Takahashi Yū parted ways with the main force outside the village. He was tired of those welcoming ceremonies and wanted to see how much the redheads had accomplished.
He followed the directions in the letter. Beside Mizuki Uzumaki's neat handwriting, she had thoughtfully drawn simple landmarks.
Takahashi Yū headed north along Konoha's perimeter wall and spotted a small imprint of Simba's head on the ground.
This should be the way in...
Takahashi Yū reached out and ran his hand over the tall wooden wall. By rights, he should have touched Konoha's barrier by now.
But nothing happened. With a gentle push, he discovered that the wall before him was merely an illusion.
Takahashi Yū could hardly help suspecting that this was an escape route the Uzumaki women had left for themselves.
It seemed life in Konoha still left them uneasy, without much sense of security.
No problem!
Once old Danzo takes over, everything will get better.
Stepping through the illusory wall, Takahashi Yū saw a sea of golden wheat. A stirring from deep within his soul filled him with pleasure.
The joy of harvest...
Even if I didn't plant it!
The land's mine, though, and I tilled it too!
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
A burst of barking pulled Takahashi Yū out of his moment of bliss.
Simba's tail spun like a helicopter rotor as he circled Takahashi Yū nonstop.
"Good boy! Good boy! Look how big you've gotten!"
Takahashi Yū bent down and rested a hand on Simba's head, looking over the dog, who stood two heads taller than before.
A splash of red in the distance stood out vividly amid the golden waves of wheat.
"Lord Takahashi Yū, welcome home!"
Mizuki gave Takahashi Yū a radiant smile.
"Don't call me lord... Also, did you plant all this?"
Takahashi Yū picked