst injury was his windpipe, which had nearly been crushed.
Now she understood why his voice had sounded strange earlier.
He faced Tsunade, his gaze earnest. "Tsunade, Aya is my teammate and someone I can trust."
"We just went to the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools and found the Uzumaki Clan's Book of Sealing."
He dropped a bombshell to distract Tsunade.
"What?"
"The Book of Sealing? I'd only heard that the Land of Whirlpools had been destroyed. I never expected the Book of Sealing to end up in your hands."
Tsunade was stunned. Her gaze immediately fell on the Sealing Scroll strapped to Yusuke's back.
"That's right. It was complicated, and we ran into an ambush by Root," Yusuke said quickly.
"Besides, if Aya's Byakugan hadn't helped, I might not have been able to bring the Book of Sealing back so easily."
Much of Tsunade's anger visibly faded. Tsunade wasn't an unreasonable woman.
Before you continue