"This…"
Hearing Imperial Obito's words, Yamato's heart skips a beat.
This Obito from another world—does he want to visit the Uchiha Clan? If he finds out the Uchiha Clan has been wiped out, won't that cause trouble?
If the Empire's people go berserk, things could get serious.
'After all, in the future, Konoha will join the Empire. There can't be any rift between them.'
'That bastard Uchiha Itachi, how could he do such a thing?'
Yamato can't help but feel a bit worried, but with the situation at hand, some things are unavoidable, so he steels himself.
"Obito… some things have happened and can't be undone. Often, everyone is powerless… please calm your heart and don't be too sad."
"?!"
Hearing this, Imperial Obito's body trembles involuntarily.
'What do these words mean?'
'Could it be that Kakashi in this world is also with Rin, all lovey-dovey and happy? So… they're telling me to accept reality?'
'Damn it! I deliberately didn't ask earlier, just to hold onto a shred of hope. Why tell me now?'
Imperial Obito's eyes fill with red veins, his heart bitter.
But thinking of the future of the Empire and Konoha, he can only swallow his bitterness, nodding slowly.
"Don't worry… I've long prepared myself mentally for many things… I just want to see her once, no matter the outcome."
"Alright then… Obito, go ahead and enter first." Yamato says, nodding slightly to Izumo.
Imperial Obito walks slowly through Konoha's gate, his steps unhurried, as if deeply hesitant.
"Yamato-senpai, I think I'd also like to walk around Konoha. The culture and scenery here look great, and I've been looking forward to it for a while." Imperial Neji speaks up.
Yamato feels much more at ease about Imperial Neji.
After all, the Hyuga Clan is currently Konoha's largest clan. He believes this Neji from another world should be satisfied with that.
So he smiles and nods: "Nin, go ahead."
"Excuse me." Imperial Neji says, stepping inside.
"Everyone's gone in already? Then I'll take a look around too. Who knows, maybe I'll run into Guy-sensei… or see some interesting people and things." Imperial Lee says, also entering Konoha.
"Is this really okay, Yamato?" Izumo asks, watching the three figures recede.
'Trouble? Of course there's trouble. But not one of these three can be offended.'
Yamato grumbles inwardly but puts on a wide smile and says:
"No problem. Tang, Nin, and Obito saved our lives. They won't do anything to harm Konoha."
"Right. Tang, Nin, and Obito aren't bad people." Naruto chimes in.
Sakura and Sai nod repeatedly.
"Alright then…" Izumo can only nod.
The four from the ninja world wait at Konoha's gate.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office.
As the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade sits at her desk, her right hand covering her face, fingers gently massaging her temples, her expression showing a headache.
"Two months! Two whole months, and still no word from Naruto and the others?"
"I'm sorry, Hokage-sama. Despite sending many ninja to both the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire, we've found no information about Naruto and the others." Nara Shikaku, standing before her desk, says, looking deeply worried.
"This is all your fault, Tsunade! If you hadn't insisted on sending the Kyubi and the others to capture Mukade, this wouldn't have happened." Mitokado Homura, an elderly Hokage advisor, says with a face full of dissatisfaction.
"Exactly. Tsunade agreed you need to take responsibility. If other villages learn Konoha lost the Kyubi, do you realize the potential consequences?" Utatane Koharu adds.
"As a Hokage, you're too negligent, Tsunade. If this is your limit, I think you step down and train more. You should know, when Hiruzen was Hokage, he never lost the Kyubi."
"All this because you're too young, Tsunade. A Hokage must be someone with more experience and exposure to the ninja world's darkness. You're not ready." Shimura Danzo, the ninja world's shadowy figure wrapped in bandages, says bluntly.
"Shut up, you old relics." Tsunade snaps at the trio's accusations.
Her eyes blaze with anger: "Hmph! The priority now is figuring out how to bring Naruto and the others back, not stirring up issues here. Got it?"
"Insolent brat." Homura, scolded, glares at Tsunade angrily.
"Is this a Hokage's responsibility, Tsunade? Is this how Hiruzen taught you? I told you, you're utterly unfit to be Hokage. A Hokage needs—"
Danzo keeps ranting, but before he can finish, Tsunade shouts: "Danzo, I am the Hokage."
"…"
At her words, veins bulge on Danzo's forehead:
"Arrogant fool. You're as idiotic as that bastard Hiruzen."
After speaking, Danzo storms off angrily.
Seeing their old friend leave, and Tsunade raising her right fist as if ready to strike, the two advisors feel a twinge of fear and quickly flee.
But as the trio reaches the door, they hear an excited shout:
"Hokage-sama! Hokage-sama! Naruto's back!"
"What?"
Danzo, Homura, Koharu, and Tsunade are all stunned, each showing different expressions.
Tsunade, overjoyed, looks outside, where Kotetsu, who should be guarding Konoha's gate, rushes into the Hokage's office with an excited face.
"Is what you said true? Naruto, Sakura, Yamato, and Sai really came back?"
Tsunade's heart leaps with joy.
"Absolutely true, Hokage-sama! Naruto, Sakura, and the others are at the gate now." Kotetsu says.
"Good. That's great. Really great. Those naughty brats finally found their way home. Do they know how worried everyone was about them?"
By the end, Tsunade grits her teeth, her fists clenched tightly.
The floor beneath her feet even cracks slightly from her excitement.
This scene makes Shizune, Shikaku, and the newly arrived Kotetsu wince.
Naruto, Sakura, Yamato, Sai—good luck.
"Let's go. Follow me to see these little bastards. I want to know what exactly kept these idiots away for two whole months." Tsunade mutters, flinging her cloak and striding toward the door.
The others follow behind her.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Soon, they arrive at Konoha's gate.
They see Naruto, Sakura, Yamato, and Sai chatting casually with Izumo.
"Yo, Granny Tsunade, Big Sis Shizune, Uncle Shikaku! Long time no see!" Naruto spots them from afar, waving in greeting.
"Naruto…"
Tsunade shouts, leaping toward Naruto's head in an instant. Her right fist swings down hard.
"You little brat!"