Chapter 197: Ch-197 Returning to Konoha.
Although Inoiki was in a hurry, he was not reckless or foolish.
He knew well that White Zetsu clones were scattered across the world like invisible spores, always watching. There was a high chance that one had already spotted him. The last thing he wanted was to walk into another ambush by an Akatsuki member. Yes, his teleportation could help him escape if needed—but Obito was a different story. That man could warp space itself with Kamui, appearing and disappearing at will.
So Inoiki didn’t move at full speed toward Konoha. He was cautious, deliberate—always remaining closest to his peak strength, watching his surroundings with heightened Observation Haki.
The journey took nearly a week.
During that time, Inoiki took the opportunity to familiarize himself with the sharp surge in his power that had come from his second awakening. That’s what he had decided to call it—this phenomenon of tremendous mental evolution triggered at the edge of death. The first time was three years ago, during his desperate battle against Orochimaru. The second... only a month ago, while fighting the Six Paths of Pain.
Both times, he had brushed against death—and both times, his psyche had torn itself open and rebuilt anew, stronger than before.
By the seventh day, as dawn colored the skies above the Land of Fire, Inoiki approached the gates of Konoha.
Sitting calmly on his floating ice throne, he glided above the road, his expression unreadable. The soft hum of psychokinetic energy thrummed around him like an invisible storm, yet he exuded a calm, divine presence—as if the wind itself parted to make way for him.
At the village gate, Izumo and Kotetsu were stationed on duty. When they saw the familiar figure approach from afar, both squinted in disbelief.
As Inoiki came closer, Izumo’s jaw dropped. His heart thudded. He rubbed his eyes once, twice.
"Inoiki...?" he whispered.
Inoiki smiled slightly, noticing Izumo’s stunned face. "Long time no see, Izumo-san."
Izumo blinked, stunned for a few more seconds before his senses kicked in. "You... you’re really alive? I thought... I thought I was hallucinating. Where were you? We all thought—"
He didn’t finish the sentence. The word death felt like a curse now that Inoiki stood before him, alive and whole.
"It’s a long story," Inoiki said gently. "I’ll explain everything in time... or maybe the story will reach your ears on its own soon. But right now, I need to report to Lady Tsunade—and I want to meet my family. They deserve to know I’m still alive."
Izumo could only nod. There was no hesitation in him—because there was no doubt in him.
The man before him was unmistakably Inoiki: floating on his throne of ice, radiating with that signature psychokinetic aura. And more importantly, Konoha’s chakra barrier hadn’t made a sound when he passed through. If someone had been impersonating Inoiki’s appearance, even perfectly, the barrier would have screamed.
Only the real Inoiki could have returned like this.
"Welcome back," Izumo said softly, still in disbelief. "Truly... welcome back."
With a grateful nod, Inoiki turned and accelerated toward the Hokage building, his ice throne leaving a shimmering trail of frost behind as it cut through the morning mist.
If Inoiki had floated openly through the streets of Konoha atop his ice throne, he knew what would happen. Crowds would gather. Eyes would widen. Whispers would ripple like waves. And though admiration was inevitable, curiosity could easily turn into spectacle.
He had no intention of becoming a performing monkey in his own village.
Instead, he took a more discreet route—rising above the buildings—until he arrived directly outside the Hokage Building. Without announcing himself to the guards or entering through the front gate, he floated silently to the side of the upper floor and stopped just outside the Hokage’s office window.
With a calm composure, he leaned slightly forward and knocked.
Inside, Shizune was busy helping Tsunade with the endless paperwork that came with the role of Hokage. The knock on the window irritated her immediately. She turned with a frown—expecting perhaps a bird or a messenger hawk—but what she saw froze her in place.
Outside, suspended in midair on an ice throne, sat a figure that was impossible to mistake. Blond hair, sky-blue eyes, and a calm smile.
"Inoiki...?" she whispered, stunned.
Tsunade, stamping documents while half-listening to Shizune’s silence, glanced up with annoyance. "Shizune? What is it now—why aren’t you—?"
But her irritation vanished the moment she followed Shizune’s gaze.
There, just outside the glass, was Yamanaka Inoiki. Sitting tall, poised, and very much alive. The woman who had seen countless deaths, who had buried too many promising shinobi, was speechless. Her expression matched Shizune’s—caught between disbelief and hope.
Tsunade’s voice broke first. "Well, what are you waiting for? Open the window."
The relief and emotion in her tone were unmistakable.
Shizune hurried to obey, unfastening the latch and pushing the window wide. Inoiki gently shrank the size of his ice throne, manipulating its shape so he could glide through the window while still seated. The throne passed into the room smoothly, leaving behind a faint shimmer of frost in the air.
As he entered, Tsunade set her papers aside and looked directly at him. Her voice, softer now, carried the weight of too much left unsaid. "It’s good that you’re back."
Inoiki gave her a respectful nod. "I’m also happy to be back," he said. "But from the look on your face... it seems no one knew I was still alive."
Tsunade’s brows drew together. "Why do you say that?" she asked, now studying him more intently. "Did you send a message to Konoha? Some sign, anything at all?"
Inoiki shook his head. "No, it’s not that," he said slowly. "I just thought..."
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