"Are you going to do it so quickly?"
Outside the cave.
When Naruto returned to the scene, there was no trace of Obito.
But that was reasonable.
After all, Madara would have saved Obito the moment he took him in.
If Naruto had arrived any later, Obito might have died.
Naruto closed his eyes slightly and used Kagura's Mind Eye to examine the surroundings.
Hmm…
It seemed Madara didn't personally save him.
Since Madara was now elderly, he would definitely act cautiously.
The one who saved Obito was most likely Zetsu.
Naruto extended his perception deeper into the ground using Kagura's Mind Eye, but the range wasn't far.
It was like a signal—walls couldn't block it entirely, but they weakened it.
"Never mind."
Naruto shrugged. "I'll deal with it later."
He had plenty of simulation opportunities now.
Improving his strength would only take time.
He simply hadn't mapped out how he wanted to train yet.
Time to go back.
After this mission, the system shouldn't give him any new ones for a while.
Even though Naruto wasn't physically tired, mentally he felt worn out.
He checked Rin and Kakashi's escaping figures with Kagura's Mind Eye, then used the Flying Thunder God Technique to head toward the Dragon Vein.
…
After Naruto left that era, whatever happened next no longer concerned him.
He didn't want to know how things developed either.
When Naruto woke up again powered by the Dragon Vein—
He immediately understood he was back in his original timeline.
His Flying Thunder God marks were everywhere, and he could sense Sunagakure's state.
Nothing unusual.
For the people of this era…
Naruto had merely stepped out for a moment.
But for Naruto, nearly a year had passed.
After returning, Naruto disappeared into the ruins of Loulan.
Not long after Naruto left—
Two figures appeared in Loulan.
"Looks like he was already here."
Anko lifted her straw hat and waved in front of her face twice. "It's so hot… We should've walked slower!"
In front of Anko, Kurenai—dressed similarly—silently stared at the ruins.
At first, only Kurenai knew the true identity of Kamisuki Aoba.
Then one more person learned the truth: Anko.
Kamisuki Aoba disappeared from Konoha during the Third Ninja War.
Kurenai and Anko had always been close.
So the two of them began investigating why Naruto had traveled to the past.
Only the two of them knew about this. No one else.
Recently, Anko accidentally discovered information about Loulan from a book.
Combined with vague clues Naruto had revealed while disguised as Kamisuki…
Both Kurenai and Anko realized Loulan might be the key.
They came here immediately.
Their purpose was clear: stop Naruto from entering Loulan!!
Maybe then they could change history.
But it seemed they were still one step too late.
Naruto's Flying Thunder God marks were visible at the scene.
That alone proved Naruto had been here.
Anko eyed the mark with a disdainful tone: "That guy… Why reveal his identity like that? It's kept you stuck for so many years."
Kurenai listened quietly to Anko's complaints.
Her mind drifted back to everything about Kamisuki Aoba.
After learning Kamisuki Aoba was Uzumaki Naruto, Kurenai couldn't accept it at first.
Because it had terrified her back then.
From her perspective, a man from the future… could never have a future with her.
It wasn't until Kamisuki Aoba disappeared that Kurenai realized things weren't as simple.
Later, the Ninja World War ended and Asuma returned to Konoha.
Asuma was happy Kamisuki Aoba had disappeared.
But Kurenai deliberately distanced herself from him.
Kurenai then began to pay close attention to Minato and Kushina.
Until the night of the Nine-Tails attack, when Naruto was born—
Only then did Kurenai truly accept it.
She knew Naruto's identity.
She also knew Hiruzen Sarutobi was hiding it.
She didn't understand Hiruzen's decision, and she didn't dare tell anyone Naruto was Kamisuki Aoba.
Because Naruto was still a child—if Hiruzen found out…
Later, Naruto was fostered in a Konoha household.
But that family treated him terribly.
So Kurenai began protecting Naruto in secret.
Watching him grow day by day until he entered the Academy.
Naruto was quiet, but no one bothered him deliberately.
Everyone knew ANBU monitored him.
Once, Hiruzen seemed to notice something and summoned Kurenai, asking why she protected Naruto.
Kurenai answered that Naruto was the Fourth Hokage's son.
The Fourth had saved her during the Third Ninja War.
He actually hadn't…
But the Fourth was dead, and no one could verify it.
Besides, he had saved so many people—Hiruzen couldn't confirm it either way.
Kurenai watched Naruto grow.
Watched him enter the Academy—lonely, but safe.
When Naruto turned ten, his personality suddenly changed drastically.
He began growing stronger. As Kurenai knew, he first took first place in the written exam, which caused Sakura and Ino to surround and question him—just like when Anko once dragged Kurenai to block Kamisuki.
He started making friends and began hanging out with Hinata.
One day, Kurenai and Anko were walking down the street.
Naruto and Hinata passed by, talking and laughing, looking very close.
Hinata's eyes were filled with obvious affection.
As they passed, Kurenai suddenly stopped and turned around, staring quietly at their backs.
There was a complicated emotion in her eyes, but she didn't show it.
Naruto and Hinata's voices grew faint.
Naruto: "Hinata, don't expose yourself when we go in later."
"If the shopkeeper knows you bought these clothes for me, he won't sell them."
Hinata: "I understand, Naruto-kun~"
The two entered the store.
"…"
"Get out! That monster just came by, and now you're buying men's clothes his size? Are you stupid!?"
"Look at your eyes—you don't look like a decent person!"
"Wait! What do you want, monster?"
"Ya… Ya Zhi! Ouch!!!"
Naruto: "Just leave the money on the counter."
"Hello!"
Anko nudged Kurenai's shoulder.
Kurenai snapped out of her daze. "What?"
"You're asking me what?" Anko stared at her strangely. "Sure, he looks like that person, but he's a kid! If he were still in Konoha back then, he'd be your age!"
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