The sun was blazing overhead.
Gaara had just sent a message: the Desert Greening Project in the Land of Wind was nearing completion. The newly planted forests would gradually transform the desert soil, and in the future, the nation would gain dozens of vast oases — a transformation that meant everything to its people.
Gaara specifically credited Yamato. His Wood Release was simply too valuable.
Though Yamato worked tirelessly, seeing the gratitude and hope in the eyes of ordinary civilians made every moment worth it. The project also greatly sharpened his chakra control and deepened his understanding of Wood Release.
That progress alone brought him no small amount of satisfaction.
After ending the communication, Naruto headed straight for the training grounds.
Sasuke and Lee were already there, absorbed in their daily training. Lee, as always, gave not a single inch of slack.
"Sasuke! Lee!" Naruto called out from a distance.
Both paused and glanced over as he approached.
"Where's Neji?" Naruto asked.
"Neji and Tenten went out together, you know~!" Lee leaned closer, elbowing Naruto playfully as he wiggled his eyebrows with a mischievous grin.
Naruto couldn't help but laugh. Even without words, Lee's implication was obvious. Since when did he become this sharp?
In the original timeline, there was a subtle spark between Neji and Tenten… Perhaps this time, Neji could find a better future than the one fate had once handed him.
The three of them rarely had moments like this — chatting casually without pressure or urgency. Naruto, especially, had grown busier than ever. They might meet often, but having time to breathe together? That had become a luxury.
Just as laughter filled the training field, a familiar voice called out:
"Sasuke-kun! I brought you lunch. I… I hope you'll like it!"
Sakura hurried over, cheeks slightly flushed, holding a neatly prepared bento.
Sasuke — who had been perfectly civil a moment ago — froze. His expression turned cold immediately.
Seeing Naruto nearby, Sakura flinched in embarrassment. But she forced herself to stand firm. If she didn't move forward, she might never bridge the gap between them.
"I told you not to bother me."
Sasuke's tone was icy.
Lee leaned in close to Naruto and whispered, "Sakura has been bringing Sasuke bentos every day lately… but he's always this cold."
Lee simply couldn't understand it — how could Sasuke reject such a hardworking and sincere girl? Still, Sakura loved Sasuke, and Lee had his own sense of honor. A friend's love was something he would never encroach upon.
"If you have time for this," Sasuke continued, brows furrowed, "you should be training instead. I'm not here to play house."
With that, he turned sharply and walked away.
Sakura stood frozen, disbelief and hurt filling her eyes.
Naruto hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. As he passed her, he spoke quietly:
"Sakura… You know some of what Sasuke has been through. If you really care about him, don't crowd him like this every day. Become stronger — so strong he can't help but notice. That's all I can say."
He left with a brief nod toward Lee.
After Naruto walked away, Lee resumed his intense training without hesitation. The sheer force of his determination stunned Sakura… and perhaps it enlightened her a little as well.
They were all ahead of her — not only in talent or strength, but in effort. In resolve.
Lee, once considered lacking in talent, had carved his own path through sheer willpower. And now? His strength spoke for itself.
Sakura slowly looked in the direction Naruto had left, hands tightening around the bento.
She finally understood what she needed to do.
She had to become someone worthy of standing beside Sasuke — and worthy of her own ambitions.
The moment Naruto returned to his room, he received a message from Shisui.
"Naruto, our Sky City Project is progressing smoothly. With the technology we acquired from the Sky Ninja, we've expanded the scale of the airborne warships and already completed the prototype of a floating city!"
"But the biggest problem is how to extract and stabilize the Dragon Vein. We need your help!"
Shisui's voice sounded both excited and anxious.
"I understand. I'll head there right away!"
Naruto hadn't expected them to advance so quickly — a Sky City prototype was already finished? Their efficiency exceeded even his expectations.
Without hesitation, he teleported directly to Rōran, utilizing a fixed spatial network Umbrella had installed around the world.
The ancient city was now under complete Umbrella protection. Naruto soon found Shisui, who was overseeing operations here.
"Naruto, you finally made it!" Shisui rushed over, relief in his eyes.
"Come see for yourself. No matter what method we try, the Dragon Vein's power refuses to be extracted safely!"
There was urgency in his voice — and understandably so.
After all… Sky City represented absolute dominance.
Especially with threats like Ōtsutsuki still lurking in the shadows.
Naruto followed him toward the site of the Dragon Vein Seal.
Dozens of shinobi and researchers were already there, surrounded by charts and sealing instruments, calculating nonstop.
"If we extract the Dragon Vein directly, its energy becomes too violent to contain!"
"We don't have any material strong enough to safely seal it — unless we create a Jinchūriki-like container. But finding a suitable host is nearly impossible."
"And that approach defeats the purpose! The Dragon Vein must serve as Sky City's stable energy core, not a burden on a person!"
Naruto nodded slightly. Their concerns were valid.
As he approached, the researchers finally noticed and hurriedly saluted.
"Lord Naruto! Lord Shisui!"
Their voices carried respect… and a trace of fervent admiration.
"Let me take a look," Naruto said as he stepped toward the glowing seal.
The Dragon Vein's chakra churned like a wild Tailed Beast — powerful but unruly. Still, he remembered: Orochimaru once developed technology to siphon Nine-Tails chakra, and Umbrella already mass-produced devices capable of extracting Tailed Beast energy.
So the Dragon Vein could be used — the challenge was simply how to house it.
"…a container," Naruto murmured.
The idea snapped into place.
A vessel strong enough to hold and channel the Dragon Vein's energy — installed as the heart of Sky City — and the entire project would be one step away from completion.
With spatial technology developing so rapidly, maintaining a stable link between the floating city and the ground was already trivial.
Naruto closed his eyes — and then suddenly opened them, struck by inspiration.
"Isn't there a perfect option already? The Star — the meteorite in Hoshigakure. It's capable of containing tremendous chakra. Right now, we're wasting it by forging mere weapons out of it."
He smiled confidently.
"Why not use the Star as the core container?"
Shisui blinked, stunned. That mysterious meteorite? Could it really withstand the Dragon Vein?
Seeing the hesitation, Naruto clarified:
"Shisui… even the human body can contain a Tailed Beast. The Star is formed from ore fused with chakra properties. By using the right sealing techniques, merging it with the Dragon Vein is absolutely possible."
"I've already confirmed that the Star can withstand massive chakra loads."
Shisui's eyes widened — excitement flooding through him.
If this worked… Sky City would truly rise into the heavens.
A fortress none could challenge.
A Shinobi World dominator.
With chakra cannons mounted across its hull…
Even the Five Great Nations would be forced to kneel.
The world… would be ruled by Umbrella.
...
TN:
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