The next day, Mitsuki woke up early, casually shook the sleeping Shukaku beside him awake, and strolled out the door with it in tow.
He headed straight to the Yamanaka family's flower shop, bought two bundles of white lilies, then made his way toward Konoha's cemetery.
The morning breeze blew softly, and Shukaku perked up as well.
"Partner, are we going to see your father again?" Its memory was quite good—Mitsuki had brought it here once before.
"Yeah," Mitsuki replied succinctly.
Man and tanuki arrived at the Konoha cemetery.
Passing row after row of headstones, Mitsuki eventually stopped in front of Kento's grave and placed the fresh white lilies down before it.
He bowed his head in silence. Shukaku imitated him, lowering its head quietly.
After a moment of mourning, Mitsuki sat down on the ground and began his habitual recounting of everything that had happened recently.
"Father, are things peaceful for you in the Pure Land?
A while ago, I volunteered to head to the Kirigakure battlefield. Don't rush to scold me—I only went after I judged myself strong enough.
I killed many Mist ninja. The Third Mizukage even issued an order saying anyone who encountered me was allowed to abandon their mission. But honestly, anyone who ran into me on the battlefield… couldn't run away anyway. Haha.
I also blew up their village, though I did at least leave enough time for civilians to evacuate.
And the most important part— I killed the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. If you meet them in the Pure Land, you can proudly tell them that the one who killed them was…"
He suddenly paused. Shukaku glanced at him in confusion. Mitsuki's eyes trembled faintly; he pressed his lips together and continued.
"…your son — Mitsuki."
After saying those words, Mitsuki exhaled deeply, a faint relief lifting from his expression.
He stood up, took out a scroll he always kept with him, and unrolled it on the ground. Forming hand seals, he released the seal.
Seven large swords, each completely different in shape, appeared and lined themselves neatly along the scroll.
Mitsuki picked up Samehada — still sealed by Shukaku — and after reinforcing the seal with another set of hand signs, he planted it upright in the earth before Kento's grave.
Then, one by one, he pushed the remaining six swords into the ground as well.
"Sorry this offering came so late. I hope you won't mind."
Originally, when he reported to Hiruzen yesterday, Mitsuki had been prepared to negotiate and forcibly keep the ownership of the seven blades.
In wartime, important strategic spoils were always handed over to the village, which then decided their use. For example, when Ao obtained the Byakugan, he handed it over first, and only afterward did the Mist higher-ups reimplant it into him as a reward.
But Hiruzen hadn't mentioned the swords even once.
It wasn't because he didn't want them — they would significantly strengthen Konoha's arsenal.
But he knew all about Kento, and he understood Mitsuki's grudge against the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
So Hiruzen could more or less guess what Mitsuki intended.
Whether out of loyalty to Mitsuki or simply concern for his feelings, Hiruzen straightforwardly allowed Mitsuki to deal with the swords himself.
Mitsuki's hands flew through a rapid sequence of seals. Black, tadpole-like markings spread instantly across the ground around Kento's grave, engulfing the seven swords.
"Four Symbols Seal," Mitsuki murmured.
Then he concealed the sealing script beneath the earth. He clapped his hands together—now there was no need to worry about thieves.
After offering respects, Mitsuki placed the second bundle of white lilies on Chiyoko's grave…
Walking back toward the Senju compound, Mitsuki felt lighter than he had in a long time.
Kento's revenge was fulfilled. He even killed the Third Mizukage, who had led Kirigakure during the tragedy. Now, once he put an end to the wars with Kumogakure and Iwagakure, he could finally enjoy peaceful days with his close friends.
"Maybe I should open a shop. Deliver packages with Flying Thunder God? But doing that… wouldn't that be disrespecting the Second Hokage a bit?"
Sadly, Mitsuki had no talent for business. He should probably just keep doing missions as a ninja.
With his strength, a handful of high-rank missions would easily cover everything he and Rin would need after marriage.
Worst case, he could just mooch off his sister—go to the gambling halls with Tsunade and bet against her. Since she loses every single time anyway, better she lose to him.
Humming an inexplicable tune, Mitsuki leisurely returned to Tsunade's house.
But it was empty; Tsunade had taken Shizune and Rin with her to the Konoha Hospital.
He wanted to sneak a peek at Rin, but she was working. It wouldn't look good for a grown man to chase his girlfriend around her workplace.
He looked up at the bright blue sky of the Land of Fire.
Since he had time today, Mitsuki decided to visit the Hyuga clan and check in on Heiji. In a few days, after Hiruzen finished preparations, Mitsuki would be busy again in the Land of Hot Water.
Around this time of day, the streets became crowded.
He casually greeted a few villagers who recognized him, then entered the Hyuga compound.
Tall white walls surrounded the entire clan, confining the fates of all Hyuga—both Branch House and Main House.
The Branch House lived under the visible cage of the Caged Bird Seal; the Main House lived under the invisible cage of clan rules.
Most members of the Main House never left Konoha in their entire lives, existing only to marry whomever the clan elders chose to preserve the purity of the Byakugan.
The guards at the gate had excellent eyes. From far away, they recognized Mitsuki. As soon as he approached, both stepped forward.
"Welcome, Mitsuki. Please come in."
"Our clan head instructed that if you visit, he must see you."
Mitsuki had only planned to check on Heiji and his little sister, but he had underestimated how much that Byakugan eye meant to the Hyuga.
A Branch House member guided Mitsuki to a reception room.
Cherry blossom trees and carefully trimmed wisteria adorned the square courtyard.
Before long, accompanied by several attendants, Hiashi entered with a few others.
"My younger brother was under your care at the front lines," Hiashi said in his dignified, overly formal manner.
After working with Hizashi for so long in Kirigakure, Mitsuki was already used to the nearly identical speaking style of the two brothers.
Mitsuki replied politely, "Of course. It was nothing."
Well… perhaps not that politely.
But Mitsuki's attention was already elsewhere. He stepped forward toward a small girl, four or five years old, and looked at her smooth forehead.
"Heiji, this is your little sister? She's so tiny. Can I hold her?"
As he spoke, he turned to Heiji for permission.
Naturally, Heiji didn't object. "Of course—"
"No!"