(T/N: We're soooo back baby!
(Ps: Next World: Demon Slayer)
After checking his rewards, Hikaru stepped through the Gate of Worlds in the system, officially leaving The Outcast world behind.
The moment he returned, he immediately sensed the drastic shift in atmosphere around him.
The once-wild, volatile natural energy that had raged through the land was now... calm. It felt as if it had been soothed—gentle and easy to control.
Even more astonishing was the energy's density. It had grown significantly, concentrated like refined essence—purer, stronger, and far more potent than before.
To someone like Hikaru, who stood at the peak of comprehension, the transformation was crystal clear.
The world's very laws—those once hidden beneath the surface—now revealed themselves like veils being lifted.
This didn't just mean the people living in this world could now feel the rules more directly...
It meant the entire ceiling and foundation of the Naruto world had been elevated dramatically.
And as its World Lord, Hikaru reaped the greatest benefits.
The moment his feet touched the earth, the system's chime rang out just as expected:
[World law synchronization detected. Idle Speed +500%.]
A pleasant surprise indeed—adding another shine to his already bright mood.
Suppressing his inner joy, Hikaru quickly sensed the presence of Tsunade and the others.
With a single thought, he teleported directly to them.
As soon as he appeared, Tsunade threw her arms around him tightly—like she wanted to merge his very bones into her own.
"You're back, Hikaru." Her voice trembled with joy and longing.
Hikaru smiled and cupped her flushed cheek.
"Yeah, I'm back. Did you miss me?"
Without hesitation, Tsunade nodded. Her eyes overflowed with yearning and affection.
This time apart had made her deeply realize how irreplaceable Hikaru was in her life.
A wave of warmth flooded Hikaru's heart—he had missed her too.
They'd been together since they were children.
This had been their longest separation to date.
He could clearly feel her love and attachment…
Which brought both comfort and a tinge of guilt.
He should've taken her and the others along to that world.
But considering the risks and the unknowns, he'd ultimately decided to go alone.
Looking back now, he knew he'd made the right call—he'd resolved the crisis and even returned with massive gains.
That said…
Thinking about the three girls he brought back with him made Hikaru's face twitch with embarrassment.
He genuinely had no idea how to explain it to Tsunade.
But to his surprise, she didn't react with jealousy or anger.
In fact, she gently reassured him that it was okay.
The diamond-shaped mark on her forehead suddenly lit up—Tsunade had entered Sage Mode in an instant.
This was her growth—and Hikaru's contribution.
She told him that not only had she progressed, but Nonō, Chiri, and the others had also experienced remarkable changes.
Their bodies had evolved in strange, wondrous ways.
Their lifespans had increased, and they were now even better able to remain by Hikaru's side.
Gently running her fingers through his hair, Tsunade leaned in and whispered softly into his ear:
"Did you miss me during that time?"
There was no way Hikaru could resist such seduction.
Just as he was about to take her into his arms—
BANG! The door suddenly burst open.
Nonō, Chiri, Hinata, and Chinatsu all stepped inside.
Their arrival instantly shattered the warm, steamy atmosphere—leaving Hikaru caught between laughter and helplessness.
Chiri's gaze chilled slightly as she took in their intimate moment.
It wasn't because Hikaru had just returned and was already embracing someone…
It was because the person he was embracing wasn't her.
That emotion she felt—deep, sharp, and unspoken—stirred a rare restlessness inside her.
Meanwhile, Nonō and Chinatsu exchanged knowing smiles.
They both understood Hikaru well by now.
So this wasn't exactly surprising.
Hinata, though already used to walking in on these sorts of scenes, still blushed deeply every time.
And yet... this time was different.
A flicker of thrill tingled in her chest.
The contradiction of her emotions—shyness and excitement—left her heart racing.
She covered her face, cheeks glowing bright red…
But between her fingers, one could clearly see her sparkling, wide-eyed stare filled with curiosity and stimulation.
The sudden interruption broke Hikaru's concentration.
That burning impulse vanished just as quickly as it came.
But the girls hadn't just shown up out of affection—they had important news to share.
The Naruto World Had Changed. Rapidly.
Thanks to Hikaru's mercy and wise leadership, the Five Great Nations had unified—without war, without bloodshed.
There were, of course, side effects to this peaceful merger...
But the benefits were clear.
With no large-scale massacres, there were fewer deep grudges among the people.
And those struggling at the bottom—ordinary shinobi with no real talent—found new paths through his reforms.
Many gave up the ninja profession altogether and turned to other industries, contributing in other ways to the rapid advancement of the world.
More importantly, the entire world had risen with him.
The gentle, harmonious natural energy and the now-visible laws nurtured everyone—allowing life itself to evolve.
Ordinary people didn't become superhumans overnight,
But their physical abilities had improved by 50%,
And their lifespans had doubled.
As for trained shinobi with chakra refinement?
Their gains were immeasurable.
Simply put,
Genin became Chūnin,
Chūnin advanced to Jōnin,
And battles that once seemed daunting became effortless.
And then, Tsunade brought even more exciting news.
Children born after the world's ascension…
All of them had the innate ability to absorb natural energy.
Though their absorption rates varied, initial testing showed that even the weakest among them would likely grow to become Special Jōnin at minimum.
This revelation stirred awe in Hikaru's heart.
So this is the blessing of a world's ascension…
Comprehensive. Overwhelming. Transformative.
But while rejoicing, Hikaru also had a lingering question.
If the world had evolved…
Shouldn't animals and plants have evolved too?
But they hadn't.
Upon consulting the subconscious of the Naruto World itself, he got his answer.
This world's narrative—its "main characters"—had always been humans.
And as the World Lord, Hikaru's own subconscious beliefs shaped that reality.
Deep down, he didn't think animals or plants should evolve at the same rate.
And so… during the world's ascension, humans flourished,
While flora and fauna remained mostly the same.
It was only then that another strange thought occurred to Hikaru.
The system had just notified him about the world's ascension—barely moments ago.
And yet Tsunade and the others had already gathered so much detailed information?
How had they done it so fast?