Konoha, Anbu Base.
The moment Ueno Kei returned from the Originless Realm, he headed straight to the Anbu. There had simply been too much going on lately. Although contact with the daimyo and some matters had already been handed over to others—for example, all discussions with the Land of Fire's various officials had been entrusted to the two advisors—there were still far too many details to deal with.
With no Hokage at present, too many matters required Ueno Kei's attention. Of course, there were also many things he was neither suited nor qualified to handle, and could only leave piled up until the next Hokage was chosen.
"Lord Kei!"
"Hm? What is it?" Ueno Kei had his head lowered over his desk, reading the latest border reports. He did not look up, merely asking in an indifferent tone.
"Lady Tsunade and Lord Jiraiya have returned to the village. They are currently in the Hokage Office Building! Lady Utatane and Lord Mitokado are there as well. Lord Mitokado asked you to go over immediately!" The Anbu kneeling on one knee respectfully reported.
"Senior Sister Tsunade is already back?" Ueno Kei was slightly surprised. It had not even been two weeks. Senior Brother Jiraiya was certainly efficient.
He immediately set aside what he was doing, straightened his clothes, and headed directly for Konoha's Hokage Office Building.
With midsummer arriving, Konoha was now lush with greenery everywhere, and summer had gradually begun to make its presence known. The people of Konoha had originally still been shrouded in the grief of the Third Hokage's death.
But when Jiraiya returned openly through Konoha's gates with Tsunade—
The entire village erupted in cheers.
It was another kind of sense of security and trust. When the Fourth Hokage had died, even the elderly Third Hokage had still