Chapter 381

"I... I need to head back."

Noticing that several hours had already passed and dawn was near, Temari's voice trembled as she spoke. Her body reflected her tone—there wasn't a part of her that wasn't shaking.

As she forced herself to stand, her hand instinctively rested on her lower abdomen. The intense activities from just a while ago resurfaced in her mind, bringing Sakura's earlier advice to the forefront. Though she tried to push the worry aside, the thought still lingered. This child wasn't Shikamaru's, but it was hers.

Without realizing it, Temari had begun to compromise bit by bit. The presence of the child in her womb was a significant factor in her decisions.

"Don't worry. There's no way I'd hurt my own child. They're perfectly fine."

Yoichi reassured her as he handed her a recovery pill. Without it, she wouldn't have had the strength to walk back.

"But you've done an impressive job of keeping it a secret," Yoichi said, glancing at the marks on Temari's body as he smirked. "Does Shikamaru really not suspect anything? Or has he just been too busy to notice you at all?"

Temari, still trembling slightly, defended Shikamaru instinctively. "Shikamaru's been occupied with village matters. Everything he does is for protecting the village."

After swallowing the recovery pill, Temari felt some of her strength return. Despite everything, she still felt guilty about Shikamaru and didn't want to hear anyone disparaging him.

"You're still thinking about your family, Temari-san. But do you really think you can still return to the Nara household?"

Yoichi pulled her closer, his voice teasing as he pinned her down once more.

"Stop… I really have to go. I need to head back and make breakfast for Shikadai."

Though her voice carried resistance, her hands showed none.

"Finally, I made it back."

Temari quietly entered the bedroom and let out a breath of relief upon realizing that Shikadai was still asleep and Shikamaru hadn't returned yet. However, the sweat and lingering scent on her body reminded her she needed a quick shower.

Creak!

The sound of the front door opening startled her. At this hour, the only person who could be returning was Shikamaru.

Panicked, Temari grabbed a towel and quickly wiped her body. She sprayed some perfume to mask the scent, then tried her best to look as though she had just woken up as she walked downstairs.

Seeing Shikamaru coming up the stairs, Temari steadied herself and feigned a casual tone. "You're back, Shikamaru? I'll go make breakfast right away. Do you want to rest for a bit?"

"No need. I'll just grab a quick bite before heading out again. There's a lot to do today. By the way, has Shikadai not gotten up yet?"

Shikamaru looked toward their son's room as he spoke. Initially, he thought Temari had just woken up herself, but something about her perfume struck him. It was much stronger than usual, almost overpowering.

However, Shikamaru dismissed the thought before it could linger. He knew better than to say anything that might provoke an argument.

"How about you don't bother making breakfast today, Temari? Go wake up Shikadai, and I'll grab something from outside. I noticed the shop at Shinoya's just opened."

"Sure, that works," Temari quickly agreed. She was relieved that Shikamaru would leave the house for a while. Her quick acceptance gave Shikamaru pause, though. Normally, Temari detested eating out, while Shikamaru and Shikadai, ever the lazy duo, favored it.

"Alright, I'll go change," Temari added as she turned and headed upstairs.

"Oh… Okay, then," Shikamaru mumbled, scratching his head in confusion as he watched her leave. After a brief moment, he decided to head out to buy breakfast.

Just as Shikamaru was about to step outside, something white on the floor caught his attention. Curious, he leaned closer to inspect it.

"Father? What are you doing?"

Shikadai's voice from behind startled him.

"You're up already?" Shikamaru straightened, coughing lightly to compose himself. "Your mom woke up late today, so I'm heading out to buy breakfast. Want to come with me?"

"Sure! Mom's cooking is always so bland anyway," Shikadai replied.

"Shh! Don't let your mom hear that. Otherwise, neither of us will have food to eat!"

Laughing at his son's remark, Shikamaru completely forgot about the mysterious substance on the floor as the two of them headed out together.

...

Following the conclusion of the Five Kage Summit, the shinobi villages immediately took action. Elite ninja squads were formed to unite against the Kara organization, which appeared to be connected to the Ōtsutsuki.

The mention of the Ten-Tails had brought back memories of the Fourth Great Ninja War. The presence of the Ten-Tails and the organization imprisoning it stirred unease across the villages.

Each of the Five Great Villages dispatched their best ninja squads, and Naruto himself reached out to the tailed beasts for aid.

After the war, most of the tailed beasts, aside from Kurama and Gyūki, had returned to their own domains. Naruto used chakra to communicate with them, seeking their assistance once again.

Among them, Shukaku, Son Gokū, and Kokuō agreed to arrive within a week. However, the remaining tailed beasts were too far away and needed more time.

There was still too much unknown about the Ōtsutsuki. Non-jinchūriki tailed beasts could only serve as a secondary line of defense, despite their immense strength. The potential risk of the Ōtsutsuki possessing abilities to suppress the tailed beasts left Naruto and the others cautious. During the war, Madara had sealed all nine tailed beasts into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path in an instant.

The Five Great Villages quickly mobilized. The recent string of events made them feel as though they had been thrown back into the chaos of the Fourth Great Ninja War. The Kara organization, the Ten-Tails, and the unknowns surrounding the Ōtsutsuki demanded immediate and decisive action.

In the Hokage's office, Yoichi had also learned of the developments.

His newly introduced smartphones had a hidden feature—listening capabilities that functioned even when the device was turned off, as long as it still had battery power.

"They've already located the dimension where Isshiki is hiding the Ten-Tails? I didn't expect it to happen this soon," Yoichi mused, a pleased smile spreading across his face.

This discovery aligned with the very reason he had traveled across dimensions. He had anticipated it taking years, but the timeline had moved up significantly.

(End of Chapter)

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