Chapter 37: Returning to the Village
Back in the cave, the two were once again faced with Lady Katsuyu, already feeling homesick.
"Lady Katsuyu, how are we going to get back?" Kawakaze suddenly voiced a troubling thought. It seemed no one in Konoha was using the Summoning Slug anymore, which meant the Reverse Summoning Technique might no longer work.
"Don't worry. I've already left a clone in your home," Lady Katsuyu replied calmly, seemingly reading Kawakaze's mind.
"Haha, Lady Katsuyu, you're really meticulous!" Kawakaze said with genuine relief, praising her foresight.
"Not really. I left the clone in case something happens to you. I can always send you back in the form of pus," she added matter-of-factly. "You humans always want to be buried in your hometown, don't you?"
Tsunade couldn't help but laugh, while Kawakaze's expression turned awkward.
"Lady Katsuyu, you're such a strange creature," Kawakaze muttered under his breath, though he restrained himself from saying more.
"Send us back, Katsuyu," Tsunade interjected.
"Okay."
In a swirl of smoke, the two vanished from the Shikkotsu Forest and reappeared in the Hatake Clan Dojo, landing on a damp patch of grass—a slug's preferred environment. After thanking the clone of Lady Katsuyu, Kawakaze quickly stepped away.
It had only been a day since they left, and now it was afternoon. Nawaki and Minato, who had been practicing kenjutsu, ran over as soon as they noticed them.