Realizing this critical issue, Hikaru suddenly interrupted the heated discussion between the women.
He asked in a low voice, "Wait a minute. How long have I been away from this world?"
After a brief pause, he added, "Or rather, how long has it been since the world mutated?"
Hearing his question, Tsunade showed a trace of confusion on her face.
Still, she quickly answered, "It's been about a month since the world changed."
As soon as Tsunade's voice fell, Hikaru's expression turned grave.
He remembered that after the world's ascension, he had listened to Tongtian's sermon.
It must have been during that time that he lost all sense of time.
His thoughts flashed instantly to the three women he had left in the pocket space.
Although he had stocked enough supplies to last for decades, the monotony of the environment and the endless torment of solitude were grueling trials for anyone.
What worried him even more was that among the three, only Xia He's mental state was relatively stable.
As for Chen Duo and Feng Baobao, their conditions weren't much better than those of psychiatric patients.
Just imagining the suffering they might've endured made a wave of anxiety and unease rise in Hikaru's chest.
He didn't dare waste a second and immediately projected his consciousness into the pocket space.
However, the scene that greeted him made him breathe a deep sigh of relief.
He saw Xia He happily watching over Chen Duo and Feng Baobao as the three of them indulged in melodramatic soap operas, laughing joyfully from time to time—nothing like the mental breakdowns or despair he had imagined.
But upon closer inspection, he still caught the faint sorrow hidden in their eyes.
That only strengthened Hikaru's resolve to bring them out as soon as possible.
Without delay, he took action and rescued the three women from the pocket space.
The moment they reappeared in the Hidden Leaf Village, and laid eyes on Hikaru's familiar figure, smiles bloomed on their faces like spring flowers.
Even the usually cold-faced Chen Duo couldn't hide her inner joy.
Xia He nearly threw herself into Hikaru's arms in a heated embrace.
However, just as she was about to act, she noticed some odd gazes from the surroundings.
She blinked and saw Tsunade and Uchiha Chiri staring at Hikaru with aggrieved expressions—eyes brimming with reproach.
Although Tsunade understood that a man had his own responsibilities and calling, and had tried to treat Hikaru's long absence with patience and understanding, seeing him return with other women still stirred a hint of bitterness in her heart.
She wasn't usually a jealous woman, but in a situation like this, what woman could remain entirely unmoved?
Chiri's feelings ran even deeper. She had always harbored a possessive affection for Hikaru, and now, the sight before her left her with a complex storm of emotions.
Even the seemingly most carefree and indifferent Nonō Yakushi couldn't help but feel a trace of displeasure.
Hikaru, keen as ever, picked up on the subtle tension in the air. All he could do was respond with a goofy grin, trying to ease the awkwardness in his usual clumsy way.
Scratching the back of his head, he gave a silly smile—even though he knew full well this wouldn't completely dispel the knots in their hearts.
And yet, unexpectedly, that foolish grin did manage to soften the atmosphere.
After a brief silence, the women chuckled helplessly.
They knew this was the path they had chosen, and Hikaru had been honest with them from the beginning—warning them that something like this might happen.
So, although they had some lingering resentment deep down, they didn't dwell on it for long.
Especially after hearing what Chen Duo and Feng Baobao had been through, their tone became much gentler and filled with concern.
They understood all too well that excessive sympathy would only make the two girls—who had already endured so much—feel even more uncomfortable.
Thanks to their medical knowledge, they knew exactly how to maintain the right demeanor in such situations, avoiding any unnecessary distress.
Hikaru took all of this in silently, deeply moved.
He knew these women were truly sincere in their feelings for him, and his heart swelled with gratitude and trust.
He made a vow to work even harder, to pursue the world's ascension as his personal goal—and more importantly, to help Tsunade and the others break free from the limits of their lifespans.
Although he possessed the ability to resurrect them endlessly, he still believed it was far better for them to become strong on their own than to rely solely on him.
As the mood gradually lightened, the women temporarily left Hikaru behind, laughing and whispering among themselves.
Eventually, Tsunade and the others warmly invited Xia He, Chen Duo, and Feng Baobao to tour the Hidden Leaf Village and experience its unique charm.
Just like that, the group cheerfully left together—only Hinata Hyūga, when leaving, looked back at Hikaru with visible reluctance in her eyes.
But in the end, she followed the others and walked away.
Hikaru chuckled helplessly. He understood this was the women's way of expressing their displeasure.
Still, he didn't mind. In fact, he thought it was better to express it this way than to bottle it up.
At least this way, they wouldn't erupt all at once and become impossible to calm down.
Now left idle, Hikaru suddenly realized—it had been a long time since he'd performed his duties as Hokage.
So, he decided to head to the Hokage Office and deal with some official business.
On the way, everyone he passed looked at him with eyes full of admiration.
It wasn't just because of his overwhelming strength, but because he had brought an end to the chaotic era, ushering in peace and prosperity for the villagers.
Their gratitude toward him was obvious and heartfelt.
That gratitude filled Hikaru with great satisfaction.
However, upon stepping into the Hokage Office, that satisfaction nearly turned into guilt.
All around, Uchiha Izuna's shadow clones were buried in paperwork, working tirelessly.
The real Izuna had red-rimmed eyes, staring intently at the documents, so absorbed that he didn't even notice Hikaru's arrival.
Hikaru probed his condition lightly and was shocked to find Izuna's soul steeped in fatigue.
That kind of bone-deep exhaustion had nearly damaged his very spirit.
It made sense. Ever since Chinatsu had confessed her feelings to Hikaru, she had stopped working as his secretary.
So of course, the entire workload had fallen on Izuna's shoulders.
Seeing Izuna working so hard, Hikaru decided to reward him.
He activated the law he had comprehended, healing Izuna's exhaustion and allowing him to keep working at his best.