After his battle with the evil dragon, Sun Wukong bid farewell to everyone and left Earth riding upon the dragon's back.
"Shenlong, where are we going?"
Lounging comfortably against the great dragon's scales, Wukong lay on his back with his hands tucked behind his head, asking the question as though it were a lazy afternoon.
Shenlong remained silent for a long moment before answering in a deep, resonant voice."Wukong, in light of the service you've rendered to the world, you have been granted a chance to travel to other realms. Would you like to go?"
"Other worlds? Travel?" Wukong blinked, then leaned forward slightly."Will there be anyone strong enough to fight?"
The dragon was silent for even longer this time.
"I cannot say for certain if there will be anyone as powerful as you in the place you're going," Shenlong admitted. "But I do know this—those worlds have their own unique training methods and combat arts. You will surely find the experience… refreshing."
"That's it?"
Hearing this, Wukong grinned from ear to ear, his simple smile brimming with excitement."That sounds interesting."
He sat up and pointed forward. "Shenlong, take me there."
Naruto World — Year 60 of Konoha
In the Land of Waves, Kakashi Hatake and Team 7 were escorting the bridge builder, Tazuna, toward his home.
"Here!""No, it's here!"
Naruto was darting from side to side like a restless rabbit, leaping into the bushes on the left before abruptly hurling a kunai into a tree on the right.
"Hey, Naruto—don't throw kunai around at random. It's dangerous."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed in exasperation, his voice flat with mild annoyance.
Sasuke stood to the side, expression unreadable, silently watching Naruto's antics. Sakura, however, was frantic."What are you even doing, Naruto?! There's nothing here!"
"Ahem… I just need another look. I swear I saw something a second ago."
Naruto coughed a few times to hide his embarrassment and strode ahead once more.
After Tazuna had explained the truth of their mission, they all knew this was no simple C-rank escort job—it was a B-rank mission now. They could expect to be attacked by enemy shinobi and face unknown dangers.
They had been caught off guard before, and Naruto had been deeply dissatisfied with his performance. Now, he was determined to find the next enemy first and prove himself.
"Hmph! I will find something!" he muttered under his breath, scanning the area as they moved.
Bang!!
Naruto smacked face-first into something solid and fell back onto the dirt.
"Ow! What the heck…?"
Clutching his forehead, he frowned in confusion. He hadn't strayed from the path—how could there be anything to bump into?
Before he could lift his head to look, two figures appeared at his side. One grabbed his collar and yanked him backward, hurling him away.
"Whaaaaaaa—!!"
Naruto tumbled through the air before crashing hard onto his rear.
"What was that for?!"
As he got a proper look at his rescuers, he realized it was Kakashi and Sasuke. His anger flared—only to vanish in the next instant.
Standing in front of where he'd fallen was a stranger unlike anyone he had ever seen. The man wore bright orange clothes—nothing like shinobi attire—and his spiky black hair was shaped oddly, almost like a crab's shell.
The stranger scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin."Sorry, sorry… I didn't mean to bump into you."
It was none other than Sun Wukong, delivered to this world by Shenlong. At his request, the dragon had restored him to his adult form and dressed him in the outfit he preferred before sending him on his way.
Unfortunately, Wukong's arrival had placed him directly in Naruto's path. Dizzy from the teleportation, he hadn't reacted quickly enough—so Naruto had slammed headfirst into the hardened body of a warrior tempered through countless battles.
"Who are you?"
Kakashi's gaze was sharp, his tone serious. The man had appeared out of nowhere—so quickly that Kakashi hadn't even caught the movement. That alone set him on edge.
Not a shinobi, Kakashi thought. A samurai? No…
Is he here for Tazuna?
Kakashi kept his kunai ready as he studied the man.
The stranger beamed."My name is Sun Wukong!"
The name meant nothing to any of them. None had ever heard it before.
"Hey, Sun Wukong, right? I forgive you!"
Naruto scrambled to his feet, brushing off his clothes. He didn't seem bothered by the man's sudden appearance.
"Hey, Naruto!" Sakura hissed from beside Tazuna, her expression tight with suspicion. "He could be here to kill him."
"What?!"
Naruto's friendly grin vanished instantly. Drawing a kunai, he crouched into a ready stance."If that's true, then I don't forgive you!"
Wukong had heard every word—distance meant nothing to his sharp ears. He raised his hands disarmingly."Haha, I think there's been a misunderstanding."
He scratched his head again, looking genuinely puzzled.
Kakashi felt a wave of sincerity from him—no killing intent, no hostility. He lowered his kunai slightly and gestured for Sasuke to do the same.
But then Wukong's brow furrowed. Kakashi's instincts spiked, muscles tensing again.
A heartbeat later, the reason became clear.
The whistling of steel split the air as a massive sword spun out of the forest, hurtling toward Naruto and the others.
"Down! Get down now!!" Kakashi barked, voice sharp with urgency.
Sakura reacted instantly, shoving Tazuna to the ground.
Naruto, having relaxed moments ago, was a second too slow. The enormous blade was already upon him, ready to cleave him in two.
"Naruto!!"
Kakashi's pupils shrank to pinpricks—he was too far away. Even Sasuke, watching his rival about to die, felt no triumph—only a cold surge of fear.
Clang!!
In that instant, a figure appeared between Naruto and the oncoming blade. With casual ease, he batted it aside.
"I… survived?"
Frozen stiff by the brush with death, Naruto stared at the broad back in front of him.
It was Wukong.
The stranger's easy smile returned as he looked over his shoulder."You okay?"
Naruto blinked, then felt a strange warmth welling in his chest."Y-Yeah… I'm fine."
Kakashi arrived a second later, his voice low but sincere."Thank you… for saving Naruto."
The thought of losing his student—and the boy entrusted to him by the Third Hokage—had sent a chill through him.
He turned toward the direction the sword had come from, his expression hardening. He knew that weapon.
The Beheading Sword—one of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Hidden Mist. Its wielder could only be the rogue shinobi of Kirigakure…
Momochi Zabuza.
Moments later, a tall, lean man stepped out from between the trees, the massive blade resting across his shoulders. His eyes locked on Wukong, a cold, dangerous smile on his lips.
"How dare you ruin my kill?"