Minato and Kushina returned to Naruto's home carrying several bags of fresh vegetables. They moved with the practiced ease of a couple who had raised a child before, even if they had been robbed of those years by fate. Their expressions were warm, energized with joy—they were cooking for their son and daughter-in-law, and for Kushina, the excitement of knowing that Hinata was pregnant thrummed through every gesture she made.
Inside the kitchen, Minato chopped vegetables while Kushina managed the cooking. Before long, delicious aromas drifted through the house. Hinata and Naruto sat down together, and the meal became a gentle, peaceful moment between the four of them.
Hinata ate slowly, but the glow of happiness around her was unmistakable. Naruto ate with his usual enthusiasm, though Kushina kept complaining that he needed to eat properly now that Hinata was pregnant.
After lunch, Kushina clapped her hands decisively and pointed at Naruto and Hinata.
"Out. Both of you. Go take a walk. Hinata needs fresh air since she's pregnant!"
Naruto made a face. "Mom, come on, Hinata just—"
"No arguing!" Kushina shoved him lightly toward the door. "Fresh air is important!"
Hinata giggled softly and tugged Naruto's hand. "Let's go. Mom's right."
So the couple walked through the peaceful streets of Konoha, hand in hand. The afternoon sun cast a warm glow across the rooftops. Their clothes were light due to the mild heat, and the village was lively with people going about their day. Every now and then, villagers waved or greeted Naruto, showing admiration and affection.
"It's such a good day," Naruto sighed with genuine contentment.
Hinata nodded, her smile soft. "Yes… ever since the Fourth Ninja War ended and peace returned, so many good things have slowly begun happening."
Naruto felt warmth in his chest. After everything—the war, the deaths, and the struggle to build peace—he'd promised himself he wouldn't overthink the future. He wanted to live in the present, enjoy its beauty, and cherish every small moment he shared with Hinata and the people he loved.
But suddenly—
Naruto's body shuddered.
His expression tightened as he instinctively glanced upward toward the sky. Something cold, invasive, and unmistakably familiar brushed against his senses.
Hinata felt the change instantly. "Naruto? What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Naruto slowly exhaled, eyes narrowing. "Something… isn't right."
Hinata followed his gaze upward but saw only the blue expanse of sky. "Is there something above us?"
Naruto didn't reply immediately. He focused, stretching his heightened senses beyond the physical. After several tense seconds, his expression hardened with realization. He looked at Hinata and attempted a small smile.
"Hinata… let me take you home."
Hinata stopped walking, her pale eyes studying his expression. "You sensed something dangerous, didn't you? You want to take me home so you can go deal with it alone—right?"
Naruto gently brushed her hair back. "You're overthinking. It's nothing serious."
Hinata held his hand firmly, refusing to let him evade her concern.
"Don't lie to me, Naruto. I know you. If you need to go confirm something, then go. I'll return home by myself. But don't shoulder everything alone. Share it with me. Whatever it is, I'll face it with you."
Her words hit him deeply. Even in danger, Hinata was always the one who ran toward him instead of away—like during the Pain invasion. That unwavering resolve still amazed him.
Naruto tightened his grip on her hand. "Someone… or something… just scanned me from far beyond the sky. It felt like chakra being directed at me. I think… it might be Toneri. Maybe he was trying to contact me from the Moon. He knows I'd sense it."
Hinata nodded calmly, trusting him. "Then go. I'll head home."
Naruto kissed her forehead, then vanished in an instant using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
High above Earth, on the Moon, Toneri Ōtsutsuki let out a breath of relief as Naruto appeared beside him. The enormous Tenseigan behind Toneri pulsed with faint light.
"Toneri," Naruto said as he walked toward him, "you called for me?"
Toneri nodded solemnly. "Yes, Naruto. I've been trying to reach you."
Naruto's expression grew tense. "Did you find something?"
Toneri activated the power of the Tenseigan, projecting a massive vision of deep space—a dark abyss lit only by distant stars.
In that projection, two figures streaked through the void, moving at terrifying speed.
Naruto's eyes widened. That chakra… that appearance… that cold presence—
"Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki… and Ōtsutsuki Kinshiki."
They were already close. Much closer than they should have been.
Naruto's jaw clenched. "How long until they reach Earth?"
Toneri replied, "At their speed… one month at most. Perhaps less."
Naruto frowned. "Why the uncertainty?"
Toneri faced him fully, eyes serious. "Because something is wrong with their trajectory. I've monitored them before—they altered their path drastically. And instead of slowing down, they've accelerated. That can only mean they've found a way to increase their speed."
Naruto felt a cold weight settle in his stomach.
According to the original timeline, Momoshiki and Kinshiki's arrival should have been years later. By then, Boruto was already in the Academy.
But now…
Hinata was only a few weeks pregnant.
Everything was happening faster.
Naruto felt a tremor of unease. The peaceful years he'd hoped to enjoy—gone. The calm before the storm was collapsing around him.
Toneri noticed Naruto's expression and frowned. "Didn't you say you were confident you could defeat them?"
Naruto nodded. "Them, yes. I'm not afraid of Momoshiki or Kinshiki. I can fight them alone now without Sasuke's help."
He wasn't exaggerating. He had the Six Paths Sage Mode, the power of Kurama, the Rinnegan he awakened in this life, and the Sharingan embedded in his prosthetic arm.
Momoshiki and Kinshiki were strong, but not invincible.
"What worries me," Naruto continued, "is the clan behind them. If we eliminate these two too early… what if the higher members of the Ōtsutsuki Clan notice and come sooner than they should?"
Memories of his past life stabbed at him—friends dying, the world burning, his own failures haunting him. He clenched his fists. He could not let that happen again.
"Things are accelerating," he whispered. "Everything's happening earlier than before…"
For the first time in a long while, fear crept into Naruto's heart.
Toneri called out sharply, "Naruto! Are you listening?"
Naruto snapped out of his thoughts. "Sorry. What is it?"
Toneri gave a calm but determined smile. "If you truly believe you cannot defeat them… then I can release the full power of the Tenseigan. I can unleash a single final attack capable of destroying both of them."
Naruto froze.
He knew exactly what Toneri meant—the Tenseigan could release a devastating attack strong enough to obliterate the planet itself. But doing so would cost Toneri his life.
Toneri was offering to sacrifice himself.
Naruto stepped forward, emotion tightening his voice. "Thank you. But I won't let you die again. Not for this."
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