Chapter 12
The system ignored Naruto's mimicry, as if it had already grown immune to his "ding~" antics.
"Ding~ Would the host like to initiate traversal?"
"Ding~ System, don't you think there's something wrong with you? I'm in class right now—how am I supposed to traverse?!"
"Ding~ Once the host traverses, the timeline in this world will be paused. No one will notice the host's absence."
"Oh? In that case… let's traverse."
…
The blazing sun hung high, pouring scorching heat down onto Konoha below.
In a narrow alley, Naruto's figure suddenly appeared.
"Seriously… the reward was this trash just because the mission had no difficulty?"
"Can't you give me something actually challenging?"
"Ding~ In Ninja World #334, Uchiha Madara and Senju Tobirama are currently at the Five Kage Summit location, intending to use force to make the world sign an unequal treaty. The host is requested to uphold the spirit of truth, goodness, and beauty—and eliminate Uchiha Madara and Senju Tobirama.
Reward: Custom Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Ding~ Note: Upon traversal, the host will immediately face Uchiha Madara and Senju Tobirama."
Naruto stood frozen in the alley for a long while. Finally, he asked, "What does 'custom' mean?"
"Ding~ The host will have access to all known Mangekyō Sharingan abilities and may select any two."
"Ding~ To prevent the host from losing their life, this system has temporarily declined the mission on the host's behalf."
A sly grin crept across Naruto's face. He knew the system wouldn't let him walk into certain death that easily.
Seeing the system back down, Naruto got excited like he'd discovered a new continent. He kept provoking it. "Come on, System—I really want to meet the legendary Lord Madara~"
"Ding~ Would the host like to initiate traversal?"
Naruto panicked. "Decline! Quick—decline!!!"
…
Emerging from the alley, Naruto thought with lingering fear: Good thing I reacted fast. Traversing for real would've been suicide.
"Naruto~ What are you doing here? Aren't you going to the Fifth Hokage's inauguration ceremony?"
A soft, gentle voice suddenly reached his ears.
Naruto's body jolted. Holy crap! Someone knows me! And from the voice… it's a girl?!
He turned around in delighted shock—and his eyes nearly popped out.
A twelve-year-old Uchiha Sasuke, wearing bunny ears, gazed at him with pure innocence.
Even more importantly…
Naruto followed the hand Sasuke was holding and felt his scalp go numb.
TMD! Uchiha Itachi—one against seven!!!
Sasuke… twelve years old? Uchiha Itachi?!
How the hell did this world turn out like this?!
Before Naruto could speak, Itachi smiled warmly at him. "You must be my little brother's friend. He's not very mature—sorry for all the trouble he's caused you."
Sasuke pouted at Itachi. "Big brother~ What are you saying?"
Naruto instantly turned to stone.
Holy crap—he's a guy!
Shock aside, he still had to keep up appearances.
What if someone realized he didn't belong in this world?
Naruto replied blankly, "Huh? Yeah, right. Got it—I'll head over right away."
After sending Sasuke and Itachi off, Naruto was drenched in cold sweat.
But before he could catch his breath, a stall owner nearby called out enthusiastically, "Oh~ If it isn't our little hero!"
"Come, come—take some fruit. On the house~"
Naruto glanced over and realized he knew this vendor from his own world—except there, the man's attitude toward him was the complete opposite.
From the way he was acting… did this world not hide Naruto's identity?
"Naruto-kun, did you see Itachi and Sasuke?"
Another voice came from behind. Naruto, already overwhelmed by this world, turned mechanically.
Well, damn!!!
Uchiha Shisui!!!
From a distance, two more voices drifted over.
Obito: "Lynn Wait for me"
Rin: "Obito, can you show a little energy?"
Rin: "Kakashi might already be there. I'm really looking forward to it~"
Obito: "Tch~ It's just because his dad's the ANBU Chief. Once my Sharingan evolves to Mangekyō, I'll surpass that stuck-up Kakashi in no time!"
Uchiha Fugaku: "Obito, how many times have I told you? In public, you need to consider the Uchiha clan's image. How can you act like a simp?"
Uchiha Mikoto: "Honey, leave him alone. It's not easy for Obito…"
Naruto: "Holy crap!!"
"Hm?" A figure in white suddenly appeared behind him. Hyūga Hizashi narrowed his eyes and said, "Naruto, you shouldn't use bad language!"
Behind Hizashi, Neji watched Naruto coldly, as if he didn't particularly like him.
…
After a whirlwind of encounters, Naruto slipped away to an empty spot, used the Transformation Technique to disguise himself, and only then dared to come back out.
Everyone was way too friendly—he couldn't handle it all.
So… what the heck happened to this world?!
On the distant Hokage Rock: First Hokage Hashirama Senju, Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, and the Fifth… Tsunade Senju? No—Senju Nawaki!!!
"This is way too wild. Everyone who was supposed to die… didn't."
Naruto stared in shock at the familiar yet unfamiliar faces around him, carefully keeping himself hidden.
The Uchiha and Hyūga clans had completely different histories from the original.
Right now, the Uchiha clan had Itachi, Fugaku, Shisui, and Kagami—four pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan!
This was peak clan power. How big-hearted was Konoha to allow such an overpowered force to exist?
Suddenly, atop the Hokage Tower, a mature middle-aged man in the Hokage cloak appeared. The Fifth Hokage—Senju Nawaki!
Beside him stood a crowd: Hokage Minato Namikaze, the Professor of Ninjutsu Hiruzen Sarutobi, Ninja Academy Principal Jiraiya, Konoha Tech University President Orochimaru, Konoha Medical Academy Dean Tsunade Senju, current ANBU Chief Shibi Aburame… no, Kakashi's father—Hatake Sakumo—and Jōnin Squad Leader Nara Shikaku…
Naruto even saw Tsunade punch Jiraiya—apparently because he couldn't keep his hands to himself?
Under the eyes of the massive crowd, Nawaki shouted loudly:
"Beneath the Great Buddha, all eyes are equal!"
The onlookers roared back: "Woooo~~~!!!"
Naruto: "?????????"
"Ding~ Congratulations, host, on completing the mission. Reward issued."
Memories of the Shadow Clone Technique flooded into Naruto's mind. He stood stunned and muttered, "System, traverse me back."
…
Back in his real world, Naruto finally had time to process everything he'd just seen.
Maybe… that was the best possible outcome for Konoha.
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