Seeing the other party's look as if facing a formidable enemy, clearly not believing his words, Hansen shrugged helplessly.
Sure enough, well-trained ninjas aren't so easily fooled.
Fortunately, he wasn't some rookie transmigator who needed to rely on persuasion.
As a mature Monster King, he naturally had more efficient and direct ways of communication.
"Since you don't believe me…"
Hansen sighed softly, a faint divine light flickering imperceptibly in his platinum eyes.
Imaginary Divine Power — activate!
A power of idealism, transcending the realms of chakra and spiritual energy, suddenly spread, enveloping all members of the Leaf Village's Team 8 before him.
Kurenai Yūhi only felt a blur before her eyes, and an irresistible, powerful will instantly descended upon her mind.
She felt no pain or struggle, only a brief pause in her thoughts.
But when Kurenai Yūhi's consciousness returned, her gaze towards Hansen had completely changed.
It was a mix of respect, trust, and a natural awe that a subordinate would feel towards a superior.
"My apologies, Hansen-daren, I was rude earlier."
"Let's go, take me on a tour of your village."
Hansen spoke as if he had done something insignificant, walking past them in the lead: "Oh, and after that fight, I'm still a bit hungry. Later, I want to eat your most famous Ichiraku Ramen."
"Yes, that's what I'll have!"
Kurenai Yūhi, Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino:???
Akamaru: "Woof?"
—Why… why are we taking him to eat ramen?
A hint of doubt flashed simultaneously in their minds, but they couldn't pinpoint what was wrong.
However, since Teacher Kurenai called him "daren," this request didn't seem like a big deal.
A tidal wave surged in Kurenai Yūhi's heart; she took a deep breath and followed with her disciples.
She knew her mind was still clear, yet she couldn't muster any hostility towards the man before her.
"What terrifying genjutsu…!!"
...At the edge of the Forest of Death, sunlight filtered through sparse leaves, casting dappled light spots.
A group of five people and one dog advanced towards Leaf Village in a strange yet harmonious pace.
Hansen, walking at the very front, had his hands clasped behind his head, his steps as leisurely as if strolling in his own backyard.
During this time, his "Oracle's Eye" had already thoroughly analyzed the chakra of Hinata and the others.
This power, formed by the fusion of spiritual and physical energy, was not complex for him; Imaginary Divine Power could manifest and transform it in minutes.
What interested him more were the free-floating natural energies.
These indigenous energies, born from the planet's own life cycle, were more to his liking than the foreign energy chakra derived from the Divine Tree fruit.
They were automatically absorbed and transformed by the cells of his "Primal Body," subtly causing profound changes.
He would ask Leaf Village for the Scroll of Seals to observe later; mastering one of the strongest local cheats, "Sage Mode," was just around the corner.
Under the escort of Kurenai Yūhi's squad, it wasn't long before the massive gate inscribed with "Leaf Hidden Village" appeared in their sight.
"Yo, Kurenai, back from a mission?"
Kotetsu Hagane, the gate guard squatting and yawning at the entrance, lazily greeted Kurenai Yūhi and her group.
Izumo Kamizuki, the second gate guard beside him, was diligently peeling an apple, not even looking up.
"Yes, we're back." Kurenai Yūhi nodded, stepping aside to reveal Hansen behind her, "This is Mr. Hansen, he is… an honored guest of the village."
"Honored guest?"
Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki both paused in their actions.
They exchanged a glance.
Someone who could be called an honored guest by the elite jonin Kurenai Yūhi and brought back to the village didn't seem like an ordinary person.
From his appearance, he didn't resemble an envoy from any daimyo, nor a representative from other ninja villages.
However, since he was someone Kurenai brought back, they naturally wouldn't question him further.
This was the most basic trust between comrades.
Kotetsu Hagane immediately put on a warm smile: "Welcome to Leaf Village, Hansen!"
"Thank you."
Hansen observed the two minor gate guards with interest, casually saying, "Your job is pretty good, quite leisurely."
Izumo Kamizuki was startled, subconsciously replying, "It's… it's alright, most of the time it's pretty boring."
Only then did he realize he was chatting about work with a stranger.
After a few casual words, Hansen followed Kurenai Yūhi and her group into the village.
The bustling streets, the crowds, and the four giant faces carved into the distant mountain rock—everything gradually overlapped with the scenes in his memory.
"Hokage Rock… The Fourth is also on it, so the time point is very clear."
Hansen understood in his heart.
His gaze casually swept around, seeing a blonde little girl arguing with her mother in a flower shop by the roadside.
Not far away, at the entrance of a barbecue restaurant, a chubby teenager was being urged by his companions to hurry inside.
In an alley at the street corner, three little rascals were chasing and playing, the leader wearing a long blue scarf.
Familiar faces formed a vivid scroll.
"Oh dear, oh dear…" A smirk curved Hansen's lips, "Since I can't find the fragments of that black cube for now, I'll just consider this a business trip."
If the boss personally sent him off, wasn't it a business trip?
(God:?)
Just then, a commotion came from ahead.
A cart loaded with fruit, having lost control when the civilian pulling it accidentally slipped, was heading straight for a little girl playing by the roadside.
"Danger!"
"Look out!"
Exclamations of alarm rose and fell all around.
Kurenai Yūhi's eyes narrowed, about to use Body Flicker to save her.
However, her steps stopped as soon as she moved.
Hansen raised his right hand towards the out-of-control cart; there was no sound, no chakra fluctuations, no signs of any energy leakage.
The cart, charging with immense force towards the little girl, was flung back as if it had hit an invisible wall, less than half a meter from the girl!
The next moment, the cart in the air and the fruits flying off it due to inertia, seemed to be gently held by an invisible large hand.
They floated softly back into the cart, not a single one broken.
The surrounding crowd gasped in surprise; Kurenai Yūhi and her three disciples behind her were equally dumbfounded.
Inuzuka Kiba's mouth formed an "O" shape, and Akamaru whimpered, burying his head in his owner's jacket.
Aburame Shino's sunglasses slid down to his nose, his exposed eyes filled with disbelief.
Hinata's Byakugan saw most clearly, but she also didn't know the principle behind it, her awe and curiosity towards Hansen deepening a few more points.
"Mr. Hansen, how did you…?"
The ninja's instinct to gather information made Kurenai Yūhi ask subconsciously.
Hansen didn't mind at all, smiling at the still-shaken civilians and the little girl, and said, "This technique? This technique is called 'Shinra Tensei' followed by 'Bansho Tenin'."
(A certain circle-eyed person in the Land of Rain: Achoo—!)
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