Hot spring bliss, Madara arrives at the Uchiha Wall

"Isn't it already right in front of you?"

Luna lifted her chin.

Sakura couldn't help asking, "You released so much chakra just now. Didn't that trigger the seals on the gates?"

"I didn't hit the gates with chakra."

Luna sounded perfectly justified.

"I only released it."

Ino froze for a moment.

"So all that chakra did nothing to help you push the gates open?"

"Of course not."

"Then why did you make such a huge scene?"

Luna paused. Naturally, she wasn't about to admit that she had simply worried pushing the gates open would not look impressive enough.

Her brother had told her that a truly powerful Uchiha had to establish a commanding presence first, no matter where they went.

Strength could be revealed gradually.

But the spectacle could never be neglected.

"It's an Uchiha custom."

Luna cleared her throat, then stepped aside to clear the way.

"Don't just stand there."

"The third gate is open. Under our family rules, I'm now qualified to bring you both into the Inner Court."

A smile returned to her face.

"Welcome to the Uchiha Inner Courtyard."

Meanwhile, in the mountains behind the Inner Court.

Steam rose from an open-air hot spring.

Warm spring water flowed slowly along the stone walls. Everything was so quiet that only the sound of water could be heard.

Tsunade lay limply against the edge of the hot spring, her long golden hair damp with steam, a few strands clinging to her flushed cheeks.

She looked back and glared at Ren behind her.

"Didn't you say it would just be a massage?"

"It was a massage."

Ren remained composed.

"You've just been so exhausted from handling Konoha's affairs lately that your body was much stiffer than I expected."

Tsunade ground her teeth.

"Then why do you look so smug?"