Daybreak had already arrived, and a ray of sunlight spread across the streets of Konoha.
Yagyu walked alone on the road back home.
His emotions rose and fell slightly.
Early in the morning, several shops on Konoha's commercial street had already opened.
People who knew Yagyu greeted him warmly.
Although he was physically and mentally exhausted, Yagyu responded to every villager.
"Other than the higher-ups, Konoha is actually quite a good place."
While walking home, Yagyu sighed inwardly.
"Ordinary civilians are often ignorant but kind. As long as they are not treated with hostility, they will support you."
There was no helping it.
Ordinary civilians could not access the truth behind many matters. The only things they could know were what powerful figures were willing to show them.
In fact, many things could not really be blamed on the common villagers.
For example, the matter regarding Naruto.
These villagers did not know Naruto's true identity.
They had suffered the devastation and pain brought by the Nine-Tails. When Danzo concealed the truth and directly framed Naruto as the incarnation of the Nine-Tails, how could these villagers not hate him?
Perhaps their sons, daughters, wives, husbands, parents, or other relatives had died at the hands of the Nine-Tails.
Under such circumstances.
Very few people could truly separate Naruto from the Nine-Tails.
Only in the future, when Naruto continuously performed deeds beneficial to the village and gradually overturned the perception forced upon the villagers by Danzo, would they truly support him.
And in fact, according to the development of the original story, Naruto indeed accomplished this, and the villagers eventually trusted and supported him.
Wasn't that the case?
Back to the matter at hand.
It did not take long before Yagyu arrived home.
"I'm back."
As soon as he stepped through the back door of his house, Yagyu called out.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Hurried footsteps approached.
Soon his mother appeared in the entrance hallway.
"Sosuke…"
Looking at Yagyu changing his shoes, tears shimmered faintly in her eyes, yet her face carried a relieved smile.
"Welcome home."
Yagyu raised his head.
Seeing the change in his mother's expression, warmth rose in his heart.
"I'm a little hungry. Mom, is breakfast ready? After eating, I want to take a good bath and rest for a while. These past few days outside have been tiring."
While talking about his plans.
Yagyu pulled his mother along and walked inside, as if his casual conversation was meant to reassure her.
Listening to her son speak, his mother nodded quietly and did not interrupt him.
Although Yagyu had not described the mission.
His mother had already smelled the thick scent of blood on him.
She clearly understood what kind of mission her son had been carrying out over the past week.
Even though she was worried, she chose not to say anything.
As long as he returned safely, that was enough.
Inside the bathroom.
Yagyu lay quietly in the bathtub, enjoying the sensation of warm water enveloping his entire body.
"System, sign in."
He spoke in his mind as usual.
"I've been traveling all day today and haven't had time to sign in yet."
[Ding! Sign-in successful. Congratulations. Reward obtained: A-rank Ninjutsu, Rasengan]
The moment the system's voice faded.
All information regarding the Rasengan appeared within Yagyu's mind.
At the same time, this ultimate form-transformation ninjutsu was effortlessly mastered by him.
After a while.
Once he had absorbed all the information, Yagyu slowly opened his eyes.
"The Rasengan I forgot to train over the past few years finally came through a sign-in today… that saves me a lot of trouble. Although the Rasengan itself is only average, it is really just a prerequisite skill."
The Rasengan had incredible potential once further developed.
The Big Ball Rasengan.
The Rasenshuriken.
These were powerful ninjutsu Naruto used all the way to the end of the story. How could they not be strong?
Of course.
Yagyu was also quite interested in Kakashi's Lightning Cutter and Chidori. Once developed further, those were also extremely powerful ninjutsu.
In short.
This ninjutsu was very useful.
Buzz.
Yagyu raised his hand and casually formed a Rasengan about fifteen centimeters in diameter.
It spun quietly in his palm.
His expression became slightly serious.
As his fingers curled, the massive chakra within his body continuously flowed into the Rasengan.
Buzz.
Amid powerful chakra fluctuations, the Rasengan in Yagyu's hand rapidly grew larger.
Only when it reached about thirty to forty centimeters in diameter did it stop expanding.
"This is the Big Ball Rasengan."
Looking at the massive Rasengan in his hand, Yagyu smiled.
"If I want to increase its power further, I'll need more practice. Otherwise it will be difficult to control."
Thanks to Yagyu's extraordinary chakra control, he had already mastered the Big Ball Rasengan.
But if he wanted to increase its power further, he would still need training.
Otherwise the practical combat effectiveness might not be very good.
After dispersing the Rasengan in his hand, Yagyu relaxed and enjoyed the comfort of the bath.
…
Time passed quickly, and afternoon soon arrived.
After waking from his rest, Yagyu changed into casual clothes and walked directly into the flower shop beside his family's bookstore.
"Oh my."
Inside the flower shop, a graceful middle-aged woman smiled upon seeing Yagyu.
"Isn't this little Sosuke? Have you returned from your mission?"
Seeing this elegant woman, Yagyu showed a respectful expression.
"Aunt Yamanaka. I just returned this morning. I rested for a bit and then came over."
This elegant middle-aged woman was none other than Ino's mother.
An ordinary woman who was not a ninja, yet carried herself with great grace.
"You came to see Ino, didn't you?"
Ino's mother smiled warmly at the polite Yagyu.
"She's at home right now. You can go straight in."
After responding, Yagyu walked through the back of the flower shop and entered the Yamanaka residence.
The two families were neighbors, so their houses had similar layouts.
And this was not the first time Yagyu had visited.
After entering the house, Yagyu went straight to the backyard.
At a glance, he saw Ino training under the guidance of a middle-aged man with long blond hair tied in a ponytail.
That middle-aged man was one of Konoha's elite Jonin.
Ino's father, Inoichi Yamanaka.
Yagyu's arrival immediately drew both of their attention.
Ino was overjoyed.
"Sosuke, you're back from your mission?"
Whoosh.
The moment she finished speaking, Ino abandoned her dark-faced father and threw herself straight into Yagyu's arms.
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