The greatest threat to the shinobi world, Gensou, is here!
And not just him—another Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and the Sage of Six Paths from a different world as well.
If that wasn't terrifying enough, what if this world's Kaguya and Sage of Six Paths also existed?
The thought sent chills down everyone's spine.
Even Orochimaru's usual smirk had stiffened.
He was fascinated by the concept of another world, but that didn't mean he wanted to meet someone like Gensou in person.
Now, these overwhelmingly powerful beings had all arrived in this world.
It didn't take much thought to realize they were bound to continue their unfinished battle.
For example, Infinite Tsukuyomi.
And a battle of that scale wouldn't just devastate one location—it would engulf the entire world.
That meant no one could escape!
Orochimaru, who had long pursued immortality, had no intention of letting that happen.
The first thing he asked was:
"How exactly did you all come to this world? Is there any way to return?"
He didn't bother asking Naruto how to defeat Gensou and the others.
If Naruto had a solution, he wouldn't have shaken his head earlier when describing how dire the situation was for the Allied Shinobi Forces.
However—
Since Naruto, Gensou, and the others had crossed into this world, there had to be a way to travel between dimensions.
Perhaps even a way to send them back.
Orochimaru's mind raced quickly.
The others also caught on and turned to Naruto for answers.
Naruto carefully recalled the events.
"I remember… at the time, I was fighting Gensou, Kaguya, and Toneri—Toneri is also a really powerful shinobi. The Sage of Six Paths had given both of us some of his chakra. Then, in the final moments…"
His expression darkened. He shook his head slightly before continuing:
"We were battling in the deserts of the Land of Wind. At one point, the Sage of Six Paths did something, and a blinding white light erupted from the ground. Everyone was engulfed in it. After that, I lost consciousness.
"When I woke up, I was still in the desert. At first, I thought I was in my own world, but after some investigating, I realized I had arrived in another."
"So, Naruto, you haven't been in this world for long?" Hiruzen asked.
Naruto nodded, then hesitated and shook his head.
"I arrived here yesterday. But the others… they must have been here much longer."
He had thought about this on his way to Konoha.
Raising his hand, he pointed outside toward the sky. Even though it was daytime, his reference was clear.
"The moon!"
Naruto's tone was serious.
"The moon that was used to seal Kaguya is gone. That's not normal! There's a good chance it disappeared because of the others who arrived with me."
A year ago, the moon's disappearance had shaken the entire shinobi world.
But since the moon was far beyond their reach, the matter had been left unresolved.
Now, hearing Naruto's explanation, many of them found it reasonable.
Only someone as powerful as the people who arrived with Naruto could erase the moon from existence.
"In a way, that's good news," Shikaku mused, stroking his chin.
"If Gensou had been the clear victor, the shinobi world wouldn't be the same as it is now. If Kaguya had won, we'd all be trapped in a genjutsu. Most likely, the Sage of Six Paths has been keeping things stable, preventing total collapse."
Hiruzen had just been about to nod in agreement when—
Orochimaru suddenly interjected:
"But isn't there another possibility? What if Gensou, like Naruto, only arrived recently? Or worse… what if he's still on his way?"
Hiruzen froze mid-motion.
Minato, his expression more serious than ever, spoke up next.
"Naruto, do you remember the white light? Or the exact place where you first arrived in this world?"
"Of course!" Naruto nodded.
"It was in a place called Rōran. In this world, it's still a country. But in my world, it was destroyed long ago—nothing but ruins remain."
Minato immediately turned to Hiruzen.
Just as Orochimaru had said earlier, understanding how Naruto and the others had arrived here was crucial.
If defeating Gensou and the others seemed impossible, then the best option was to find a way to send them back.
Hiruzen understood Minato's meaning.
He turned to Naruto and said:
"Naruto, both Konoha and the entire shinobi world need your help."
"No problem! Leave it to me!" Naruto pounded his chest confidently.
This was exactly why he had rushed to Konoha in the first place.
Without wasting time, Hiruzen assigned a team to investigate Rōran and study the dimensional rift.
If they could uncover the method behind it, they might be able to send Gensou and the others back.
Even the possibility of traveling to another world was worth considering.
And despite Naruto's personal grievances with him, Hiruzen made sure to include Orochimaru—the most brilliant scientific mind in Konoha—in the team.
Minato and Kushina, who had insisted on going, were also added to the team.
There was no time to worry about whether taking the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki outside the village was dangerous.
Hiruzen had to bet everything on this investigation.
Additionally, Konoha needed to inform the other four great villages.
Whether they believed it or not was another matter.
At the very least, the brewing Shinobi World War needed to be put on hold.
Otherwise, if Gensou and the others arrived in the middle of battle, their very presence could obliterate both sides in an instant—ending the war in the most terrifying way possible.
That would be the ultimate irony.
Having made his decision, Hiruzen wasted no time in issuing orders.
Soon, Konoha's shinobi began moving out.
Naruto, Minato, Kushina, and Orochimaru formed the Time-Space Investigation Team and set off for Rōran.
"Wait… you're—Kakashi-sensei?"
Just as they stepped out of the Hokage Tower, Naruto spotted a young Kakashi.
Seeing him already wearing a mask, Naruto waved and called out, "So you started wearing that mask this early, huh? See you later, Kakashi-sensei!"
With that, he hurried off.
Kakashi, still rubbing the back of his sore head, stared at the retreating figure of Naruto walking beside Minato.
Why had that guy—who looked older than him—just called him "sensei"?
Having just regained consciousness after being knocked out, Kakashi was on his way to report his encounter to the Hokage.
He had no idea what had transpired in the Hokage's office.
But judging by the sheer number of shinobi moving in and out of the building, it was clear that something big was happening.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen stood at the window, watching as Naruto and the others departed.
He exhaled slowly.
"Let's hope everything goes smoothly."
If not—
Then he would have no choice but to initiate the final contingency plan.
Just like the original Hagoromo Clan had done in another world…
Konoha was too large.
In the face of an impending disaster, only dispersing its people would ensure the survival of at least some of them.
(End of Chapter)
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