Over the next few days, Aoki Yoru settled down in the vicinity.
At this moment, he was sitting cross-legged on a reef by the shore, transforming his spiritual energy into countless fine threads, reaching out toward the churning waves to capture the undulating rhythm of every crashing wave.
Following the trajectory of the sea breeze, they wound around the rough texture of the reefs, even reaching out to the mottled remnants of the Sealing Technique within the ruins of the Whirlpool Village.
At first, the threads would dissipate upon the slightest contact once they reached a certain length. He calmed his mind, repeatedly gathering and compressing the scattered spiritual energy, allowing them to settle along the rhythm of the tide.
The sun set in the west.
"Hoo—" Aoki Yoru opened his eyes, let out a long breath, and revealed a knowing smile.
Now, he was finally not as out of control as before. Although he couldn't yet reach the level of commanding it like an extension of his own arm, it was at least sufficient for now.
He immediately stood up and walked toward the commercial street.
Upon entering the commercial street, he saw Nao sitting next to the fortune-telling old man, her little mouth munching on a pastry, her cheeks puffed out round and full like a little squirrel hoarding food.
The old man was telling her interesting little stories about the Ninja World, and she was listening with such wide, sparkling eyes that she even forgot to chew the pastry in her hand.
From the first day he saw him chatting with Nao, he had recognized him; although his hair was white and his vitality had reached the point of exhaustion.
However, the faint life energy emitted by his cells carried the distinct characteristics of the Uzumaki Clan.
Therefore, he didn't stop him from interacting with Nao. In fact, over the past few days while he was training by the sea, Nao would play by his side.
"Let's go, Nao, it's time for dinner."
Aoki Yoru walked up to greet her, then looked at the old man and said meaningfully, "We are leaving tomorrow."
Hearing that they were leaving, the old man, who had been beaming with joy, saw his eyes dim. "Is that so? It is indeed time to leave."
"Your health is very poor. Would you like to see a doctor?"
The old man looked at him in surprise, then smiled and shook his head. "No need. Even if I were cured, how much longer could these old bones of mine live?"
As he spoke, he looked at Nao, his eyes filled with tenderness and a faint worry.
Seeing his distress, Aoki Yoru said straightforwardly, "I will take Nao to Konoha. With the legacy of Lady Uzumaki Mito and Lady Kushina, she will receive excellent training."
Upon hearing this, the old man's pupils constricted, and his breathing became a bit hurried. He then forced himself to calm down and smiled bitterly, "I didn't expect you to have recognized me."
He turned to look at the ruins of the Whirlpool Village, filled with broken walls and debris. The wind seemed to be wailing with the sorrow of a lost clan, and the old man's figure appeared dejected.
"My name is Uzumaki Ming. I was a mediocre Chunin of the Uzumaki Clan. That day, when I saw the barrier of our clan grounds being breached, I was too scared to provide support and hid away."
As he spoke, tears streamed down his face. "I am a coward; I don't deserve the name Uzumaki."
"Grandpa, don't cry. Here's a candy. You'll feel better after eating it." Nao, who was playing nearby, saw him weeping bitterly and stepped forward to comfort him.
The old man wiped away his tears and gently stroked her hair. "Good girl, Grandpa is just crying because he's happy to see little Nao."
He then looked at Aoki Yoru. "To be able to see a clansman at the final moment of my life, this old man has no regrets."
As he spoke, he took out a yellowed scroll from his bosom and handed it to Aoki Yoru. "I don't have any gifts for little Nao. This is the Sealing Technique of my Uzumaki Clan. It's just the most basic one; I wasn't qualified to access advanced Sealing Technique."
"Use it for little Nao's enlightenment. No one will teach her when she goes to Konoha. If only Princess Kushina were still here."
Aoki Yoru solemnly took the scroll and looked at the old man earnestly. "When Nao grows up a bit, I will pass it on to her."
The old man nodded in relief and walked toward the ruins with unsteady steps.
"Sigh!" Aoki Yoru sighed, watching the old man's back. He knew the old man wouldn't survive the night. Decades of pent-up emotions had finally been released today, and his spirit had suddenly collapsed.
"Let's go, Nao, let's go eat." He said, taking her small hand and walking toward the restaurant.
"Where is Grandpa going? He hasn't packed up his stall yet. It'll be stolen by thieves later."
"He? He went to reunite with his family." He gazed in the direction where the old man had disappeared into the ruins, his eyes distant and calm. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, yet it could not hide the melancholy in the depths of his eyes.
Konoha Village.
Looking at the familiar gate, Aoki Yoru was filled with mixed emotions.
It had been over a decade since he transmigrated, and this was the first time he had been away for so long. When he saw this wooden gate, etched with the traces of time, his exhaustion and melancholy from the past few days dissipated unknowingly, and he felt much more relaxed.
"Let's go!" He took Nao's hand and walked inside.
When he saw Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane at the entrance, he was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected these two gatekeepers to be at their posts so early.
He handed his identity card to them for inspection and said, "This is an orphan I found outside. She wants to join Konoha."
Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane exchanged glances, took the identity card to check it carefully, and seeing nothing unusual, nodded.
"Jonin Aoki, we trust your identity, but according to the rules, you still need to report to the Hokage Office."
"I know." Aoki Yoru smiled and led Nao toward the Hokage Office.
Hokage Office.
The Third Hokage looked at them, smiling so broadly that the wrinkles on his face trembled slightly. The corners of his mouth turned up in a soft line, and his eyes were filled with surprise.
"Yoru, I agree to your request. The Uzumaki Clan is an ally of Konoha; I cannot let her wander outside unattended."
He then looked at Nao with loving eyes and said, "Little Nao, don't be afraid. From now on, Konoha is your home. If you have any difficulties, you can come to Hokage Grandpa anytime."
Upon hearing this, Nao's eyes lit up with surprise. She had been worried the whole way here that the Hokage wouldn't let her join, and that she would have to leave Brother Yoru.
"Thank you, Hokage Grandpa." She shouted loudly.
Aoki Yoru rolled his eyes upon hearing this. This old man really knew how to win favor; he knew exactly what he was up to.
However, this was also good. As a backup Jinchuriki, the Third Hokage would keep her firmly in his grasp and wouldn't let Danzo touch her.
"Then, Lord Sandaime, since I brought Nao back, let her live with me."
The Third Hokage was stunned for a moment, his eyes flickering as if he were weighing the pros and cons. Before long, he smiled, "Of course, since you brought her back, she will live with you from now on."
"Thank you, Lord Sandaime. Then we will take our leave."
After saying this, he bowed and prepared to leave with Nao.
Although Aoki Yoru didn't know what the Third Hokage had planned, he wouldn't live much longer. Naruto and the others had already graduated, so whatever schemes he had would soon dissipate with the wind.
Nao also waved goodbye to the Third Hokage. "Goodbye, Hokage Grandpa."
After watching them leave, the Third Hokage took a puff of his pipe and stared blankly at the door, not knowing what he was thinking.