Chapter 562: Chapter 562: You Finally Returned

Original timeline, the ancient kingdom of Rōran.

"You finally returned." The Queen of Rōran sensed that the seal on the Dragon Vein had loosened and immediately rushed to the top level to inspect it.

She knew it was the two who had traveled through time returning.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your assistance. Konoha will not forget our previous agreement."

Shimura Danzō knew what the Queen of Rōran was worried about. Seeing her arrive, he assured her that he would not go back on his word.

They had traveled through time twice in succession. Though several dozen days was not a long time, they had already played to their heart’s content.

So they returned to their original timeline.

"On behalf of the people of Rōran, I thank the Hokage-sama." The Queen of Rōran said respectfully.

Now that they had formed an alliance with Konohagakure, there was no need to worry about the covetous eyes of other forces in the future.

After all, no force dared provoke Konohagakure as it was now!

She seemed to think of something and continued,

"You two used the power of the Dragon Vein twice to travel through time. Its energy has become somewhat unstable. In the short term, I’m afraid it cannot open the seal like before."

The Queen of Rōran was not lying. The Dragon Vein indeed had a risk of losing control in the short term.

If the seal were undone again, it might threaten the safety of the people of Rōran.

As the Queen of Rōran, she naturally had to prioritize her nation’s people, so she had no choice but to remind the two of this.

To temporarily dispel their thoughts of using the Dragon Vein to travel through time again.

"We understand. Thank you for the reminder, Your Majesty."

Renya had just returned from time travel and had no intention of going again anytime soon. This was the perfect opportunity to let the Dragon Vein’s energy stabilize.

In the future, when Danzō truly retired, they could travel to other timelines again.

The two bid farewell to the Queen of Rōran and returned together toward Konohagakure.

Along the way, Shimura Danzō was preoccupied, always feeling that something bad was about to happen.

He even had the urge not to return at all.

In contrast, Renya remained as carefree as ever, seemingly unaware of the seriousness of the situation.

"Danzō, look over there. The scenery is nice. Let’s go sit there for a while."

"Danzō, are you hungry? Should I hunt something and roast it?"

"Danzō, we’ve been gone for over ten days. Do you think Uncle misses us in the village?"

"Danzō, why aren’t you saying anything?"

"No, why is your face so pale?!"

Shimura Danzō’s face was deathly pale, his body trembling uncontrollably, as if he had seen something extremely terrifying.

Seeing his good friend like this, Renya naturally had to show concern.

"No— I’m fine..." Shimura Danzō wiped the cold sweat from his face with his sleeve and took a deep breath before explaining.

This was only his speculation. It was better not to tell Renya, lest his carefree friend worry unnecessarily along the way.

If his guess was wrong, then everything would be fine.

But if his guess was correct, then he could only face the wrath of Tobirama-sensei.

He only hoped that, seeing as he had never intervened, his teacher would go easy on him.

As for Renya, he could only wish him good luck.

"Your face is already this pale, and you still say you’re fine." Renya took out a handkerchief from his chest and handed it to Shimura Danzō. "Here, wipe off the cold sweat first."

"Where did you get a handkerchief?"

Shimura Danzō suddenly realized the issue and looked at his good friend in surprise.

Renya was not the type to carry a handkerchief around. Wasn’t that something only women carried?

"This?" Renya waved the handkerchief. "Uchiha Izuna left it for Uchiha Madara on the battlefield to stop his bleeding. I happened to be there at the time, so he gave me one too."

If he hadn’t seen Danzō sweating profusely, he would have forgotten about it.

Hearing Renya’s explanation, Shimura Danzō let out a sigh of relief.

So it was just something Uchiha Izuna gave him casually!

He had thought some girl gave it to Renya and was afraid his good friend had left the ranks of single men.

Since it wasn’t from a girl, then there was no problem.

Otherwise, if his good friend had a partner, he would be the only one left alone and miserable.

Seeing Danzō’s face regain color, Renya asked curiously,

"What were you so afraid of just now?"

He meant the reason for his friend’s pale face, but Danzō misunderstood completely.

"I wasn’t afraid. I was just curious."

He was just curious where Renya got the handkerchief, not afraid that Renya knew other girls.

Yes, that’s right!

Renya: "???"

What kind of curiosity makes your face turn pale and causes cold sweat to pour nonstop?!

Though confused, seeing that his friend did not want to explain, he stopped asking.

Shimura Danzō secretly let out a sigh of relief when Renya did not press further.

Renya was as easy to fool as ever!

He had truly been afraid Renya would keep questioning until he got the answer.

If that really happened...

Should he tell the truth, or not?

This small incident distracted Danzō, making him wrestle internally with whether he should tell Renya the truth if asked.

Subconsciously, he ignored the issue of whether the Warring States period they had gone to was truly a parallel timeline.

By the time he realized it, the two were already close to Konohagakure.

"Why did you stop walking?"

Seeing his good friend suddenly stop, his face turning pale again, Renya asked in confusion.

What was going on? Why did he suddenly become like this again?

More importantly, Renya had no idea what had happened.

Shimura Danzō swallowed subconsciously. His voice trembled as he spoke haltingly.

"Renya, are you really sure the timelines we went to were all parallel timelines?"

Though he wanted to believe Renya, his instincts told him he was finished!

Sometimes, intuition was frighteningly accurate...

Especially when it involved bad premonitions for oneself—the accuracy could reach ninety percent!

"I thought it was something serious. Turns out it’s just this." Renya suddenly understood why his friend had been uneasy the whole way.

Seeing Danzō’s anxious look, he patted his chest reassuringly.

"Don’t worry. It’s definitely a parallel timeline!"

It was just traveling to the past. How could time be so easily changed?

Besides, he hadn’t really done anything—he had only beaten up that old Tobirama a bit. How could that affect history?

"Is that really so?"

Shimura Danzō’s voice suddenly became filled with terror, but someone was too busy savoring the satisfaction of beating up his adoptive father to notice the change in tone.

"Of course. Why would I lie to you?"

"Then... look ahead..."

Shimura Danzō’s voice trembled. Renya could even sense despair in it.

"What are you talking abou—"

As soon as Renya raised his head, he met Senju Tobirama’s killing intent-filled gaze. His body stiffened instinctively, and his mind went completely blank.

What was going on? Wasn’t this supposed to be a parallel timeline?

Damn, I think I just saw those cheap parents I’ve never met before...

"You finally returned!"