The next day, afternoon, Main World, Konoha Village, Training Ground Seven
"Sorry, sorry, there were some things I had to deal with. I'm not late, right?"
Haruno Sakura, who was saying she'd been busy, had on a rare, finely done makeup today. After arriving, she locked eyes with Karin, who was clinging to Sasuke's side.
For a few seconds, the two of them stared each other down like lasers, and then both put on their trademark fake smiles.
"Sakura!"
Naruto smiled big and bright.
Though he'd learned that in the future, his counterpart would marry Hinata, well… it still felt weird to him; he couldn't quite accept it. Among the girls around, Sakura was still the one he was fond of.
"It's fine, anyway I never specified a precise time,"
Link jumped off the special reclining seat he'd been using, yawned, and said, "We'll be splitting up into pairs, and I plan to partner with Utakata. You guys—"
"I'm pairing with Sasuke!" x2
Smack!
Their eyes were once again firing laser beams at each other.
The two girls glared at each other for a moment, then both turned and stared at Sasuke, who was wearing his usual white outfit.
"I'll team up with Naruto."
Sasuke completely ignored the two girls' gazes and declared on his own, "He's the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. If we go to the 'fourthparallel world,' the Akatsuki might target him, so it's more suitable for me to be with him."
That "fourthparallel world" referred to the one where Asuma would have died, the world Link had hastily gone to before, capturing Hidan and Kakuzu, handing them over to Asuma's team, then leaving right after.
At that point in time, the Akatsuki in that world should have begun their plans, which meant caution was needed—especially if Tobi or Black Zetsu did something, like unleashing an Edo Tensei'd Madara. Currently, Naruto definitely couldn't handle that alone.
But now, Sasuke had developed his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, had guidance from two Madaras and also from his future self, plus specialized training from Link. From physical condition to chakra reserves, to ocular powers—he had zero weak points.
Even if they ended up facing Edo Tensei'd Madara, he might not necessarily win head-to-head, but at least stalemating or escaping wouldn't be too hard. Plus, with the Network and Earth-Style Dragon techniques for potential backup, Link himself could arrive with reinforcements. Dealing with an Edo Tensei'd Madara in this era was entirely feasible.
"Me teamed with her?!" x2
Sakura and Karin spoke in unison; then both followed with,
"What do you mean by that?!"
"Look, you're already in sync,"
Link spread his hands, adding, "All right, cut it out. We have more important business."
The two girls finally quieted down, but still gave each other little side glares full of electricity.
"You both read the materials I shared on the Network, right?" Link asked.
Those materials were notes about the "canonical" Naruto history—"canon" meaning how events were supposed to go in a timeline without him. Link had even visited the future world's key players to ensure accurate information.
All five nodded yes, so Link went on:
"Last time I went over there, I saved Asuma—just as he was about to be killed by the Akatsuki's Hidan and Kakuzu. The details and timing are in the notes, so you can review."
He paused, then continued:
"Now we'll assign tasks. Sakura, Karin, your job is to head to Konoha and talk with Tsunade. I'll have a few shadows follow you for protection."
"Yes!" x2
Even if the two girls had issues with each other, they were still qualified ninjas. They wouldn't protest in the middle of a mission briefing.
Two-person cell with strong mental capacity, medical skill, and Tsunade connections—visiting the Konoha of that world to discuss a possible alliance or cooperation. Link gave them a pretty open assignment with no mandatory objectives. Realistically, it shouldn't be dangerous.
"Sasuke, you and Naruto are going to find Orochimaru in that world. If that 'you' there has already killed him, then find Kabuto—solve it any way you see fit."
Basically, cut off Edo Tensei from that side to prevent Black Zetsu from making trouble.
"Got it," Sasuke nodded.
"Leave it to me!" Naruto pumped his fists. He'd been wanting some action for a while. Freed from the constraints of the ninja union or any big mission, he was itching for real combat.
"As for me and Utakata," Link glanced at the group, "we'll head to Amegakure to deal with Nagato's group."
"No matter how things go, let's regroup at the Kannabi Bridge site in that world before daybreak back home—then we'll come back."
He wasn't expecting everything to get wrapped up in one go. Considering how haphazard the timeline was, he just wanted to keep it from running on too long.
So they each gave an affirmative. Link took out the "Funa-tsū" scroll and motioned them over. Channeling his chakra, he thought of that "Fourth Parallel World" timeline again. Quickly, they all sank into the vortex.
They felt no sense of time. Maybe it was an instant, maybe a year. The moment they regained awareness, they were standing in front of a public toilet.
"Ugh, that stinks,"
Karin and Naruto, whose senses were especially sharp, covered their noses.
"GaGa~"
A crow perched on a telephone pole flew away.
Main-World Sasuke nearly launched an attack, but Sakura stepped in:
"That's the summon bird used by Jonin Yamashiro Aoba."
"So it looks like Konoha left some people stationed here," Link mused, not feeling particularly concerned. He had his shadows scatter, searching, but found the old cash-exchange place empty. No sign of any humans having come by in a long time.
He checked the watch that indicated Main-World time, plus the midday sun overhead. Pulling out a camera, he summoned the "Hermit Purple."
"Let the ninjas in this world see how powerful the old guy can be!"
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— This Fanfic is Completed in Patreon!