XX-level Hokage

Suddenly, Hong had a sudden inspiration and formed a hand seal. "Magic Illusion: Falling Cherry Blossom Technique."

There were no actual cherry blossoms falling inside the study, but in everyone's eyes, the scenery outside the window seemed to have transformed into a blooming cherry blossom forest, with petals drifting down slowly amidst ice crystals, a beauty that seemed otherworldly.

"So beautiful," Lei exclaimed.

"Yes," Shi said, looking at the scene that blended reality and illusion. "This is the beauty of the present moment."

In this tranquil haven far from the hustle and bustle, four mothers and three daughters enjoy their own peaceful moments.

There was no fierce confrontation, no power struggle, only the aroma of tea, the fragrance of books, and the warmth that still flowed in our blood.

Just then, a loud crash came from downstairs, followed by Tsunade's laughter and Hancock's roar. "Looks like... the war over there isn't over yet," Kurenai shook her head helplessly.

"No matter how noisy it is outside, you are always welcome here."

Bonus Chapter: Tea Party (The End)

Location: Ninja Kingdom, Imperial Capital, Highest Forbidden Area "Star-Picking Tower" Time: Royal Meet-and-Greet in Progress

The hustle and bustle of the imperial city seemed to be isolated beneath its feet by an invisible barrier. This was the highest point in the capital, even higher than the previous "Cloud Terrace".

This is a solitary tower suspended atop the palace, crafted entirely from pure white chakra crystals and special lunar rocks, radiating a cool glow in the night.

There are no servants or guards here, because the master who lives here is the one who needs no protection in the world.

Before the huge floor-to-ceiling window, a stunningly beautiful woman with pale skin, pure white eyes, and a third Rinne Sharingan on her forehead stood quietly. She wore a gorgeous, wide white robe, and her long hair cascaded down to the ground like a silver river, spreading all the way to the center of the room.

She is the "Ancestor of Chakra," and also the strongest backer of the Mashiro Empire—Kaguya Otsutsuki. "Too noisy."

Kaguya parted her lips slightly, her voice clear and cold, devoid of any warmth or human touch.

Those white eyes pierced through layers of mist, gazing down at the brightly lit banquet hall below, their gaze revealing an indifference akin to looking at ants. Only when their eyes swept over the figure of a certain silver-haired girl (Tian Chen) did a faint trace of warmth appear.

That's the sound of "home," Kaguya.

A gentle voice came from behind, followed by a pair of warm arms encircling Kaguya's slender waist.

Mashiro gently rested her chin on Kaguya's shoulder, inhaling the ethereal, moonlit fragrance of her hair, and chuckled softly, "If you don't like it, why keep looking at it?"

Kaguya didn't struggle; instead, she leaned back against him, nestled in the arms of the only person who allowed her to let her guard down.

“Because that is the Yuan family’s and your empire,” Kaguya said calmly. “The Yuan family doesn’t like to make a fuss, but they don’t mind watching the prosperity you’ve created.”

Mashiro tightened her arms, her gaze softening and deepening. Of all her companions, Kaguya was the most special.

If Hancock is domineering and Tsunade is bold, then Kaguya is absolutely "strong".

In the process of conquering these two worlds, Kaguya's power played a decisive role. She was not only a lover, but also Mashiro's trump card. However, it was precisely because of this overwhelming power and her status as a god that she was destined to be unable to integrate into that lively "mother's circle" like others.

She disdained jealousy and rivalry over offspring. Because she was a goddess, unique and irreplaceable.

"Tianchen did a great job," Zhenbai said softly. "His ability to control the situation just now was very much like yours."

“She is my most perfect creation, and the child who most resembles you.” Kaguya’s tone finally showed a hint of emotion when she mentioned Tianchen. “Black Zetsu reported that she is preparing to inherit the throne and has even begun to win over her other sisters.”

“That’s a good thing.” Mashiro smiled and kissed Kaguya’s earlobe. “Ambition is the driving force. However, the other children won’t give up easily either.” “The Uchiha clan’s eye power is good, but it’s still immature in front of the Otsutsuki.” Kaguya said proudly, then turned to face Mashiro. She stretched out her long, pale fingers and gently stroked Mashiro’s cheek.

"So white." "Hmm?"

"Stay here tonight." Kaguya's gaze was fixed on Mashiro, a possessiveness that was divine, brooking no refusal, yet carrying a fatal allure. "Those vulgar women down there aren't worth your time. I... miss you."

Mashiro's heart fluttered as she watched the high and mighty Goddess of the Rabbit reveal such a vulnerable, feminine side. "But... everyone's still waiting for me down there," Mashiro teased her deliberately.

Kaguya's brow furrowed slightly, and the Rinne Sharingan on her forehead opened a crack, instantly distorting the surrounding space with a terrifying pressure. "Do you want me to go down and turn that banquet hall into a nursery?"

"No, no, no! I was just kidding!" Mashiro quickly raised her hands in surrender, then smiled and grasped Kaguya's hand. "However, before I go down there to deal with that big scene, my time... is all yours."

Mashiro scooped Kaguya up in her arms and carried her to the enormous cloud bed at the back of the room. "Actually, I missed you too, my goddess."

The lights of the Star-Picking Tower remained lit, but the curtains slowly fell, obscuring the spring light and the whispers of the gods. Here, only the two of them existed, unconcerned with the world's gaze or the need to balance the power of various factions. This was a tranquil moment belonging solely to the "King" and the "God."

Location: Ninja Kingdom, Imperial City, Central Banquet Hall; Time: Two hours after the start of the Royal Meeting.

If the Star-Picking Tower is a divine realm in the clouds, then the central banquet hall at this moment is the most dazzling fireworks display on earth.

As night fell and the lights came on, the mothers, who had been exchanging ideas in various venues (the training ground, the terrace, the bamboo grove, and the study), finally gathered together for the banquet.

Inside the enormous banquet hall, dozens of long tables were set up, piled high with fine wines and delicacies.

Although the giant wooden table from the Manka Studio was gone, this self-service revelry felt even more relaxed. The air was filled with a mixture of alcohol, perfume, chakra, and domineering aura.

The atmosphere was most heated in the very center of the hall. "Drink! Whoever falls first loses!"

Tsunade placed one foot on a chair, held up what appeared to be the umpteenth jar of strong liquor, her face flushed with intoxication, and shouted loudly.

Opposite her, Kushina Uzumaki was equally defiant, her red hair flying wildly, and even a few strands of the Adamantine Locket behind her materialized in excitement, helping her open a bottle of sake: "Come on! You think I'm afraid of you?! I'm the woman who can even suppress the Nine-Tails, why would I be afraid of this little bit of horse pee?!"

Between these two "heroines," Boa Hancock maintained her elegant posture, but the number of empty wine bottles piled up in front of her was no less than theirs.

"Hmph, rude." Hancock scoffed, her cheeks slightly flushed, but her eyes remained arrogant. "I am merely appreciating the wine, unlike you who are simply chugging it down. However... since it's a contest, the Emperor of Kuja will never lose to anyone!"

Count me in.

A cool, clear voice joined in. Uchiha Hikari sat quietly to the side, her movements slow and elegant as she drank, finishing each glass in one gulp without changing her expression.

"Hikari-chan! Well done!" Kushina put her arm around Hikari's shoulder. "Our Konoha... oh wait, our Shinobi World Team can't lose to the Pirate Team!" "Utterly pointless competitiveness." Hikari said this, but filled her glass with wine again.

On the other side, Mei Terumi (the Mizukage) was holding a wine glass, looking at Hancock with dreamy eyes: "Hey, you over there, 'World's Most Beautiful Woman.' I heard you haven't officially married Mashiro yet? Just a common-law marriage?"

This sentence instantly hit Hancock's sore spot.

"What did you say?!" Hancock slammed her hand on the table and stood up. "Mashiro and I are of one mind! The wedding is just a formality! But you, I heard you were worried about getting married before?"

"That was before!" Mei Terumi's forehead veins throbbed. "Now I'm a happy woman with two daughters! Unlike some people who only know how to admire themselves in the mirror!"

Seeing that the dinner table was about to turn into a battlefield, Nohara Rin could only helplessly act as a battlefield medic, ready to treat those who were drunk or injured at any time. In contrast to the chaos in the center, the atmosphere on the left side of the hall was full of "calculation".

“Miss Nami, regarding the interdimensional trade tax you just proposed, I think we can discuss it further.” Konan held a glass of water, her expression indifferent yet shrewd.

As one of the de facto stewards of the ninja kingdom, she was equally astute when it came to finances.

"Oh dear, Sister Nan, we're all family, talking about money hurts our feelings." Nami peeled an orange with a smile, but the Berry symbol in her eyes was flashing.

"But since Mashiro entrusted me with the finances of the ocean region, I have to take responsibility. Look, the Sea King jerky and Sky Island shells we provide are hot commodities here."

“However, the explosive tags, medical ninja tools, and chakra-conducting metal we provided are also things you urgently need,” Uchiha Izumi interjected gently, but her tone was sharp. “If we calculate based on the exchange rate, shouldn’t we renegotiate the price?”

"Tch, they're all so shrewd." Tayuya sat down next to her, playing with the gold coins (the ones Mei had just given her). "Anyway, no matter how you negotiate, my share of the patent fees for all the musical instruments from the Sound Village can't be reduced."

“And there’s the sandstone deposits in Alabasta,” Vivi added with a smile. “Alice said that the buildings here really need that kind of material.” Although the mothers at this table didn’t use knives or guns, their verbal sparring was just as exciting as a clash of Conqueror’s Haki.

To the right of the hall lies true tranquility.

Although the giant white star had shrunk to about three meters, it still occupied a large area. She was carefully eating her cake, with tear stains still on her eyes (she had been frightened by the grand scene).

"Are you alright, Bai Xing?" Guan Yueshi gently handed her a handkerchief. "Although it's a bit noisy here, the Tian family is very happy."

"Um... thank you, Sister Shi." Shirahoshi sniffed and gave a soft smile. "Everyone... is amazing. That lady named Tsunade, the way she drinks is so scary, but she just gave me the biggest piece of meat."

"That's just how Lady Tsunade is, all bark and no bite," Kurenai Yuhi said with a smile, as she was using genjutsu to perform magic tricks for several young children (such as Hatsumi and Coco).

"Actually, this is quite good." Shiro knelt down beside them, refilling everyone's tea. "Didn't Lord Shiro establish this home so that everyone could show their true selves without any reservations, just like this?"

“Yes.” Perona floated in mid-air, holding Kumasi in her arms. “Although it’s not as quiet as my castle, these guys… hmph, they’re not too bad, especially that Xiaonan. Although she’s lazy, she has pretty good taste.”

Meanwhile, in a corner of the main hall, the daughters continued their revelry.

Thousand Hands Manka lost a drinking contest to Boa Feren (her wine glass was confiscated), and now they are having an arm wrestling match. The table has been replaced with some kind of special alloy.

Uchiha Miko and Nico Flora were playing Go in a corner, discussing philosophy as they played. Zona and Mei had already calculated their "revenue" for the night using a calculator.

Liuli had eaten her fill and was sleeping on a huge soft cushion, her snot bubbles getting bigger and smaller.

Amaterasu Sekichen stood high above, calmly surveying the entire scene. Behind him, the Nobunaga silently recorded this chaotic yet magnificent spectacle. Just as the banquet reached its climax, with Tsunade preparing to pull Hancock into a table dance and Nami preparing to sign the tenth unequal treaty with Izumi...

"Clang—clang—clang—"

The heavy, massive main entrance to the banquet hall emitted a long, drawn-out chime.

The once noisy hall seemed to have been paused, and instantly fell silent.

All eyes, whether on the drunken Tsunade, the shrewd Nami, the proud Felene, or the indifferent Tianchen, were all turned toward the main entrance at this moment.

Behind the two slowly opening golden doors, a tall, slender figure stood against the light.

She wore a white robe that blended the styles of Naruto's divine robes and One Piece's coat, with her signature tail with strange patterns swaying gently behind her. Her face held a hint of helplessness, a hint of doting, and the regal air of someone who reigns over two worlds.

Behind her, the cold moonlight of the Star-Picking Tower could be faintly seen.

Mashiro is back. "Oh my gosh!"

Mashiro stepped into the hall, and looking at the bottles scattered all over the floor, the bent alloy table, and the paper cranes and ghosts floating in the air, a bright smile appeared on her lips.

"It seems you all got along quite well while I was away." She opened her arms, her gaze sweeping over every woman and daughter present.

"Now that everyone is here, then..."

Mashiro's voice echoed throughout the entire palace, carrying boundless passion and love.

"In this era of jade that belongs to us, tonight... let's drink until we drop! Whoa whoa whoa whoa!!!"

The cheers instantly lifted the roof off.

Tsunade rushed forward immediately: "You rascal! You finally decided to come back! Punish yourself with three cups of wine!"

Hancock, not to be outdone, declared, "Mashiro! I want to sit with you!" Kushina retorted, "Don't fight over it! Let her see the newly invented sealing technique first!" Amidst the laughter and joy, the two worlds completely merged.

This is Mashiro's story, and it is also the story of each and every one of them.

On this miraculous night, the boundary between the other side of the sea and this side completely disappeared in the warmth of what is called "home." Returning to the present, Mashiro suddenly snapped back to reality.

Chapter 325: Revenge

After their whimsical and absurd "vacation" on Karakura Town beach, the group returned to the Tokami World.

For most Shinigami, life seemed to have returned to its unchanging course. As the captain of the Third Division, Mashiro still acted like a hands-off manager, leaving all the division's affairs to Kira Izuru, but her very existence was like a stabilizing force—or rather, a huge variable that inspired both awe and unease, weighing down on every inch of Seireitei.

However, just as Mashiro said to everyone on the beach in her last words, "The real storm is coming."

This calm was as fragile as thin ice. Technology Development Bureau, Director's Office.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's face, painted with black and white paint, was now filled with an unprecedented gloom. He frantically typed on the huge spiritual keyboard in front of him, the waterfall of data on the screen was frantically alarming, and the red warning light illuminated the entire dim room in a blood red hue.

Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

Mayuri's sharp voice even carried a hint of barely concealed tremor.

"Chief! It's not just Rukongai; Hollows in the human world are disappearing on a massive scale! The rate of disappearance has exceeded the critical threshold for soul balance!" Akin rushed in, sweating profusely, clutching a newly printed report. "At this rate, the soul boundary between the human world and the Soul Society will collapse within three days!"