"Flap—flap—flap—"
A messenger hawk circled in the sky before making a diving descent.
Adult Uchiha Sasuke, his hair falling over his Rinnegan eye, wearing a cloak, strolled calmly along the road. The hawk swooped down, alighting on his shoulder.
He removed the letter. On seeing it was from Naruto, his expression brightened a bit, but, after reading, it grew solemn again.
A casual puff of fire incinerated the note. He released the hawk and then sped off toward Konoha.
With his pace, it took only a few hours to cross two nations and reach the village he had not visited for so long. Without pausing for sentiment, he landed in a rush on the Hokage Office balcony.
"Clack!"
Sliding the window open, he leapt inside.
In the room were Adult Naruto, Advisor Shikamaru Nara, Retired Hokage Kakashi Hatake, the even earlier retired Hokage Tsunade, and Konoha elder Sakura Haruno—all gathered.
Sasuke gave a small nod to his best friend, then turned his gaze to the kid sitting across from the Hokage's desk.
Sakura eyed her husband somewhat reproachfully.
"Sasuke, you're back," Adult Naruto said, not at all surprised his friend had returned so quickly. He then continued, "I've confirmed everything: this kid can perform a parallel-world traveling jutsu. He and I have been to a world right after the Nine-Tails Rampage."
Uchiha Sasuke's expression stayed cool. He moved his hand just slightly. "Understood."
If other people still had doubts about Naruto's statement, Sasuke was someone who would believe whatever his friend said.
"Because my world faces a threat from Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, I came seeking help from your Konoha." Link spoke formally.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki…
Sasuke's brow furrowed. Even now, they weren't absolutely sure they could defeat Kaguya if she ever returned. Without the Sage of Six Paths' bestowed powers or any space-time jutsu on the level of Kamui, fighting that troublesome woman was beyond difficult. At best, you could drive her off. Being the "progenitor of chakra," she was effectively immortal. She could only be sealed. A major headache.
"Sasuke?" Adult Naruto simply called Sasuke's name.
At that, Adult Sasuke understood and quietly asked Link, "When do we leave?"
Though it wasn't his own world, and the enemy was an Ōtsutsuki, there was no reason to refuse. Most importantly, Naruto clearly wanted to help.
"The sooner the better," Link answered. He caught Sasuke's cold gaze and felt a bit awkward but had mentally prepared himself in advance.
"Hey, Naruto, you're not seriously going to abandon the village and jump to some other world, are you?" Shikamaru sighed.
Naruto smiled, scratching the back of his head. "Hahaha, if I do go, then all the village affairs are in your and Kakashi-sensei's hands for a while."
"Man, even a retiree like me has to be called back to work?" Kakashi, who looked older now, spoke lazily.
Tsunade folded her arms, studying the visitor from another world. She had just received a scroll from the "other Tsunade" and found it quite intriguing that there was someone identical to herself—even in terms of outlook.
Naruto scratched his head in embarrassment. He formed a single shadow clone, which approached Link and said, "Let me send a shadow clone with him first to get an idea of what's happening. If we really do run into Kaguya, at least it can stall her."
On the side, Adult Sasuke likewise produced a shadow clone, stepping forward.
Their efficiency was mind-blowing. If they said they were heading out, they would head out right away—no hesitation or indecision. Although for now it was just their shadow clones going to scout the situation.
"In that case, let me come too," Adult Sakura likewise created a shadow clone. "After all, it's been ages since Team Seven did anything together."
As a busy wife and mother these days, she displayed a hint of her old youthful spirit, smiling with excitement.
"All right, time to go," Link reminded them, activating the Funa-tsū once more.
The shadow clone versions of Team Seven placed their hands on him. Link focused on the "Main World," and that familiar distortion and sense of weightlessness came over them. In the next second, their vision cleared.
It was the familiar laboratory, the lights bright, and it wasn't lying in ruins. Link breathed a sigh of relief.
"!"
Tobirama, in his childlike form, landed with Flying Raijin. He'd been monitoring the lab, since it was the arrival point for the main world's Funa-tsū. Seeing Link come in with three vaguely familiar individuals, he asked, "What's going on?"
"I found reinforcements in another world," Link explained happily. "What about the Second Parallel World? Has Kaguya shown up there?"
"Kaguya hasn't come. Sasuke and Utakata are keeping watch over the Second Parallel World," Tobirama replied, sizing up the newcomers. He realized at once who they were.
"Looks like grown-up Team Seven, yes? Are they here to help fight Kaguya?" He could sense their powerful chakra, but…
"And who's that?" Adult Naruto asked curiously.
"I'm Senju Tobirama," the little boy said, crossing his arms.
"Cough— cough—!"
Adult Naruto nearly choked on his own spit, and Sasuke's expression flickered.
They had seen the Second Hokage during the Fourth Great War. Comparing him to this child right in front of them? The contrast was startling.
"?"
Child Tobirama realized the three were simply shadow clones.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru emerged from beneath the floor, smiling. "Welcome back, Link-kun."
(So they freed him from his seals too?)
Link was only mildly surprised at having his old opponent greet him cheerily—though he found it somewhat irritating.
Adult Naruto said, "I'm another world's Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki. These two are my teammates, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno."
"In this time, who is Hokage here?" he asked.
"That would be the Fifth Hokage—Tsunade!" called out Tsunade as she landed smartly.
Since the lab was rigged with a special barrier that detected unknown chakra, any arrival instantly alerted everyone.
"Tsunade… baa-chan!" Adult Naruto blurted. So this meant the Third Hokage… well, perhaps not…
Then, to his astonishment, he saw a string of little children, both familiar and strange, come running up:
Three-year-old Sarutobi Hiruzen, three-year-old Kushina Uzumaki, five-year-old Minato Namikaze (who could use Sage Mode, but only awkwardly), a young Hashirama Senju…
Although Naruto couldn't understand it, the shock was overwhelming.
Following them were Kakashi Hatake and other high-level jōnin, including this world's older Haruno Sakura, promoted to jōnin via genjutsu.
Tsunade's brow twitched at the "baa-chan" remark, but she quickly noticed that the adult Sakura in front of her had a Yin Seal on her forehead.
(So this alternate Sakura must also be my student…)
~~~
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