Yanbai stood still, his face dark. Before long, the birds that should have been in the aerial garden came fluttering back, terror in their eyes.
An eagle landed on Yanbai's shoulder and let out a miserable screech.
Yanbai gazed ahead and spoke softly, almost to himself. "Kichō and Anshi are on their way back here, and you came ahead to tell me, right?"
"Screee-scree, scree-"
"After I left, my second brother suddenly raided my belongings and sent everything, including you, to Madara Uchiha's residence with Flying Thunder God?" Yanbai frowned.
What was Tobirama Senju trying to do?
"Screee-scree, scree-"
"So... Madara was furious and burned all my clothes?"
"Scree, scree, scree-"
"Madara was vicious? If you hadn't escaped quickly enough, he would have killed you too?"
"Scree, scree, scree-"
"Thank you for your efforts. I know what to do now."
With that, Yanbai reached up and stroked the terrified eagle trembling on his shoulder. "Don't worry," he said softly. "I understand."
Yanbai entered the empty room and closed the door. From the pouch he carried, he took out the silver hair he had saved from Tobirama Senju long ago.
The patterns in Yanbai's eyes spun as he activated Dōjutsu: Heavenly Descent-reverse Pathfinding!
Tobirama Senju-come here!
The silver strands in Yanbai's hand turned into a wisp of white smoke, which gradually formed hundreds upon thousands of silver butterflies.
The silver butterflies multiplied, forming a vortex.
Curves, straight lines, circles-a series of strange shapes blended together.
Before long, the vortex of silver butterflies contracted into a line, then shrank toward a point until it became a tiny speck.
Finally, the center of the vortex changed, gradually expanding again after its initial contraction.
Tobirama Senju was squeezed out of the vortex, his eyes vacant.
With a thud, Tobirama Senju landed on the bare