"Hmm?"
Naruto narrowed his eyes and glanced up at the sky.
"This energy… it passed through my ghost power," he muttered.
With a thought, his divine and spiritual chakra surged outward, closing the gap above and reinforcing the barrier protecting the shinobi world.
Buzz—
In an instant, a stream of pure chakra surged into Urashiki's body.
Urashiki's expression twisted in agony.
His body convulsed as if being wrung out from the inside.
It was as though some external force was forcibly expelling all of his chakra.
Naruto took the opportunity and absorbed it all.
At the same time, he implanted a deep-seated seed of power into Urashiki—a failsafe that would devour all of his life force if anything went wrong.
Now, two consciousnesses battled for dominance within Urashiki.
Naruto did not interfere.
If his guess was right, this was the Otsutsuki God from the Yomi Realm.
"You two head back. It's best you don't appear when things escalate next time."
Naruto turned and spoke calmly.
These two from the Yomi Realm had grown stronger simply by existing here.
Even if they did nothing, they'd return at least twice as powerful.
"…Dad, please be careful."
Boruto hesitated but finally nodded and retreated.
Seeing Naruto's subtle nod, Boruto didn't even glance at Sasuke—he just turned and ran.
Don't run?
Something's about to go down. What are you waiting for? An explosion?
"So this is… the price of acting cocky?" Boruto muttered, grimacing like he'd been slapped.
Sasuke cast a long look at the now-distorted Urashiki.
"Be careful, Naruto."
With that, he vanished.
Naruto let Urashiki drop to the ground, convulsing uncontrollably.
A wooden chair formed behind him.
Naruto sat down calmly.
Urashiki didn't keep him waiting for long.
Soon, a new power overtook the body.
Urashiki's original chakra vanished completely.
Then, the foreign chakra spread outward—vast, ancient, and oppressive.
"Haha… I didn't expect alternate dimensions to truly exist."
Urashiki—no, the being that had taken over him—chuckled.
He lay on the ground, eyes locked on Naruto.
Then, slowly, he levitated.
"This is the planet where Isshiki and Kaguya were exiled, isn't it?"
He closed his eyes, sensing his surroundings. His brow furrowed.
"The world's chakra is isolated… Your power is formidable."
"I can sense it—you also carry the aura of the Otsutsuki."
Naruto's gaze was calm. "Is this all you've got?"
The Otsutsuki God paused—then the corners of his mouth curved into a smile.
"I haven't heard someone say that to me in a long time."
"The power within you… it's chaotic, but your chakra reserves are astounding."
"Through this vessel, I'll soon descend fully into this world."
Naruto replied flatly, "If you could, you already would have."
Then he raised his hand.
In an instant, the Otsutsuki God was yanked toward him, caught in a crushing grip around the neck.
"You said it yourself, didn't you?"
Crack—
Naruto's grip tightened.
The Otsutsuki God's face turned red from the pressure, blood surging to the surface.
But his gaze remained calm.
"You are powerful. But crossing dimensions burns vast chakra reserves… I wasn't certain, so I only sent this projection ahead. When the time comes, I'll arrive personally."
With those words, his head lolled to the side—and the final trace of his original chakra dispersed.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "That was fast. I let my guard down…"
"…But this world already has its own Otsutsuki God. It changes nothing."
As he absorbed the power of the Mori-Mori no Mi, his strength surged.
Soon, nothing remained of Urashiki's body—not a trace.
Naruto looked up at the spatial rift still hovering above.
"Momoshiki and Kinshiki of this world are still en route."
He shook his head.
"I'll wait for my pupil power to finish brewing before I confront them."
With that, Naruto turned and returned to Konoha.
Sasuke and Boruto were already waiting for him.
Sasuke exhaled in relief the moment Naruto appeared.
"Is it over?"
Naruto nodded slightly.
"So that's it… Then I suppose our mission is officially complete," Sasuke said with a faint smile.
"You may think these enemies were nothing special—but to us, they brought immense pressure. Maybe… it's just that we've let our training slide since the Fourth Great Ninja War."
A rare smirk flickered across his face.
Boruto, however, raised an eyebrow in doubt.
"Sasuke-san, really?"
Sasuke's eye twitched. "Go ask your father."
Boruto turned toward Naruto on instinct—only to find Naruto already eyeing the turtle-shaped device in his hand.
"Boruto, let me take a look at that plow."
"Sure."
Without hesitation, Boruto handed over the small turtle-shaped ninja tool.
Naruto weighed it in his hand—it was heavier than it looked.
He narrowed his eyes, and a ripple of power surged within them.
Rinnegan—Activate.
"I see… So it is an Otsutsuki space-time ninja tool."
His Rinnegan dissected the plow's structure with ease. As he examined it, he drew out a trace of its origin power.
Then, after handing the device back to Boruto, he restored the boy's chakra reserves with a single touch.
"You can return now. I need to visit the lab."
With that, Naruto opened a portal with Yomi Hirasaka, stepping through to Orochimaru's domain.
At that moment, someone was already present beside Orochimaru.
It was none other than Senju Hashirama—currently clinging to Orochimaru's leg in a particularly unseemly manner.
"Orochimaru, please—I really need that thing!"
Buzz—
Naruto emerged through the portal. The room froze as six pairs of eyes locked onto him.
Ahem.
"Naruto! Not bad—you've been keeping busy," Hashirama said, immediately letting go and dusting off his pants with forced nonchalance.
Orochimaru rolled his eyes and turned toward Naruto.
"You rarely come to my lab without a reason. What is it this time?"
Naruto smiled as he picked up a set of schematics from the table.
"There's something I need you to study."
"Oh?" Orochimaru's interest piqued. Anything Naruto brought was bound to be extraordinary.
"It's the Otsutsuki clan's Noble Phantasm. They call it Rii."
As he spoke, Naruto picked up a brush and began to sketch its internal structure in exquisite detail.
Right down to the dimensions of each component.
"This is a ninja tool capable of space-time traversal."
"What?!" Orochimaru gasped.
"A device that manipulates time and space? Such power actually exists?"
Hashirama's ears twitched. He looked like he wanted to hear more—but Orochimaru didn't give him the chance.
"Master Hashirama, please leave. I'll consider your request later."
Bang—
Before Hashirama could utter a protest, the lab door slammed shut.
Orochimaru rushed to the design table, eyes shining.
"Naruto, leave this mission to me!"
Naruto gave a slight nod. "Don't rush. This tool is just a container—it relies on something far more important to function properly."
"I'll return once you've finished your analysis."
As his voice trailed off, the black portal of Yomi Hirasaka swirled open behind him once more.
Meanwhile—
"Master White Snake, this is Uzumaki Naruto's home," Tagitsuhime announced as they arrived.
She turned to the side, tugging gently at Tagorihime's hand.
"Alright, stop eating already."
But when she turned back, she was startled to find that even Ichikishimahime had joined in the feast—licking her crimson lips with a satisfied look.
"...Huh? Don't tell me you're all snacking now?"
At that moment, Kushina pushed open the door.
The White Snake Sage looked up—and her gaze immediately landed on the woman behind Kushina.
"Why is she here?!"
She blinked in disbelief.
The moment she laid eyes on Kaguya Otsutsuki, the White Snake Sage thought she was hallucinating.
She rubbed her eyes hard.
"Kaguya Otsutsuki… weren't you sealed away?!"
Kaguya responded with nothing but a cold, dispassionate glance.
"Little white snake."
In that instant, the White Snake Sage snapped out of her daze. Her pupils narrowed into vertical slits—the eyes of a serpent.
"If you've come to talk, come in."
Kushina chuckled lightly, stepping forward to block the stunned stares of the three Snake Princesses. She grabbed them playfully and pulled them back.
But the White Snake Sage was still frozen.
Her reaction this time was even stronger.
She rubbed her eyes again, more vigorously.
Was she seeing things?
Kaguya… actually smiled?
And more terrifyingly—Kaguya was listening to someone?
What in the world has become of the ninja world?
Then it hit her.
Uzumaki Naruto…
The White Snake Sage exhaled a deep breath.
Whoosh—
And muttered as if in relief, "Thank goodness… Ryūchi Cave didn't provoke him. And Mount Myōboku… they've already…"
"Come on in~" Kushina called, pulling Kaguya into the room like family.
The corners of her mouth lifted in a grin she couldn't hide.
Her gaze swept over the White Snake Sage's body with growing satisfaction.
Meanwhile, in the Senju Clan compound—
Tsunade remained silent.
Uzumaki Mito, however, held her composure.
"So that's what's happening... Tsunade-sama, Mito-sama—please allow me to meet with Naruto-sama."
"Lord Naruto likely anticipated this development. That's why… I believe it would be best if I personally escorted him to the Shikkotsu Forest."
Land of Water – Hidden Mist Village
After seeing off the village elders, Terumi Mei sat alone at her desk.
She picked up a photograph.
"A human upper body… and a fish's lower half..."
"I never imagined such a creature lived near that sea cave I've investigated since the First Mizukage's era."
"Hoshigaki Kisame… Could he have come from there?"
She set down the photo, only to pick up another one.
After gazing at it for a moment, she couldn't help but lick her red lips.
"All my belongings, huh?"
"Well, why not? The ninja world is finally at peace. It's about time I start thinking about my future~"
Elsewhere, far from the Hidden Mist—
The priestess Miroku suddenly opened her eyes.
"…Something's stirring in the Demon World."
"Just as Naruto predicted."
...
TN:
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