A sensor-nin on a mission watched the Sky Screen's shifting images, instinctively channeling chakra toward it. 'What exactly are these scenes?' he wondered silently.
Suddenly, his very thought materialized as text scrolling across the top of the screen.
['What are these scenes?']
Instantly, a flood of live chat messages followed:
["Words on the screen!"]
["You can send messages on this thing!"]
["What IS this?!"]
["It's obvious! A Konoha plot!! See all those Leaf headbands?!"]
["Bullshit! Konoha has nothing to do with this! This is a frame job!!"]
["It's fake! Sakura and Naruto just graduated! Their ages don't match!"]
["Neji and Lee graduated last year – also too young for what we're seeing!"]
["Shut up! Don't leak village intel!!"]
["Oho! Juicy details!"]
["So Konoha does have people matching those shown, but they're just genin, graduated less than two years ago?"]
["Anyone know the average genin graduation age in Konoha?"]
["Twelve."]
["The people on screen look fifteen or sixteen… Is this footage from the FUTURE?"]
["Impossible! Konoha trick!"]
["LOL! If it's a Konoha plot, why broadcast it to the WHOLE world?!"]
["Aliens. Has to be aliens with tech we can't touch."]
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi massaged his temples, ordering subordinates to summon Kakashi and Might Guy with their teams immediately. The door burst open without a knock.
Unsurprised, Hiruzen turned to face his old teammate, Danzo Shimura.
Danzo dispensed with greetings. "Hiruzen. You've seen it. Whether that screen shows the future or not, Konoha will be the world's target. For the village's safety, hand over the Nine-Tails."
Hiruzen had anticipated this. Danzo's obsession with the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was nothing new, and Hiruzen had always refused. Root was no place for Naruto. "Naruto stays with me, Danzo," he replied calmly. "Root is unfit to raise him. As for security, Kakashi will provide extra vigilance."
Danzo's expression remained impassive. "You risk disaster."
"It's too early for that," Hiruzen countered, waving a hand. "Let's at least see what the screen reveals first."
"Don't regret this, Hiruzen." Danzo delivered his parting threat and left, his presence as abrupt as his exit. Hiruzen ignored the rudeness; his attention snapped back to the Sky Screen. A familiar figure had appeared.
[A woman with blonde hair stood by a window, her green jacket emblazoned with the kanji for 'GAMBLE' (賭) on the back. Her face was expressionless: 'Is it all… fate?']
[As her inner thought echoed, the scene shifted.]
The live chat exploded again:
["Whoa! Stunner! Anyone know her?"]
["That's Tsunade of the Sannin! The First Hokage's granddaughter!"]
["LMAO! 'Stunner'? You know how old she is?!"]
["See? Konoha again! It's a Leaf plot!"]
["Little Tsuna!"]
The chaotic chat didn't faze the real Tsunade. Seeing herself, she froze mid-swig.
She lowered her sake bottle, frowning deeply. "What the hell? I don't recall this."
Beside her, Shizune adjusted her grip on Tonton. "Could it be… like the chat says? Future footage?"
Tsunade shook her head, baffled. "Just… keep watching."
In the Pure Land, Hashirama Senju paused his journey upon seeing Tsunade. He sent a quick message into the void, unsurprised when it got lost in the chatter. "Little Tsuna… all grown up," he murmured fondly before continuing. Others close to Tsunade – Mito Uzumaki, Nawaki, Dan Kato – also halted, startled by her appearance, their focus riveted on the screen.
[Deep within a shadowed canyon, five figures stood silhouetted on a cliff edge.]
[Leading them was a middle-aged man with long black hair, clad in dark robes. Behind him stood four others in white cloaks. Together, they gazed down at a temple-like structure far below.]
[The leader's voice rasped, thick with ambition: "The time has come. The Dark Medical Ninjutsu developed for this very night… With its power, we will awaken Mōryō… and unite the world under its might."]
The live chat went wild:
["Unite the world?! Ambitious!"]
["?! Mōryō?! Not THAT thing?!"]
["What thing? What's Mōryō?"]
["...That's classified intel among the major villages! Ask your Kage if you dare!"]
In the Land of Demons, Priestess Shion flinched violently at the name "Mōryō."
Her attendant, Sagi, steadied her. "Lady Shion, remain calm. This is merely imagery."
Shion's voice trembled. "But… if it is the future… and that girl earlier was me… doesn't that mean Mōryō's return is imminent?"
Sagi's voice remained reassuringly steady. "Setting truth aside, even if it is real, this screen grants us foreknowledge. Combined with your power, Lady Shion, we will seal Mōryō away again."
Sagi's words offered Shion a sliver of comfort. The same couldn't be said for the newly exposed villain, Tobi.
Seeing himself on the Sky Screen, Tobi froze. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. His survival after Mōryō's last sealing depended entirely on the Five Great Nations not knowing his role. Now, inexplicably broadcast to the entire world, his quiet life of plotting was over.
Panic seized him. Without another thought, Tobi scrambled to pack his meager belongings, abandoning his secluded hideout. He had to vanish – now.