Could it be that Orochimaru and I, by delaying our crossing, have arrived in a parallel dimension?
When Naruto saw that familiar figure in the distance, his expression froze in surprise.
Two Narutos coexisting in one world—it could only mean one thing: a parallel timeline.
A single deviation in history could create a branching path away from the main flow of time. If the original Naruto story represented the main timeline, then this was an alternate reality, one that split off the moment Naruto traversed through time.
Everything he had done so far had already diverged drastically from the original sequence of events.
In the main timeline, no such parallel dimension had emerged because Minato Namikaze had sealed away the memories related to the Dragon Vein incident.
The ripples of time never exceeded the bounds of the main flow—thus, no branch reality formed.
However, all of this was only Naruto's speculation, a theory based on what he had seen so far.
Naruto narrowed his eyes, studying the other version of himself—the one who looked almost identical but somehow... different.
"Orochimaru… we might have crossed into a parallel dimension," Naruto said slowly, explaining his theory on time-space divergence.
Orochimaru observed him with an intrigued smile.
"My, my… I never expected Naruto-kun to have such an understanding of space-time theory," he said, his tone filled with mock amusement.
Naruto merely smiled.
He wasn't truly a scholar of time-space ninjutsu—he was simply standing on the shoulders of giants.
"I've only done a little research," he replied modestly, before glancing down at the other Naruto.
Judging by the surroundings, this version of him had been here for quite some time.
He was alone, seemingly acting on his own.
"What should we do now?" Orochimaru asked, his voice calm but curious.
"Since the Dragon Vein brought us here, it must also have the power to send us back," Naruto reasoned.
"If we can locate its source, we'll find a way home."
Orochimaru found his logic sound and nodded. The two made no attempt to meet the other Naruto. Before leaving, however, Orochimaru gave him one last curious glance.
This Naruto looked much the same—yet something was missing. The aura of confidence, the commanding presence of a leader… it wasn't there.
He still wore the Konoha forehead protector, suggesting he hadn't yet left the village.
Thinking back to Naruto's theory, Orochimaru understood immediately.
Parallel worlds contained infinite variations, infinite outcomes.
And this one—this Naruto—seemed more naïve, less powerful. Perhaps his story hadn't yet reached its turning point.
Without further delay, they departed, heading toward the location of the Dragon Vein seen in Naruto's earlier vision.
Then, Orochimaru suddenly halted. His eyes narrowed.
"That figure… could it be—Yamato?"
Naruto looked up as well. Sure enough, two familiar shinobi stood ahead.
They were Kakashi Hatake and Yamato—though back then, Yamato was still known by his Root codename.
Naruto remembered this part of the story.
There had been a time when Yamato was separated from his team and met a young Kakashi. Only later would he reunite with Naruto and the others.
That meant they were nearing the moment Mukade was about to reveal himself.
Naruto and Orochimaru quickly pieced together the situation.
Though Naruto already knew what would happen, he went along with the investigation for Orochimaru's sake.
In this era, Rōran was ruled by a puppet regime.
The true ruler, Queen Sāra, had become a mere figurehead under the control of her minister, Anrokuzan.
Most of the city's young adults had been captured and enslaved, forced to work under Anrokuzan's rule. The nation had fallen into chaos.
But Naruto knew the truth.
Anrokuzan was none other than Mukade, a rogue Sunagakure ninja, who had disguised himself through a puppet body.
Mukade's true goal was to harness the Dragon Vein's immense chakra to create an army of puppets and conquer the Shinobi World.
Those missing civilians were being forced to assemble his puppet forces.
Worse still, Mukade had transformed his own body into a puppet and fused himself with the Dragon Vein's energy.
Naruto recalled that with the Dragon Vein's power, Mukade had once absorbed his Wind Release: Rasenshuriken without flinching.
Though Mukade's mastery of the Dragon Vein was impressive, Naruto couldn't help but find it foolish.
He had the chance to restore Rōran's glory and live as its protector—yet he chose domination over peace.
"Why try to rule the world," Naruto thought bitterly, "when you could have been remembered as a hero?"
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion echoed from afar. Naruto and Orochimaru exchanged a quick nod and darted toward the source.
By the time they arrived, Minato Namikaze's team had already engaged Mukade.
Puppet soldiers flooded the streets, their mechanical limbs glinting in the sunlight.
Minato's squad—Akimichi Chōza, father of Chōji, and Aburame Shibi, father of Shino—were already in combat, unleashing devastating techniques amid the chaos.
The battle for Rōran had begun.
Minato Namikaze, Akimichi Chōza, and Shibi Aburame stood amid a tide of puppets. Minato's skill was overwhelming—each puppet went down with a single precise movement—but there were simply too many. Even the strongest could be worn down by numbers.
The two hidden in the shadows watched, hearts pounding. The presence of Minato Namikaze inside Naruto felt surreal; seeing his father move in the flesh stirred something indescribable in him.
"Dad… doesn't it feel strange to see another you?" Naruto murmured inwardly, and even the Nine-Tails snorted a sound that was almost like amusement. For a moment, father and son were neighbors separated by time.
From where they hid, Naruto watched Minato fight. Kage-level strength showed in every motion: decisive, clean, and terrifyingly quick to sense danger. Minato moved like water—calm, inevitable.
A kunai sliced through the air toward their hiding place. An explosive tag detonated above them, painting the alley in light. Their concealment dissolved in a rain of dust and sparks.
The three defenders turned. Minato's eyes went wide when he saw not one stranger but two. His senses had detected a single presence; now two faces were unmistakable in the smoke.
Orochimaru managed a crooked smile and inclined his head in apology to Naruto.
"My timing, as always, is theatrical," he said wryly.
"As expected of Minato Namikaze!" Orochimaru added, almost reverent.
Akimichi Chōza gave a surprised grunt. "Orochimaru-senpai? What are you doing here?"
Minato alone registered something more subtle: Orochimaru's aura had shifted since their last meeting—darker, heavier. And Naruto—when had he changed his clothes? This Naruto did not wear the familiar Konoha forehead protector; his posture and expression were older, quieter.
"Chōza—don't rush forward." Minato's voice was calm but firm as he studied them. "You two… you're from the future, aren't you?"
The temporal signature clinging to Orochimaru and the measured assurance in Naruto's face betrayed them. Minato's eyes narrowed, piecing it together. He guessed they arrived from a far-off future.
Naruto let a small smile escape. Minato was sharp—he'd read their origins nearly perfectly.
"Orochimaru-kun, we mean no harm. We truly are from the future," Orochimaru answered in a flat, honest tone.
Minato continued to scrutinize them. This Naruto had an air that Minato remembered from reports and legends—familiar but altered, as if the same melody were being played in a different key.
"Has something happened in the future?" Minato asked.
Orochimaru's gaze flicked toward the distant palace, where smoke and chaos braided into the sky.
"Yes—much has happened," he admitted. "But there's no time to explain. If we delay, he may already be dead."
At those words Minato turned, following Orochimaru's finger. In the palace courtyard a figure fought with the desperate fury of one trying to buy time—Mukade's puppets swarmed, and the man at the center struggled beneath their numbers.
Minato's jaw set.
"Then we go," he said. "We save him first, and ask questions later."
Without hesitation, the three—Minato, Chōza, and Shibi—moved as one, carving a path into the heart of the battle. Naruto and Orochimaru fell in beside them, shadows and intent aligned. The street became a torrent of chakra and metal; every second counted.
...
TN:
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