Yin Seal

With the headache-inducing matter completely resolved, everyone finally relaxed.

They began eating and drinking to their hearts' content.

After resting, they set off the next day.

The journey back to Konoha went smoothly, with no fools coming to cause trouble.

They were all quite strong. Even the weakest among them had the strength of an elite jonin.

So the return journey was swift.

Meanwhile, Konoha was exceptionally lively.

Tsunade might not have been the strongest, but her popularity was undoubtedly the highest.

She was of noble status, beautiful, and a medical ninja. Whether among civilians or ninja, everyone held her in high regard.

After receiving news of Tsunade's return, Konoha's elders led everyone out to welcome her. Both sides of Konoha's gates were packed with people, civilians and ninja alike.

"Ah, that's Lady Tsunade? She's so beautiful."

"So cool."

"Lady Tsunade is so cool."

"I want to become a ninja like that too."

Regardless of gender, everyone stared at Tsunade at the front with stars in their eyes.

Jiraiya and Naruto followed behind her and basked in some of the attention as well.

However, the crowd still looked at Naruto with a measure of dislike.

Naruto did not care in the slightest, but his eyes lit up when he spotted Hinata in the crowd.

"Pervy Sage, I'm heading back first."

After saying that to Jiraiya, his body vanished in an instant.

"So fast."

During the journey back, Naruto had not wasted any time. He had two Kage-level powerhouses guiding him.

Tsunade in particular had unique insights into the fine control of chakra.

Under her guidance, Naruto improved rapidly.

In the crowd, Hinata's eyes welled with excited tears when she saw Naruto.

She had been worried sick these past few days without seeing him.

She had asked everywhere for news of Naruto, but only Konoha's upper ranks knew about this mission.

Not even her father, the Hyuga clan head, had known. Hinata had no idea how worried she had been.

Her eyes were even bloodshot.

"Hinata, long time no see."

Naruto suddenly appeared behind her.

"You..."

Hinata wanted to say something, but her voice trembled faintly.

"This isn't a place to talk."

Looking at the excited crowd, Naruto placed a hand on Hinata's shoulder.

The two vanished instantly.

Naruto carried Hinata to an empty riverbank.

It was the first time she had been carried in his arms. For a moment, Hinata was left with nothing but shyness; all her grievance and worry vanished.

"Sorry for making you worry. The situation was urgent this time, so I didn't have time to let you know."

Even if Naruto was an idiot, he was still old enough to understand a young girl's thoughts.

He felt vaguely guilty.

"It's okay, Naruto."

Children were easy to comfort, and Hinata quickly recovered.

Naruto then told her about what had happened this time.

As for ninja taboos, Naruto did not care at all. He was not even a ninja yet, after all.

So he honestly explained everything that had happened.

"Lady Tsunade is going to become the Fifth Hokage?"

Hinata was a little surprised.

Konoha's people still did not know that the Third Hokage had died.

As for why they had gone to welcome Tsunade today, it was because of Tsunade's personal charisma.

At the same time, they had been building up her reputation these past few days.

"Yeah. Unless something unexpected happens, it'll be Lady Tsunade."

Naruto nodded.

"Lady Tsunade is amazing. I really want to become a ninja like her."

Hinata's eyes were filled with stars as well.

In this world, powerful women were role models for girls. She was powerful, proficient in medical ninjutsu, of noble status, beautiful, and possessed a perfect figure.

It could be said that she was full of virtues. Any girl would admire a powerful person like her.

"Don't worry, you'll have the chance. Once you're a little older, we'll go find Tsunade together. Then you can take her as your master."

"Can I really?"

Hinata lacked confidence.

"Don't worry, Sister Tsunade is very nice."

In fact, if Hinata wanted to become stronger now, Naruto could make it happen.

But they were both still too young. It would not be good if it affected their physical development, so Naruto had not done anything for Hinata yet.

Still, there were some things he could do.

"Right, I can give you something good first."

"What good thing?"

"Did you see the little mark on Sister Tsunade's forehead?"

"Mhm."

"That's a sealing technique. It can store excess chakra in the body, nourish the body, and keep one's appearance from changing."

Naruto smiled.

Naruto had naturally obtained the Yin Seal from Tsunade.

Naruto liked this ninjutsu, which was similar to a dantian, and had asked for it so he could study and improve it.

With Naruto's current reserves of knowledge, he could not yet create an A-rank ninjutsu like this, but he could still make slight improvements based on the original.

"Really?"

"Don't move. I'll help you."

Naruto acted, and with the Twin Hands working in tandem, he quickly helped Hinata form a Yin Seal.

"Little Nine, do me a favor. Remember, only the purest chakra."

Naruto could not help adding a reminder.

The Nine-Tails' chakra carried intense negative emotions.

To use the Nine-Tails' chakra, those negative emotions had to be removed. That required the Nine-Tails' cooperation.

"Hmph."

The Nine-Tails snorted, but it knew the little girl's identity, so it did not say anything else.

Golden chakra flowed into the Yin Seal, quickly filling it completely.

A small red mark appeared in the center of the girl's fair forehead.

"Done."

Naruto took out a mirror.

Hinata looked into it.

"Don't worry, it's very cute."

Naruto smiled. He genuinely thought it was adorable.

Hinata instantly blushed.

"I've already filled it with chakra for you, so you don't need to extract it yourself."

The ninja system drained the body, but Naruto did the opposite. He helped Hinata open up a dantian, then used the Nine-Tails' chakra to fill it.

In turn, it would nourish her body.

The benefit of doing this was that it could improve her potential.

"Thank you, Naruto."

Hinata was even more moved. Tears shimmered in her large, adorable eyes.

"Alright, don't overthink it."

Meanwhile, Tsunade, who had only just returned, was forced to deal with the Uchiha clan's affairs.

Many people already knew about the Uchiha clan.

The Hokage Building had been repaired.

Inside the room at that moment.

The three elders, Jiraiya, and Tsunade were all gathered there for a meeting.

"I already know the situation. I've thought of a way to handle it. Listen to what I have to say."

Tsunade did not waste words. She was decisive and acted swiftly.

She quickly laid out Naruto's method.

After hearing it, the three elders all frowned.

"Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

"Why would it be inappropriate?"

"The Uchiha clan's upper ranks have already been killed by you. Now is the best time to deal with them."

"What if they refuse?"

"If they refuse, I trust Elder Danzo will have a way."

Danzo kept his brows furrowed and said nothing after hearing Tsunade's proposal.

But although Danzo was extreme, he was not foolish. He knew this method was highly feasible.

And it would not exhaust the pond to catch all the fish.