Seeing Grandpa Hagoromo, the Rikudo Sennin, appear in the mental space, Parallel World 7 Naruto and Sasuke finally realized the "old friend" Great Tenshou meant was Hagoromo.
The feeling was truly strange.
For Parallel World 7 Naruto and Sasuke, though over ten years had passed, they instantly returned to the present and met the Rikudo Sennin from ten years ago again.
For Hagoromo, it was even more outrageous.
How did the Naruto and Sasuke he just sent away return?
Even if you died at light speed and revived at a hot spring, it shouldn't be this fast, right? At least give me some mental preparation?
After so many years, he finally found two suitable hard workers. Wasn't this too hard?
But soon, Rikudo Sennin also realized something was off, because the current Naruto and Sasuke looked and felt vastly different from the ones he just sent away.
Both had become far more mature.
Moreover, Naruto no longer had the innocence and romance, no longer the foolish aura full of hope for the future.
Sasuke had also shed the arrogant, proud personality that looked down on the world from his youth.
One could see hidden intent forged through hardships in their eyes.
They were like two adult male lions who had learned to hide their claws.
In fact, Rikudo Sennin vaguely sensed their mental power and consciousness were far stronger than seconds ago!
Though not comparable to his millennia-old endurance, it was still terrifying!
As if they gained decades of accumulation and sedimentation in an instant. This wasn't a joke...
"Yo! Grandpa, long time no see!"
Parallel World 7 Naruto smiled and greeted Hagoromo. Though he evolved into Killer Naruto, that was only for enemies.
Facing kind Grandpa Hagoromo, Naruto was still very friendly.
"Rikudo Sennin... Hm."
Parallel World 7 Sasuke nodded slightly, attitude far better than his 17-year-old self, but personality seemed more reserved.
"You two..."
"And your eyes..."
Rikudo Sennin fell silent.
Even he, always strategic, was too confused now. He felt something illogical, full of doubts, but didn't know where to start or what to ask.
Especially the Six Paths Naruto before him, who not only had Kaguya's unique nine-tomoe Rinne-Sharingan but also special eyes even he didn't recognize.
This was truly a bit frightening!
"Grandpa, we're from the future. Not the me and Sasuke you know."
Naruto explained seriously. Sasuke nodded slightly in agreement.
"The future?"
"You time-traveled from the future?"
"Could it be relying on Ryūmyaku's power?"
"No, that power can't send your consciousness back to this mental space."
"What is this?"
Though Hagoromo lacked Byakugan's strangeness, he knew the ninja world's broad outline and developments over thousands of years.
Precisely because of this, he better understood how difficult true time travel was.
Forget him. Even peak Kaguya struggled to reverse time and travel to the past.
But the Naruto and Sasuke before him were indeed vastly different from the ones he just sent away.
Seemed no other possibility fit besides coming from the future.
"How to explain? Feels a bit complicated. Sasuke, want to explain? And Lord?"
Naruto's expression ability was still slightly inferior to Sasuke's. He prepared to let Sasuke explain.
*WHOOSH!*
A third figure appeared, suddenly emerging beside Naruto and Sasuke without warning.
"Let me explain."
Lux's consciousness also invaded this mental space. He patted Naruto, signaling he'd take over.
He came specifically to meet Hagoromo.
This one differed from cowards in other Parallel Worlds. Hagoromo during the Fourth Ninja World War intensely monitored the entire ninja world and battle direction.
He was the type to always find ways to influence battle outcomes.
So, before their side officially interfered with Parallel World 6's direction, handling this proactive Hagoromo was necessary.
This also prevented him from secretly causing trouble and interfering later.
After all, power-wise, Hagoromo dead for millennia wasn't too strong. His upper limit definitely couldn't compare to peak Kaguya.
But his troublemaking ability was strong.
He could secretly give cheats to others, gather souls in Pure Land, collectively use secret techniques like Combined Summoning.
Plus, he'd controlled Pure Land too long.
In some ways, Hagoromo had become half the ninja world's Gaia consciousness, fused with it.
To kill him, unless destroying the entire ninja world, it would be very hard.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Seeing Lux, Hagoromo immediately grew wary.
He knew Naruto and Sasuke. Though changed greatly, at least familiar.
But now a completely unknown mysterious being suddenly appeared, even forcibly invading his mental space. This made Hagoromo cautious.
"Who are you?"
"A visitor from a different space-time."
"Different space-time? You brought them? You're all from the future?"
"Me. But it's actually an independent future space-time. Of course, no issue understanding it simply as the future."
Lux's calm attitude made Hagoromo more cautious.
More importantly, he'd tried and found he seemingly couldn't force the other out of this mental space!
Note: this was his self-created mental space. Now he couldn't fully control it.
Too terrifying!
Did the other forcibly seize partial control rights?
When?
Since Naruto and Sasuke re-entered?
What technique was this?
The mix of ignorance and shock made Hagoromo choose to probe carefully. At least the other seemed communicable.
"Then why come here? What do you really want? What will you do?"
Hagoromo asked frankly.
"Simple. I prepare to change this Ninja World War's outcome, guide the entire ninja world toward faster unification and peace."
"Change outcome? Unification and peace? Grand ambition..."
Hagoromo grew serious. He felt this wasn't good!
"Ambition or not, no need to worry. I just want you to behave, not secretly cause trouble or interfere further."
Lux, beyond Six Paths level, naturally firmer. Sometimes firmness saved much trouble.
"Then exactly how will you do it? Now my mother, Rabbit Goddess, will soon be revived. What outcome do you mean by changing outcome and achieving unification? Let the Goddess keep devouring the earth?"
Hagoromo no longer held back, asking many doubts at once.
He didn't care about ninja world unification or division.
After all, he'd existed too long. Millennia let him witness countless human nations' rise, fall, peace, division.
He knew no nation prospered forever, no war never ended.
So, rather than over-interfere, he preferred letting go, letting humans and ninja world seek, develop, grow themselves...
Like prior Ninja World Wars, even when fought to exhaustion, Hagoromo never interfered.
Except this time, possibly involving unsealing mother Kaguya, risking total ninja world destruction, he chose to act.
So, rather than unification etc., Hagoromo only cared how Lux and others would treat Kaguya? How change the future?
"How to change?"
"Most likely choose suitable supporter, then suppress or kill all other opposers, achieve world unification fastest."
Lux answered without hesitation.
Listening Parallel World 7 Naruto and Sasuke also agreed.
After much experience, they naturally understood unification was better for the entire ninja world.
At least allocate more resources, energy to train youth, seek ways against future Otsutsuki threats.
"Then who will you support?"
"Not fully decided. Depends on situation."
"Is the Rabbit Goddess also on your candidate supporter list?"
"Yes. But most likely won't choose her. Odds too low."
Hagoromo nodded. He probably understood Lux's intent and methods.
"How? Any other questions?"
Hagoromo finally asked:
"One last question, but let me rephrase."
"Since you claim from the future. Can you tell me, in the original future, did you successfully resolve mother's unsealing crisis?"
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged glances, answered.
"Success!"
"Me, Sasuke, and Sakura teamed up to seal the Goddess in her personal dimension."
Hagoromo sighed relief: "So that's it..."
If truly future Naruto, he trusted they wouldn't lie to him.
Meaning they truly defeated Kaguya!
"Alright. Hagoromo, your answer?"
Lux didn't want to delay long, finally asked.
"Sorry! Though from different space-time, I don't want you over-interfering, affecting this space-time's future."
"If you must interfere, please do after sealing mother."
"This is my only request."
Hagoromo rejected Lux's suggestion, sincerely pleaded.
Giving up the perfect outcome that should stably seal Kaguya, switching to betting on uncertain future changes.
Truly not a good choice for Grandpa Hagoromo.
But he lacked information, didn't want direct hostility with three mysterious beings before him. So hoped others delay, change future after Fourth Ninja World War ended.
"As expected, not easy to convince?"
"True. After all, this is your self-created Ninshū path. None match your resolve."
"But I didn't come for your opinion. Just to inform you."
"If words can't change your mind, I'll use other ways."
Hagoromo's answer matched Lux's expectation.
Not everyone easily convinced by Talk no Jutsu, especially this Ninshū founder.
Lux understood the other's concerns.
Especially with Kaguya's unsealing and revival near, this filial son Hagoromo wasn't as calm.
Otherwise, he wouldn't rush personally to cheat Naruto and Sasuke.
So, to truly change the other's view, needed rougher methods...
Sadly, the other had no physical body, only remaining consciousness. Even soul form uncertain.
Otherwise, directly moving this Hagoromo to another Parallel World would save much trouble.
But no big issue.
Even without moving, remember he brought two terrifying monsters.
"Naruto."
"Lord?"
"You alone. Do it gently. Give some respect to this old grandpa."
"This... isn't this bad?" Naruto looked embarrassed at Hagoromo opposite. Heart slightly hesitant.
Everyone knew Naruto disliked fighting, only liked ending fights!
"You don't want to change the future? Still want to experience the pain of losing everything again?"
Hearing this, Naruto instantly reacted.
Face changed in a second. Switched from bright mode to cruel killer mode, slightly shocking nearby Sasuke.
Forget just using logic to convince.
To prevent such future tragedy again, this Killer Naruto would do anything.
"Grandpa, forgive me!"
Six Paths Naruto instantly locked opposite Hagoromo, coldly apologized.
Hagoromo, sensing something wrong, hurriedly advised, but sadly too late.
"Wait... we can talk nicely! Don't...!"