Main World.
Year 30 of Konoha, spring.
The examination room door had closed, and the footsteps in the corridor gradually faded away.
Toyotomi Yinglang walked at the front at an unhurried pace, his moon-white Kariginu glowing softly beneath the corridor lights. Behind him followed Tsunade, Sakura Haruno, and several medical Runes specialists conversing in low voices.
Ryukōshi and Jin Zhiyin walked in the middle of the group. Neither spoke.
Ryukōshi's steps were steady, but he occasionally tilted his head slightly, as though sensing the flow of Eye Power within his body. Jin Zhiyin walked a little farther back at a normal pace, though his gaze occasionally drifted toward either side of the corridor, as if checking something-he did not know what he was checking.
The corridor lights were bright. There were no shadows to hide in.
Imperial Palace, Side Hall corridor.
After the children went their separate ways, Yōsa neither returned to his residence in the New Capital nor went to the Training Ground.
He headed toward the palace gates, following the route to the Dragon Vein passage. After confirming his clearance, he crossed the boundary, passed through layer after layer of barriers and corridors, went past the outpost on Rōran's border, and showed his mark to the guards at a side entrance of the Rōran Royal Palace, making his way back to his residence.
The entrance to Golden Sand Paradise lay behind an inconspicuous side door.
He pushed the door open and went inside.
The lighting in the room was soft, the carpet golden. A generously sized couch stood in the center, and several plates of untouched pastries sat on the table. The tea was still warm. Pakura sat beside the couch, leafing through an old book. When she saw Yōsa enter, she closed it without rising, merely