Tenki became the family's darling after only a few days in the household, arousing Tenrai's jealousy. One day, Tenrai took Tenki out to play, and they encountered Tsunade, who was cultivating Senjutsu Chakra in the Shikkotsu Forest. Tsunade had been diligently cultivating Senjutsu for many years, and her strength was unfathomable. Her compassionate and benevolent aura as a healer was also very unique. Tenrai had a sudden inspiration and felt that this was an opportunity.
" Tsunade, could you help Tenki find his parents? He's so pitiful. His mother found him in Konoha." Tenrai said casually, but his heart was full of anticipation and trepidation. He deliberately emphasized that Tenki was a baby found by his mother, Tian Yueqing, in Konoha, hoping that Tsunade could help.
Tsunade paused, looking at Tenrai, then at Tenki. The baby Tenki's plight filled Tsunade with pity. She sighed and said, "Alright, I can help you, but you must understand, it might be very difficult. Even my teacher's wife couldn't find it, and I might not be able to either."
"You're the Hokage's secretary, finding someone should be easy for you. Thank you so much." Tenrai breathed a sigh of relief, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He looked at Tenki, thinking that this way he could return to the center of the family, and Tenki could also return to his own home.
Tian Yueqing witnessed all of this. Standing at a distance, she watched Tenrai and Tenki with a complex expression. She knew Tenrai was very unhappy, and secretly thought to herself, "According to Tenki, his strength is more than ten times stronger than before. If he doesn't want to, no one in this Shinobi World can touch him. Tenrai is doing this perhaps to regain his sense of existence, but he doesn't know how important Tenki is to our family— Tsubasa's return."
Tian Yueqing sighed and decided to let things take their course. She believed that Tenki had his own plans, and she only needed to support him silently from behind.
Tsunade carried Tenki towards the teleportation array to Konoha, her heart filled with conflict. She knew Tenrai's words might be unreliable, but seeing Tenki, she couldn't help wanting to help him. She thought, "No matter what, I must do my best to help him find his parents. If he really was found, he must desperately crave the warmth of a home."
Konoha Government Building, Land of Fire
The afternoon sun shone through the long corridor. Tenki, holding the infant Tenki in her Tsunade, walked with steady steps but with a hint of urgency. The guard at the door was about to salute when she raised her hand to indicate that he didn't need to, and pushed the door open and entered.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was reviewing official documents at his desk when he heard the sound. He looked up, and the gentleness of an elder first appeared in his eyes, then a hint of amusement appeared in his eyes as he looked at the baby in her arms.
"What a rare guest." He put down his vermilion brush and dusted off his sleeves. " Princess Tsunade spends Tenten cultivating in the Shikkotsu Forest, has actually returned to work at the Administrative Department? And you've even brought back a toddler in your arms. What's going on?"
Tsunade ignored his teasing, supporting Tenki with one arm while slapping a tiny folded piece of paper onto the table with the other. "Uncle, stop talking nonsense. This is the youngest junior brother of Shikkotsu Forest, a disciple my master's wife recently took in—she said she found him in Konoha. This morning, Junior Brother Tenrai asked me to make sure he finds his biological parents."
Hiruzen Sarutobi unfolded the note; two lines of hastily written words read, "The infant has no name; his master's wife named him Tenki. His aura is very clean, seemingly without any other ninja village markings." He raised an eyebrow. "Since there are no markings, he's not an abandoned ninja child; he seems more like someone lost by an ordinary villager. But Konoha has a large and diverse population; investigating would be difficult..."
"That's why I came to you." Tsunade leaned down, her voice low but carrying an undeniable force. " The Administrative Department has eyes and ears everywhere. You only need to say one word—who has lost a child—and the truth will be revealed immediately."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at her for a moment, then suddenly chuckled, "You little brat, you're so arrogant even when you're asking for a favor."
"You're my uncle, do I need to be so polite? We're family, no need for formalities!" Tsunade softly, her fingertips gently smoothing the soft hair on Tenki's forehead. "This child is just born. He's so small, even his cries are so soft."
Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed her subtle movement and his gaze narrowed slightly. He raised his hand to Hand Seals, and an Anbu Body Flicker Technique landed outside the window, kneeling on one knee.
"Go and investigate." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice remained gentle, yet it carried an unyielding authority. "Order the Intelligence Division to conduct a two-week search, checking every birth registration, hospital delivery record, and patrol log—leaving no corner unchecked. Report immediately any missing, reported, or unusually departing infants."
"Yes!" The Anbu vanished in shadows.
Tsunade breathed a sigh of relief, but still refused to leave.
Hiruzen Sarutobi out his pipe and asked with a smile, "If I promise, I'll get it done. Do I need to sign a written agreement?"
"No." She looked down at Tenki, who was fast asleep in her arms, her voice so soft it was as if she didn't want to disturb his dream, "I just... want to wait a little longer for the first batch of news."
Senju Clan Ancestral Home
The setting sun cast a Mito Uzumaki was pruning the Kaidō in front of her courtyard. Although she was sixty years old, her red hair was tied up high, and her eyes were kind, yet she could not conceal the majesty of someone who had long held a high position. Hearing footsteps, she turned around and saw her granddaughter carrying a swaddled baby stepping over the threshold.
" Tsunade?" Mito put down the silver scissors, her gaze falling on the baby's face, her expression suddenly softening. "Weren't you training in Shikkotsu Forest? How come you brought a child back?"
Tsunade carefully handed Tenki over, her movements tinged with an unconscious reluctance. "This was found by my master's wife. My junior brother asked me to help him find his relatives. I've been running around all day, and I'm hungry and tired. I'm bringing him back to rest today, and we'll continue the search tomorrow."
Mito took the swaddling clothes, her fingertips touching Tenki's palm. The child unconsciously grasped one of her fingers, a tiny bundle that inexplicably warmed her heart.
"Very well-behaved." The old man's voice was soft. "What's his name?"
" Tenki. That's the name my teacher's wife chose. She said she found him just as dawn was Dawn." Tsunade paused, then added, "... I think it sounds pretty good too."
Mito looked up and saw the faint redness in her granddaughter's eyes, knowing that she had carried the child the whole way without asking anyone else to help. The old woman sighed and smiled, "Go change your clothes first, and then tell the kitchen to warm some milk. The child will stay in my room tonight, so you won't kick off the covers and smother him in the middle of the night."
Tsunade pursed her lips, clearly reluctant to part.
Mito deliberately put on a stern face. "What, are you afraid I'll mistreat him?"
"No..." Tsunade scratched her forehead, her voice lowering, "It's just... he's so soft, it's really comfortable to hold him."
The old man chuckled and waved him away, saying, "Go on. The Administrative Department will notify you as soon as they have any news. Don't stand here looking all dusty."
Tsunade Earth Flow every few steps. The courtyard gate closed, dusk settled, and only Mito and the infant in swaddling clothes remained in the long corridor.
The candlelight flickered as Mito sat in the veranda, holding Tenki in her arms and gently patting his back. The child, with his bright, dark eyes, neither cried nor fussed, but instead grinned at her, revealing his pink gums.
"You little rascal," the old man tapped his nose with his fingertip, "You're quite friendly with strangers."
Tenki suddenly struggled against his swaddling clothes, and a faint golden light flashed across his brow. Mito's eyes narrowed, but before she could react, a childlike yet clear voice resounded in her mind—
"Teacher's wife, it's me, Tsubasa."
Mito's hand trembled, nearly dropping the child. She quickly set up a soundproof barrier and whispered, " Tsubasa?... Is it really you?"
" Tribulation Transcendence, my physical body was rebuilt, resulting in this appearance." The voice carried a helpless laugh. "I apologize for startling you."
Mito took a deep breath, her fingertips gently tracing a rune pattern around the child's chest, enveloping the Tsubasa. She detected that familiar and vast soul fluctuation, and her eyes instantly welled with tears. "My child... do you know how much the entire Shinobi World Shinobi World has turned upside down searching for you all these years? Several countries have been destroyed, and your wives were about to raze the entire Shinobi World to the ground."
Tsubasa's voice lowered. "I know. But encountering this calamity was also an accident for me. Now that I'm an infant, I don't want to expose myself too early, lest it lead to even more chaotic consequences."
Mito hugged him tightly, as if holding a real baby, or as if holding a lost treasure that had been found again. "Then hide him here with me. My old bones can protect you."
"I'm much stronger than before, it's just that my body is new." Tsubasa paused, then added with a touch of childlike seriousness, "I want to wait and see what demons and monsters are lurking in the shadows of the Shinobi World that we haven't yet discovered."
Mito gazed at the lights gradually appearing in the distance and softly replied, "Okay, you must grow up quickly."