"You lost again~"
"Again!"
"Sorry, that's enough for today. Naruto and Sasuke said they're holding an arm-wrestling tournament, and I'm the host~"
With a thought, Chinatsu gathered all the playing cards back into her hand.
Across from her, Kaguya stared resentfully.
"...Playing with those mortals is more important than playing with me?"
Although Kaguya spoke softly, this was Chinatsu's spiritual world—a realm completely under Chinatsu's control. Naturally, every word reached her ears.
"Yep~"
Chinatsu smiled brightly before her spiritual body vanished from the mental world.
Back in reality, she slowly opened her eyes and stretched lazily.
"Ahh... the arm-wrestling tournament... the arm-wrestling tournament..."
Humming happily, she walked out of her room toward the living room.
Over the past few years, everyone had become incredibly skilled at inventing ridiculous activities whenever they had free time.
Eating contests.
Sleeping contests.
Slapping contests.
Cockfighting contests.
Arm-wrestling contests.
...
They had practically turned the peaceful Land of Whirlpools into an amusement park.
Thinking about it, these peaceful years had finally allowed Chinatsu to enjoy all the little things she'd never had time for before.
---
"Sorry for making everyone wait. I'm he—"
She stopped midway through her sentence.
"...Huh?"
"Why did you start without me?!"
The moment she stepped into the living room, Chinatsu froze.
She had imagined herself making a grand entrance as the host.
Instead...
The tournament was already in full swing.
Hidan immediately ran over.
"I told everyone to wait for you, Young Lady!"
"But the atmosphere became too intense..."
"Especially Naruto and Sasuke."
---
At the center of the room...
Naruto and Sasuke were locked in an arm-wrestling match.
The intensity in their eyes made it look as though they were avenging generations of family hatred.
Naruto thought,
Fifty-first match.
Today I'll claim my twenty-sixth victory!
Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
Dream on.
Victory number twenty-six belongs to me.
Both tightened their grip simultaneously.
The pressure alone made the wooden table creak loudly.
If the table hadn't been created by Chinatsu's Wood Release...
An ordinary table would have exploded long ago.
---
Ninjas could reinforce their bodies with chakra.
Among them...
The most famous technique was undoubtedly Tsunade's Monstrous Strength.
Having studied under her for years, Sasuke naturally learned the technique as well.
"Monstrous Strength!"
Perfect chakra control erupted.
The strength in Sasuke's arm instantly multiplied several times.
Naruto's arm nearly slammed into the table.
Fortunately...
His absurd vitality allowed him to stop it at the last second.
---
"Not bad."
"So you're using Monstrous Strength..."
Naruto grinned.
"Then don't blame me for fighting seriously."
It wasn't only Sasuke who had trained these past few years.
Naruto had also grown tremendously.
Not only had he completely reconciled with Kurama...
He had also obtained portions of chakra from the other Tailed Beasts.
Among them...
The Five-Tails' chakra granted him its unique ability.
"Boil Release—Unrivaled Strength!"
Boom!
Steam exploded from Naruto's body.
The balance instantly shifted.
Sasuke's expression changed.
The force traveling through Naruto's arm became overwhelming.
Crack!
The Wood Release table beneath them exploded into pieces.
A massive cloud of white steam engulfed the room.
---
When the steam dispersed...
Naruto stood there with an awkward smile.
Sasuke was surrounded by the skeletal form of Susanoo.
Had he not activated it in time...
The scorching steam and shockwave at point-blank range would have injured him.
"I..."
"I'm sorry..."
"I didn't expect it to become this powerful..."
---
"Both of you..."
"You've gone too far!"
Bonk!
Bonk!
Chinatsu punched both brothers on the head.
"Arm-wrestling means using your muscles!"
"Who told you to start using bloodline abilities?!"
Naruto and Sasuke held their heads with pained expressions.
"...Sorry."
---
Both brothers were now eighteen years old.
Naruto stood at 182 centimeters.
Sasuke was also 182 centimeters tall.
Compared to the original timeline, Naruto had grown slightly taller thanks to years of proper nutrition.
Chinatsu herself had also changed.
After becoming Kaguya's Jinchūriki, her height had increased by nearly ten centimeters.
She now stood just over 170 centimeters tall.
Although she was still shorter than the two boys...
The difference wasn't large enough to stop her from delivering loving punches to the tops of their heads.
---
Over the years...
Momoshiki's Karma within Naruto and Isshiki's Karma within Sasuke had continued developing steadily.
To completely eliminate the possibility of Momoshiki and Isshiki resurrecting through possession...
Chinatsu had intentionally slowed the synchronization process.
Because of that...
Neither Naruto nor Sasuke could fully use Takamimusubinokami, Sukunahikona, or Daikokuten yet.
---
"chinatsu-nee."
Naruto scratched his head.
"We heard you're leaving the Land of Whirlpools soon."
"So..."
"We decided to arm wrestle."
"The winner would go with you."
"Oh?"
"Heard?"
"Who told you?"
Chinatsu blinked before shrugging.
"...Never mind."
"I probably let it slip myself."
Then she smiled helplessly.
"You two are so silly."
"Why can't both of you come with me?"
---
Naruto and Sasuke stared blankly.
Then...
Their eyes lit up simultaneously.
Until now...
Whenever Chinatsu traveled somewhere dangerous...
She had never taken both of them at the same time.
Naturally, they assumed only one person could accompany her.
Seeing their expressions, Chinatsu explained,
"I'm heading out to prepare for the Otsutsuki Main Family."
"You two inherited Otsutsuki Karma."
"In the entire ninja world..."
"I couldn't ask for more reliable partners."
---
"Then we'll go pack immediately!"
The two brothers disappeared in a flash.
Watching them run away...
Chinatsu couldn't help laughing.
---
Meanwhile...
The Akatsuki members looked at one another.
"So..."
"Who's next in the arm-wrestling tournament?"
Everyone quietly rolled up their sleeves.
---
They understood one thing very clearly.
Back during the battle in Konoha...
Whether against Madara...
Or the Otsutsuki...
They hadn't even been qualified to provide support.
Since they couldn't help on the battlefield...
Then they would help in other ways.
---
With the Akatsuki stationed there...
The Land of Whirlpools had become the safest place in the ninja world.
Occasionally...
Some reckless troublemaker would appear.
But before long...
They would be thrown straight into the surrounding ocean by the Akatsuki.
---
As the nation's reputation spread...
Scattered members of the Uzumaki Clan gradually returned home.
Nagato became one of the clan's leaders.
While studying the Uzumaki sealing arts...
He also established charities and relief organizations, doing everything he could to help ordinary civilians.
---
As for Chinatsu...
Her decision to leave the Land of Whirlpools had only one purpose.
Preparing for the inevitable arrival of the Otsutsuki Main Family.
Had she finally found a solution?
Yes.
She had.
And...
The one who showed her that possibility...
Was Kaguya herself.
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