Konoha Year 64.
The Valley of the End.
A violent tremor shook the earth, the surrounding air warping and shimmering under intense heat. With the sickening sound of space itself tearing open, three figures materialized out of thin air.
"Hoo... Is this... the Valley of the End?"
Nagato's gaze was dark, his eyes sweeping over the desolate landscape.
"So this is the other world! It's actually quite rare to see the Valley of the End looking so... barren," Obito remarked, scanning their surroundings with evident excitement.
"Interdimensional travel... I can't believe Orochimaru actually pulled it off," Kakashi muttered, unable to hide the shock in his eyes.
Back in the Empire, the Valley of the End was a premier tourist destination in the Fire Province. Every day, it was packed with crowds, contributing massive GDP to the province and providing tens of thousands of jobs. But here? Aside from the towering statues of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju, there was nothing but emptiness for a hundred miles.
Desolation. That was their first impression of this new world.
In the distance, Jiraiya was perched at a vantage point, using a monocular telescope to conduct his... research on some young women playing in the river below. Suddenly, he felt a strange fluctuation in space, followed immediately by the appearance of three powerful chakra signatures.
Reluctantly tearing his eyes away from the "scenery," his expression turned serious.
"Who's there? Did they spot me?"
Feeling a guilty pang of panic, he quickly formed hand seals and used the Transformation Jutsu to disguise himself as a toad.
He was confused. These three chakra signatures were unfamiliar—they didn't feel like Leaf Shinobi—yet there was something strangely nostalgic about them.
Cautiously, he hopped closer.
As the distance closed, his pupils constricted violently.
"These three... their chakra surpasses Jonin level!"
With the recent turmoil in Konoha and neighboring villages eyeing them like hungry wolves, his nerves were already on edge. Boldly, he crept closer to eavesdrop.
"Let's try to establish contact with the Emperor," Kakashi ordered.
"Wait! Kakashi, are we really going to report in just like that?" Nagato interjected, his voice sharp.
"It's fine, Nagato. Just proving that the cross-dimensional jump was successful is already a huge achievement," Obito said, trying to comfort him, assuming Nagato was worried about their lack of progress.
"No, that's not what I'm worried about. Are we really going to bring war to this world too? Everyone knows how brutal the Emperor is. I don't want to watch him sacrifice countless lives just to satisfy his ego again! This world is innocent!"
Nagato had never experienced war firsthand, but as a bystander to the history of the Second Great Ninja War and a student of Jiraiya's teachings, he deeply understood the value of peace.
This version of Nagato was the "Child of Prophecy" before the loss of Yahiko broke him. He was kind, gentle, and always considerate of others—in short, a bleeding heart.
"Nagato, this is a mission. I expect you to follow orders. Coming here isn't necessarily a mistake. The Emperor said himself: if this world's path is righteous, we are here to seek cooperation," Kakashi reasoned, fixing his gaze on the redhead.
Nagato fell silent for a moment before letting out a self-deprecating laugh.
"Right or wrong... isn't that just whatever the Emperor decides? In all these years, when has he ever genuinely asked for anyone's opinion?"
"The war barely ended, and the entire Ninja World needs rebuilding. He claims to desire peace, yet immediately after unification, he ignored the people's welfare to pour the nation's resources into this interdimensional project. He's delusional, trying to burn parallel universes with the fires of war. I truly don't understand it!"
Resentment began to seep into Nagato's voice. "Just how much territory does he need to satisfy that vain, domineering heart of his?"
Obito's expression grew complicated as he listened.
"He's right. The Emperor is obstinate and autocratic. His decisions blot out the sky. This so-called 'Republic' is just an excuse for his dictatorship."
"Enough. Stop talking. The Emperor trusted us enough to make us the vanguard. At least everyone is fed and living in peace now, aren't they?" Kakashi interrupted, trying to mediate.
"Living in peace? All I see are people crushed under the weight of life, struggling just to realize his grand ambitions."
Kakashi fell silent.
"Fine. I'll contact the Emperor."
As he injected a massive amount of chakra into his wristband, a holographic projection shimmered into existence before them.
Uchiha Senju smiled as he saw his three subordinates safely arrived in the parallel world.
"Good work, everyone." The deep, commanding voice resonated from the bracelet.
"Reporting to the Emperor. We have safely crossed over. Current location: Valley of the End," Kakashi reported factually.
"Excellent. I've transmitted your detailed mission parameters to your bracelets. Remember, in all situations, prioritize your own safety."
Senju glanced at Nagato, who looked as wilted as a frosted eggplant, and sighed.
"Remember, we are here to correct a flawed world, to seek peace and cooperation. We are not here to kill and plunder. Do not burden yourselves with unnecessary guilt."
Seeing Nagato remain stubbornly silent, Senju spoke directly to him.
"Nagato! Do you remember the criteria for judging whether a world is 'correct'?"
His tone turned cold.
Nagato hadn't forgotten. This ideology had been propaganda drilled into them since the unification. He braced himself and answered.
"The Ninja Village System is an error. A unified Republic following the path of Communism is the only correct way!"
"And the Core Socialist Values?"
"I remember them."
"Good. Then I won't say more."
"Nagato, complete your mission well. Think about your past self... and your family."
The connection cut.
On the other side, Orochimaru couldn't help but speak up. "Emperor, Nagato is powerful, but aren't you afraid he might turn traitor? And that last comment... I doubt he understood it. He never lived through the warring era; the most he's suffered is a few days of hunger."
"Turn traitor?"
Senju chuckled.
He knew better than anyone how sick and broken a world without unification could be.
The current Nagato was a classic armchair idealist. He had listened to Jiraiya's tales of war and tragedy, but he had never lived them. In this timeline, Senju had saved Nagato's parents, so the boy had never known the true pain of losing family and comrades.
But the ideals of Communism were deeply rooted in his mind. Senju didn't believe for a second that, after seeing the reality of this primitive world, Nagato would abandon such a superior system to restore the archaic Village System.
And even if he did betray them? With Senju's power surpassing the Sage of Six Paths, what could Nagato possibly do?
Of course, a Nagato with the Rinnegan was a fine blade. Sharpening him on this mission would only make him more useful later.
Back in the Valley of the End, Kakashi sighed as the hologram faded.
Nagato, however, clenched his fists, filled with righteous fury.
I knew it! The Emperor hasn't changed! What did he mean by those last words? Threatening me with my parents?
Heh. I accepted this mission to protect world peace! I am the Child of Prophecy ordained by the Sage! With me in this world, Emperor, don't you dare dream of bringing your war here!
Nagato had always wondered why Jiraiya called him the Child of Prophecy, claiming the future peace of the world depended on him.
During his years at the Fire Shadow University, he had pondered this. He was just an ordinary college student, and the world was already unified. How could he possibly save the world?
But now, filled with rage and defiance against Uchiha Senju, Nagato had an epiphany.
The Sage did not lie to me! I am the Child of Prophecy spoken of by the Toad Sage! I am the hero who will save the world! *