After understanding the situation, Naruto's Shadow Clone first used Wood Release to repair the house, then dispelled itself to relay everything that had happened to the original body.
Upon receiving the memories, Naruto's original body was completely dumbfounded.
He had only been gone for a few days, right?
So many things had already happened.
Sasuke is already piloting a Gundam.
Wait, that's not right; Kakashi and Sakura are both still alive.
How did he activate it?
It couldn't be that the powerful strength I displayed secretly motivated him to push himself and activate the Mangekyo, could it?
It was the same when he activated the three-tomoe before.
Glancing at the already asleep Uchiha Hikari, Naruto intended to return to Konoha directly tonight.
Thinking this, Naruto stood up and knocked on Tsunade's door.
There was no response.
Naruto then knocked on Shizune's door, and after asking her, he learned that Tsunade was drunk again.
Naruto used Wood Release to open a hole in the door and walked inside.
The room was filled with the smell of alcohol; Tsunade was slumped ungracefully on the bed, sleeping deeply, with several empty sake bottles lying beside her.
Without a word, Naruto stepped forward and carefully but efficiently hoisted Tsunade onto his back.
Tsunade mumbled something in a daze, her head lolling onto his shoulder as she continued to sleep soundly.
Next, he walked out of the room, repaired the wooden door, and returned to his own room to pick up the still-sleeping Uchiha Hikari, carrying her in his arms.
"Big Sister Shizune, hold Tonton tight and grab onto me."
Naruto said to Shizune, who had followed him.
Shizune nodded quickly, her left hand tightly clutching the little pig in her arms while her right hand gripped Naruto's arm.
Naruto took a deep breath, and the Flying Thunder God coordinate mark he had pre-set within Konoha Village appeared clearly in his mind.
A massive amount of Chakra began to flow around him, constructing the technique formula as space began to ripple slightly like water.
Flying Thunder God!
As the golden light faded, Naruto and the three women were standing steadily inside Konoha Village, within his own familiar small room.
Outside the window was the tranquil night; the room was simply furnished with only a desk, two nightstands, four pots of flowers, a bed, and a wardrobe.
He carefully placed Uchiha Hikari onto his bed and tucked the corners of the quilt around her.
Without a moment's pause, Naruto hoisted the dead-drunk Tsunade onto his back again, signaled for Shizune to follow, and stepped out the door quietly.
Walking through the quiet nighttime streets, they arrived outside Uzumaki Mito's residence.
She and Hashirama had moved back into their original small courtyard, which wasn't very far from Naruto's house.
He raised his hand and gently knocked on the courtyard gate.
After a moment, the gate opened from the inside.
Warm light spilled out, illuminating a gentle and beautiful face.
With her fiery red hair loosely tied up, it was Uzumaki Mito.
"It's Little Naruto."
Seeing Naruto at the door, a genuine and kind smile immediately spread across Mito's eyes.
Shizune, following behind Naruto, was completely stunned the moment she saw Mito's face.
This... this red-haired woman who looked to be in her twenties, with a gentle yet hidden toughness... was the legendary wife of the First Hokage-sama and Lady Tsunade's grandmother, Lady Uzumaki Mito?
This overly youthful appearance made it impossible for Shizune to associate her with the title of "grandmother" for a moment.
It wasn't until her gaze fell upon that familiar diamond-shaped mark on Mito's forehead, which radiated faint Chakra fluctuations, that she suddenly understood.
So it was the Yin Seal!
Shizune knew the effects of the Yin Seal, and she was very envious.
Tsunade had also taught her the Yin Seal, but Shizune hadn't managed to learn it.
Mito's gaze then fell upon the blonde figure on Naruto's back, and her smile deepened into an expression that combined affection, nostalgia, and understanding.
"You've brought Little Tsunade back as well; you've worked hard."
Her voice became even softer, as if afraid of disturbing something.
She stepped forward and carefully helped Tsunade down from Naruto's back, pulling her into her own arms.
Tsunade unconsciously snuggled in her sleep and mumbled a vague word as a strong scent of alcohol wafted out.
Mito didn't show any disgust or displeasure; she simply used her fingertips to gently smooth her granddaughter's slightly messy blonde hair. As her gaze fell upon the slightly furrowed brow and the fine lines at the corners of Tsunade's eyes even in sleep, a trace of heartache flickered in her eyes.
"She drank so much..."
Mito sighed softly, a sigh that carried a deep understanding of her granddaughter's years of wandering and her inner torment.
"She must have been very sad all these years."
These words were very soft, yet they landed heavily on Shizune's heart.
Shizune couldn't help but lower her head, her eyes turning slightly red.
Though Tsunade appeared carefree, it was only to suppress her inner pain.
Although she was sometimes unreliable, she was a good teacher.
Mito held Tsunade steadily and gave Naruto a reassuring smile.
"Alright, you've worked hard, Little Naruto. And you too, child."
"You two go back and rest first; just leave things here to me. I'll take good care of Little Tsunade."
The courtyard gate closed.
Only then did Shizune react—she hadn't even gone inside yet!
Shizune was also an orphan, and her home had been left vacant ever since she left with Tsunade.
Thus, Shizune and Tonton looked toward Naruto.
Having guessed Shizune's predicament, Naruto had no other choice.
It was already so late.
"I have a guest room at my house; come with me."
"I'm really sorry for the trouble, Naruto."
Shizune felt a bit embarrassed.
"You're welcome."
——————————
The morning sunlight, carrying the clarity of early autumn, spilled gently onto Tsunade's face through the clean window, casting a small, trembling shadow beneath her long eyelashes.
The brightness brought a slight itch, and Tsunade shifted restlessly a couple of times within the soft bedding, trying to avoid the light that was disturbing her dreams.
The dull throb from her hangover pulsed at her temples, and her throat was so dry it felt like it was on fire.
"Shizune... Shizune!"
She kept her eyes closed and called out habitually, her voice carrying the raspiness and dissatisfaction of someone who had just woken up.
Normally, that gentle and capable figure would always appear immediately, handing over warm water and perhaps a well-timed hangover cure.
But today, the room was silent, with only the faint chirping of birds outside the window.
After waiting a while, there was still no response.
"Could Shizune have gone to buy breakfast?"
Tsunade frowned, struggling to lift her heavy eyelids as her vision scanned the room blurredly.
The furnishings were both familiar and strange; this wasn't that simple guest room in the casino town, but... Konoha?
More specifically, the style of this room's decor was exactly like the home in the depths of her memories when her grandmother was still alive.
She propped up her still-dizzy head and sat up, the quilt sliding down.
The discomfort of the hangover made her instinctively close her eyes again, rubbing her temples.
Right then, a hand holding a celadon bowl was steadily offered to her.
Tsunade took the bowl almost without thinking, habitually bringing it to her lips and sipping it slowly.