"Bon Voyage."
Link watched the three Sasukes disappear into the vortex, then sighed, feeling that it might be somewhat unnecessary for his friend to go off on another adventure.
Obviously, if they needed something, they could've just told him.
Utakata stood behind him and spoke slowly,
"Don't worry. His strength right now is very high. Even without the Rinnegan, he shouldn't be much weaker than the future version of himself."
Link sensed something in Utakata's tone and asked,
"You seem to know something?"
Utakata rarely smiled like that. He appeared in a good mood as he tapped a finger to his eye and said,
"That's for you to ask him.
He's awakened the second Mangekyō ability."
Link paused.
"Why didn't he tell me? Wait—hold on."
He suddenly realized that these past few months, he hadn't spent much time properly interacting with Sasuke. Almost every day, he was busy—always busy.
Being the Hokage, worrying about other worlds, training himself, developing his variant ninjutsu…
After a while, he muttered a quiet apology,
"Sorry."
Not just Sasuke—he also treated the always-present Utakata as though he were only needed on command. Even though he used to say "you're all just my tools," he still felt uncomfortable actually using them purely as tools.
Utakata didn't mind in the slightest, smiling casually.
"It's fine."
Link slumped down onto one of his shadows and sighed,
"I guess I've gotten used to living life in a hurry.
Always in a rush to get things done."
"Ever since Kaguya was locked away in that ancient past world, and the Alliance no longer faces threats, I don't really need to force myself to power up so desperately, do I?
I ought to relax properly."
He'd realized he seldom stopped to see the changes around him—how everyone was progressing, or what exactly he himself had changed.
He didn't know.
He knew nothing. Every day, he was just caught up in his own head, rushing forward alone.
Link, a bit forlorn, remarked,
"Don't you think I'm failing somehow?"
Utakata responded in a reassuring tone,
"No. If, after all you've done, you still couldn't live as you like, then we'd be the ones who failed."
Link exhaled,
"Got it."
Staring at Naruto (main world) who'd been waiting eagerly nearby, Link unexpectedly felt amused and said,
"How about tomorrow we tour the Second Parallel World for a bit?"
Utakata agreed cheerfully,
"Anytime."
Then he added,
"As your 'tool,' let me remind you of one thing: in a few days, the Sand Village delegation will arrive. You still owe a certain someone a 'date.'"
"Temari, huh..." Link hopped down from the shadow and glanced over at Naruto. He felt somewhat awkward.
Back then, right before he thought he might leave and never return, he casually agreed to a date. Now that he was back, that promise returned to haunt him.
He really had no interest in that sort of worldly "dating." Besides, he preferred a tall build and a softer personality—Temari's bold tomboy style simply didn't match his taste. So complicated.
Amused by his thoughts, he strode over and waved at Naruto, who beamed as he trotted over.
"Sasuke and the others already left? Where'd they go?"
"They went to the Fourth Parallel World to do missions for the Alliance," Link said simply. "What about you? Weren't you doing Hokage lessons with Jiraiya?"
That guy Jiraiya had been racking his brains to lighten his own workload. Not only was he scheming against Tobirama, but also trying to poach staff from the Alliance. Since that failed, he then pestered Naruto to help out at the Hokage office.
In short, he had no shame.
Naruto grumbled,
"That pervy sage was forcing me to memorize all sorts of documents I don't understand! Being Hokage should be cooler, y'know...?"
But, well, that's where you're wrong, kid: in the new era, being Hokage is basically being an overworked public servant.
Link thought of how the Ninja Alliance's new basic education program was in full swing in the Second World. They'd demanded the same from the main world's Konoha.
It was complicated—endless paperwork, to the point that even Link avoided it and let Jiraiya handle it. Otherwise, he'd be driven insane.
Noticing Naruto's disillusionment, Link said:
"Anyway, go study well. Once you've memorized all that, I'll support you becoming the Seventh Hokage."
"Really?!"
Naruto's eyes sparkled with excitement. Even if he felt a little let down by the reality of being Hokage, his dream was far from dead. His old habit of longing for the Hokage seat still lingered.
"Of course. Look at me—I'm younger than you by two years, yet here I am. If you wanna be Hokage, it's just a matter of me speaking up."
Grinning, Link's tone had the subtle vibe of tempting a little kid.
"Heck yeah—!"
Naruto suddenly whipped out a white cloth to tie around his forehead and clenched his fist.
"I'll do my best!"
…
Main World, Konoha Village, Hokage's Office
The brand‐new office furniture from Link's inauguration as Sixth Hokage was now lying in pieces. A huge section of the upper‐Jonin waiting room's wall had been ripped apart; the floor, ceiling, and walls all bore signs of having been struck by chain whips, with extensive peeling of paint and concrete.
The so‐called Hokage's Assistant, the renowned Jiraiya, was currently sprawled on the rubble, a potted succulent (belonging to the Fifth Hokage Tsunade) perched atop his head.
Link crouched beside the unmoving Jiraiya, carefully nudging him,
"Still alive?"
"Krrk..."
A limp arm from beneath the debris rose and wobbled slightly.
Link nudged him again,
"Don't lie around. If you're alive, get up and get back to work."
"Stop messing around," came Jiraiya's muffled, feeble voice.
"Just let me rest for a bit... can't you?"
"Well, didn't you dig your own grave?" Link replied flatly, "All that about prophecy and life... tch."
Jiraiya went silent.
That hurt even worse than being beaten senseless by the wife of his student.
~~~
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