Yamato stared at Chiga with wide eyes and murmured softly,

"Master?"

Chiga landed back on the ground, still holding her in his arms. Yamato showed no intention of letting go, clinging tightly to him.

Zephyr walked forward, resting his hands on his hips.

"You're finally back. This disciple of yours has been chanting 'Master, Master' all day long. My ears are practically calloused from hearing it."

Chiga smiled helplessly, glancing down at Yamato. The normally boisterous girl looked surprisingly shy, shrinking her neck and burying her face against his chest like a flustered child—though at over two meters tall, she hardly looked the part.

Ignoring her clinginess for the moment, Chiga looked up at Zephyr with a grin.

"Zephyr sensei, long time no see. You're looking well. That punch just now was really powerful."

Zephyr curled his lip.

"Forget it. What's that punch of mine worth compared to you now?"

His eyes narrowed curiously at the golden glow in Chiga's gaze.

"What's with your eyes? That's not the Rinnegan, is it?"

Yamato tilted her head up as well, finally noticing the change. She wanted to stay nestled in Chiga's embrace a little longer, but her curiosity got the better of her.

Chiga explained calmly,

"This is the Tenseigan. You could say it's one of the things I gained from my journey."

"The Tenseigan, huh? Another powerful pair of eyes. Can you show me what it can do?"

Chiga nodded. Turning his head toward the distant sea, he released two beams of golden light. The blasts split the ocean's surface cleanly apart, carving a deep chasm before the waves gradually rushed back in. Steam rose from the heated seawater, filling the air.

Both Zephyr and Yamato gasped in awe. Zephyr muttered with a smirk,

"It's light-based too, but much stronger than Borsalino's. Compared to this, Kizaru's abilities could barely light the candles at a birthday party."

---

In Marine Headquarters, a certain admiral sneezed.

"Achoo!"

Kizaru rubbed his nose, staring at his chipped fingernail.

"Is Zephyr sensei cursing me again? Tsk… such a stubborn old man."

---

Back at the training ground, Yamato's eyes sparkled with adoration.

"As expected of the Master I admire most! You're truly amazing!"

Her admiration for Chiga already surpassed what she once felt for Oden. She clung tightly to his chest, refusing to let go.

Chiga tried several times to peel her off, but Yamato always found a way to slip back into his arms. He was just about to consider using a gentle repelling technique when she suddenly let go on her own.

Standing firmly before him, Yamato's eyes brimmed with mist.

Chiga frowned, scanning her with his Tenseigan before placing a hand gently on her forehead. Only after confirming that she was unharmed did he relax.

Yamato felt a strange shiver at his gaze but didn't dwell on it. Taking a breath, she asked in a trembling voice,

"Master, where exactly did you go? You didn't even tell me. It was Kalifa san who finally told me…"

Her words carried a note of grievance. In her simple heart, she couldn't accept that Chiga had left without saying goodbye.

Zephyr tried to ease the moment.

"Actually, even I, her sensei, didn't know. Don't take it too hard."

Yamato spun toward him, fuming.

"Zephyr sensei, what do you know?! My relationship with Master isn't the same as yours!"

"Uh… cough, cough!"

Zephyr coughed awkwardly, caught off guard.

"What's different? Aren't you both disciples?"

"It's just different! I don't want to only be a disciple… Ugh!"

Realizing what she was about to say, Yamato slapped a hand over her mouth, glaring at him in silence.

Chiga reached out and patted her head gently, speaking in an unusually soft tone.

"Yamato, it was my fault for leaving without telling you last time. The truth is, I went to another world."

"Another world?"

Her eyes widened, panic flashing across her face.

"Wait… does that mean Master… died during that time!?"

Bang!

Chiga flicked her forehead, his irritation breaking through.

"Who said I died? Another world means another dimension, do you understand? A dimension!"

Yamato nodded vaguely, only half-understanding, before asking with sudden eagerness,

"Then when can I go with you? I want to see it too!"

Chiga snapped his fingers, summoning a swirling black dimensional portal into the air beside them.

"Anytime. I'll take you later. Would that satisfy you?"

"Satisfied!"

Her bad mood vanished instantly, as if it had never been there. In that way, Yamato reminded Chiga of Nerona—quick to change, though not always for the better.

She slipped behind him and hugged his waist, pressing her cheek against his back with a soft murmur,

"Master is still the best. If you hadn't come back, I might've returned to my hometown…"

"You mean Onigashima? I've been there already. Your father is enjoying himself as King. If you went back, you'd be a Princess—or rather, a Prince."

Yamato pouted.

"I'm a girl, why would I be a Prince? And I don't care about being Princess either. My father always said he hated being King, yet now he's ruling happily. Men really are fickle!"

"Hm?"

Chiga raised an eyebrow, caught off guard.

"Who taught you that?"

Yamato tilted her head proudly.

"It was Nerona! She said it's the wisdom she gained after reading many books!"

Chiga massaged his temples with a groan.

"Nerona, reading? What kind of books would she even bother with? Listen to her less. Honestly, her intelligence might be even lower than yours."

"Master! Are you calling me stupid too?"

"Otherwise?"

"…Fine, maybe a little. But I'll definitely become smarter in the future! Just wait and see!"

Zephyr listened to their back-and-forth with a smile tugging at his lips.

---