Ever since their richly rewarding "hot spring retreat" in the Land of Hot Water, time had flowed like Konoha's three o'clock afternoon sunshine-lazily, without the slightest hurry.
Life had become more peaceful than ever before.
Over in Takama-ga-hara, perhaps the reception was bad, or postage was too expensive. Whatever the reason, the Ōtsutsuki Main Family had not come charging over as a group to exact "interstellar revenge," as Isshiki had "hoped" before his death.
According to the system's "cosmic environment monitor," which occasionally piped up, Tenshiki might have made too many enemies on the council of elders. Now that he had "gone missing," they might well be popping champagne to celebrate, too busy to remember the whole affair anytime soon.
Meanwhile, the shinobi world had entered a rare period of peaceful development.
With the threat of powerful external enemies gone, the Five Great Nations were busy licking their wounds and recovering their strength. Even Iwagakure and Kumogakure, which normally loved stirring up trouble along the borders, had become unusually well-behaved.
All of this left a certain silver-haired man with naturally curly hair, whose lifelong ambition was "retirement," feeling very... well, comfortable.
Konoha, the Third Training Ground.
The autumn afternoon sunlight was just right, and the breeze was pleasantly mild.
Beneath a leafy tree, Uchiha Shinichi lay in an exceedingly comfortable position in a rocking chair, covered with a blanket Tsunade had knitted herself-though its pattern was rather hard to describe. He rocked steadily back and forth, humming some nameless tune, looking for all the world like an old retiree who had started enjoying his golden years ahead of schedule.
On the open ground a short distance away, three young figures were sweating buckets.
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
Kushina Uzumaki's long, fiery red hair traced a fierce arc through the