Danzo had been brought to justice, and Root had undergone a thorough investigation and restructuring. Konoha seemed to have undergone surgery: painful though the process had been, the village emerged healthier, and the invisible pall that had hung over it for years finally dispersed. With swift, decisive measures, Tsunade stabilized the situation and promoted a group of dependable shinobi to key positions, putting Konoha's operations back on track.
Ling's life temporarily returned to something resembling a "routine." He maintained a regular training schedule, but no longer pushed himself with the almost self-destructive frenzy of the days before his journey to Shikkotsu Forest. Practicing Senjutsu required greater harmony between the mind and nature, rather than relentless exertion alone. He often ventured deep into the Forest of Death by himself at dawn, found a waterfall or deep pool, and sat quietly in contemplation. There, he guided natural energy through his body to refine it, further improving the stability and endurance of his senjutsu chakra.
Occasionally, he also visited the Training Ground. The Ino-Shika-Cho trio, especially Ino, seemed to be making a deliberate effort to close the subtle distance that their previous missions and the gap in their abilities had created. They invited Ling to join them for coordination drills or practice fights.
The results usually left Shikamaru with a headache when he discovered that his Shadow Imitation Technique simply could not keep up with Ling's uncanny footwork, which incorporated the principles of Water Body Flicker. The strength and size Choji took such pride in became cumbersome liabilities against high-pressure threads of water that could easily slice through rock. Ino's Mind Body Switch Technique could not even penetrate the mental barrier of pure water vapor that formed naturally around Ling.
But Ling did more than simply overwhelm them. During their sparring sessions, he