Hearing his daughter's words, Teuchi understood. He gazed thoughtfully in the direction Shin Uchiha had left, then turned back to his daughter with a doting smile.
"Ayame, you're still young. If there's something you want to pursue, go after it without worrying. Your old dad is still young, too. I'm not at the point where I can't get by without my daughter, so if there's something you want to do, don't let any worries hold you back."
Ayame froze for a moment at the meaning behind her father's words, then nodded with a broad smile.
"Thanks, Dad."
At that moment, Shin Uchiha knew nothing of Ayame's dilemma. He had some regrets of his own. Thanks to his extraordinary physique, he had devoured that enormous bowl of ramen in just a few seconds, swallowing it with barely any chewing. His stomach felt rather uncomfortable now, and all he could do was rub it helplessly.
Just as Shin Uchiha was debating whether to visit Tsunade at the Hokage Building or go to Iwagakure to collect tailed beast chakra from the Four-Tails,
he suddenly sensed one of the space marks he had placed being activated over and over.
Shin Uchiha immediately closed his eyes and focused on sensing it.
This was...
With a thought, Shin Uchiha vanished from where he stood.
Kirigakure, Mizukage Building
Inside the Mizukage's Office, Mei Terumi frowned slightly as she repeatedly activated the space mark between her brows.
Two adorable children stood beside Mei Terumi, watching her. When a trace of impatience appeared on her face,
the slightly older boy, whose face was especially cute, said,
"Mother, don't worry. Father should be in Konoha right now. Even with Space-Time Ninjutsu, he'll need some time to get here."
The slightly younger girl, still holding an exquisite wooden toy, chimed