Konoha, in a wooded path not far from the ANBU headquarters.

"I remember making it very clear to you last time!!"

"Hayate, I'm asking you not to bother me anymore!!"

Having just completed a mission and removed her mask, Yugao strode forward with some exasperation, while Hayate followed behind like a lingering ghost.

"Yugao..."

"Why are you still treating me like this after all this time?!"

Hurrying to catch up with Yugao's pace from behind, Hayate's features, afflicted by illness for several years, seemed even more pronounced—his complexion had a sickly pallor, and heavy dark circles hung beneath his eyes.

In contrast, Yugao had blossomed over these years, becoming more graceful, alluring, and radiant. Her purple hair cascaded down to her waist, and her face was strikingly beautiful, drawing attention wherever she walked down the streets.

"Could it be..."

Seemingly realizing something, Hayate suddenly shouted with agitation, "That damned brat, that rogue ninja, even after all this time you still haven't forgotten about him?!"

"Rogue ninja?!"

Upon hearing Hayate's shout, Yugao abruptly halted her steps, her face turning cold and frosty, "Let me make this clear to you one last time! Yu is not a rogue ninja! He just temporarily left Konoha!!"

"Even Hokage-sama hasn't issued a warrant calling him a rogue ninja, so what makes you think you can say that?!"

As she finished her words, Yugao's expression also began to show signs of agitation. Since Yu left Konoha, she had faced considerable pressure alone in the village—not least from Hayate's harassment right before her.

"Yakushi Yu... It's Yakushi Yu again..."

Through gritted teeth, Hayate muttered the name, his face starting to show a grimace. He could never forget how much shame this name had brought him, "That kid is just deceiving you! A guy like him..."

"After offending so many Elders in the village, do you really think he would come back for you? He's just playing with you!!"

Hayate's words seemed to strike a nerve with Yugao. She gradually calmed down and looked indifferently at Hayate in front of her, "Even if he really is playing me, I'm willing... Hayate, this is the last time I'll consider you my friend. Don't let me see you again."

With those words spoken, Yugao turned and walked away, never looking back at Hayate.

"Yugao, you..."

Upon hearing Yugao's decisive words, Hayate stood frozen, watching her departing figure.

"Yugao, long time no see."

Just then, a familiar yet unfamiliar voice suddenly rang out. Both Yugao and Hayate froze in place, simultaneously turning incredulously to see who it was.

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"Yu?!"

With hope and anticipation written all over her face, Yugao turned back with ecstatic joy, gazing in the direction of the sunlight.

In the dappled sunlight, a young man with black clothes and white hair was walking towards her. His perfect physique and handsome features, coupled with amber-clear eyes, adorned his face. He wore a loose-fitting ninja kimono, and his white disheveled hair shone brightly against the sun.

"Is it really you? Yu..."

Seeing the young man she had yearned for day and night actually appear, Yugao was so excited that her words became somewhat incoherent.

Yu was also looking at her. After some time apart, Yugao appeared even more stunningly beautiful, albeit slightly thinner, perhaps due to missing him dearly. Without wasting words, upon seeing Yugao, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, Yu approached and embraced her tightly.

"You... You're Yakushi Yu?!"

"How dare you show up in Konoha?!"

Seeing Yu suddenly appear and embrace Yugao in front of him, Hayate beside them simply couldn't believe his eyes. He hadn't imagined that Yu, after causing such a stir upon leaving Konoha, would dare to openly return.

"Click..."

Subconsciously, Hayate's wary eyes darted towards the ANBU-standard long sword strapped to his back.

But before he could react, a blue chakra thread flashed across, and with a gentle movement of his finger, Yu, who was embracing Yugao in front of him, effortlessly flicked out the blue chakra threads, sending the long sword flying and embedding it deeply into a nearby tree.

"Oh right, almost forgot you, noisy guy..."

After the blue chakra threads had knocked away Hayate's weapon, Yu finally released Yugao from his embrace. His calm gaze shifted to Hayate beside them, as the power of the Thread Fruit quietly activated within him.

"This is bad... This guy is too dangerous... I need to quickly inform everyone to come..."

Feeling Yu's seemingly indifferent gaze upon him, Hayate suddenly felt like he was in an icy tomb. Sensing the insurmountable gap in strength between them, he instinctively reached to send a signal to alert the other ANBU ninjas in Konoha.

"Rabbit Hair Needle!!"

However, Yu's actions were faster than his. Countless subtle needles sliced through the air, faintly entwined with blue electrical currents. Under the precise sensing of Observation Haki, they directly and accurately struck Hayate's body!

"Damn... What is this?!"

Standing in place, Hayate shuddered all over. He felt a paralyzing numbness and piercing pain throughout his body. Instantly, all his meridians and vital points were sealed by Yu, rendering him immobile like a statue, unable to even lift a finger.

"Although I really want to kill you, you're Yugao's friend after all. So, let's just make you forget about this unpleasant memory..."

After releasing the Rabbit Hair Needle to seal Hayate in place, Yu observed his angry and flushed face. With a slight curl of his lips, he gently flicked his finger, utilizing the Thread Fruit's ability to create a tiny thread as fine as a needle.

"Memory-Concealing Manipulative Sand!!"

In Hayate's contracted pupils due to fear, the extremely fine needles flicked and created by Yu penetrated directly into his brain. Upon entering the core of his brain's memory center, they immediately sealed and erased his memories.

Although Hayate was already a formidable Special Jonin of Konoha, under the vast chasm of strength difference, he could only be manipulated like a puppet in front of Yu.

"It's done..."

"Let's go, Yugao. Accompany me to the orphanage."

After easily handling Hayate with a flick of his finger, Yu continued to embrace Yugao's shoulders, walking towards the dense forest nearby where no one else was present. "By the way... Kurenai? Why haven't I sensed her Chakra..."

Besides wanting to visit Yugao upon returning to Konoha, Yu naturally also wished to see Kurenai, whom he hadn't seen for a long time. However, despite his Observation Haki covering the entire Konoha, he sensed no trace of her presence.

"Kurenai just left the village on a mission these past few days..."

Turning back to glance at Hayate, who stood there like a wooden statue after losing his memories, Yugao's eyes turned again with hopeful anticipation towards Yu beside her. "By the way, she's about to become a Jonin! I must tell her this good news when you return!!"

For a moment, amidst the secluded path of this deserted forest, their shared love froze this somewhat peculiar scene in time.

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