Inside the office.
As representatives of Mount Myoboku, Fukasaku and Shima bowed apologetically to Heiyan, hoping to resolve past unpleasantness.
"There's no need for this," Heiyan sighed, helping the two Sages up without making things difficult for them.
If Gamamaru truly had sincerity in apologizing, he himself should have come. However, given his enormous ego, such a thing was simply impossible.
Perhaps, in Gamamaru's eyes, merely acknowledging his mistake already counted as granting Heiyan an enormous favor. Should the latter press further, it would be seen as being ungrateful.
After all, Gamamaru was the king of all frogs at Mount Myoboku, the Sage of Six Paths' foster brother, and the savior of the shinobi world.
Compared to that, what was Heiyan—a mere mortal—qualified to demand apologies from him?
Heiyan fully understood Gamamaru's condescending arrogance.
Since he had no intention of interacting with Mount Myoboku again anyway, he simply dismissed Fukasaku and Shima with an indifferent attitude.
The road parts here—we all choose our own path.
Years from now, they'd see who could laugh last and emerge as the ultimate winner in this game of the shinobi world.
After seeing the guests off.
True to his word, Heiyan took Kushina and Minato to the training grounds, created two Shadow Clones, each teaching one of them different ninjutsu techniques.
Meanwhile, his original body went to another side of the training grounds and pulled out Samehada and the Sword of Kusanagi from a Storage Scroll carried on his person.
Heiyan realized that with his current physical condition, he couldn't frequently use Sage Art like he used to before.
Therefore, developing new jutsu or battle techniques had become particularly necessary.
Gripping Samehada in his right hand, he poured chakra into the blade until it expanded and transformed into a bulky, fish-like shape covered with spines.
"Woof... woof..."
As soon as Samehada appeared, it made a pleading sound with its huge mouth while wriggling its body, trying to get close to Heiyan.
However, Heiyan barely acknowledged it, instead pondering its purpose.
"I've heard this sword isn't meant for slashing people, but rather shaving them..."
He thought about how best to wield this blade.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Heiyan swung into action, brandishing Samehada forcefully through the air, every slash powerful and wide-sweeping, keeping even three or five opponents at bay effortlessly. Not to mention, this sword also possesses the ability to absorb chakra.
Among the seven ninja swords of Kirigakure, Samehada's close combat capability is definitely second to none.
As Samehada's new master, Heiyan could not only feed it using his immense reserves of chakra so it continuously evolved but could also enhance its sharpness by employing techniques like [Heavenly Release Chidori Blade]. Furthermore, through Gatai with Samehada, his water release abilities, already unparalleled, could reach completely unprecedented heights.
One could say Heiyan and Samehada were meant for each other.
With this massive blade in hand, even without Sage Mode, Heiyan's strength wouldn't decline significantly.
Yet, for Heiyan alone, close-range capability wasn't enough—he still required a long-range offensive option.
Thus, Heiyan once again took up the Sword of Kusanagi that he had forcefully snatched from Orochimaru.
This sword, known as "Murakumo," had one major characteristic: it could transform into a flying sword that responded to the wielder's chakra, unleashing the Ninjutsu called "Heavenly Sword—Ku no Taiga."
Heavenly Sword—Ku no Taiga was essentially a mid-range offensive Ninjutsu, effective within the range of ten to one hundred meters. Beyond one hundred meters, accuracy would sharply decline due to limitations in the user's line of sight.
Heiyan naturally noticed this issue.
In fact, he already had three distinct methods prepared in advance to comprehensively enhance this technique.
First, Heiyan embedded the symbiotic Byakugan gifted by Hiashi into the hilt of Murakumo.
This eye transmitted live visuals from the sword's viewpoint straight to Heiyan, giving him full control over its movement and strike patterns.
Thanks to this, even at distances of hundreds of meters or even several kilometers, he could execute surgical precision strikes against enemies.
Next, on the opposite side of the hilt, Heiyan carved the Flying Thunder God formula — Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain, an ancient tactical principle derived from Sun Tzu's teachings.
This seal enabled him to instantly teleport to Murakumo's location, launching surprise attacks on unsuspecting enemies.
Finally, Heiyan infused the sword with his own Heavenly Release chakra, causing a red glow to spread across the blade while discharging arcs of electricity outward.
[Heavenly Release — Chidori Blade]
This technique further enhanced the already razor-sharp Murakumo, adding an additional electric paralyzing effect — truly like adding wings to a tiger.
With all three enhancements combined, Heavenly Sword—Ku no Taiga immediately became Heiyan's deadliest weapon, pushing destruction, speed, and agility to their limits.
At the slightest mental command from Heiyan.
Whoosh!
Murakumo rose into the air and shot forth like lightning. It circled briefly before proceeding along Ichiraku Street, flying past the Hokage Tower all the way to the village gate.
Konoha's central district wasn't particularly large; even the main street didn't span more than a kilometer. Naturally, this distance hadn't reached the limit of Heavenly Sword—Ku no Taiga.
Therefore, under Heiyan's control, the sword continued flying beyond the village, entering Konoha's forest until reaching a distance of about three kilometers.
At this point, the visual feed finally started deteriorating, reaching the sensing limit of the symbiotic Byakugan.
In short, Heiyan could now keep tabs on enemies around Konoha and strike without ever stepping foot outside his office.
Whoosh!
After completing the test, Murakumo flew back from outside the village.
As it passed above Konoha River, Heiyan guided it downward, circling around his three-story residence.
Just then,
A vaguely familiar silhouette caught his attention near his doorstep.
It was a teenage girl wearing a green pair of buns, dressed provocatively in a revealing top that exposed a large portion of her fair back skin.
Her?
Slightly surprised, Heiyan immediately directed Murakumo straight toward the girl.
"Hmm?"
The girl at the door suddenly felt a whistling sound coming from behind her. Instinctively sensing danger, she sidestepped just in time. As she turned to face her attacker, her hands had already completed a series of hand seals, unleashing her trademark Scorch Release fireballs that now hovered around her.
Sure enough, it was Pakura from Sunagakure, employing her Scorch Release.
"This sword..."
Pakura didn't act recklessly but instead gave the Murakumo Sword facing her a wary look.
Over a meter long, Murakumo now hung upright in midair, suspended ten centimeters above the ground. Its blade not only shimmered with red lightning energy, but there was also an eye on the hilt that stared directly at Pakura, making her feel rather uneasy.
Just as Pakura's expression turned serious and she prepared to strike first, her vision blurred momentarily.
In the next instant, a figure appeared out of nowhere at the location of the Murakumo Sword. Elegantly grasping the weapon, the figure smoothly sheathed it.
"It's been a while."
Heiyan smiled slightly and greeted Pakura.
Although more than a year had passed, he would never forget that moment in the Valley of the End when Pakura had sacrificed herself to save him, getting pierced through the shoulder by a Wood Release spear.
"Heiyan?!"
When Pakura saw Heiyan, she was momentarily stunned. After regaining her composure and recalling her earlier overreaction, she couldn't help but blush deeply.
To cover her embarrassment, she deliberately coughed twice, cleared her throat, and explained why she came.
As it turned out, Pakura was part of a Sand Village delegation visiting Konoha for peace negotiations aimed at resolving the tense situation along the border between their two countries.
"I happened to be passing nearby, got a sudden urge, so I decided to stop by and see you. You're not saying you don't welcome me, are you?"
Pakura flipped her bangs back and asked playfully, standing with one hand on her hip.
At the same time, she secretly studied Heiyan, finding that after a year apart, he had grown taller and even more handsome.
Her heart pounded excitedly.
"Of course I welcome you."
Heiyan replied with a smile, almost instinctively. Then he pushed the door open right away and motioned for Pakura to come in.
"Now that you've come all this way, let me treat you to dinner as a host should."
After guiding Pakura to sit down in the living room, he took a drink from the refrigerator for her, then slid open the balcony door as he spoke to her.
"That sounds good." Pakura agreed happily, stretching comfortably on the sofa as her inner joy overflowed.
"What do you want to eat?"
Heiyan asked after opening the window to let in some fresh air.
"Anything is fine. Guest follows host's arrangement."
Pakura replied obediently. As long as she could spend time alone with her beloved, she was happy—what they ate didn't matter at all.
Naturally, a candlelight dinner would be even better.
However, while Pakura was imagining an intimate dinner with Heiyan, his next words made her expression freeze instantly:
"Then I'll go invite my other friends first. Make yourself at home."
After saying this, Heiyan left the house, leaving behind a Pakura who looked deeply wronged.
Half an hour later.
Heiyan summoned Minato, Kushina, Ashina Uzumaki, Fugaku, and Hiashi, as well as the long-absent Kosuke Maruboshi and Might Duy. Additionally, his two Anbu subordinates, White Elephant and Azure Fox, had purchased a large amount of ingredients.
A crowd gathered.
Heiyan glanced around and found that his teachers, seniors, clansmen, friends, apprentices, and subordinates were basically all present. Unfortunately, Tsunade was secluded in Shikkotsu Forest, training in Sage Art. Heiyan thought for a moment before deciding not to disturb her.
The dinner was meant to help everyone catch up and also to celebrate their recent victory in the battle at Uzugakure.
"I'll cook tonight."
Kosuke Maruboshi said cheerfully, then headed into the kitchen.
"I'll help," Pakura roused herself from her thoughts and eagerly volunteered to assist Kosuke Maruboshi. Following her, Azure Fox also took off his mask and rolled up his sleeves, stepping into the kitchen.
Night fell and lights flickered.
In the courtyard beneath a starry sky, Heiyan and the others laughed and chatted together while enjoying a barbecue.
During the meal, everyone was immersed in joy.
At first disappointed that she couldn't spend time alone with Heiyan, Pakura gradually got caught up in the cheerful atmosphere. Thanks to her outgoing and lively personality, she quickly became one of the group.
For Pakura, this joyful ambiance was something she had almost never experienced back in the oppressive Sunagakure.
Throughout the evening, she met Kushina and got along very well with this younger girl.
Meanwhile, Kosuke Maruboshi also noticed the potential and unique traits within Minato. He held him in high regard and shared many valuable life experiences with him.
"Let's have a toast, everyone."
Heiyan raised his glass and proposed. Everyone happily agreed, clinking glasses to celebrate their wartime victory and this hard-earned peaceful happiness.
Amidst laughter and conversation, Heiyan looked around at those seated beside him, his determination deepening — this was truly worth protecting.
After dinner, everyone left wearing smiles and feeling satisfied.
Together with Ashina Uzumaki, Heiyan took Kushina to visit the Four Seasons Hotel, where they reunited with hundreds of their clansmen.
During this time, Heiyan and Ashina Uzumaki discussed the future of the Uzumaki clan.
After all, staying permanently in a hotel wasn't a sustainable solution.
Frowning with concern, Heiyan pondered their situation.
At present, returning to Uzu Country was definitely not an option—the primary reason being its proximity to the Land of Water made it vulnerable to attacks from Madara Uchiha.
[Planetary Devastation], [Heavenly Obstacle Quaking Star], and [Ultra Shinra Tensei]—just one of these Rinnegan Dojutsu techniques from Madara could destroy Uzugakure again.
"What does the Third Hokage think about this?" Heiyan asked Ashina Uzumaki, thinking it over.
"Honored clan head, while you were unconscious, Konoha's high-ranking elders already discussed this with us. They've offered to allocate an area outside the village to help the Uzumaki clan rebuild our settlement."
Ashina Uzumaki reported truthfully.
Actually, among the Uzumaki clan, many members had seen through the true nature of Konoha's leaders during this war, significantly reducing their goodwill toward their former ally.
However, due to their unconditional trust in the clan head Heiyan, the Uzumaki clan was still willing to stay and join Konoha, becoming a part of this village.
"I see..."
Upon hearing that, Heiyan understood the situation. It seemed that Konoha's high-ranking elders, led by Hiruzen Sarutobi, had gone out of their way to make up for things with the Uzumaki clan.
As for settling the Uzumaki clan on the village's outskirts, there was no other option — the land within Konoha had long been carved up among the major ninja clans.
Heiyan hadn't yet decided whether to accept the suggestion from Konoha's leadership.
He needed to ensure both the future safety of the Uzumaki and take their feelings into account.
"Clan head, no matter what decision you make, we'll back you one hundred percent."
Ashina Uzumaki recognized Heiyan's dilemma and spoke up voluntarily, hoping to share his burden and ease his concerns.
"Mm, I understand."
Heiyan nodded, thinking he must come up with a perfect plan soon to give the Uzumaki clan a rebirth.
After leaving the hotel and returning to his quarters, it was already late at night.
At this time, Pakura had already fallen asleep in the guest room, while White Elephant and Azure Fox took turns standing guard, hidden in the shadows, faithfully fulfilling their duty as protectors.
Only then did Heiyan realize how hectic the entire day had been — ever since he got up, he'd been swamped with endless tasks.
Even Heiyan found himself feeling drained.
I'll sleep first before doing anything else.
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