"Want a free ride?"
Ruri considered it. Recently, the Kirigakure battlefield indeed had no decent combat missions. And since this guy had finished his mission, it meant Kirigakure's surrender wasn't far away. After that, she'd likely have even fewer missions suitable for training herself.
With that in mind, Ruri gave a small nod.
"Alright. But I need to report to the clan head first."
Fugaku naturally approved. Kirigakure had already been defeated under Mitsuki's… very effective communication, so the battlefield no longer hungered for manpower like before.
Leaving the command center, Mitsuki stopped and glanced at Ruri.
"Got anything you need to pack?"
Ruri answered softly, "No."
Then she extended her left hand toward him — while turning her head sharply to the side.
Mitsuki blinked, puzzled, looking at her. Ruri's eyes were shifting evasively; she wouldn't look at him directly. Mitsuki was just about to ask what this was supposed to mean when—
Seeing that he still hadn't moved, Ruri seemed to grow irritated.She urged him in a low, annoyed voice:
"Aren't you using Flying Thunder God? Hurry up. What— is grabbing my hand not enough? What else do you want to grab?"
Ah.
Mitsuki finally understood. She didn't know the conditions for Flying Thunder God's transfer. But that was normal — anything related to the Scroll of Seals was basically an unreachable parallel universe for the Uchiha clan.
Besides, he remembered he had never carried Ruri via Flying Thunder God before.
Mitsuki laughed lightly and took her left hand.
…
Konoha Village – Mitsuki Residence
In Mitsuki's room, a kunai hanging by a rope in the corner began to vibrate softly.
A moment later, Ruri and Mitsuki appeared beside it in a puff of smoke.
"So this is what a space–time ninjutsu transfer feels like? We returned to the village instantly. Amazing technique." Ruri walked to the window of Mitsuki's room and looked outside toward the streets of Konoha.
"Yeah. All ninjutsu the Second Hokage created are pretty special," Mitsuki said with a sigh. Then he continued, "So, what do you plan to do next?"
Ruri leaned against the sunlit windowsill, supporting her cheeks with both hands. Hearing his question, she tilted her head slightly and glanced at him with the corner of her eye.
"What? Are you planning to invite me on a date?"
"Of course not. Honestly, I've got a ton of things to do now that I'm back. If you want to sunbathe, stay here. I'm heading to the Hokage Building. See you."
With that, Mitsuki formed a seal and vanished from the room.
"…Runs pretty fast." Ruri clicked her tongue.
The next moment, Mitsuki appeared in a small alley near the Hokage Building. What Flying Thunder God user doesn't leave marking points all over the village?
This one in particular had been shared with him by Minato — a place no one usually visited, so sudden teleportation wouldn't scare anyone.
Mitsuki entered the Hokage Building. As he walked down the hallway, he saw Danzō emerging from the Hokage's office with a dark, stormy expression.
Bang!
The door slammed shut. Danzō turned to leave but noticed Mitsuki standing in the corridor. A faint gleam of appreciation flickered in his eyes.
"Mitsuki. You should currently be stationed at the Kirigakure front, if I recall correctly."
Mitsuki answered casually,
"I had special intel that needed to be reported to the Hokage."
He walked past Danzō, heading straight for the office. But Danzō's cold voice echoed behind him.
"Join Root, Mitsuki. I will train you as Root's successor. You and I… are the same type of person."
Mitsuki had no idea what this old fossil was scheming now. Was he collecting recruits like stamps again?
"No thanks. I'm not ambitious. Being an ordinary jōnin is more than enough." Mitsuki dismissed him and knocked on the Hokage's door.
"Come in."
Hiruzen's voice came from inside.
Upon seeing Mitsuki enter, Hiruzen quickly smothered the anger Danzō had stirred up moments ago and replaced it with a warm, kindly expression.
"Mitsuki, you must have returned from the Kirigakure front because something urgent happened."
Mitsuki nodded.
"Look at that face. No wonder Danzō is disliked — walking around scowling and accosting people all day. Who would like a guy like that?"
After mentally roasting Danzō's pushy invitation, Mitsuki handed the two scrolls to Hiruzen and began recounting his mission in the Land of Water.
Mitsuki wasn't the type to hide secrets. So he told Hiruzen everything — destroying Kirigakure, killing the Third Mizukage, even the battle with Madara.
As Mitsuki spoke, Hiruzen's expression shifted from gentle → surprised → outright shocked. Mitsuki couldn't help bursting into laughter.
His laugh finally snapped Hiruzen out of his daze.Even though he believed the story, he still felt compelled to confirm:
"Mitsuki… are you absolutely certain it was Madara?"
Mitsuki shrugged.
"Mangekyō Sharingan, complete-body Susanoo — exactly as described in the documents I read at Tsunade's place. It was definitely Madara. And he's very strong. I could only repel him, not kill him."
Hiruzen's mouth twitched violently.
"This kid… repelled Madara and is complaining about not killing him?!"
Madara — the monster who pushed the First Hokage to the brink of death — and this brat says it like it's mild regret?
The wrinkles on Hiruzen's face seemed to deepen as his frown tightened. Madara still being alive was something he had never imagined.
Compared to that world-shaking revelation, Kirigakure's fall and the Mizukage's death seemed like minor footnotes.
"…Sigh."
After a long exhale, Hiruzen asked:
"About Madara… do you think the Uchiha clan has any connection with him?"
Mitsuki shook his head.
"From the way Madara acted, the Uchiha clan shouldn't be in contact with him."
"Hmm…"
After a moment of thought, Hiruzen smiled kindly.
"You've worked hard on the Kirigakure front. I also heard you recovered the Byakugan that was stolen from the Hyūga clan. With the situation in Kirigakure, the war there should end soon. After it does, the village will be sure to reward you generously. For now, take a good rest."
Mitsuki understood—he was being dismissed.
He nodded and turned to leave, but noticing Hiruzen's deeply troubled expression, he paused.
"Don't worry, Hokage-sama. Konoha still has me."
Coming from someone who defeated Madara, that sentence genuinely eased Hiruzen's heart.