"What... do you mean?"
Naruto's expression turned somewhat uneasy.
"You haven't been able to travel to that world for a while now, haven't you?"
The Nature Will showed no intention of giving Naruto time to react, immediately laying out the entire content of the deal.
"Uzumaki Naruto, your unique existence allows you to utilize that miraculous 'loophole' to travel between this world and that one."
"You are the 'variable'."
"Because of you, the time flow between my world and that one has been synchronizing with each of your crossings."
"That's why I say you are special."
As it spoke, the Nature Will's gaze upon Naruto's body still held a human-like 'longing'.
"However, the Ninja World's... to use terms you'd understand, the 'timeline' has been disrupted by certain external forces."
"Unless something unexpected happens, your crossing ability can no longer be used."
Hearing this, Naruto's expression shifted slightly, as if he couldn't wait to 'wake up' and verify the truth of these words.
"Don't rush. It's not too late to wake up after I finish. Due to the interference from the timeline change, it's very difficult for me to communicate with you."
"But look at it this way, you can now freely use that Sage Mode."
It had even learned to joke like a human.
"Tell me, what do you want me to do?"
Naruto quickly calmed down, raising his head to look intently at the Nature Will.
"Do what you intend to do."
"Catch up to that masked man, crush their scheme."
"What I require is for you to completely seal the so-called Ryumyaku after resolving this matter."
As it spoke, the Nature Will lifted the illusory planet in its hand to a position between them.
It pointed a finger at a specific location.
"The Ryumyaku is a natural energy formed by the combination of natural energy and chakra."
Where the Nature Will's finger pointed, a flame-like energy suddenly erupted.
"For Ninja, that vast natural Chakra can accomplish many things."
"It can be used as an energy source for weapons of war, or directly absorbed to strengthen oneself... It can even achieve 'time-space traversal'."
Seeing Naruto's suddenly changed expression, the Nature Will hurriedly added.
"It's different from your 'crossing' to another world. This place has such high energy concentration that it creates a 'depression' in the Space-Time connection point, allowing a fuzzy link to other parallel worlds from this 'depression'."
As it spoke, countless identical planets lined up between them, each emitting the same flame from the same location.
"Wait... you mean, using the Ryumyaku, one can return to the past?"
Naruto seemed to realize why the masked man was searching for this thing.
"It's not that simple."
The Nature Will shook its head, but considering Naruto's comprehension ability, it didn't elaborate further on 'parallel worlds' and 'branching timelines'.
"In short-"
"Being able to travel to that world must be very important to you, right?"
"For me, the loss of this Natural Energy is equivalent to opening a 'wound' on my body."
"This way, our interests align, correct?"
After hearing this, Naruto snapped out of his shock regarding the Ryumyaku's power.
Then, he looked at the Nature Will with a surprised gaze.
"Your 'evolution' is really fast."
This wasn't just an offhand comment.
In its three appearances, the Nature Will had transformed from a 'deity' that only followed instincts into a 'businessman' capable of using pros and cons to make deals with humans.
It seemed to have finally learned the correct way to communicate with Naruto.
"Of course. After all, your civilization is merely a tiny segment born upon my body. As long as I put my mind to learning, human thought isn't difficult to comprehend."
Saying this, the Nature Will proudly raised its head.
"I can agree to your request. So, what about your payment? What do you mean by 'freely travel' to the other world?"
"Give me your hand."
Hearing this, Naruto didn't hesitate much, simply spreading his palm open before the Nature Will.
The next moment, the Nature Will also extended its own hand, lightly touching Naruto's palm.
Immediately, a hexagonal pattern appeared on his palm.
The pattern flashed briefly, then quickly faded beneath his skin. No matter how Naruto checked, he couldn't find any further traces.
"This is the 'key'."
The Nature Will suddenly let out a soft breath... This symbolic action, more than practical, seemed simply to indicate that this act wasn't easy for it either.
"Speaking of which, it was the Space-Time travel device on your daughter's hand that gave me the idea."
"Although it's a product of the Otsutsuki Clan, one has to admit its ability is truly powerful."
Hearing the Nature Will say this, Naruto also remembered the turtle-shaped artifact Kousei had shown him.
According to her, she found it among the items he had left behind.
Based on the Nature Will's words... it should be a trophy he obtained after defeating some Otsutsuki Clan's member.
"This key will only activate after you completely close the Ryumyaku."
Perhaps because time was running short, the Nature Will's speech sped up.
"At that time, you can use it at any time to open a stable passage, no longer needing to rely on carrying items yourself as you do now."
"You can also bring creatures from this world to other places."
This piqued Naruto's interest.
Not only because he could bring others along when crossing, but also because of the 'free opening' aspect.
Since he didn't understand the root of his miraculous crossing ability, Naruto could only use the most basic method based on its manifested characteristics to cross.
Namely, getting drunk.
But as his physical abilities improved further, finding alcohol potent enough to make him drunk had become troublesome.
He had even considered whether to take certain drugs that could produce similar effects.
"In that case, I accept your terms."
While the Nature Will's hand hadn't yet retracted, Naruto decisively shook it.
Startled by Naruto's action, the Nature Will was momentarily stunned.
Although it understood human etiquette, since gaining self-awareness, no one had the qualification, or the ability, to do this to it.
But it wasn't particularly repulsed either.
...
The night passed, and Naruto woke from his sleep.
Every scene from last night's dream remained vivid.
As if responding to Naruto, the hexagonal pattern on his palm reappeared briefly, proving it wasn't just his imagination.
"Time travel... is it?"
Naruto's gaze involuntarily turned to Kousei.
"Huh? Dad? Do you want some?"
Feeling her father's gaze, Kousei turned her head, then tried to stuff the breakfast in her hand into Naruto's mouth.
In Kousei's simple value system, the most direct way to be good to someone was to share food with them.
She had always treated Naruto this way.
Naruto naturally wouldn't refuse his daughter's kindness.
This made the several men in the team who were over thirty and still single burn with envy.
"Tch-"
"Such a show-off..."
"Hmph!"
Naruto, having provoked public outrage, didn't care at all. He even flaunted it by picking up his daughter and parading her in front of the bachelors.
Watching this, Yugito and Karin couldn't help but facepalm.
Haku, however, watched the warm commotion with a gentle smile.
Whoosh-
Just as everything was harmonious, the sound of an arrow cutting through the air suddenly shattered the atmosphere.