Let's rewind the time a little.
On a certain rooftop, the time-traveling Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Boruto had just grasped their current situation.
Due to an accident, they had followed in the footsteps of Ōtsutsuki Urashiki and traveled back to the time when Naruto was a child.
Urashiki's goal was to take the Nine-Tails' chakra from Naruto while he was still young and weak.
Sasuke and Boruto had accidentally traveled here with Urashiki.
From the time-traveling turtle, they learned that Urashiki would arrive in this timeline in a few days.
"So, our goal now is to protect Dad... er, to protect young Dad from being captured by Urashiki?" Boruto quickly summarized the situation.
"That's right," Sasuke nodded.
"I'm really excited!"
Looking at the four faces carved into the Hokage Rock, Boruto was somewhat thrilled.
To have traveled back to this time, what is my Dad like?
How old is he?
What does he look like?
And is he stronger than me?
This is! This is so exciting!
"Let's go!"
Giving a shout, Sasuke jumped down, and Boruto quickly followed.
The two walked aimlessly along the street, and Boruto couldn't help but exclaim along the way.
"It's such a weird feeling. Is this what the old Konoha was like?"
Boruto looked around curiously, his eyes momentarily overwhelmed.
It feels completely different. Is this what Konoha was like before I was born?
So retro!
Wait.
Suddenly spotting something, Boruto excitedly yelled, "Is that the old Ichiraku Ramen? The shop is so small!"
His utterly naive behavior drew the attention of those around them.
Fortunately, due to Konoha's developed tourism, the passersby were already used to such sights.
Sasuke, however, couldn't take it anymore.
If they kept this up, they would inevitably be discovered.
"Quiet down, Boruto!"
"I can't help it," Boruto scratched the back of his head. "It's just too interesting."
Grumble~
Feeling his stomach growl, Boruto suggested, "How about we go try the 'Thunder Burger' of this era?"
"There's no such thing here."
"Look, isn't that a burger?" Boruto suddenly pointed to a spot not far behind Sasuke.
"What?"
Sasuke turned and saw a shop with a large, colorful advertisement for burgers, fried chicken legs, and fries at the entrance.
Looking at the name, this burger wasn't 'Thunder Burger' but something called 'Lao Gan Die Burger!'
"Where did this burger come from?" Now it was Sasuke's turn to be confused.
Did Konoha open a burger shop during the years I was away?
Hmm... Sasuke pondered.
It's possible!
With this, Sasuke roughly determined the current time was definitely within the years before his full defection from Konoha.
Otherwise, where did this burger shop spring up from?
"Time for burgers~"
Seeing his favorite food, Boruto ran over immediately.
Sasuke could only follow.
Five minutes later, inside a small, unnamed alley.
Sasuke and Boruto walked along, eating burgers and drinking milk tea.
"Lao Gan Die Burger is so delicious!" Boruto sincerely exclaimed, cleanly swallowing the last bite of his burger.
Sasuke glanced at him but said nothing.
"Mr. Sasuke, why did the inferior-tasting Thunder Burger manage to eliminate the much better-tasting 'Lao Gan Die Burger' in the future?"
Sasuke didn't know.
He hadn't even heard of the Lao Gan Die Burger. How could he know why?
"And..."
Boruto held up the milk tea in his hand, intensely curious, "This milk tea is so good, why did it disappear in the future?"
This question was even harder for Sasuke to answer.
"Don't worry about those things,"
Sasuke forcibly changed the subject. "We need to find Naruto quickly!"
Emmm
Boruto casually tossed his trash into a bin.
"Speaking of which, Mr. Sasuke, do you have any clues about Dad's location?"
Sasuke looked up. This, I know.
"In this era, he's either at his house or at the Ichiraku we just passed."
"Really?"
"Mhm!"
Sasuke nodded. From memory, that was always the case with Naruto.
Suddenly, both of their gazes snapped forward.
Walking towards them was the First Uchiha Sakura—no, currently Haruno Sakura.
"Wait, isn't that Aunt Sakura?" Looking at the familiar hair color and familiar face, Boruto genuinely asked.
"Sakura? This is bad."
Sasuke clearly hadn't planned on facing the Sakura of this era yet.
"Excuse me, I wanted to ask about..." Facing a familiar person, Boruto waved and stepped forward, wanting to ask the question on his mind.
Fortunately, Sasuke immediately clamped his hand over Boruto's mouth. "What are you trying to do?"
"Ask Aunt Sakura where Dad is, of course!" Boruto said naturally.
"We have to be cautious!"
Recalling the turtle's instruction to avoid influencing this world too much to prevent the butterfly effect and severe consequences, Sasuke did not want to interact with the people of this world.
"Excuse me, are you calling me?"
"Well, it's like this..."
Boruto tried to explain, but Sasuke instantly cut him off. "No, we made a mistake."
As soon as he finished, he grabbed Boruto and turned to leave.
"Hm?"
Sakura was a bit confused. Weirdos!
Hidden high up in a nearby tree, the other Naruto was even more confused.
He had arrived using the Flying Thunder God Technique and had just started observing the pair.
This combination was strange—one adult, one child, neither seen before—yet they looked strangely familiar.
Wait!
Naruto suddenly realized.
Inside the arena, Uchiha Sasuke (World Traveler, 32 years old) looked identical to the adult in this duo.
And this chakra...
Isn't that Sasuke himself?
Listening to their conversation just now—things like 'Aunt Sakura,' etc.
Could these two be from the future?
Naruto was bewildered. Does this world possess a space-time ninjutsu or tool?
I must get my hands on it!
First, he needed to figure out their identities.
The adult's identity was confirmed; Naruto was more curious about the child.
Blond hair, blue eyes... The more Naruto looked, the more he thought, Why does this kid look so much like me?
Especially the chakra inside the boy.
Perceiving it up close, Naruto found the chakra was unexpectedly close to his own.
The facts seemed to point to only one possibility.
I'm a dad?
Naruto was speechless. He was still single and didn't even have a girlfriend. How did a son this old pop up?
"No, I have to confirm this!"
In another deserted alley, Sasuke was lecturing the confused Boruto about the rules of this timeline.
"There are too many familiar faces in the village. We have to be careful with our next moves."
Boruto retorted, "But Mr. Sasuke, since we're here to protect young Dad..."
"Hey! You two."
Boruto's words were cut short by another voice.
They both turned to look.
On the high wall next to them, Naruto was striking a cool pose.
"Ah? Dad?"
Boruto blurted out.
He recognized his father immediately, and his curious gaze couldn't help but size Naruto up.
This windbreaker, this style, and this handsome face...
Was Dad this cool when he was young?
Way cooler than my exhausted Hokage Dad!
Kakkoii!!!("cool" in Japanese)
Sasuke, at this moment, was mostly resigned.
He hadn't intended to interact much with this world, but he had run into Naruto anyway.
However, he was also a bit curious.
Naruto's clothes... I've never seen him wear them.
And his demeanor...
It was completely different from the Naruto in his memory.
"Dad?"
Naruto jumped down next to them. "Who is your dad?"
"Uh oh!"
Boruto realized his slip-up and immediately clamped his hand over his mouth. It was Sasuke who stepped in to salvage the situation. "Apologies, he's mistaken you for someone else."
"Is that so?"
Naruto feigned suspicion, scrutinizing the two like a scanning device.
The smaller one seemed impulsive and easy to deal with—likely a good source of information.
The older one—Sasuke—was tight-lipped.
No matter what, he had to get information about the future!
Looking at Sasuke again, Naruto had an idea.
"You two look unfamiliar. Where are you from?"
"We... we..."
Facing his young father, Boruto suddenly felt a sense of pressure. He stammered repeatedly, unable to answer.
Sasuke, however, pulled out the excuse he had prepared earlier. "Street performers! We are traveling performers, moving from place to place."
"Oh? Street performers?"
To prove his claim, Sasuke pulled a red sphere from his clothes.
"Watch!"
He tossed it into the air.
Pop~
The sphere burst open, and colorful ribbons, paper scraps, and flower petals floated out.
"Hmm."
Naruto grudgingly accepted the explanation. "Very well. However, both of your identities are somewhat suspicious."
"As the leader of the Root, I expect both of you to cooperate with my investigation!"
"Root?"
This time, Sasuke could no longer maintain his composure and exclaimed in shock.
Root?
How could it be Root?
Based on his observation, Sasuke was certain the Naruto before him was no older than 16. Danzō hadn't died until after Naruto turned 16!
How could anyone else take over Root?
And let Naruto take over?
There's no memory of Naruto ever becoming the leader of Root!
A lie? A prank?
Sasuke carefully studied the Naruto in front of him—the confident demeanor, the cool face enhanced by this air of mystery.
Naruto... you've changed so much, I almost don't recognize you!
This... might not be Naruto!
Moreover, the various strange feelings that had surrounded Sasuke since they arrived kept lingering.
Sasuke finally made up his mind: he had to investigate this thoroughly!
"Well... my apologies."
Sasuke suddenly apologized, simultaneously patting Boruto's shoulder as a signal. "Let him go with you for the investigation. I have something to take care of..."
Before he could finish, he instantly vanished with a swoosh—a Body Flicker Technique.
"Mr. Sasuke..."
Boruto whispered, but Sasuke was already gone.
Can anyone understand this feeling?!
Uncle Sasuke actually left him alone with young Dad!
This young Dad's eyes are so fierce. I'm under so much pressure!
Boruto finally felt the pressure of his father after a long time.
"Gone?"
Naruto glanced at Sasuke's retreating figure and sighed.
Run?
Can he escape my sensory perception?
Naruto's blue eyes turned to Boruto. "It seems only you are left. Next, let's have a proper investigation into you."
Boruto's face was a mask of refusal.
He vividly remembered Mr. Sasuke's instruction: Don't interact too much with this world.
"You called me Dad just now. Who is your father? What is his name?"
Boruto shook his head. I can't say!
Won't say?
Is he afraid? Or scared of the butterfly effect?
Naruto decided to change the question. His eyes were intensely serious, which only added to Boruto's anxiety.
Mom, save me!
As if hearing Boruto's inner cry, Naruto's next question was about his mother.
"Who is your mother?"
Worried that Boruto still wouldn't answer, Naruto quickly switched to a more ambiguous question.
"Or rather, what is your mother's last name?"
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