Rōran Palace · Great Hall.
Sunlight streamed through the palace's towering windows, casting golden patches across stone tiles carved with exquisite patterns. The entire hall seemed solemn and mysterious.
Queen Sara sat quietly on the throne in a purple robe, her expression tinged with shock. Her hands were slightly clenched, as though she still had not recovered from the sight before her.
Because Shinichi and Tsunade had returned!
Shinichi and Tsunade strode into the palace with steady steps, the sunlight stretching their shadows across the floor.
Sara gazed at them, complex emotions flickering in her eyes-surprise, perhaps, or disbelief.
She had thought they had vanished into the distorted space-time of the rampaging dragon vein, never to return...
Yet now, these two powerful ninja miraculously stood before her once again!
Shinichi smiled faintly and spoke first, his voice calm but carrying a hint of inquiry:
"Queen Sara, may I ask how long Tsunade and I have been gone?"
Young Tsunade also watched Sara intently, her mind filled with questions.
How long had they been gone?
Had time flowed differently?
Sara drew a deep breath to compose herself, then slowly replied-
"About three days..."
"After you left, Rōran fell into a brief period of chaos."
Her fingers gently rubbed the throne's armrest. A trace of exhaustion crossed her eyes as she continued:
"I never expected the dragon vein to suddenly run wild, much less... that you would actually return."
Her voice held a hint of surprise and undisguised awe.
The dragon vein's rampage had caused a space-time distortion beyond conventional ninjutsu. In theory, anyone caught within it had almost no chance of returning.
Yet Shinichi and young Tsunade stood before her again, as though even fate could not dictate their existence!
Time confirmed. On to the next move!
At her answer, Shinichi