Chapter 121

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The welcome ceremony was grand. Kyomu looked at the sea of people before him, feeling an indescribable emotion welling up inside. He wanted to laugh out loud.

"Slayer of Konoha!"

"Victory!"

"Slayer of Konoha!"

"Victory!"

However, his smile suddenly froze. The enthusiasm in his heart was extinguished. Who came up with such a nickname for him?!

"I..."

"Victory!"

"Slayer of Konoha!"

The cheers continued, and Kyomu's face turned the color of liver. Who would come up with such an outdated nickname?

"Thank you for your love, but please, just call me Kyomu," he shouted back, "And I don't deserve such cheers. The ones who truly deserve this honor are not us, the living, but those who have fallen in war."

Tsunade initially wanted to laugh at the nickname 'Slayer of Konoha,' seeing that Kyomu himself didn't seem to appreciate it much. But his following words made her serious again; he was absolutely right.

This also made Tsunade view Kyomu more favorably. Achieving such feats at the age of ten and remaining humble and grounded were exceptional qualities.

And Kyomu wasn't shy about public speaking.

As he raised his hand to quiet the crowd, the cheers and smiles of the Konoha ninjas subsided, turning into solemnity.

"Thank you for your love, but my achievements are built on the sacrifices of many comrades at the front. I do not deserve such accolades. Being in a high position does offer a great view, but we must never forget those who built the ladder for us. I think we should chant this instead."

Kyomu raised his hand and shouted, "The fallen will live forever, victory to Konoha!"

"The fallen will live forever, victory to Konoha!"

The unified shout was earth-shattering. Kyomu could see the light in their eyes and felt his reputation soaring. If slicing open the great rift was the highlight of Kyomu's strength, then his return to Konoha marked the peak of his renown.

After silencing the crowd once more and feeling everyone's gaze on him, Kyomu felt exhilarated. Being the center of attention and having his words heard was a new and heady experience.

"Thank you for your love, but I would prefer if you did not use the title 'slayer.' I do not acknowledge it, nor do I acknowledge the Sand Nin who gave it to me. You are the ones I care about and accept. I'd rather you call me by my name, it feels closer. After all, what I did is what we all do – fight for our comrades, fight to protect."

As his words concluded, the crowd paused for a few seconds before chanting uniformly again.

"Kyomu!"

Not sure who started it, but a group of cheering Konoha ninjas rushed forward, surrounding Kyomu and tossing him high into the air.

And it wasn't just Kyomu; Kakashi, Obito, Might Guy, and the rest of the team were all encircled and joyously thrown into the air, unwilling to be set back down.

Laughing heartily, Kyomu reveled in the moment. The feeling of being celebrated was indeed wonderful.

Similarly, his teammates laughed freely, basking in the honor and emotional comfort their fame brought, feeling as if they were floating on clouds.

"Kyomu, tell us about the moment you made that slash!"

After the excitement of being tossed into the air subsided, a crowd gathered around, eager to hear from Kyomu firsthand about his experiences.

Some couldn't get close but there were Kyomu's teammates to inquire about their firsthand experiences.

"Did you know I awakened the Sharingan with two tomoe right from the start?"

"Wow, two tomoe from the start!"

"Of course, it was the culmination of hard work. I felt..."

Obito reveled in his moment, proudly flaunting his Sharingan, wishing everyone knew he awakened two tomoe right away.

"I was awake for three days and nights, using Byakugan to precisely identify the weaknesses in the Sand Nin's encirclement. Coordinating with Kyomu, we repeatedly infiltrated and circled around, making the Sand Nin look foolish."

Ren also boasted, omitting any mention of past mistakes.

Kakashi didn't say much, keeping a calm tone, but the smile hidden beneath his mask was harder to suppress than AK-47's recoil.

Youth is not wasted on the young. Creating highlights, enjoying adulation, and becoming the brightest star in everyone's eyes are their due rights. This is what Kyomu and his team deserved!

"If you're willing, we can go to the river tonight." Ebisu, attempting to charm a sisterly female ninja, said, "I know some little-known facts about Kyomu, and of course, I've had my moments of brilliance too. Let me tell you about them."

Ebisu enjoyed the attention from the ladies, sniffling as if something was about to break free.

"In terms of being cool and detached, besides Kyomu, it's me." Genma stood nonchalantly, a shuriken spinning in his mouth, "Kyomu himself complimented how cool I look with this shuriken. What do you think?"

Genma spread his cool and detached philosophy, attracting a few female ninjas of his age, but he remained unimpressed. They weren't cool enough for his liking.

"I really didn't do much... just driven by youth..." Guy blushed, stumbling over his words, "And of course, there's Kyomu. He's always encouraging and recognizing me, so I've made it this far."

No one laughed at Guy's theory of youth anymore. They listened and tried to understand because it was a concept Kyomu himself endorsed.

"I was injured at the time and felt like I was dragging the team down," A ninja confessed about his own experiences, "But Kyomu just scoffed, saying the Sand Nin weren't worth his blade, and he'd ensure we all made it home in one piece."

Not abandoning a single teammate, not giving up on any injured comrade, even if it meant cutting a bloody path through enemy lines. Through his recounting, Kyomu's image became even more heroic and grand.

However, naturally, the conversations about Sakumo took a turn.

"I'm just carrying on Teacher Sakumo's legacy, nothing more remarkable than that," Kyomu clarified, bringing up old matters, "Teacher Sakumo is my guiding light; without his teachings, there would be no me today."

With Kyomu himself explaining, the surrounding Konoha ninjas felt a resonance with his words.

"Kyomu, I was on a mission elsewhere at the time. If I had been there..."

"Kyomu, please, take heart. I think some people will realize their mistakes."

"Kyomu, I will always support you, no matter what the future holds."

Orochimaru, standing at the outskirts, watched and listened to everything with a smile, further confirming his earlier judgment.

"Kyomu, do you think the time is ripe?" he chuckled, "Maybe all of this is an illusion, and in the future, you will make another deal with me. Whether it's your technique, your body, or something else, who knows..."

Orochimaru left, leaving Tsunade still standing there, smiling at Kyomu. She saw a bright future in him.

Breaking through the crowd, Kyomu approached Tsunade and bowed deeply.

"Tsunade, thank you for your help earlier. Without your antidote pills, we might have died of thirst in the Land of Wind."

"Ha, there's nothing to thank me for. I'm just glad you're back safe and sound," Tsunade replied, suddenly pulling Kyomu into a hug, "And for such great achievements, my little hero, you don't need to bow to me."

Tsunade hugged Kyomu tightly, showing genuine affection for this rising star. Kyomu did not resist Tsunade's embrace; he had a good impression of her and saw her as a reliable support and a treasure trove to be explored in the future. He knew he would need her assistance for many future endeavors.

"Tsunade, I..." Kyomu started to say something but then stopped as he breathed in a scent that was new and bewildering to him at his age.

Looking down at Kyomu, who was blushing, Tsunade laughed even more heartily, "Little guy, why are you blushing?"

Kyomu shook his head, feeling as if his face was covered in cotton, making it hard to breathe.

Sensing the movement against her chest, Tsunade didn't get angry; instead, her laughter grew. At ten years old, Kyomu was like a nephew to her, and her affection for him was overflowing.

"If only you were old enough to drink, I would definitely take you out for a couple of drinks to celebrate your triumphant return today," Tsunade continued, leading him away from the crowd towards her tent.

"In the future, don't call me Tsunade. If you're willing, you can call me sister."

That would surely mix up their familial relations.

"Tsunade-neesan," Aragami Kyomu still called out sincerely.

Ignoring her age, calling Tsunade 'sister' seemed almost too respectful, considering her youthful appearance.

"Ha, ha..."

Tsunade's laughter was filled with joy, not just because of the title but because it gave her a slight edge in retaining Kyomu's loyalty. Despite her boisterous and impulsive nature, Tsunade was deeply thoughtful and understood many things. She only chose to withdraw and stay silent due to the overwhelming despair she had experienced.

Escaping was her reluctant choice.

Yet, Kyomu was different. With accomplishments, fame, strength, and budding influence, especially during wartime, his potential trajectories were vast, both good and bad. If an additional layer of sibling affection could sway more outcomes towards the positive, it was a worth doing it.

This small personal desire of Tsunade's was overshadowed by her affection for Kyomu, a promising talent whom anyone would cherish.

"Tell your sister about what happened; I want to hear it," she urged.

Kyomu tried to resist, but Tsunade's hold was firm, leaving him no choice but to comply and start recounting his experiences in the Land of Wind while nestled in her embrace.

Tsunade listened intently, gradually loosening her grip, knowing when to give space. They then sat face to face, Kyomu narrating vividly while Tsunade listened silently, supporting her chin in her hand.

"He really is like Sakumo in his youth." Tsunade mused internally, "If Sakumo were still here, seeing teacher and pupil together, what a sight that would be in the village?"

As the day turned to night and Kyomu continued to speak, Tsunade suddenly remembered the passing of time, "It's been a whole afternoon, Kyomu, you should rest."

Kyomu was indeed exhausted. If it weren't for Tsunade insisting on talking, he would have already sought a long, uninterrupted sleep.

"Tsunade sister, then I'll..."

"You'd be swamped with visitors if you went to your own tent now." Tsunade pointed to her bed, "Just sleep here, it's no bother."

"But..."

"There are no 'buts'." Tsunade pulled Kyomu down onto the bed and firmly told him to lie down, "You rest first. I'll check you for any hidden injuries. If there are any, I'll treat you after you wake up. You can't doubt my authority in this, right?"

Seeing Tsunade insist to this extent, Kyomu stopped resisting. He awkwardly lay down on Tsunade's bed and closed his eyes to rest.

Surrounded by a faint fragrance, Kyomu initially felt uncomfortable. However, as soon as his head hit the pillow, he fell asleep within seconds, completely exhausted and devoid of any other thoughts.

Observing Kyomu, now fast asleep on the bed, Tsunade's expression softened with a hint of maternal affection. She lamented inwardly for a moment about Orochimaru's coldness toward everyone except for a select few. Except for himself, there seemed no longer anyone Orochimaru genuinely cared about.

With a sigh, Tsunade let go of the past thoughts and memories that felt almost illusionary, noticing how people she once knew were subtly changing. Age brings inevitable encounters with such realities.

Setting aside her thoughts, Tsunade activated her palm with a glowing green chakra and gently placed it over Kyomu's chest. The green light brightened as her chakra worked to alleviate his fatigue and sort through his internal injuries.

Additionally, Tsunade noticed the Reverse Scale Armor Kyomu was wearing, marveling at it for a good while.

An hour later, Tsunade concluded, "Kyomu's body is stronger than I thought. The forbidden technique seems to have had little to no adverse effect on him."

She marveled, "Now, I'm even more curious. What kind of forbidden technique could produce such an effect?"

Thinking this over, Tsunade suddenly yawned. Seeing there was still room in the bed, she didn't bother to find a different sleeping spot. She lifted the blanket and laid down in her clothes.

"If Shizune were about the same age as Kyomu... and if I had children, they would probably be..." Her thoughts trailed off, and she quickly stopped herself to avoid dredging up painful memories.

Unconsciously, Tsunade turned to look at Kyomu again, feeling a surge of maternal affection. She gently embraced him and started humming a lullaby, finding peace in this act.

That night, she slept soundly, comforted by the presence next to her.

(End of Chapter)

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