After the Chakras entered Naruto's body, they quickly spread through every meridian, beginning to assimilate his own Chakra. In a few years, it was foreseeable that Naruto would automatically acquire the Senju Body.
Yet Malrick was far from satisfied.
"This is taking too long. Let's use Naruto to test something I just researched," he said. He placed a finger on Naruto's forehead and performed micro-manipulations with his mind, modifying Naruto's genes using the dispersed Asura Chakra. Because Chakra combines physical and spiritual energy, altering genes through it was effortless.
In seconds, Naruto transformed into a Senju Body. Malrick then added the enhancements he had researched: Wood Release bloodline, Yang Release, and purification of the Ōtsutsuki lineage. Within moments, Naruto's body and bloodline mirrored Asura's from a thousand years ago.
Within the illusion, Malrick accompanied Naruto's growth from age three. From the Chunin Exam to the Pain arc, and eventually to the Infinite Tsukuyomi, he guided him through every ability he added. He also attempted to teach Naruto all the ninjutsu from the Scroll of Seals, though Naruto struggled to master most.
Finally, when Naruto faced Ōtsutsuki Kaguya in the illusion, utterly defeated, watching Malrick die impaled through the chest, the illusion ended. This darkly humorous scenario was deliberate, mirroring Malrick's parting with Alex from Prototype.
"Brother Malrick!!!" Naruto awoke, tears streaming down his face, full of despair and regret.
"No! Why didn't I train harder? Why didn't I learn the Truth-Seeking Balls? Why didn't I reconcile with the Nine-Tails? Dattebayo!" he cried, kneeling, eyes shut tight.
Unbeknownst to him, he had reverted to his child form, naturally using the Hashirama-style Sage Mode that Malrick had taught him, dark green eyeliner marking his eyes.
"Ōtsutsuki Kaguya… Hmph, I won't forgive you!" Naruto stomped the ground, shattering it, and leaped into the air, attempting Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several. He froze mid-air, then landed, flipping over with his knees bent.
Before him stood Malrick, arms crossed, satisfied, and Sasuke beside him, looking as if he had seen a ghost.
"Huh? Brother Malrick, weren't you just…?" Naruto stammered.
Malrick shrugged. "Naruto, I told you at three years old it was an illusion, remember?"
"Illusion!?" Naruto exclaimed, eyes wide. He remembered being adopted by Malrick at age three after briefly reverting to that age.
"Who would remember something from so long ago, dattebayo! And what kind of genjutsu creates an illusion this realistic?" Naruto shouted. He had trained over ten years within the illusion, yet he had never encountered anything like it. Even the Infinite Tsukuyomi likely fell short of this realism.
Malrick stroked his chin. "Even so… Sasuke, you want to become stronger, right?"
Sasuke, initially shocked by Naruto's newfound Sage Mode pressure, stood at attention. "Yes! I want to become stronger! You…" His usual stubbornness vanished under Malrick's presence, replaced by awe.
"Good. Then come." Malrick placed a finger on Sasuke's forehead, activating another illusion. He guided Sasuke from after the Uchiha clan massacre, studying the Indra Chakra within him. The Six Paths-level Sharingan, Mangekyō Sharingan, Ōtsutsuki lineage, and Rinnegan traces left by Madara were all analyzed.
By the end, Sasuke gained the Indra-version of the Three Tomoe Sharingan, capable of activating Perfect Susanoo.
Malrick had also arranged the illusion's script for Sasuke, paralleling Naruto's: Chunin Exam, training, learning ninjutsu, confronting Itachi, Infinite Tsukuyomi, and even the deaths of the two boys.
"Sasuke!! Naruto!!" Sasuke roared upon awakening, tears of blood streaming from his eyes. His Perfect Susanoo, two hundred meters tall and purple, crushed nearby houses. Sage Mode markings appeared on his eyes.
He scanned the sky for Kaguya, but paused when he saw Naruto below, grumbling, "Huh? Sasuke's even stronger than in the illusion! That's not fair, Brother Malrick!"
Sasuke calmed, deconstructing the towering Susanoo, and landed, glaring coldly at Malrick and Naruto.
"So, all those ten-plus years… were just an illusion?"
Malrick stroked his chin. "I made it clear when you were six. Are you really as dense as Naruto?"
Embarrassment flashed on Sasuke's face.
"Ha! It felt like living a new life! Sasuke couldn't tell either," Naruto laughed.
Sasuke pursed his lips, hands in pockets. "Idiot, only you can't tell the difference."
"Hey, Sasuke! You were so furious just now, even shouting my name! You couldn't tell the difference either!" Naruto retorted.
"Hmph, no one avenges an idiot," Sasuke muttered.
"You are!" Naruto shot back.
Their relationship, forged in the illusion, had grown even stronger than in the original timeline.
"You both sure do get along well" Malrick said with a smile.
"Who gets along well with him?" they both shouted simultaneously, grumbling.
Malrick smiled, observing them. Just then, dense footsteps echoed from outside the Uchiha compound.