Hearing this, Kimimaro understood Hoshiyomi's little intention, but he still smacked Hoshiyomi on the shoulder in annoyance—making Hoshiyomi grimace in pain.
"If you don't act cool for a day, you'll die, won't you? Your whole brain is full of flashy nonsense."
Hoshiyomi chuckled but didn't reply.
Seeing his expression, Kimimaro—who had been pretending to be upset—suddenly froze.
After hesitating for a long time, he finally asked cautiously:
"You already know?"
"Mm. I overheard it when Reiichi was talking on the phone.
The Ryūmyaku research team sent word back—they detected that the Ryūmyaku's energy has fully accumulated."
Kimimaro stayed silent for a good while before he let out a bitter smile.
"I originally wanted to tell you in another two days… let you enjoy yourself here just a bit longer."
Hoshiyomi's eyes flickered, but in the end he still spoke:
"Three years is long enough.
Tsunade and the others are still waiting for me back there, right?
I've been gone so long—they must be worried.
And who knows what Black Zetsu has been doing behind the scenes during my absence?
I can't let him keep running wild."
Kimimaro wanted to persuade him to stay a little longer, but after some thought, he suppressed the urge and nodded.
"You're right. That world isn't as peaceful as this one.
They're waiting for their hero to come back.
Come on—since we're sending you off, we've gotta gather everyone and give you a proper farewell tonight."
That night, the Konoha group sang, danced, and threw Hoshiyomi a grand farewell party.
...
"According to our readings and the sensory confirmation from the head of the Roran clan, the Ryūmyaku's energy has completely accumulated.
The transfer ritual can begin at any time."
Inside the Roran ruins, Kimimaro nodded lightly as he listened to the report from the Ryūmyaku research team.
He glanced at Hoshiyomi—who looked no different than when he arrived—then opened his arms and hugged him.
Hoshiyomi didn't hold back either and hugged him tightly in return.
Behind them, Reiichi stared reluctantly at Hoshiyomi, his eyes slightly misty, but he still held back his words and only said:
"Uncle Hoshiyomi… have a safe trip."
"Don't worry."
Hoshiyomi turned back to the Konoha guys who had come to see him off.
He flashed a bright smile and waved to them one by one.
Just then, a voice suddenly sounded behind the group:
"Wait."
Hearing this familiar voice, Hoshiyomi froze.
He turned around and saw Tsunade shove Jiraiya aside, stride straight up, and—without even greeting him—grab Hoshiyomi's face and kiss him hard.
Hoshiyomi stared blankly.
Tsunade's face flushed red—rare for her—but she still spoke stiffly:
"After all, I'm your wife over there. One kiss isn't too much.
Hey, Gekko Hoshiyomi, I'm warning you—
You'd better treat the me-over-there nicely.
If I hear you bully her, I'll run over and team up with her to beat you senseless."
As she spoke, she cracked her knuckles loudly, the sound like beans popping.
"Don't worry, I definitely won't."
Hoshiyomi licked his lips and smiled as he answered.
At that moment, behind him, the Ryūmyaku ruins began to glow with a faint purple chakra light.
Seeing the light, everyone's expressions filled with reluctance.
After living together for three years, they had grown deeply attached to Hoshiyomi.
But no feast lasts forever—Hoshiyomi needed to return to his own world.
Looking at the glowing purple chakra behind him, Kimimaro spoke solemnly:
"Just like we discussed—
Your original world must still resonate with your coordinates.
Use space-time ninjutsu to sense it, then aim in that direction and activate the technique.
In theory… you should return directly to your world."
Hearing Kimimaro's words, Hoshiyomi nodded solemnly.
After giving everyone one last wave, he turned around, formed hand seals, and said:
"Summoning Technique!"
The moment both palms pressed to the ground, Hoshiyomi clearly sensed a corresponding fluctuation somewhere within the turbulent spacetime flow inside the Ryūmyaku.
That's the place!
Hoshiyomi's gaze sharpened as he locked onto that coordinate.
He stomped heavily on the ground and charged straight into the Ryūmyaku's purple light curtain.
Ultimate: Heavenly Soaring Dragon Flash
As Mikazuki Munechika left its sheath, a circular blade of compressed air appeared within the purple glow.
Within the momentary frozen timespace created by that air pressure, Hoshiyomi did not hesitate—he immediately activated Heavenly Rift Flowing Light.
He only had time to give everyone behind him one last glance.
Then Gekko Hoshiyomi completely vanished into the Ryūmyaku's purple light curtain.
The moment he disappeared, the purple glow trembled violently, then faded away.
The Ryūmyaku's energy was once again fully depleted.
The over-spacetime traveler, Hoshiyomi, had finally begun his journey home.
...
Roran Kingdom — Ryūmyaku Chamber
Queen Sara of Roran was desperately grabbing onto Tsunade, begging her not to approach the berserk Ryūmyaku.
"Tsunade-sama, please don't act recklessly!
The Ryūmyaku's power is unpredictable.
Even we Roran—who have guarded it for generations—don't know what will happen if someone forcefully enters when it's rampaging.
You cannot risk your life!"
But someone like Sara—who wasn't even a shinobi—couldn't possibly restrain Tsunade's monstrous strength.
If Jiraiya weren't holding her back, Tsunade would have already charged straight into the raging Ryūmyaku.
Frowning at the man blocking her path, Tsunade barked:
"Jiraiya, are you going to stop me too?"
Jiraiya looked helplessly at the nearly hysterical Tsunade.
"Tsunade, don't be so anxious.
Let's wait a little longer.
Maybe Hoshiyomi will walk out of the Ryūmyaku on his own any moment now."
The moment Hoshiyomi's name came up, Tsunade's tears fell instantly.
"Don't be anxious?
How am I supposed to not be anxious?
I waited here for three years for the Ryūmyaku to fluctuate again—
If I keep waiting and the fluctuation ends, then what did I wait three years for?
I can't wait anymore.
Even if charging in means death, I need to know the truth.
Three years… I deserve an answer!"
Seeing Tsunade's tears fall like broken beads, Jiraiya opened his mouth but couldn't find the right words to comfort her.
"Move.
I'll say it one last time—
If you don't, I'll use my monster strength."
Hearing this, Jiraiya gritted his teeth—then suddenly smiled.
"Fine.
You want Hoshiyomi?
Then wait here.
I'll bring him back."
Before Tsunade could react, Jiraiya shoved her aside and turned toward the Ryūmyaku's purple light curtain.
Caught off balance, Tsunade fell to the ground, unable to stop him now.
Just as Jiraiya was about to dash into the glowing curtain—
a pair of hands suddenly reached out from within the light and grabbed him.
"Why are you trying to go in there?
I'm already back."