Arisu's figure silently appeared in the moon's alternate space.
Yumeko was lying bored on the bed, both hands behind her head, her eyes fixed on the eternally pitch-black starry sky above.
Aino sat not far away, quietly reading an old book she had found somewhere. Every now and then, she would look up at Yumeko before lowering her head and continuing to read.
"Oh, the Observer has personally graced us with his presence?"
"What, have you finally come to your senses and decided to let me go ahead of time?"
Hearing the commotion, Yumeko immediately sat up, a mischievous smile on her face.
Arisu walked over and sat opposite her. With a casual wave of his hand, a chair rose from the ground. Arisu sat down and said indifferently, "I had nothing better to do, so I came to see if you were still alive."
"Ha, what a caring person. The Observer is a tsundere, right?"
"Miss Aino is much gentler than you. She's my bestie now."
Yumeko pouted and stretched.
Hearing this, Aino looked up, the corners of her lips curving slightly. She said nothing, simply closing the book and quietly listening.
Arisu did not care about her complaint and casually asked, "Are you used to the food? I made everything here with my power, so the taste is pretty average."
Since there was no Mt. Myoboku food supply system from the previous cycle this time, all the food was made by Arisu using Yin-Yang Release.
It was about the same as what was in the Pure Land.
"It's passable."
"Actually, I think it's pretty good."
Yumeko shrugged.
"Hey, Observer, how far has the story progressed outside? What about Madara and Hashirama... how far have they gotten?"
Her eyes suddenly lit up. She leaned forward and lowered her voice, but could not hide her excitement.
Arisu glanced at her and said calmly, "Uchiha Tajima only died recently. Madara just awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, and Hashirama just awakened Wood Release."
Yumeko shot to her feet, both fists clenched, her eyes frighteningly bright. "Really?! Tajima died? Madara unlocked the Mangekyo? Hashirama awakened too? Then... then Konoha can be built soon, right?!"
"It's still early."
"They're still testing each other out. There's still a long way to go before they can actually sit down and discuss an alliance.", Arisu said indifferently.
"But it's already started!"
"Once Konoha is established, I'll be able to get out! Finally! I won't have to stare at this dead, lifeless moon every day anymore!"
Yumeko walked back and forth twice, her voice full of barely suppressed excitement.
"Yay!"
She turned around and flashed Arisu a "V" sign, her smile so bright it almost seemed to glow.
Looking at her like this, Arisu suddenly let out a soft laugh, with something unreadable in his voice. "That happy? Then let me ask you, all these years... how have you been? Have you been all right?"
Yumeko's smile paused slightly.
She sat back down on the bed, propped her chin up with both hands, and was silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking, "Emmm, I'm doing okay."
She looked up at the starry sky above, then at the faint blue arc of Earth in the distance. Her voice softened. "It really was pretty hard at first. I was suddenly locked in here, and I didn't know how long I'd have to stay."
"My mind was a mess. Every day, I just stared at Earth in a daze, counted stars until even I got annoyed, read books. Luckily, I had Aino with me. Later... I slowly got used to it."
She paused, then turned her head toward Aino, a hint of a smile returning to her lips. "It's all thanks to Miss Aino being here."
"She doesn't talk much, but at least she doesn't make me feel like this place is a completely empty prison. Sometimes we'd chat, complain a little, and somehow the days just passed."
Aino nodded slightly, her voice gentle. "You talk too much, but you're not annoying."
Yumeko blinked at her, then turned back toward Arisu, her tone returning to its usual lightness. "Anyway, I've already been locked up for this long. I don't really care if I stay a little longer. Once Konoha is built, I'll be free, right?"
Arisu did not answer immediately. He simply looked at her quietly.
After a while, Arisu suddenly changed the subject, his voice still calm. "By the way, Yumeko. In your previous life... what did you study?"
Yumeko froze for a moment, then gave a huge yawn and lazily rubbed her eyes. "Art. Oil painting, sketching, a little sculpture... basically, I drew pictures."
The air fell silent for half a second.
Arisu's expression visibly "stiffened."
His previously relaxed posture leaned slightly forward, his gaze sharpening as obvious disbelief entered his voice. "...Art?"
"Yeah."
"What about it?"
Yumeko looked at him in confusion.
"I see. Then you're pretty lucky."
Arisu then asked, "You really... don't know anything about technology? Programming, machinery, electronics, even basic circuit principles would do."
Yumeko blinked, tilted her head, thought for a moment, then honestly shook her head. "I don't know any of that. I was the kind of person who could barely pass physics in high school."
"I went straight into art in college and dealt with paints and canvases every day. Technology and all that... couldn't have been farther from me."
Arisu fell silent.
Arisu raised a hand and rubbed his brow, a complicated sense of helplessness flashing through his eyes, as though the little bit of hope that had just been ignited had been extinguished on the spot.
Looking at his expression, Yumeko suddenly realized what was going on. She narrowed her eyes, her tone carrying a hint of gloating teasing. "What, Observer, don't tell me you wanted me to help you make a phone or a computer?"
"Dream on. At most, I'll draw you a sketch, or help decorate the moon and make it look a little nicer."
Arisu lowered his hand and glanced at her, helplessly waving it. "...Forget it. Pretend I never asked."
Arisu stood up and patted his clothes, his tone returning to its usual indifference. "Stay here. Until Konoha is established, you're not allowed to go anywhere."
Yumeko stuck her tongue out at him. "Got it, got it. Remember to bring Miss Aino some good food before you leave. Don't always make us eat those tasteless things you make."
Arisu did not look back. His figure slowly faded away where he stood.
Leaving only Yumeko lying back on the moon rock, letting out a long sigh at the starry sky while muttering, "Seriously... what's wrong with studying art? Art is a proper major too, you know..."
———
[Senju Clan Lands]
Hashirama had just sat down at the entrance to the council hall and was about to take a sip of hot tea when hurried yet restrained footsteps came from outside.
A young shinobi knelt on one knee and presented a letter with both hands.
There were no ornate patterns on the envelope. A small Uchiha clan crest was pressed into the seal.
"Clan Head, a reply from the Uchiha."
Hashirama's face lit up, but he quickly suppressed it. He took the letter, his fingertips pausing slightly.
[The body can be returned. We can discuss a ceasefire. Meet in the river valley one month from now. If you break your word, I'll kill you.]
[—Madara]