When they exited the Amatsukami space, the sun had already risen.
Even in summer, the morning sunlight was gentle and far from scorching.
The early rays bathed everything in warmth.
"The air feels so good," Yuki Seisui said, savoring the subtle earthy scent of the grass and foliage.
"The weather really is nice," Uchiha Haru agreed, taking a deep breath in imitation of Yuki Seisui.
Jiraiya: …
You two really have a way of saying things that make no sense at all.
With all the blood on them, there was no way they could possibly be enjoying the "fresh air."
Finally losing patience, Jiraiya muttered, "You two go on ahead by yourselves."
"I'll go first!"
Without waiting for a reply, he dashed toward the Konoha camp.
Who could understand the anguish in his heart, his family… no one.
Watching Jiraiya flee like that, Yuki Seisui couldn't help but smirk.
"Old Deng…" Yuki Seisui started, but quickly stopped himself.
Jiraiya was only in his twenties; calling him "Old" wasn't appropriate.
And I wonder… why is he at the Sunagakure camp?
Yuki Seisui's last words were loud enough for Jiraiya to hear, even from a distance. His feet stumbled, nearly causing him to fall.
Then he increased his pace even more.
Seeing Jiraiya's reaction, Haru couldn't help laughing.
"Alright, alright. Jiraiya-sensei only appeared because he was worried about me," she said, gently taking Yuki Seisui's hand as they walked forward.
She explained why Jiraiya had shown up while walking.
By the time the two returned to Konoha camp, Minato was squatting near his tent, looking toward Yuki Seisui and Haru with a face full of grievance.
"What were you doing last night?"
"How could you leave me alone?"
His voice was a mixture of anger, sadness, and exasperation—a complex blend impossible to imagine in one person.
Feeling Minato's tone, Haru squeezed Yuki Seisui's hand tighter.
No way is someone like Minato taking Seisui away from me!
"Minato, why do you sound like a scorned woman?" Yuki Seisui frowned, leaning back slightly.
"People might think we were in some special relationship and that I abandoned you."
"Kushina was right… you're just a little sissy."
Haru nodded vigorously at this, suppressing a smile.
Yuki Seisui paused, then continued: "This time, I'll let it slide. Next time, no excuses!"
Minato: …
"You two are too disappointing!" Minato stood, trembling slightly as he glared at Yuki Seisui and Haru, especially noticing the blood on Haru's clothes.
"We're a team!"
"You went on a mission without me!"
"Do you even care about Konoha?"
"Or me, your teammate?!"
Minato's frustration grew, shaking his entire body.
"What's the point of a three-person team?"
"Isn't it to help each other and stay safe and efficient on missions?"
"And now? You left me behind while going on a mission!"
"You've really disappointed me!"
Haru frowned, thinking to herself that maybe they had been a little careless with Minato.
She opened her mouth to apologize, but Yuki Seisui quickly spoke: "I'll teach you that crazy scalp-rubbing technique."
Startled, Minato's frown dissolved into a smile.
"If you're confident, you don't even need to bring me along."
"The fewer people, the less risk of exposure during missions."
"You're right! That's exactly what we should do!"
Minato's change in expression was so sudden, Yuki Seisui had only seen such speed on his face before.
Haru's apology stayed stuck in her throat.
She had thought Minato was genuinely angry… but it turned out he just wanted a benefit.
Seeing him lighten up, Yuki Seisui stepped closer. "It's not that I didn't want to bring you."
"But weren't you rewarding yourself late at night?"
"I didn't want to disturb you."
His expression was sincere, and the truth was exactly that.
Minato recalled that Yuki Seisui indeed came by once during the night.
"What were you doing?" Minato glanced at the blood on Haru, curious.
"Just took a stroll around the Sunagakure camp," Yuki Seisui said casually.
"No big deal."
After a moment, he shook his head: "Well… not completely. Be ready for combat anytime."
"The battles here will likely end soon."
"Is that so?" Minato scratched his head. "Alright then."
Seeing them, Haru glanced at her bloodied clothes, tempted to bathe in the panda clan's bamboo grove, but she hesitated.
She asked, "Seisui, aren't you going to wash up?"
Yuki Seisui paused, checking his clothes and sniffing his underarms.
"Yeah… it's a bit ripe."
Since leaving Konoha, they had used the bamboo grove for washing.
It wasn't that the medical ninja team couldn't bathe—just inconvenient in a group.
Rather than fighting for space, it was easier to go to the bamboo grove, as only Yuki Seisui and Haru had a contract with the Panda Clan.
The bathing area was a pond, usually undisturbed by pandas.
"Minato, see you later. We're going to bathe."
Yuki Seisui waved goodbye, then clapped his hands, vanishing in a cloud of white smoke.
Haru, seeing him leave, relaxed, then did the same after nodding at Minato.
"They're gone," Minato muttered, sitting on a rock.
"Busy… that's good."
Meanwhile, in the Sunagakure camp, Chiyo sat, teeth gritted, glaring at Pakura, Karura, and dozens of jonin.
"Konoha will attack us soon," she said, eyes betraying grief.
After Yuki Seisui's trio's chaos the night before, the Sunagakure had lost many.
Originally seven thousand strong, they had lost over a thousand!
And this was without Yuki Seisui targeting them specifically.
Many were swallowed by the tsunami he had summoned.
"Kazekage-sama, Chiyo-sama, to handle that monster Yuki Seisui, we must deploy the One-Tail!"
A jonin clenched his fist, his eyes betraying fear when speaking of Yuki Seisui.
This man was overwhelmingly powerful—like a monster.
Whether it was the massive slash that killed the Third Kazekage, the giant black chakra golem, or the hundred-meter corrosive tsunami…
It all proved Yuki Seisui was beyond human strength.
Chiyo and Pakura exchanged glances, nodding in agreement.
To face a monster like Yuki Seisui, they needed the One-Tail Shukaku.
Chiyo's eyes narrowed slightly as she paused, then continued: "Notify Ebizo. Have him bring the team over."
Pakura nodded solemnly, saying, "Luckily, we prepared in advance and brought Bunpuku along."
Ebizo, Chiyo's brother and a Sunagakure advisor, handled intelligence.
Originally, he was to accompany them, but convinced Chiyo and Pakura to prepare further and bring the One-Tail Jinchuriki Bunpuku.
He stayed at the closest Sunagakure base to the front line, watching over Bunpuku.
Unlike Chiyo, Ebizo was one of the few wise figures in the Sunagakure.