The Traveler Returns

Three days passed quickly. Hiashi handed Yuun a travel permit and a backpack filled with luggage. Even though Yuun was already a Jonin, he still needed to prepare supplies before going out. Basic ninja tools went without saying; while they were not difficult to acquire on the road, he still had to bring some himself. A few changes of clothes, a small bag of salt, and dry rations made up the bulk of his luggage. Carrying any more would affect his combat ability. Of course, he also brought various odds and ends, including a needle and thread as well as some medicine.

After checking once more to make sure nothing had been forgotten, Yuun set off along the road leading out of the village. To avoid trouble, he removed his forehead protector as soon as he left Konoha and put on a veiled conical hat to conceal his identity.

And so, Konoha lost a "White Gale," while the Shinobi World gained a wandering traveler...

"Hahahaha..." A brazen laugh echoed through the skies above Konoha. It sounded young, making it clear that its owner was not very old.

"Lord Hokage!" Two ninjas in charge of miscellaneous duties rushed into the Third Hokage's office.

"What is it? Did that brat Naruto Uzumaki cause trouble again?" The Third Hokage asked helplessly. Hearing that string of laughter had already given him a bad feeling.

"Yes! This time, he's scribbling all over the statues of the previous Hokage!" The two ninjas clearly were not dealing with this for the first time, and both were indignant. "And he's using paint!"

"Sigh..." The Third Hokage put on his conical hat and helplessly followed the two ninjas up to the rooftop.

By then, twenty or thirty ninjas had already gathered on the rooftop, all shouting curses from below. Yet not a single one showed any intention of going up to deal with the mess.

Across from the rooftop, an eleven- or twelve-year-old boy hung from the towering Hokage Rock. Holding a bucket of paint, he graffitied the monument with reckless abandon, completely ignoring the curses from the crowd below. Whenever the mood struck him, he even yelled back, "Idiots! Quit nagging! None of you could do something like this, could you? But I can! That means I'm better!"

Just as the boy continued acting as he pleased, a man wearing a Chunin vest bellowed from below, "What are you doing?! Class isn't over yet! Get down here right now, you idiot!"

"Oh no! It's Iruka-sensei!" The boy seemed frightened by the man's voice. In his panic, he even dropped the paint bucket.

Night fell quickly. Even prosperous Konoha was pitch-black at night, and through the dark came a traveler dressed entirely in white, arriving at Konoha's gates.

"I'm finally back." The traveler removed his conical hat, revealing a refined face. It was unmistakably Hyuga Yuun, who had left Konoha a year ago.

Although it was already dark, Yuun entered the village easily with his travel permit and complete identification. He was only instructed to report to the Hokage Building the next day.

After traveling all day, Yuun was exhausted. Though he wanted to return home immediately, he did not mind filling his stomach first along the way.

He wandered the streets for a while and spotted a shop that had not yet closed, so he walked over. Just as he lifted the curtain, a young but resounding voice came from inside. "Because someday, I'll inherit that title! And I'll surpass every Hokage before me!"

"..." The two people talking had clearly not expected someone to enter at that moment, and Yuun had not expected to witness such a classic scene the moment he returned to Konoha.

"Boss, one bowl of char siu ramen. No spice." The scene was amusing, sure, but filling his stomach was more important right now.

Seeing that Yuun seemed to be nothing more than an ordinary customer, Naruto Uzumaki lost interest and began pestering Iruka, wanting to borrow his forehead protector to wear. Iruka, on the other hand, repeatedly stole glances at Yuun. Knowing Naruto Uzumaki's true identity, he was usually very cautious. Otherwise, the Third Hokage would never have made him Naruto Uzumaki's teacher.

After hurriedly finishing his ramen, Yuun left. Before reporting to the Hokage, he needed to return to the clan first. No matter what, he was first a member of the Hyuga Clan, and only then a Konoha ninja.

The next morning, led by a servant, Yuun met Hiashi for the first time in a year. Hiashi was still the same Hyuga clan head he had been a year ago, but Yuun was no longer the young genius who had stood behind him.

"Lord Hiashi." Yuun bowed respectfully. No matter how far he went, Hiashi deserved his respect. After meeting more members of the Branch House, Yuun had come to understand what an immense favor Hiashi had done him by not branding him with the Curse Mark.

"You've returned." Hiashi looked Yuun over from head to toe, his expression full of confusion and incomprehension.

"I've taken that step." Yuun spoke calmly. At the same time, he extended a hand and lightly waved it at the low table before Hiashi. There was no visible disturbance, yet the table suddenly floated into the air without being touched. It spun several times before slowly descending to the floor. The teacup on top was clearly filled to the brim, but despite such movement, not a single drop spilled.

"Aura?!" Hiashi shot to his feet in ecstatic surprise. The way he looked at Yuun changed from looking at a son-in-law to looking at an incomparable treasure. "You actually cultivated Aura!"

"I was somewhat lucky, but I succeeded." Yuun said with a smile. When he had first cultivated Aura, he had not reacted much better than Hiashi. They were not making a fuss over nothing; Aura was as important to the Hyuga Clan as the Mangekyō Sharingan was to the Uchiha clan.

"Good, good!" Hiashi could no longer restrain his delight. "Letting you go out to train was indeed the right decision. Let's see what those old fossils have left to say now! Aura! Hahaha!"

"Lord Hiashi..."

Before Yuun could say anything else, Hiashi interrupted him with an unhappy look. "What did you call me?"

"..." Yuun shook his head, caught between laughter and tears. "Father-in-law."

"That's more like it. Go on, what is it?" Hiashi nodded in satisfaction.

"I haven't reported to the Hokage since returning," Yuun said helplessly.

"Then go and come back quickly." Hiashi frowned slightly before relaxing. "Remember to return at noon. We'll give you a welcome feast."

"Yes." Yuun answered, then turned and left the room.

A year later, Yuun stepped into the Hokage Building again, feeling something he could not put into words. The feeling became especially intense when he saw the Third Hokage.

"Lord Hokage, I'm here to end my leave." Yuun suppressed the strange feeling and presented his application and travel permit.

"Hehe, Yuun, you've set quite a precedent." The Third Hokage looked at Yuun with a smile. "No one has ever taken a full year of leave like you."

Though the Third Hokage's expression did not change, Yuun still caught a trace of gravity and hesitation in his eyes.

"I'm deeply sorry, Lord Hokage." Though curious, Yuun knew this was not the time to indulge his curiosity.

"It's fine, it's fine." The Third Hokage smiled and waved his hand. Then his expression suddenly became a little strange, as though he had thought of something. "Yuun, would you be interested in guiding some newcomers?"

"Ah?"