Return to Uzumaki (100,000 characters!)

Sensing Bai Sui's immense power, the group did not choose to attack immediately, opting instead to initiate negotiations.

Senju Butsuma asked Bai Sui, "I am curious as to why you have been lingering outside the Senju Clan Territory and frequently approaching my son. What is your intention?"

Bai Sui nodded in acknowledgment. "The reason I have remained in this forest is indeed because I have a task to complete. Rest assured, I have no designs against the Senju Clan; I was merely searching for a lost relative, and today, I have finally found them."

Upon hearing Bai Sui's admission, Senju Butsuma had been ready to order an attack, but he did not expect such a sudden turn of events. "Then, may I ask who you are? And who is it you are looking for?"

Bai Sui did not speak, instead closing his eyes. Seeing this, Butsuma signaled the group not to act rashly, keeping their focus entirely on Bai Sui to prevent any sudden moves.

With his eyes closed, Bai Sui sat cross-legged in mid-air for all to see. As time passed, a white light began to emanate from his body.

As his body grew brighter, an anomaly occurred with one of the members in the group.

"Kyohei, Kyohei, are you alright?" Seeing his teammate also beginning to emit a white glow, his companions rushed forward to check on him.

However, Uzumaki Kyohei, who was also glowing, did not feel anything was wrong. "I am fine. No, wait... I feel as though my strength has increased."

He found his own words hard to believe, but as the light grew more dazzling, the sensation of his power surging became even more intense. Just as he wondered if this was some technique to stimulate his potential, Bai Sui spoke first.

"Do not worry, I mean you no harm. It seems you are the relative I have been searching for. I just now channeled my Qi to mend the deficiencies in your body caused by over-refining your chakra. That is why you feel stronger; in reality, those are simply the parts of you that were previously depleted."

Naturally, the group did not take Bai Sui at his word. They conducted a thorough examination of Uzumaki Kyohei and, finding him in excellent health—not only full of vitality but also brimming with chakra—they finally began to believe his claims.

The group then looked to their leader, Senju Butsuma, awaiting his decision. After all, if Bai Sui had truly come to reunite with family, a fight was likely off the table.

Butsuma frowned and looked at Bai Sui. "You say he is your relative, but is there anyone else who can verify this?"

Bai Sui shook his head with a bitter smile. "I truly do not know. I was separated from my family when I was eight, and over thirty years have passed since then." He then looked at Uzumaki Kyohei. "Do you have any elders at home? Perhaps asking them would clarify things. I only know you are my kin through a resonance in our bloodline; beyond that, I know nothing."

The red-haired girl nearby stared at Bai Sui's face, thinking he didn't look forty at all, though she refrained from interrupting.

Uzumaki Kyohei scratched his head, looking at Bai Sui. "My mother passed away when I was young, and my father never mentioned anything of this sort to me. If you want to ask, we would have to return and speak with him." Having said this, he looked toward Senju Butsuma, waiting for his command.

Hearing this, Senju Butsuma's brow furrowed even deeper, but he ultimately did not order an attack. Since the Senju and Uzumaki were allies, if Bai Sui were later proven to have ties to the Uzumaki, attacking now would damage their relationship. Furthermore, Bai Sui's strength was undeniable, and there was no reason to alienate such a person.

And so, the group set off on the return journey to the Senju encampment, with Bai Sui now accompanying them.

Bai Sui floated quietly behind the group, maintaining the exact same distance regardless of their pace, not falling behind by even a fraction.

This made Butsuma value Bai Sui even more; in this day and age, the ability to fly was a distinct advantage, and Bai Sui did not seem to be pushing his limits, even though they were traveling at a brisk pace.

Soon, the group returned to the Senju encampment. The sharp-eyed Hashirama spotted Bai Sui following the party and was initially surprised, but seeing the relaxed atmosphere among the group, he felt relieved.

The reason half of Senju Butsuma's team consisted of Uzumaki clansmen was that after the Senju and Uchiha leaders met earlier that day, the reinforcements promised by the Uzumaki had arrived at the Senju encampment.

The leader of this Uzumaki reinforcement unit had suggested bringing their sensory specialists along to scout the area, thinking it would be best if they found something, and if not, it would at least clear any potential threats from their territory.

Senju Hashirama had originally wanted to join the scouting party, but remembering his previous act of secretly sending information to the Uchiha, he was denied and told by Senju Tobirama to stay put.

After returning, Butsuma informed the Uzumaki leader of the situation. After meeting with Bai Sui, the leader agreed to arrange a small squad to escort him to the Uzumaki territory to find his kin.

After thanking the captain, Uzumaki Hisao, Bai Sui set off with the Uzumaki squad, whose mission was ostensibly to escort him but effectively to monitor him.

Bai Sui did not mind their wariness and began chatting with Uzumaki Kyohei about his family.

Uzumaki Kyohei was seventeen, already married, and had two children.

Neither of Kyohei's parents were ninjas; his father was an Uzumaki clansman without the aptitude for it, and his mother had passed away when he was very young. He didn't know much about his family history, though he did have a younger sister who was also married with a child.

Currently, Kyohei was the only one in his family with ninja aptitude, and his talent was decent—considered average among his peers in the clan.

When Kyohei learned that Bai Sui was older than his own father, his jaw nearly dropped. No matter how he looked at it, Bai Sui appeared to be around his own age. He had expected a cousin, but to suddenly find himself facing an uncle was a difficult reality to process.

Ninja travel quickly, and the group reached the Uzumaki territory in less than a day. Seeing them return, the gate guards were on high alert, only allowing them entry after following standard identification procedures.

News of the situation at the gate spread quickly through the clan, as any disturbance in these times required vigilance to ensure they were not being exploited.

Thus, once the group had passed the inspection and officially entered the territory, they were met by the clan leader and several elders.

It wasn't that they had nothing better to do than manage such minor affairs, but with most of the clan's ninjas deployed and few experts remaining, the letter brought back by the squad had described Bai Sui as exceptionally powerful, and they had come to meet him as a precaution.