The Discrepancy

Although he did not look much different from when he had left with Mizuki, Mizuki still sensed something off.

After observing for a while and finding nothing, Mizuki shook his head, set aside his doubts, and walked through Konoha's gates.

"Senior Mizuki, long time no see!"

The usual gatekeeping duo, Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki, were still registering the ninja entering and leaving the village.

"It looks like there are quite a few more people coming and going through the village!"

Mizuki took out his identification and cooperated with the two as they recorded his departure and return.

"After all, it's been more than half a month since you left, Senior. The busiest time of the year is coming up soon."

"More than half a month?"

Mizuki's expression changed.

"Has it really been that long?"

In Mizuki's own recollection, it should only have been three to five days. Other than the spacetime tunnel, where time was difficult to gauge without any reference point, and the strange space within Ryūchi Cave that had been shattered by Sage Art: Dreamplay, it should not have taken long.

"Of course!"

Izumo Kamizuki answered with a smile.

"This is the longest a mission you completed alone has ever taken. We were worried, but seeing you return safely means the mission went well. That's really great."

Given Mizuki's mobility with the Flying Raijin Jutsu, there were not many missions in the entire Shinobi World that could keep him occupied for so long.

"Is that so? I got delayed a little out there."

It seemed he had stayed too long in the turbulent flow without any reference for the passage of time, which had thrown off his sense of it.

Or perhaps the force fluctuations caused by Mizuki's rash actions had made the flow of time in