Three months passed on the road.
By the time Liumu and the others returned to the Land of Fire, it was early spring.
After washing up beside the river, everyone was full of praise for Liumu's skill at grilling fish.
Even the usually taciturn Orochimaru had eaten two extra fish during their meal.
After several months together, everyone had grown closer.
Tsunade, in particular, would pull Liumu under her covers every night before going to sleep.
Her excuse was that children were natural little furnaces, especially warm to cuddle.
Minato looked around at their surroundings and told everyone, "We'll be back in the village in another half a day."
Hearing this, Orochimaru got up and packed his belongings. "I still have something to do. Go back without me."
Both Minato and Tsunade knew Orochimaru's disposition very well.
He had always been a loner.
So his decision to part ways now came as no surprise.
As for Yuhi Shinku, he had already returned to the village ahead of Tsunade and the others to report every detail of their trip to Kirigakure.
"Then I'll go pick her up."
Unable to tell everyone about his Time House, Liumu had lied that Han would follow him to the Land of Fire by ferry.
"I'll go with you."
Tsunade started to get up as she spoke.
But Liumu stopped her.
"I want to go alone."
Before Tsunade could speak, Liumu leaped away.
Outside Konoha.
Liumu arrived beside a quiet stream and let Han out of the Time House.
Looking at these completely unfamiliar surroundings, Han's eyes filled with bewilderment.
"We're almost at Konoha. I'll show you the way."
Han obediently nodded at Liumu's kind offer.
The two walked side by side, and the occasional clear chirps from the woods kept catching Han's attention.