It was simply too difficult to find Ōtsutsuki Kaguya within an entire world.
After all, that's not just a single planet—it's an entire universe. She's capable of traversing different celestial bodies. According to what the Sage of Six Paths himself said in the manga, they're technically aliens. Right now, they aren't even sure if the photo gleaned from "Hermit Purple" is on Earth or not, so how would they begin searching?
Anyway, since Kaguya doesn't have Link's chakra, she has no way of crossing between worlds. They decided simply not to bother. As for that ancient world's humanity—yes, it's cruel, but there's no way to station someone there indefinitely. And whom would they send? The only people strong enough to handle a surprise attack from Kaguya each have their own duties. Moreover, that world doesn't even have basic communication systems; it's still embroiled in turmoil, never having welcomed its "Rabbit Goddess" to quell the strife.
As long as Kaguya isn't a brainless fool, as long as she doesn't stir up the entire planet again with a Divine Tree, they basically won't notice her doings.
So they concluded: occasionally send someone over for a look. Aside from that, any pursuit plan was put on hold.
As soon as they eased up on dealing with Kaguya, many other problems came to light.
1. The Ninja Alliance:
Previously, with the threat of Kaguya looming, everyone could afford to ignore smaller issues; but now, all sorts of matters have piled up. The five great ninja villages have joined forces, so all the smaller ninja villages and nations are nervous. Testing them in small ways is still okay, but attempts at secretly kidnapping or assassinating members of the Ninja Alliance have occurred more than once.
Inside the Alliance, conflicts abound. Resurrection doesn't resolve all grudges. Even if Link spares time to go to World #2's Pure Land and add them to the Network, and also— with future Naruto's support— opens that Gate of Hells for a full week so that all the deceased can come and go freely… it still only temporarily addresses the issues. As long as fighting doesn't break out, that's considered good enough.
2. Two copies of Black Zetsu, with Jiraiya in tow (in World #2) are currently being chased all over the place by future Sasuke and First Hokage #1, who finally have enough time to go after them with six-path-level strength and senses. It's just a matter of time before they catch them.
3. In the Main World, Tobirama is busy beyond measure. Advisors Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado have left Link and used this chance to slip away to World #2.
4. Problems in World #3:
Canceling God: Nativity of a World of Trees (the large-scale jutsu Kaguya used) is easy—future Naruto and Sasuke just make the right seals. But the aftermath is a nightmare. Large numbers of civilians have died, while the remaining ninjas are battered and exhausted. They're in no condition to fight, but the relief effort is a headache. The Alliance can't very well do nothing.
Right now, negotiations with the surviving ninja village leadership in World #3 are underway. Hearing that the resurrected Hashirama #2 is pushing them to join the Ninja Alliance? That probably will take a while. It's definitely not something that can be settled overnight.
5. Future World (the "Boruto" era):
Their place is already at peace. The Five Kage are all in a group, and once they learned of inter-world travel and resurrection, they immediately started discussions to join the Ninja Alliance. Maybe they'll end up officially joining before World #3 does.
After all, joining the Alliance doesn't mean abolishing their ninja villages. The question becomes who takes the lead? How do they cooperate? They can't rely on the strong simply opening portals via the Network for every single matter. This is an unprecedented era, and everyone is a bit at a loss. So they're gathering to talk it out. Even the Five Kage from the future world—and some prior Kage—have gone to World #2 to negotiate. Of course it's chaotic.
Finally, Link's own proposal: dealing with each parallel world's "Kaguya revival crisis." For now, Tobirama has thrown that problem back at him.
Put simply: whoever brought it up can solve it.
They can't spare staff to assist. Everyone is simply too swamped. In the Main World's Konoha, the high-level personnel are already too few.
Even Hiruzen (reborn at age three) and Minato (child form) have been forced to head over to the second world to work.
Meanwhile, with or without them, Link is still determined to see if he can handle going to rescue every other timeline. After all, he's so strong now that, absent any Six Paths–tier opponents, he basically roams free.
All in all: the Ninja Alliance is entangled in countless big and small issues. People in different worlds hold different outlooks; the same individuals have different experiences in alternate worlds. Aside from the purely peaceful "future world" and the war-torn "third world," the alliance's own HQ in World #2 still isn't fully stabilized.
Each problem is a big knot that can't be untangled in short order.
"Hey, Yamato, want to become Hokage?"
All of a sudden, Link asked.
Hearing the Sixth Hokage's eager words, Yamato gave a polite yet embarrassed smile, "Um, Sixth Lord Hokage, my qualifications and strength are far from Kage level."
Link waved a hand grandly: "No worries. Qualifications? That's just the daimyo's approval plus a jōnin vote, right? The moment I cast my holy vote, we'll see who dares not vote for you! As for strength? That's simple. I'll assign a bunch of my shadows for you to command, and if anyone's unconvinced, have my shadows crush them. And if that's not enough, you tell me, I—"
"Lord Sixth…" Yamato had to interrupt before Link got even more outlandish. He came clean: "I plan to switch over to the Ninja Alliance in two months."
If not for the three-year-old Sandaime's arrangement that he stay a little longer, he'd have already gone.
Link rubbed his temples. "Shizune, you—"
"Don't cause trouble for me," Shizune responded quickly. "I only came along for some fresh air since my experiments got stuck. As for being Hokage, find someone else."
"…Sigh." Link sighed. Now what could he do? He itches to go handle the other Naruto worlds, but here he's stuck with the Hokage's seat. Doesn't look like he can just foist it off onto someone easily.
There's no way he can simultaneously juggle the main world's Hokage duties, his own training, and traveling to help other worlds, working nonstop.
[Alright, I'll settle the other four Great Ninja Villages once and for all, then handle the Asuma's-death timeline in Shippūden. If time goes on to the Fourth War, it'll be too much trouble.]
Decision made. Link closes the scroll in his hands.
~~~
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