Cool moonlight poured over the silent paths of the Sarutobi Clan compound like flowing silver, stretching their shadows across the ground.
A chilly night breeze brushed past Tsunade's slightly messy hair, and she instinctively pulled her collar closer.
Chiya stopped walking, removed his Hokage robe, and gently draped it over Tsunade's shoulders.
Tsunade's eyes widened. Under the moonlight, the dark Hokage robe was unmistakable.
"Chiya... This is the Hokage's..."
A faint smile appeared on Chiya's lips. He raised a finger and gently pressed it against her soft lips, stopping her before she could finish.
"I only know that you're cold."
Hearing those words, Tsunade looked up at him.
Her eyes were filled with tenderness.
After a long moment, she looked around to make sure no one else was nearby before speaking softly.
"Don't do this again. After all, Chiya... you're Konoha's Hokage."
Looking at her serious expression, Chiya simply smiled.
He reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
"Let's go."
The two walked side by side through the moonlit night, Chiya's black eyes reflecting a deep, quiet glow.
Before long, they arrived at Asuma's residence.
It was an unremarkable courtyard, with an old smoking pipe and several practice shuriken still hanging beneath the eaves.
Unexpectedly, Asuma showed little surprise when he saw Uchiha Chiya arrive in person.
Especially after hearing that he had his father's permission.
After a moment of silence, he turned around, entered the inner room, and returned with an ancient bronze key that felt icy cold to the touch.
His eyes were complicated, as though countless unspoken words were buried within them.
In the end, he quietly said, "Since Father agreed... do whatever you want."
Chiya gave a slight nod.
Taking the key, the two immediately headed toward the northwestern corner of the clan compound without wasting a moment.
The farther they walked, the fewer buildings remained, and the quieter the surroundings became.
Finally, in the middle of a desolate clearing, they saw an old wooden building that stood completely out of place.
It looked forgotten by time. Vines covered its walls, broken roof tiles hung precariously overhead, and thick spiderwebs stretched beneath the eaves.
Moonlight illuminated the weathered wooden door, giving it a strangely lonely beauty.
An almost imperceptible sealing barrier enveloped the area, making even the wind seem to slow as it reached this place.
"This is it," Tsunade said softly as she took a deep breath.
The air was filled with the stale scent of dust and decay.
Chiya stepped forward and inserted the key into the lock.
Click.
A soft sound echoed, as though some long-dormant mechanism had finally awakened.
The faded sealing talismans on the door briefly glowed before quickly dimming into ash.
Creak.
The heavy wooden door slowly opened, and a stronger wave of moldy air mixed with the smell of old scrolls rushed out, almost enough to suffocate them.
The interior was dark, covered in spiderwebs, and buried beneath layers of dust.
By the pale moonlight filtering through the broken windows, they could see that the inside was far larger than its appearance suggested.
Rows of towering bookshelves stood like silent giants, filled with scroll boxes and ancient thread-bound books, most of them badly damaged and seemingly ready to crumble at the slightest touch.
The door quietly closed behind them, sealing off the outside world.
Only Chiya, Tsunade, and the dust of history remained inside the study.
Both of them focused on a row of metal storage chests.
"I'll handle it," Chiya said quietly as his hands rapidly formed seals.
Poof! Poof! Poof...
Eight Shadow Clones appeared in perfect formation before him.
Tsunade also focused herself, her gaze becoming sharp.
"We'll split up. It'll be faster. Prioritize anything marked 'Seals,' 'Secret Records,' 'War Chronicles,' or documents that are extremely old or don't have clear labels."
The two of them and the eight Shadow Clones immediately got to work.
The study remained silent except for the soft rustling of scrolls being opened and closed and the occasional cough caused by the dust.
Time quietly slipped away as they searched.
After an unknown amount of time, a member of the Sarutobi Clan knocked gently on the door, delivered lamps and tea, and quietly left again.
The warm yellow light chased away the room's chill while making this forgotten sea of knowledge appear even older and more mysterious.
Chiya picked up the now-lukewarm tea and took a sip without taking his eyes off the scroll in his hands.
As the Hokage who had ruled Konoha for many years, Hiruzen Sarutobi's family library truly possessed an enormous collection.
It contained records on ninjutsu development, political strategy, the secrets of the great clans, and even many forgotten events from the ninja world.
However, there was very little information about the Warring States Period, especially regarding the joint operations with the Senju Clan or anything involving seals.
Even the few mentions they found were vague and largely matched the records they had already discovered in the Senju archives.
Another hour passed.
Tsunade rubbed her aching eyes, almost convinced this search would also end in failure.
She looked toward Chiya and saw him still carefully examining a pile of ancient books, his sharp profile illuminated by the lamplight.
His eyes suddenly settled on an inconspicuous metal chest tucked away in the bottom corner.
The chest had no label and was buried beneath a thick layer of dust, almost blending into the wall.
He crouched down, brushed away the dust, and lightly ran his fingers across its surface.
The metal felt icy cold, and faint patterns were carved into it, so subtle they were almost impossible to see.
Click.
The lid sprang open.
Surprisingly, the chest wasn't filled with scrolls.
Instead, a single scroll made from some kind of corrosion-resistant beast hide rested inside.
Its surface had darkened with age, and its edges were badly worn, yet it had somehow escaped insect damage, as though protected by an unseen force.
Chiya carefully removed the scroll and slowly unfolded it beneath the lamp.
Tsunade immediately stepped closer, holding her breath.
The text had been written with an ancient type of ink. Although parts had faded, most of it remained readable.
The contents instantly captured both Chiya's and Tsunade's complete attention.
This wasn't an official mission report.
It was more like the personal journal of one of the Sarutobi Clan's senior elders who had participated in the operation.
It described in detail how the mission had begun.
It told of an Uchiha clansman who possessed the mysterious dojutsu known as Yachimata, how he had risen to prominence during the Warring States Period, how terrifying his power had become, and how it eventually spiraled out of control.
His power frightened not only his enemies but also the Uchiha leadership themselves, who ultimately labeled him a dangerous weapon.
Unable to deal with him on their own, the Uchiha secretly contacted the Senju and Sarutobi Clans, who were still on relatively good terms with them at the time and were renowned for their sealing techniques and numerous ninjutsu, requesting their assistance in eliminating the threat.
The journal was filled with both awe and fear toward the power of Yachimata, describing it as "a divine authority capable of endlessly linking with the chakra of others, or draining an entire army dry with a single thought," calling it both "the authority of a god" and "the curse of a demon."
Most importantly, the latter half of the journal described the sealing location and the sealing method.
"...Combining the elites of both clans, together with the 'Blood Guide' provided by the Uchiha, we established the Three-Phase Seal upon a leyline node deep within the Forest of Shadows, one hundred miles southeast..."
"...Using his eye power as the core, his soul was sealed within decaying wood, his body suppressed beneath the underworld, and all chakra connections with the outside world were severed..."
"...The sealing site was concealed by both an illusion array and the natural terrain. Three entrances corresponded to Heaven, Earth, and Humanity. However, after countless years and changing landscapes, only the Human entrance may still be traceable..."
Attached was a rough but recognizable map.
There were also notes describing the properties of the Three-Phase Seal, along with possible conditions for releasing it and several warnings.
Chiya's eyes remained fixed on the map and the words "Forest of Shadows" and "leyline node."
His mind raced as he compared the ancient map with the modern map of the Land of Fire.
"We found it."
Chiya's voice was low, carrying a trace of excitement.
This journal almost completely confirmed and supplemented the fragmented records obtained from Uchiha Sosuke.
More importantly, it pointed them toward the most critical objective.
The sealing site.
Tsunade let out a long sigh of relief, her face showing both relief and astonishment.
She gently leaned against Chiya's shoulder and whispered, "Thank goodness... We finally found a lead."
Chiya formed another hand seal, and all eight Shadow Clones disappeared with a series of soft poofs.
He carefully rolled the scroll back up and tucked it inside his robe as though it were the greatest treasure in the world.
"Our objective is complete. It's time to leave."
He stood and looked at Tsunade, a trace of gentleness flashing through his eyes.
The two left the building and once again breathed in the cool night air.
The Sarutobi elder waiting outside sensed the restrained yet overwhelming pressure radiating from Chiya.
Wisely, he didn't ask a single question about the scroll.
He simply bowed respectfully and escorted them out of the clan compound.
As they walked back toward the Hokage Tower, the night had grown even deeper, with moonlight washing over the quiet streets.
Tsunade couldn't help asking, "What are you planning to do? Head to the Forest of Shadows immediately?"
Chiya looked straight ahead, his expression unreadable beneath the moonlight.
"No."
He spoke calmly.
"The seal has existed for many years, and the terrain certainly won't match the old map anymore. First, I'll have the Intelligence Division compare this ancient map with the current landscape using landmarks like the Forest of Shadows and the leylines to determine its most likely location."
He continued in an unhurried voice.
"Besides, the Three-Phase Seal isn't something we can recklessly break. We need to return to the Uchiha archives and carefully study the fragmented scroll. There may be more detailed records about the seal. That could be the key to releasing it safely."
He turned toward Tsunade, his voice becoming softer.
"You worked hard today."
Tsunade shook her head with a gentle smile.
"As long as I could help."
She paused before quietly adding, "This matter... I have a feeling it's far more serious than it seems. Be careful."
"I will."
Chiya nodded, warmth flickering in his eyes.
"I won't act rashly until everything is fully prepared."
His gaze drifted toward the distant horizon, as though he could already see beyond the endless darkness to the hidden forest buried beneath history, where the Uchiha's forgotten weapon had remained sealed for countless years.
A new power and a forgotten chapter of history awaited him.
And now, the key rested firmly in his hands.
Beneath the night sky, the two figures gradually disappeared into Konoha's countless lights.
As they passed Ichiraku Ramen, the warm glow from the stall and its tempting aroma drifted into the street.
Tsunade couldn't help stopping and gently tugging on Chiya's sleeve.
"Let's eat something before we go back."
She looked at him expectantly.
"We've been busy all night. I'm getting hungry."
Chiya paused for a moment before a nearly invisible smile appeared on his lips.
"Alright."
The two sat down at the ramen stand.
Seeing Chiya and Tsunade arrive, Teuchi enthusiastically welcomed them.
Before long, steaming bowls of ramen were placed before them.
Tsunade ate with unusual focus, the rising steam dampening her eyelashes and making her appear even gentler beneath the warm lights.
Without saying anything, Chiya quietly picked up a slice of chashu from his own bowl and placed it into hers.
Tsunade looked up at him in surprise before her eyes curved into a bright smile.
"Thank you."
Chiya simply lowered his head and continued eating.
After a while, Tsunade leaned closer and lowered her voice.
"Chiya, the night's still young. It's been a long time since we've gone to that tavern, hasn't it? After you've finished looking into the sealing technique... shall we go there for a drink?"
Chiya paused and glanced at her.
Under the warm lights, the outline of her face was soft and clear, and a faint smile remained on her lips.
The tavern.
It was the place where Chiya and Tsunade had shared one of their first precious memories together.
"Sure. Once I'm done, we'll go."
A meaningful look appeared in Chiya's eyes.
"The tavern... brings back a lot of memories."
"I still remember how incredible Lady Tsunade was back then."
Tsunade's face instantly turned red.
Incredible?
How embarrassing!
"Eat your ramen. We still have to investigate those sealing clues afterward."
She glared at Chiya and spoke in mock annoyance.
Yet seeing the smile on his face, she simply couldn't stay angry.
A moment later, she burst into laughter.
At that moment, all the tension quietly melted away.
Only the warm lights of the ramen stand and the happiness between them remained.
Watching her smile, Chiya felt something inside him soften as well.
He knew the road ahead was still filled with unknown dangers.
But with her by his side, everything no longer felt so cold or so heavy.
After finishing their meal, they walked home together.
Tsunade gently took Chiya's hand, her fingers warm and firm.
Chiya didn't pull away.
Instead, he tightened his grip and held her hand in his own.
Beneath the night sky and the glowing village lights, the two walked forward side by side, their hands tightly intertwined.