"Hey, Sasuke, how was last night?"
On the streets of Konohagakure, Kitagawa Minamoto wandered alongside the village's younger generation. Despite the chaos that had recently erupted in the village, the cleanup was swift and efficient. With no further responsibilities to handle, the group found themselves enjoying a rare break.
They had decided to hang out together, but Naruto couldn't resist stirring up mischief. He grinned mischievously at Sasuke, leaning closer to whisper, "Did they say anything to you? Did they tell you to work harder, just like Minamoto said they would?"
"You're such an idiot," Sasuke shot Naruto a disdainful glance, finding him as annoying as ever. Despite his expression of contempt, a faint smile appeared on his face.
From a young age, Sasuke had always yearned for his family's approval. He still remembered when his father once said to him: "You truly are my son." Those simple words had brought him joy for days. Although much had changed since then, and many events had unfolded, Sasuke chose not to dwell on the past. For now, cherishing the memories of the last few days was enough for him.
"Huh? What's this about working harder?" Sakura overheard Naruto's comment and looked over curiously. The others also appeared intrigued—even Shino, who was usually reserved, leaned in slightly to listen.
"Hehe, well..." Naruto was about to spill the beans when Sasuke suddenly grabbed him by the neck.
"You idiot, shut up!"
"What's the big deal? Is it some kind of secret?" Kiba asked, his face full of curiosity, while Chōji chimed in between bites of his chips.
"Probably. Did something happen last night? Neji, do you know anything?"
Chōji's question made the group turn their attention to Neji, and even Hinata, who was holding Hanabi's hand, looked over.
The Hyūga clan had experienced a major upheaval the night before. Although the group had initially planned to offer their support, another fierce battle erupted outside the village, forcing them to shift their focus elsewhere. As a result, they weren't entirely sure what had transpired within the Hyūga clan.
"Actually, there's not much to say," Neji glanced at Kitagawa Minamoto, then smiled and brushed off the topic.
However, his smile caught Tenten's attention, and she widened her eyes in surprise. "Wait, wait, wait! Neji, since when did you become so smiley?"
"Right!" Even Rock Lee seemed shocked. Although Neji wasn't a stranger to smiling, it was rare for him to express himself so openly. Most of the time, he maintained a serious demeanor, making moments like this quite unusual.
"I guess I encountered something... that made me happy," Neji thought for a moment before offering an explanation. "Sasuke might feel similarly, perhaps he experienced something joyful as well."
"Yeah, maybe," Sasuke glanced at Neji, then nodded without denying it. Meanwhile, Shikamaru rubbed his pineapple-shaped hair.
"Alright, let's drop it. It's their personal business, as long as they're happy, that's all that matters."
"You're such a buzzkill, Shikamaru," Ino rolled her eyes at him, then turned her attention to Kitagawa Minamoto. "Minamoto-senpai, do you know what's going on?"
"I know a little, but it's up to him whether he wants to share," Kitagawa Minamoto glanced at Sasuke, then shook his head with a smile. "After all, it's his private matter. To be honest, I'm curious about the outcome myself."
As he spoke, Kitagawa Minamoto winked at Sasuke, causing the latter to lower his head. Last night had been a happy occasion, but he wished he could avoid unnecessary discussions about it.
Sasuke still remembered his mother placing a hand on his shoulder and saying: "Sasuke, you've grown up now. I wonder if I'll ever see you get married and have children in the future..."
His father, on the other hand, was more direct, speaking to him in a serious tone: "We're already dead, Sasuke. As the last of the Uchiha, I'm sorry you have to bear such unnecessary burdens."
"The Fifth Hokage is right—reviving the Uchiha clan cannot rest on one person alone. You've grown up now..."
"Only by having more descendants can the Uchiha truly be restored, Sasuke!"
Sasuke understood the meaning behind his father's words, but it left him feeling conflicted—he hadn't even considered such things yet!
"Hehehe..." Naruto's mischievous grin persisted, clearly enjoying Sasuke's discomfort.
"Idiot!" Sasuke finally lost his composure, glaring at Naruto with annoyance. "Stop grinning like an idiot. At least I have a goal—what about you?"
"Huh?" Naruto was momentarily stunned by Sasuke's retort. After a moment of thought, he replied earnestly: "My goal hasn't changed. I still want to become Hokage!"
Naruto's dream of becoming Hokage remained unwavering, despite the revival of his parents. In fact, his desire to achieve this dream had only grown stronger. Having spent years with his parents, Naruto had learned about their past. He knew his mother had once dreamed of becoming Hokage, and his father had actually been the Fourth Hokage. This knowledge deepened his conviction.
"I know it's incredibly difficult, but where there's a will, there's a way. If I don't try, how will I ever know?"
"You're so stubborn," Kiba chuckled at Naruto's determination, but then grew serious himself. "Tch, don't think you're the only one with ambitions. I won't give up either!"
"Good luck, then," Chōji shrugged, still munching on his chips, while Karin rolled her eyes.
"What are you thinking? Challenging Minamoto-senpai's position as Hokage? Ridiculous."
"I agree they probably don't stand a chance, but trying isn't necessarily a bad thing," Shikamaru tilted his head, knowing more about the situation but choosing not to argue. Instead, he offered a casual word of encouragement.
The group quickly delved into a lively discussion about their dreams. Kitagawa Minamoto, however, remained silent, choosing not to interrupt. If he were to speak now, it might feel too mundane. Instead, he found himself contemplating other matters.
Naruto, perhaps it's time for a 'version update,' he thought.
Over the past three years, Naruto had made significant progress under the guidance of his parents and Jiraiya. Even Sasuke, despite his own growth, might not be stronger than Naruto at this point. Naruto's strength seemed to align perfectly with the current "meta." He had mastered Sage Mode, the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Rasengan. Although he hadn't yet learned Purple Lightning or Lightning Release: Chakra Mode, Naruto was practically a mirror image of Minamoto himself.
Sasuke inherited my Purple Lightning and Flying Thunder God, along with the Sharingan. Naruto inherited my Sage Mode, Rasengan, and Flying Thunder God.
For a fleeting moment, Minamoto wondered if he was the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths. Of course, if he were to compare himself to the Sage of Six Paths at his peak, Minamoto wasn't entirely sure how large the gap was.
Even though my development is at 72%, my potential seems far beyond that of an ordinary Ōtsutsuki. It's difficult to calculate such differences.
The Ōtsutsuki clan was undeniably powerful. Take Boruto, for instance—his "Kāma" had only thawed about 70-80%, yet he was already a purebred Ōtsutsuki. Everyone called him "Ōtsutsuki Boruto," and his combat prowess was extraordinary, even capable of drawing planetary energy. It was terrifying to imagine his full potential if his "Kāma" were fully thawed!
Enough of this. Battles aren't solely about 'values and mechanisms.' Without proper 'skill,' even someone like Momoshiki can end up as 'Momokurama,' Minamoto chuckled inwardly, recalling how even Kaguya, despite being the strongest in terms of raw stats, was ultimately sealed due to her lack of "skill."
Naruto is strong, but without Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, he's still missing something. Especially now that Sasuke is no longer the same.
Sasuke had obtained Itachi Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan. Once transplanted, it would undoubtedly bring him to new heights.
Naruto's combat abilities are decent, but without further improvement, he might even struggle against Obito Uchiha.
Kitagawa Minamoto hadn't forgotten that Jigen had headed toward Obito before his "resurrection." It was hard to say whether Obito would encounter some kind of "fortuitous event."
"Sigh, this ninja world is a mess," Minamoto couldn't help but sigh.
The current ninja world was bustling with activity, a hotbed of chaos and opportunity. With Nagato's recovery and Isshiki's appearance, Madara Uchiha might awaken soon. Even Hashirama and Tobirama were preparing to change bodies.
Why does the entire ninja world feel like it's in utter chaos?
Minamoto scratched his head, feeling both amused and exasperated. While stronger allies weren't necessarily a bad thing, the sheer disorder made everything more complicated.
Naruto needs rigorous training—otherwise, how will I extract Asura's Chakra from him?
Minamoto silently resolved to push Naruto further, while also considering another matter.
Speaking of which, my Source of the Divine Tree has long been capable of cultivating White Zetsu. Is it time to try something new?
Minamoto had rarely encountered White Zetsu, but if he could capture some, he could use them for Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation. Alternatively, cultivating his own White Zetsu might be even better.
I've had the technique 'Self-Reincarnation' for quite some time now, but I haven't tried it yet. Perhaps this is the perfect opportunity?
Although he had no interest in techniques like Rinne Rebirth, he vividly remembered that Rinne Rebirth could revive those summoned via Impure World Reincarnation. As another resurrection technique, "Self-Reincarnation" should be equally effective!
Using cultivated White Zetsu to cast this technique would save me the trouble of performing it myself.
With a complete plan forming in his mind, Minamoto couldn't help but imagine Madara Uchiha's reaction upon seeing Hashirama Senju resurrected.
"Senpai, what's your dream?" As Minamoto's thoughts wandered, Ino's voice suddenly snapped him back to reality.
Blinking, he realized everyone was staring at him—even Hanabi, who had tagged along with her sister.
"My dream? I think I've mentioned it before," Minamoto scratched his head, glancing at Sasuke and Naruto. "These two know it, don't they?"
"Tch, can you ever be serious?" Naruto scoffed, while Ino chuckled.
"Come on, Minamoto, tell us."
"Could it be... becoming Hokage?" Shikamaru tilted his head, curious about Minamoto's aspirations. After all, he was likely to inherit his father's position someday, so getting to know his future boss wouldn't hurt.
"My dream hasn't changed at all," Minamoto glanced at Ino, smiling faintly. "I've always wanted to save up money and open a shop—I'd call it 'Odd Jobs Shop.'"
"Here we go again," Naruto and Sasuke simultaneously pursed their lips, while the others looked puzzled. What kind of dream was that?
Minamoto, however, continued with a grin: "Just doing small business, earning some pocket change, marrying a beautiful wife, smoking a cigarette while staring at the sky—living one day at a time."
"..."
Ino blinked in confusion, while Shikamaru found the dream oddly familiar.
"Well, that's about it."
"..."
Minamoto's words left everyone speechless. Was this really the dream of a future Hokage? Even Shikamaru felt something was off about his future boss.
"Tch, all lies," breaking the silence, Naruto couldn't help but interject. "You said the same thing before, and now you're practically Hokage already. Ridiculous."
Sasuke nodded in agreement, feeling the disparity between Minamoto's dream and reality.
"Instead of questioning me, did you two pay for the house you destroyed last time?" Minamoto rolled his eyes, suddenly asking a pointed question.
"Hiss..." The question made Sasuke and Naruto inhale sharply, drawing the attention of everyone around them. Minamoto, however, continued speaking with a smile:
"And Naruto, you should know about the Uzumaki clan's situation, right? With the clan dwindling, you'll have to shoulder the burden of its revival."
"Huh? Me?" Naruto pointed at himself in disbelief, feeling utterly confused. How had he suddenly become responsible for this?
Naruto didn't dare to protest further, especially since he realized his parents seemed to be discussing the matter as well.
"So, the two of you teaming up isn't without reason," Minamoto's smile grew brighter as he looked at them, his tone turning serious: "Both of you bear the heavy responsibility of reviving your respective clans."
"..."
"If all else fails, maybe you could ask Chōji for advice."
"..."
"Huh??!"
While the streets of Konohagakure remained lively and peaceful, the atmosphere within Akatsuki's base was entirely different.
Obito stood before a mirror, staring in disbelief at his reflection. The half of his body that had been destroyed had miraculously regenerated. More importantly, he could feel something stirring within his previously empty eye socket—something powerful was brewing.
He sensed an incredible energy coursing through his body, transforming and strengthening him. Behind him, Black Zetsu and the others looked equally shocked, clearly unaware of what was happening to Obito.
"Are you alright, Obito?" Black Zetsu hesitated, speaking softly.
"I feel better than ever!" Obito nodded, clenching his fist with newfound determination. "I think it's time to proceed with the next phase of the plan."
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