The mist of Shikkotsu Forest swirled around him as if it were alive. Saiki slowly opened his eyes.
Within his pupils, a galaxy seemed to swirl before settling into a deep, crystalline calm.
After two years of slumber, his Sage Chakra had transformed from a rushing river into a bottomless ocean—tranquil on the surface, but possessing an immeasurable depth.
"Lord Saiki is awake."
A voice as soft as a spring stream rang out.
Saiki looked up and blinked in surprise.
The person approaching wasn't the gargantuan slug he expected, but a woman dressed in elegant, pale-green courtly robes.
She looked to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Her hair was styled in a high, graceful bun, held only by a single jade hairpin. Her face was gentle and refined, carrying the poised majesty of one who had lived through eons.
The most striking feature was her skin—it radiated a soft, pearlescent glow, as if carved from the finest white jade.
She stopped three paces away and gave a slight, elegant bow.
"You are..." Saiki stood up, only to realize his clothes were incredibly tight. He didn't know how much time had passed, but his body had matured significantly.
The clothes that had fit him perfectly were now several inches too short, the sleeves constricting his wrists.
He touched his face. His jawline was sharp and defined, the last of the boyish roundness gone.
"This humble one is the Slug Sage of Shikkotsu Forest," the woman smiled. Her smile felt like a warm breeze. "Congratulations, Lord Saiki. Your cultivation is complete. You have truly shed your mortal shell."
Saiki was stunned. It was hard to reconcile this graceful woman with the mountain-sized, slimy slug.
However, he recovered quickly.
"Ah... thank you for your protection over these two years, and for the use of the forest's energy," Saiki replied with a sincere bow.
"Lord Saiki is too kind. To have you cultivate in our forest is a blessing for this land as well," the Slug Sage said warmly. Her eyes shimmered as she looked at him. "The aura you carry... I have lived for over a thousand years, yet I have never felt Sage Chakra this pure or powerful."
Hearing this, Saiki's mind flickered. "How long was I out? What is the state of the world?"
The Slug Sage sighed. "Two full years. As for the world..." She paused, recounting the shifting tides of the Ninja War.
The Stone's retreat, Konoha's struggle on three fronts, the Sand's gathering army, the Mist's invasion, the Rain's civil war... every piece of news made Saiki's brow tighten.
When he heard that Tsunade had been holding the village together alone, drowning in stress, a wave of complex emotions washed over him.
"Two years..." Saiki looked down at his ill-fitting clothes, then reached back to touch his black hair, which now reached his shoulder blades.
In his sleep, he had transitioned from a boy into a young man. His features were harder, and he had grown nearly a foot in height.
He couldn't waste another second.
"Sage, I must return to the village immediately," Saiki said gravely.
"As you should," she nodded. Then, she added in a small voice, "But before you go, I have a selfish request... that Sage Chakra of yours... it would be of immense benefit to my own cultivation. If possible..."
She didn't finish, but the longing in her eyes was blatant.
Saiki pondered for a moment before extending his right index finger.
A speck of pure white light condensed at his fingertip. It wasn't blinding, yet it carried the primordial essence of the beginning of the world.
He flicked it gently. The light flew toward the Slug Sage, sinking into her forehead.
Instantly, she was wreathed in a warm, white glow. Her robes fluttered in a windless room.
She closed her eyes, her face reflecting a mix of shock and divine realization. It took several minutes before she opened her eyes again, bowing deeply to Saiki.
"I thank Lord Saiki for this gift. I shall never forget it. From this day forward, if you have need, I am yours to command."
To a nature-spirit like her, that wisp of Pre-natal Qi was a lighthouse in the dark, showing her the path to a higher state of existence.
Saiki helped her up. "No need for such formality. It is a fair trade for your protection."
After bidding farewell, Saiki activated the Reverse Summoning.
White smoke exploded. When he manifested again, he was in the familiar forest surrounding Konoha.
It was late autumn. The village was veiled in a cold, desolate mist.
Saiki walked down the forest path, the dry leaves crunching beneath his feet.
The silhouette of the village loomed ahead, the ninjas on the watchtowers barely visible through the haze.
The two-year slumber felt like a single, massive dream.
But the world he woke to was a different place.
He looked at his tight, old clothes and decided to head home for a change of gear before finding Tsunade.
The guards at the gate were two young ninjas he didn't recognize. They stared at him in confusion.
One stepped forward warily. "State your name. Do you have a pass?"
Saiki realized he had no identification on him.
Just as he was about to explain, an older ninja nearby gasped, his eyes bulging. "Y-you! Lord Saiki Shiroya?!"
The rumors of the mysterious battle on the border and Saiki's single-handed destruction of the enemy had been whispered among the ranks for two years.
Though the leadership had suppressed the news of his "seclusion," his unique features were still recognized by veterans.
"It's me," Saiki nodded.
After a brief confirmation, the guards scrambled to open the gate, their eyes full of awe and curiosity.
Saiki stepped into the village, walking down the familiar streets.
In two years, the physical structure hadn't changed much, but the atmosphere was suffocating.
People walked with hurried steps. The shops were open, but there were no customers.
The bulletin boards were plastered with ration notices and war updates. The air was thick with tension.
A few children ran past him. One bumped into his leg, looked up at his unfamiliar, sharp face and strange clothing, and sprinted away in fear.
Saiki let out a bitter laugh.
After two years, it seemed he had become a "missing person" that the world had forgotten.
He accelerated his pace, heading for Tsunade's estate.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office.
Tsunade was massaging her temples in front of a map, dark circles under her eyes.
The latest report showed the Mist was increasing their naval presence on the coast. The Sand border skirmishes had spiked by 30% in a week.
"How much longer can the Uchiha hold that flank..." she muttered, reaching for a teacup only to find it empty.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Enter," Tsunade said without looking up.
Shizune entered, carrying a fresh pot of tea. Her face was a mask of concern. "Lady Tsunade, you didn't sleep again, did you?"
"There's no time for sleep," Tsunade sighed, draining a fresh cup. "Every report could be a matter of life and death... By the way, any word from Shikkotsu Forest?"
Shizune shook her head. "Lady Katsuyu says Lord Saiki is still in deep meditation. He cannot be disturbed."
Disappointment flashed in Tsunade's eyes, but she masked it quickly. "Understood. Go back to work. Bring me the supply requests for the northwest front."
Shizune wanted to say more, but she bit her tongue and left.
Tsunade turned back to the map, her finger tracing the location of Shikkotsu Forest. Her gaze softened with a weary, painful tenderness.
"You little bastard... how much longer are you going to sleep?"
She whispered the words to the empty room.
Outside, the autumn leaves continued to fall.
Across the village, Saiki was standing in Tsunade's home.
He walked into the courtyard. Everything was exactly as he had left it; Shizune had kept the place spotless.
He went straight to the bedroom and opened the wardrobe.
Fortunately, a few of his old clothes remained.
He found a set of dark, loose-fitting shinobi gear. He had bought it a size too large two years ago; now, it fit his lean, muscular frame perfectly.
He found a cord and tied his shoulder-length black hair back in a loose ponytail.
The young man in the mirror had sharp, predatory eyes and a calm, heavy aura. He was a far cry from the boy of two years ago.
Saiki stared at his reflection for a moment, then turned and left.
It was time to see her.
The autumn wind kicked up a swirl of leaves on the street.
Saiki walked toward the Hokage Building with a steady, measured pace. His mind was already calculating the current situation, his available leverage, and... how best to support the woman who had carried the world on her back for two years.
The war wasn't over.
But the sword was back in its sheath, and it was time for the world to remember its edge.