Tenshō's awakening in the real world happened without any visible events… but inside him, the world had changed.
When he opened his eyes in his austere room within the mansion, the samurai in charge of his custody found him crying uncontrollably. Silent tears ran down his face as he whispered apologies over and over, as if trying to empty an ocean of buried guilt.
Seeing the real world again, after so long submerged in the Moon Realm, broke something deep within him. The gratitude for having survived that experience, for having regained a sense of humanity, overwhelmed him.
His only permitted visitor had been Reika. The Silver Lady had authorized her presence after Reika herself appeared before the samurai of the Moon Realm and requested an audience. The most surprising thing was not that she asked for such a favor, but that it was granted. And even more so, that the silver lady accepted her request: Reika would be allowed to visit him when she was in the Moon Realm.
She was not the only one.
His brother Renga… also visited him.
That memory still haunted him. The first time he saw Renga appear in his prison, he expected neither compassion nor forgiveness. But his brother… forgave him. Without resentment. Without anger. That act struck deeper than any blade. A forgiveness that Tenshō felt he did not deserve.
Despite this, Renga continued visiting him. Not as often as Reika, but consistently. And each visit slowly helped rebuild something broken within Tenshō.
In his thoughts, he had never considered Reika as more than a companion to pass the time. But during that imprisonment, she became his anchor, the only reason his mind didn't fully shatter. In fact, he later learned that his case was what motivated the Silver Lady to allow similar interactions with other captives, a measure that proved essential in preserving the sanity of many.
Not long after his awakening, Reika came to see him at the mansion. When he saw her, with eyes still red from tears, Tenshō finally managed to smile sincerely. And she returned the smile with a warmth that made his chest tremble.
The world moved on. Soon, Takama Gin would officially become Daimyō. And then would come the trial for Tenshō's crimes. But for the first time in a long while… Tenshō felt that perhaps he could face it standing tall.
<<<< o >>>>
Two days remained before her father's official coronation.
Hinata emerged from her intense meditation, having spent countless hours sustaining the insatiable appetite of the Silver World through continuous use of the Breath of the World. Her body was weary, her spirit stretched thin — but her resolve remained unbroken. By her side, ever faithful, were Kuro and Mitsue.
The air within the grand estate of Takama Gin in the Iron Capital felt subtly different now. The once austere and elegant halls of the mansion had been transformed. Every door, archway, and corridor now bore intricate seals — layered defenses of the highest craftsmanship. The Uzumaki couple, paranoid in their thoroughness, had designed them with reverence and obsession. Crimson and gold sigils shimmered faintly against dark wood and stone, pulsing softly like a living heartbeat throughout the estate.
As Hinata returned to full awareness, Kuro instantly perked up, ears tilting forward, his large frame tensing. Without hesitation, he gently but firmly grasped the sleeve of her kimono with his teeth and began guiding her down a side corridor.
"Kuro?" Hinata whispered, still slightly disoriented.
The great wolf made a low rumble in his throat but remained insistent. His nose twitched as he led her towards a nearby courtyard.
It was there that they encountered an old friend — or rather, an old friend grew larger than she remembered.
Akamaru, now a sturdy and proud hound, was sniffing the air cautiously. His gaze landed on Kuro, and recognition sparked instantly. A short growl of surprise escaped him, though not hostile — more incredulous at the sheer size the black wolf now possessed. Kuro, calm and dominant, released Hinata's sleeve and stood tall, tail swaying slowly in acknowledgment.
The two circled each other briefly. Kuro gave a single, deep bark — not of warning, but of camaraderie.
However, Akamaru's gaze shifted to Mitsue — now fully visible in her serpentine form, coiled lightly at Hinata's waist.
Akamaru let out a low, defensive growl.
Mitsue's eyes widened, scandalized. With an indignant hiss, she instantly shrank in size and darted up Hinata's arm, wrapping herself securely around her neck like a living ornament.
Every coil and flick of her tongue seemed to transmit her disagreement with the rude Akamaru.
Hinata, despite her exhaustion, let out a soft, amused chuckle and reached up to gently stroke Mitsue. "It's all right… he doesn't know you yet."
Before more could unfold, distant voices reached her ears — familiar voices, ones that carried warmth and memories of another life.
Servants whispered respectfully nearby as a new arrival was announced.
Despite her fatigue, Hinata straightened, her steps slow but purposeful, moving toward the entrance of the main courtyard.
What awaited her there stole her breath — and brought tears to her eyes. With deliberate steps, Hinata moved forward, positioning herself gracefully at her father's side to help receive their dear friends. The pride in Takama's gaze seemed to shine even brighter as she joined him, and together, they stood ready to welcome those who had once been her comrades — and were now her honored guests.
Descending from an elegant carriage were Kurenai and Asuma. Their presence radiated calm strength, their bond unmistakable.
As they stepped down, Asuma glanced at Kurenai with a half-smile. "Told you we'd make it on time."
Kurenai laughed softly, her eyes sparkling. "And I told you — I couldn't miss this. I'm too excited to see our little Hinata again."
Beside them stood familiar figures that made Hinata's heart tremble with joy:
Akamaru, after his brief interaction with Kuro, huffed softly and retreated to Kiba's side, walking with a proud gait as if to reclaim his place beside his partner.
Kiba, bounding forward with his trademark grin, one hand resting proudly on Akamaru's back. "Man, look at this place... Looks like your dad's gone all out," he remarked, eyes wide with curiosity.
Shino remained composed, his dark glasses catching the glimmer of the courtyard lights. "Efficient. Reinforced. The seals are impressive," he observed calmly, his tone betraying a subtle note of approval.
Chōji gazed around with a warm smile, pulling a small snack from his pouch. "Heh... they sure know how to make a guy feel welcome. Smells like there's good food somewhere in there too."
Ino stepped gracefully, her posture elegant yet relaxed. "Such an atmosphere... feels like we've stepped into a new world," she murmured. Her sharp eyes didn't miss a single detail.
Shikamaru followed last, hands tucked lazily into his pockets. He exhaled a soft sigh. "Troublesome... I can already tell this is gonna turn into a formal affair. Hope no one expects me to give a speech."
Before them stood her father, Takama Gin — regal in posture, his soul shining with a deep sense of pride. His eyes gleamed with both satisfaction and quiet anticipation as he extended a welcoming gesture to the arriving guests.
The moment was simple… yet profound.
Hinata paused at the edge of the scene, tears welling, her heart full.
<<<< o >>>>
A short while later, after most formal greetings had been exchanged, Kurenai approached Hinata directly — her eyes shimmering with warmth.
Without hesitation, she pulled her into a firm embrace.
"My little Hinata… look at you," Kurenai whispered with emotion. "You've grown… and so has Kuro, a little too much," she added with a soft laugh, glancing toward the imposing wolf sitting loyally nearby.
Hinata blushed, her voice trembling slightly. "K-Kurenai-sensei… I'm so happy you're here…"
Asuma stepped up beside them, a thoughtful look on his face. He took a slow drag from his cigarette, then exhaled.
"Truth is… the invitation to come here arrived in Konoha nearly a month ago," he said in a low voice, glancing around. "It was addressed specifically to me and Kurenai — and requested an escort of at least five chūnin, preferably six. The terms were… quite clear."
He smiled wryly.
"It took the Elders a while to agree. But once they understood the current political situation in the Land of Iron — and Takama's rising influence — they couldn't exactly refuse the request… or the generous amount of Ryō that came with it."
Kurenai shook her head softly. "Politics aside… I would have come no matter what," she said, her voice warm. "Nothing would've kept me from seeing you again."
Hinata's heart swelled with gratitude. For all the weight she now carried, in this moment — she simply felt like a daughter welcomed home.