Madara Uchiha had returned.
The moment Madara Uchiha returned, Yanbai notified all the children.
The children reacted calmly, as though "Dad" had merely been away for a while and come home after a trip. There was nothing to make a fuss about.
They would see him sooner or later anyway... there was no need to worry about it.
Kushina Uzumaki was nearing her due date. In his letters to the children, Yanbai told Kushina to wait until after the baby was born before coming to see "Father."
After all, Madara Uchiha's aura was far too dark. Yanbai feared it might affect the unborn Naruto.
The reincarnation of Indra's chakra had already been born, but Asura's had not. It was best to avoid any mishaps.
Kushina was not the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki in this life. With fewer burdens to bear, she should have no trouble giving birth.
Madara Uchiha did not mind either. As long as Yanbai was there, nothing else mattered.
There was no grand celebration, but no one felt lonely either.
Dusk drew ever closer, and the sound of cicadas still blanketed Konoha.
In the forest near the Konoha Ninja Academy.
Many walking paths had already been built here, and signs of human activity were everywhere.
The wild animals had moved to the forest near the Memorial Stone.
Only a few naturally adorable animals remained nearby, coming out to charm people into feeding them.
Junlin walked along a footpath with a grave expression. In the past, he would always have been working in his office until dark.
But over the past few days, Junlin kept wanting to go out for a walk.
Junlin wandered aimlessly, like a lost little animal that could not find its way home.
Ever since Madara Uchiha had returned.
Whenever Yanbai came to visit Junlin, Madara