XX-level Hokage

Black Zetsu nodded to himself from within his sleeve: Excellent, he's grasped the child's psychology of wanting to hide yet yearning for recognition. A glint flashed in Yu's eyes.

If it's just hiding in the fog and releasing the fog... it doesn't seem so hard to accept. "If it's just releasing the fog..." Yu whispered, "I can try."

"Thank you, Yu." Tianchen reached out and gently brushed away the long hair that was covering Yu's eyes, revealing her actually very delicate face. "Your eyes are beautiful, like the deep sea. Well then, we'll meet in the main hall later."

Having dealt with Teruyu, who was the most difficult to leave the palace, Tianchen did not stop. Instead, he turned and headed to the most secluded tower in the palace—the territory of the Kurama clan.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door of the studio, a strong smell of paint wafted out. In front of the huge canvas, Kurama Nobunaga was mechanically wielding her paintbrush.

Although she had interacted with Yuhi Rui in the side story, her anxiety seemed to have flared up again as this large gathering approached.

"No. If I don't draw them, they'll come out," the believer murmured to herself. On the canvas were tangled lines, as if trying to suppress some kind of terror.

In the corner, Yakumo Kurama watched her daughter with concern.

As someone who had once suffered from the inability to control the monster within her, she understood the struggle the girl was going through. "Tenchen-chan." Yakumo bowed slightly upon seeing the newcomer.

“Aunt Yakumo.” Tianchen returned the greeting, then walked straight behind Xin Nu.

“My believer, the paintbrush is not used to seal away fear, but to create order.”

The believer's hand trembled slightly, and she stopped. "Sister Tianchen... I feel... something enormous is coming... from across the sea..."

“Yes, it’s our sisters, and the giant beasts of the sea.” Tianchen’s voice was steady and strong. “Wanhua is worried that Liuli will grow out of control, and Yuzi is worried about the lack of proper etiquette. What I’m worried about is that if something unexpected happens, reality will collapse.”

The believer turned around, her lifeless brown eyes looking at Tianchen.

"Your ability is the conversion between 'real' and 'illusion'," Tian Chen continued. "I need you to set up a 'painted world' around the banquet hall, not to seal anyone away, but as a safety net. If anyone gets out of control, if a fight breaks out and the impact is too great, I need you to instantly reduce that space to a lower dimension, turning it into a canvas."

"Turn...the sisters...into paintings?" The believer scratched her head, seemingly considering the feasibility of the suggestion.

“Yes. Only you can do it, believer.” Tianchen emphasized, “You are the only one among us who can eliminate the danger at its source; you are the last lock on this line of defense.”

The woman chewed on the word "lock," and the anxiety in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a sense of mission as if she had been given a heavy responsibility. She had always thought of herself as a monster who only caused trouble for others, but now, her strongest sister told her that she was "lock."

“I understand.” The believer picked up her paintbrush again, and this time her strokes became steady and precise. “I will draw… an absolutely safe cage.”

Black Zetsu sneered in the shadows: The power of the Kurama clan is indeed terrifying, especially with the blessing of my father's bloodline. If they could be used by the future king, they would...

That's the best way to control things, Tianchen, you did a great job.

Leaving the gloomy art studio, Tianchen arrived at the palace's medical garden. Here, the sun shone brightly, and the air was filled with the fragrance of herbs.

Before I even got close, I heard a burst of energetic shouts, "Ha! Ha! This punch is to protect Mom!"

A tomboy with short brown hair and a band-aid on her face was frantically hitting a wooden stake. She looked to be only twelve or thirteen years old, the youngest of all the sisters.

Although she wasn't tall, every punch she threw carried a blue chakra aura—the rudimentary form of a pure tailed beast chakra cloak. She was Nohara Hatsumi, the daughter of Mashiro and Nohara Rin.

On a nearby bench, Nohara Rin was smiling as she arranged herbs, gazing tenderly at her daughter.

As the former Jinchuriki of the Three-Tails, Rin no longer possessed the complete Tailed Beast within her, but that special chakra was inherited by Hatsumi, giving her an innate large amount of chakra and an ability similar to "Tailed Beast Transformation".

"Chujian, take a break. You've been practicing for two hours," Lin said softly.

"No! Mom!" Chu Jian stopped what she was doing, wiped her nose, and said, "I heard that the older sisters who came this time are all very capable, and there's that one named Zona..."

She's got a personality like a bandit! What should I do if Fang Yi and the others bully my mom? I need to become stronger and be my mom's knight in shining armor!

This is a typical case of "mother complex." In her world, Lin is everything, and the other sisters are all "potential troublemakers."

"Um... Sister Zona may be poor, but she wouldn't bully Aunt Lin." Tianchen walked over with a smile.

"Sister Tianchen!" Chu Jian restrained herself slightly upon seeing Tianchen, as Tianchen's aura was too strong. "What are you doing here? Are you here to catch up with Mom too?"

At first glance, he stood warily in front of Lin, like a little tiger protecting its prey.

"It's our first meeting, so please don't be rude." Lin gently tugged at her daughter's hand. "Guan Chen is your elder sister."

"It's alright, Aunt Lin." Tian Chen Tan lowered his head, his gaze level with Chu Jian's. "Chu Jian, I heard you want to be a knight to protect your mother?" "Of course! That's my life goal!" Chu Jian straightened her chest.

“But true knights don’t just stay in the castle.” Tianchen pointed to the sky. “Father will be back soon, and with him will be the convergence of two worlds. At that time, the entire palace will be in chaos. If we just stay here, what if the chaos spreads to this side?”

Chu Jian was stunned: "Then...what should we do?"

“Join me.” Tianchen extended his hand. “Yu, Xinnu, and I have formed an order maintenance team. We need someone with high mobility and abundant chakra to be responsible for ground patrols and suppressing emergencies. Only by taking the initiative and nipping chaos in the bud can we truly provide Aunt Lin and Father with a peaceful gathering environment.”

"You mean... you want me to take care of those older women?" Chu Jian hesitated. "But I'm not even as old as them."

“But in terms of stamina and chakra reserves, you’re second to none,” Tianchen encouraged. “Besides, this is a ‘privilege’ your father has given you; you’re the youngest sister, and your older sisters will all go easy on you. If anyone dares to cause trouble at the banquet, just show them with your fists that noise is prohibited here.”

Black Zetsu: Take advantage of this child's naivety and protectiveness towards her mother to make her our executor in the open. This child is Mashiro's youngest daughter, and no one would dare to really hurt her. She is the best shield.

Chu Jian glanced at Lin, who smiled and nodded: "Go ahead, Chu Jian, you should get to know your sisters too."

"Alright!" Chu Jian clenched his fist, his eyes burning with fire. "Since it's for Mom's peace and quiet, then I'll reluctantly try to maintain order! If anyone dares to cause trouble, I'll blast them away with a simulated Tailed Beast Ball!"

Half an hour later, on the highest terrace of the main hall of the palace, four girls with distinct personalities stood facing the wind.

Leading the group was Ōtsutsuki Tenchū, whose flowing robes made her resemble a goddess, her dark green Rinnegan gazing down at the plaza below. To her left stood Terumi Hatake, dressed in a deep blue dress with her long hair veiling her face.

As she breathed, the surrounding air began to become moist, and a thin mist began to spread around the square, isolating it from the noise of the outside world.

To her right was Kurama Nobunaga, holding a drawing board. Her paintbrush had already outlined the entire banquet hall on the paper, and she could bring that space into the painting at any time.

At the very front, Nohara Hatsumi was perched on the railing, draped in a light blue chakra cloak, like a cheetah poised to pounce, ready to charge down and uphold "justice" at any moment.

“The fog has risen,” Yu said softly. “The painting is complete,” the believer replied in a low voice.

"My fist is ready!" Chu Jian shouted excitedly. A bit childish.

Tian Chen nodded in satisfaction.

Compared to the individual heroism of Wan Hua and Yu Zi, who compete with each other, this "special squad" that she personally assembled, encompassing control, sealing, and assault, is the true force capable of taking control of the situation.

"Then let's help Wanhua and Miko relieve some of the pressure."

Tian Chen raised his head, looking at the white behemoth "True White" that had begun its slow descent. "After all, for the future empire, order will be the eternal theme."

The black-clad figure in the sleeve let out a satisfied chuckle: "That's right, Tianchen, this is the magnanimity of a king. It seems the day you sit on that throne is not far off."

However, both Tian Chen and Hei Jue underestimated one thing at this moment: just how much chaos those princesses from across the sea, especially that one with a gigantic body and some kind of time-manipulation ability, could create.

Whether this hastily assembled "Buddhist-style secret service" can truly hold the line remains to be seen.

Bonus Chapter: Welcoming (The End)

Location: Ninja Kingdom, Imperial City, Sky Corridor and Illusion Garden; Time: One hour before the opening of the Dual Realm Passage.

While Senju Manka was undertaking massive construction in the banquet hall, Uchiha Miko was pursuing ultimate perfection in the tea room, and Otsutsuki Tenchen was assembling her "order maintenance team," two other corners of the palace were immersed in completely different atmospheres.

There are no deafening roars here, nor any tense atmosphere. Instead, there is a dreamlike fragrance and paper scraps fluttering in the air. This is the realm of "beauty."

A grand yet tender welcoming ceremony was woven together by Yuhi Kurenai's daughter, Yuhi Rui, and Konan's daughter, Konan.

The "Red Jade Corridor," located on the west side of the palace, connects the main hall and guest rooms and is a necessary passage for guests. At this time, it has been transformed into a sea of ​​red.

It wasn't the red of fresh blood, but a warm, radiant red, like the glow of a sunset. "Mom, isn't the color here a bit too intense?"

The girl who spoke had a signature head of black curly hair, and her ruby-like eyes held a hint of uncertain hesitation. She wore a pale purple kimono with delicate evening glory flowers embroidered on the cuffs, and her every move exuded an innate elegance and melancholy.

She is the daughter of Mashiro and Kurenai Yuhi—Yuhi Rui.

At this moment, Lei was standing in the center of the corridor, her hands in a mudra.

Around her, countless red petals drifted down from thin air, only to vanish into specks of light before hitting the ground. This was not a physical object, but an extremely sophisticated environmental illusion.

"No, tears. This concentration is just right." Kurenai slowly emerged from the flower bushes.

Time had been remarkably kind to this former genjutsu master; she remained beautiful, but the aloofness of her youth had transformed into the composure and charm of a mature woman. She walked behind her daughter and gently adjusted the angle of her fingers forming the tear-knot seal.

"Remember, Mashiro-sama's other half comes from the sea," Kurenai instructed softly. "The sea is blue, vast and deep, and in order to..."

We need to use warm colors to neutralize the feeling of coldness so that we can feel the warmth of home. This is not just an illusion, but also a form of psychological suggestion.

A psychological suggestion... Tears nodded thoughtfully.

"That's right, Manka only knows how to create a scene with wood, while Miko is too fixated on the placement of props. What we need to do is control the atmosphere." Hong extended her finger and lightly tapped the air.

The visually stunning sea of ​​red flowers suddenly gained an olfactory dimension. A faint fragrance, a blend of citrus and cherry blossoms, filled the air.

"It smells so good!" Lei exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise. "Is this the new aromatherapy that Mom made?"

“Yes, this fragrance can relax people and relieve the fatigue of long journeys.” Red smiled at her daughter. “Tears, your talent for illusion is far superior to mine, but illusion is not just for confusing enemies or causing harm. In peacetime, it is the highest art, a bridge that can directly touch people’s hearts.”

Looking at her mother's confident yet gentle profile, the tension in her heart finally dissipated. She took a deep breath, her red pupils slightly contracting. "I understand, Mom. I will pave the most beautiful road for Father and the sisters who have come from afar."

Tears closed her eyes, and the chakra within her flowed slowly. "A magical ten-mile-long red bridal procession."

The next second, the entire corridor underwent a dramatic transformation.

The originally cold marble floor was transformed into a soft red carpet by the illusion, and countless glowing vines "grew" on the pillars on both sides, with golden dust floating in the air.

Even more magically, with each step, a gentle ripple spreads beneath one's feet, accompanied by the crisp sound of wind chimes. This is a composite illusion that perfectly blends sight, hearing, and smell.

“Well done.” Red nodded with satisfaction, her eyes full of pride. “This is how the Yuhi family treats its guests. No matter how domineering that boy named Boa Felen is, he probably won’t be able to get angry in the face of such a gentle dream.”

"As long as the believer doesn't draw my illusion in black and white, that's fine." Tears suddenly thought of something and smiled helplessly.

"Don't worry, Tianchen has already gone to find Xinnu." Hong patted her daughter's shoulder. "Let's go check the lighting in the banquet hall." If Xi Ri Lei laid out a dream on the ground, then atop the tens of meters high palace was another white world.

"Ah, so tired. My neck is so sore." A lazy voice rang out from the beam.

The blue-haired girl lay sprawled out on a huge paper bed, her eyes white and innocent, with her signature pale purple paper flower tucked behind her ear.

She is Mashiro and Minami's daughter, Minami.

Despite possessing a powerful bloodline (her mother's God Paper Technique and Mashiro's Byakugan), Konan's greatest hobbies are simply daydreaming and sleeping.

"Xiao Nan, get up."

A cold and stern voice came from behind.

Konan, who originally existed as a gatekeeper in the Naruto world, was now flapping her huge paper wings and hovering in mid-air. She looked at her lazy daughter with a hint of disappointment, but deep in her eyes was nothing but doting affection.

"Mommy~ let me lie down for five more minutes~" Xiaonan rolled over on the paper bed like a spoiled cat, "Anyway, the decoration work can be done with any kind of paper dance."

"It'll be fine after a quick fix; who's going to look up and check the ceiling anyway?"

“This is for your father,” Xiao Nan said calmly, but her tone softened noticeably when she mentioned the “marriage alliance.” “Besides,” she continued, “I’ve heard that there’s a sister in Hainada named Zona who is very sensitive to the weather and clouds. If she sees our dome decorations in such a mess, she’ll laugh at us for not even being able to control the sky.”

"Zona?" Xiao Nan rolled her eyes, seemingly intrigued. "You mean that orange-haired lady who's supposedly very greedy but incredibly skilled at navigation?"

"Will she bring lots of sparkly gems?" Xiao Nan sat up and asked, tilting her head.

"Maybe, but if you were seen looking like this, you probably wouldn't even get a single gem as a gift." Konan used reverse psychology. This tactic clearly worked.

"That won't do!" Xiao Nan perked up instantly. "Although I'm not interested in money (that's Ya's hobby), I do quite like shiny things."