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Outside the gates of Mount Myōboku, clouds moved through the green peaks, covering the ancient mountain in a mist.
Modern high-rises stood among old temples and stone paths. Their windows reflected the light above the clouds.
The old and new buildings should have clashed, but here they blended so well that the mountain looked like a city from another world.
"It really does look like the cities from my old life..." Manji stood at the gates with his hands behind his back, looking at the home he hadn't seen in centuries.
"I've wandered the mortal world since the Warring States era. I spent years with the Uchiha, helped found Konoha, became Hokage, and later ran a ramen shop in the village. Now that I think about it, I haven't been to Mount Myōboku in hundreds of years." He closed his eyes as memories from many lives crossed his mind.
Manji opened his eyes and walked through the gates.
Mount Myōboku had changed while he was gone, but the peace he created was still there. The White Zetsu and the toads lived together as one community. Members of the Hyūga clan had settled there too, along with the Ōtsutsuki who came from the moon.
Old divisions didn't matter much on the mountain. No clan was above the rest, and no one was left out because of their bloodline or looks.
Toads, humans, Ōtsutsuki, and White Zetsu all shared the same streets, worked together, and lived without fear of war. This place was as close to a real utopia as the shinobi world had ever seen.
Manji walked down the wide stone avenue leading into the mountain. The first White Zetsu to see him froze. A nearby toad looked over, blinked twice, and almost dropped the basket he was carrying.
"Is that...the Grand Sage?"
"No way! It is! The Grand Sage is back!"
"Someone get Gamamaru! Tell him the Grand Sage has returned!"
The news spread quickly.
White Zetsus came out of the nearby buildings, and toads jumped down from terraces and rooftops. In minutes, the avenue was crowded three rows deep on every side, leaving just enough space for Manji to keep walking.
Then the whole crowd bowed.
"WELCOME HOME, GRAND SAGE!" hundreds of voices called out. Their greeting echoed through the mountains and shook the mist from the nearby cliffs.
"Welcome home!"
"The Grand Sage has returned!"
Everyone turned to look at Manji. Some stared in wonder, others were openly excited. Even the curious bowed their heads. Many of the younger people had only seen him in portraits in Mount Myōboku's halls.
Seeing him walk through the gates felt like watching a painting come to life.
Gamamaru, who had managed Mount Myōboku while Manji was gone, arrived soon after, moving as quickly as he could.
Black Zetsu, Fukasaku, and Shima came with him.
As soon as Gamamaru saw his teacher, tears ran down his face. The older he got, the more he missed the people and days that were gone. Seeing Manji on Mount Myōboku again was overwhelming.
He hurried forward, bent down, and gently hugged Manji.
Manji's eyes widened in surprise, but then he smiled and patted Gamamaru on the back.
"A few hundred years apart, and you missed me this much?" Manji asked, smiling.
"Every day," Gamamaru said. He wiped his eyes, but more tears came. "There wasn't a moment when I didn't."
Manji was about to reply when he noticed a small toad standing between Fukasaku and Shima. The two sages each held one of the child's hands and kept him close in the crowd.
"Well, look at you. This must be Gamabunta." Manji smiled at the young toad.
Fukasaku and Shima froze. They hadn't introduced their son yet, but Manji recognized him right away. Then again, he was the Grand Sage. Maybe they should have expected it.
"Gamabunta, go say hello to the Grand Sage," Fukasaku said.
The little toad stepped forward and bowed with surprising confidence.
"It's an honor to meet you, Grand Sage. My name is Gamabunta." His voice was still soft with youth, but he gave the formal blessing without missing a word.
Manji put his hand on Gamabunta's head and gave him an affectionate rub.
..............
Longevity Peak stood high above the clouds, deep in Mount Myōboku.
Kaguya sat in front of the mirror, holding a tube of lipstick. She tried to put it on, but she had already wiped it off twice.
The news of Manji's return had her too nervous to get it right.
"That idiot Manji could've warned me he was coming back," she muttered.
Hikari Uchiha watched from nearby, trying not to laugh. Kaguya had lived for a thousand years, fought enemies who could split mountains, and always acted like an empress.
But just one surprise visit from Manji had her worrying about her lipstick.
"Sister Kaguya, you already look amazing. You don't need any of this. Even without makeup, the Grand Sage will still think you're the most beautiful person here." Hikari smiled to reassure her.
"I know." Kaguya looked at herself in the mirror. She answered quickly, but her hand still hovered over the lipstick, not sure where to begin.
She had waited hundreds of years to see Manji again. Now that he was finally back, she had no idea what to say. Every greeting sounded wrong, so she kept busy at the mirror to calm her nerves.
A knock at the door broke the silence.
Hikari got up and went to the door. When she opened it, she saw a tall figure waiting outside.
Manji hadn't changed at all. He still looked like the handsome young man she had known so long ago.
The mist, the familiar outfit, and the face from her childhood were all just as she remembered.
She stared for a moment, then pulled herself together and bowed with a big smile.
"Grand Sage! It's been far too long!"
"Hikari. Look at you. All grown up." Manji looked at the tall woman in front of him. In his mind, she was still the little girl who used to follow them everywhere.
After a few words, Manji glanced past her into the room.
"Where's Kaguya?"
"She's getting ready." Hikari laughed and pointed inside. "She heard you were back and has been in front of the mirror since this morning, doing her makeup."
"Makeup??" Manji peered into the room.
Kaguya came out before he could step inside. Her makeup was only half done, and her cheeks were a little red. She fidgeted with her robe and stopped in front of him, looking down.
"You... It's been a long time."
"Kaguya, why are you talking like that? You sound strange." Manji looked at her, confused by her awkward greeting.
Kaguya's face got even redder. It had just been too long since she last saw him. That was the only reason she could think of, even to herself.
Manji let it go. He was here to catch up before heading to the Pure Land, and teasing Kaguya until she hid again wouldn't help.
"So, what have you two been doing all these years?" he asked.
"Scrolling through Social media, binge-watching shows, reading your novels, and eating whatever looks good," Kaguya said.
"Technology has taken over Mount Myōboku, Grand Sage." Hikari nodded and smiled at how normal their answer sounded.
"Then let's have dinner together. I'll cook." Manji smiled.
"You're cooking? Really? I almost never get to eat your food." Kaguya forgot her awkwardness right away, and Hikari's eyes went wide.
"Don't underestimate me. I was one of Konoha's top chefs for years." Manji laughed and walked to the kitchen.
He grabbed an apron, tied it on, and started cooking like someone who had spent years behind a ramen counter.
Kaguya and Hikari followed him in and hovered nearby until he gave them jobs. Hikari handed him the seasonings he asked for, and Kaguya rolled up her sleeves to wash vegetables.
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