When Arima returned home, he found Tsunade staring blankly out the window, so lost in thought that she hadn't even noticed his footsteps.
He knew his wife had been worrying herself sick over him, unable to find peace. Arima walked over and pulled her tightly into his arms, murmuring softly, "Tsunade, I'm back."
Being suddenly embraced from behind, Tsunade instinctively prepared to strike back, but the very next moment, she realized the person holding her was the one she had been fretting over.
She immediately turned, gazing closely at his face, tears streaming silently down her cheeks.
Arima wiped her tears away with a smile. "Crying again? You're even more worrisome than little Yuna! Alright, no more tears. Your Arima is back safe and sound."
Leaning into his chest, Tsunade half-heartedly punched him and muttered, "It's all your fault anyway. You're the only one I've cried for all these years."
As she dabbed away the tears from her eyes, she asked, "What did Jigen want with you?"
Arima took her hand with a sigh. "Jigen knew long ago that I broke free from his secret technique. All along, he was just playing along with me. He's the greatest actor of them all."
Lowering his head to meet his wife's eyes, Arima continued, "Tsunade, I can't deal with Jigen directly right now.
The only way is to drag him into an unknown dimension where he can't wreak more havoc on the ninja world.
But if I do that, I'll have to leave the shinobi world as well… I'll be back in about three years."
Hearing this, Tsunade instinctively thought he meant to abandon her.
She shook her head fiercely and declared, "I don't care where you're going, I'm going with you! Life or death, I'll follow! I believe Konoha will do just fine in Hiruzen's hands."
Not giving him a chance to explain, she went on, "When you were gone, I've never known such fear! Arima, without you by my side, I couldn't bear the fragility of life itself, it was like every breath, every bit of air, became unbearably heavy."
Never before had Tsunade voiced her dependence on him so delicately.
Arima caressed her face and said, "I know, Tsunade. I know all that you feel. Don't worry, this time, I'll take you all with me."
Tsunade stepped back from his embrace, staring straight at him, anxiety in her eyes. "It won't be dangerous for you, will it?"
Arima shook his head. "No danger. Maybe just a little discomfort when we first arrive in that other world."
"Another world?" Tsunade asked, puzzled. "What kind of world?"
Arima recalled the description attached to the tickets. "It's a vast world of oceans, filled with adventure and excitement."
Tsunade didn't care what kind of world it was. She only cared about staying by Arima's side.
"When do we leave?" she asked.
"Half a day to prepare," Arima answered. "There will be nine of us. You go notify them. I'll explain everything to Grandma Mito, to Granduncle Tobirama, and to Hiruzen."
They split up to make their preparations.
Arima first went to see his grandmother who was playing with little Yuna.
Seeing her grandson's serious face, Mito handed the child to a servant and led Arima into the inner hall.
Once they sat down, she asked, "Arima, what has happened?"
Arima explained everything in detail.
Mito sighed. "So Madara still lives… He's certainly schemed well. Without you, this world would already be in chaos."
"Grandma," Arima said, "I may have to wander another world for a time. I'll return in three years. Jigen will be going with me, where he ends up, that's for fate to decide."
The thought of her grandson leaving the shinobi world filled Mito with deep reluctance.
She looked at the boy she had raised from childhood, realizing that more than twenty years had already passed.
Without him and Tsunade to brighten her days, her years would have been unbearably lonely. Whenever she saw them, she felt a peace she couldn't explain.
But she knew children grow, and one day they must fly away. Only now, the place they would fly to was somewhere she herself might never reach.
Suppressing her sorrow, she smiled. "Three years isn't so long. At least I'll still be alive to see you return."
Her words pained Arima deeply.
He could restore her youth with his eye technique, but without his constant support, the effect would fade, and she would return to her aged state. To put her through that cycle was cruel.
Still, he was stuck. The system only allowed nine passengers. He hated its rigid rules with all his heart.
He asked the system again, "Can I add more tickets?"
This time, the reply stunned him: One Tenseigan can be exchanged for two tickets.
Its greed made him want to tear it out of his soul and crush it, but it was lodged too deeply, even Jigen couldn't sense it, and Arima was powerless against it.
'Forget it. One Rinnegan plus a few Mangekyo techniques should be enough.'
Revived in spirit, Arima smiled. "Grandma, why don't you come with us? Hiruzen will guard Konoha. You don't have to worry about it falling into ruin."
Mito was tempted. There wasn't much tying her to Konoha anymore.
But she worried her frail body would become a burden. She shook her head. "I appreciate your heart, Arima. But go on without me. I'll wait here for your return."
Arima knew her well. If she truly meant to refuse, her tone wouldn't be so hesitant.
Seizing the moment, he revealed his Rinnegan and invoked his technique, restoring her body to its twenty year old state.
Mito, once the jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, was among the most powerful kunoichi in history.
Reversing her age demanded an enormous amount of chakra. Fortunately, Arima had stored enough within his Yin Seal, otherwise, he'd have been drained dry.
As his mysterious left eye glowed, a surge of vitality coursed through her body. Her skin smoothed, age spots faded, her white hair regained its luster, falling long and silky once more.
The transformation took only a few breaths. Mito blinked at the young woman in the mirror, muttering, "Arima… your genjutsu is impressive. You even fooled your grandmother."
Arima chuckled. "It's no illusion. This technique reverses time itself, but only for a while."
"How long?" she asked quickly.
"About three months," Arima said. "Then it will gradually fade."
Mito laughed, eyes bright. "So you mean to drag me along to wander this strange world?"
Arima only smiled. Family meant more to him than anything. If he could bring them happiness, any price was worth paying.
Looking out the window, Mito teased, "I've guarded Konoha for half my life. A little vacation doesn't sound unreasonable, right, Third Hokage?"
"Of course!" Arima agreed. "Grandma, without you, I'd never dare leave Konoha behind. A break is well-deserved!"
Restored to youth, Mito began playfully teasing her grandson. Arima found himself flustered, he wasn't used to dealing with such a lively young "grandmother."
Seeing things turning mischievous, Arima quickly said, "Grandma, I need to speak with Granduncle Tobirama too. I've reserved a place for him as well."
Mito laughed knowingly. "Go then. Don't worry, I won't bite. You used to cling to me when you were little, you know!"
She gave him a regal smile, her presence flawless.
Arima hurriedly slipped away with Kamui before she could dig up more of his embarrassing childhood stories.
He found Tobirama in his underground study, working on secret techniques.
When his grandnephew entered, Tobirama set his tools aside. "What brings you here, Arima?"
Arima explained everything once again.
Tobirama listened and asked, "Can you guarantee Jigen won't return soon?"
Arima shook his head. "No. This is the only way to restrain him."
Tobirama frowned but then said firmly, "Then you go. I'll remain here. If Jigen returns, only my space-time jutsu can stall him, and I can feed you intelligence when needed."
Arima tried to argue, but Tobirama's decision was resolute. Once he chose a path, he never wavered.
Seeing Arima's conflicted expression, Tobirama smiled. "It's only three years. I'll protect the Alliance in your stead. Go. You've already sacrificed enough for this journey.
Don't waste more strength. I won't see you off later, it'll only make it harder."
With both sorrow and helplessness, Arima bid his granduncle farewell.
He met with the other four Kage as well, informing them of his three-year absence.
In front of them, he formally passed leadership of Konoha and the Land of Fire to Hiruzen, appointing him as the Fourth Hokage. The news would be made public the next day.
Though baffled by Arima's decision, the Kage and Hiruzen respected him too much to press further.
By dusk, Arima had completed all preparations and returned home.
He found Tsunade holding little Yuna, chatting excitedly with Mito. His mother joined in from time to time, while the children played in the yard, guarded by Natsuka and Nawaki.
The warmth of this scene was exactly what Arima had always sought to protect. 'If you can't care for your own home, how can you care for the world?' he thought.
The children rushed to surround him, their little heads buzzing with questions about the coming adventure.
He answered them one by one, in order of age.
Arata asked sweetly, "Father, will there be giant whales? And people who are like fish? Are they pretty?"
Arima pinched his son's nose with a smile. "Giant whales, certainly. As for fish-people, if there are, I'll take you to meet them."
Next, Nono asked, "Uncle Arima, will we come back?"
Arima raised a brow. "Why? Don't want to leave?"
She nodded. "I like our home. And Mother's grave is here… I don't want her to be lonely."
Arima patted her head gently. "Don't worry, Nono. I promise, we'll return."
Then came Kushina, bubbling with excitement. "Do people there look like us? Or do they have huge heads, thick necks, and stubby legs?"
Arima chuckled helplessly. "I don't know. But I hear they have special fruits that give people strange powers. I'll find one for you to try."
At that, Kushina squealed in delight.
Nawaki asked, "Brother in law, can we bring Mikoto too?"
Arima nearly choked. He hadn't expected his little brother inlaw to already be infatuated. His answer left Nawaki disappointed, but when it came to choosing between family and a crush, family clearly came first.
Finally, Natsuka asked, "Brother… will I be able to stay eighteen forever?"
Her question made the three women in the room fall silent, ears pricked for the answer.
Arima laughed inwardly. 'Women, always worried about appearance.'
"Of course," he said warmly. "As long as I haven't gone to the Pure Land to see Grandpa, I'll keep you all young."
Natsuka beamed and flashed a "mission accomplished" sign to Tsunade.
Together, the family piled all their belongings into one place, forming a small mountain of supplies.
Arima glanced at it all, nothing was missing. If not for his Wood Release, they might have tried to bring the whole house along.
Seeing everyone ready, Arima declared, "Grandma, Mother, Tsunade, Natsuka, Nawaki, Kushina, Nono, little Arata, and baby Yuna… let us bid farewell to Konoha."
They gazed quietly at the village, a silent goodbye.
Then Arima used Kamui to send them all into the otherworldly space within his left eye. He himself appeared in Jigen's frozen base.
There, Jigen still struggled to break free from time's grip. He had already made progress, half a day more, and he would escape.
But Arima had timed it perfectly, leaving him no chance to breathe.
He placed a hand on Jigen's shoulder, activated the ticket, and said, "Jigen, you've been my greatest enemy. If you survive, we'll fight again, fair and square. …Farewell."
In an instant, time and space shifted. Arima and Jigen vanished, while the others remained locked in frozen stillness, uncertain when they would awaken.
Thus, the story of another world began.
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