Four Years Later
Along the coast of what used to be Fire Country territory, a vast urban complex rose from the shoreline. Modern buildings mixed with traditional architecture, creating something entirely new. The city stretched for kilometers, glass and stone reflecting the sea beyond.
They called it Kishimoto City.
Capital and political center of the Ninja Confederation. Every significant decision affecting the shinobi world originated from within these walls.
The tallest building dominated the skyline, a tower of white stone and reinforced glass that could be seen from anywhere in the city. Inside that tower lived the one with the greatest authority in the entire shinobi world.
The people called him Shadow Emperor.
Stories circulated about him constantly. His combat prowess stood unmatched at the pinnacle of the shinobi world. Some claimed he possessed the strength to slaughter entire nations single-handedly. Endless legends emerged, spreading from tavern to training ground, becoming well known across the land.
Someone once said the Shadow Emperor had transformed into a great sun, ascending into the heavens to battle gods themselves.
On that day, allegedly, the sky turned upside down. The sea ran backwards. Blood rain fell across the endless ocean as the heavens wept for a fallen deity.
In that battle, the Emperor returned to earth.
The god did not.
These legends had all been compiled into books by an author named Kurama. The volumes circulated widely throughout the shinobi world, selling remarkably well. Practically everyone owned at least one copy, reading about the Shadow Emperor's magnificent exploits with rapt attention.
At this moment, in the tallest building's uppermost floor, Naruto sat on a cushion holding the latest volume.
"Hey, Kurama," he complained, looking across at the fox who was currently scribbling on a draft board. "When exactly did I incarnate as the sun and ascend to heaven to fight gods? And heaven crying for fallen deities... this is ridiculous. You can't just make up complete fabrications about me because your cookbook sales tanked!"
Kurama held a pen in his paw, working on the draft with intense concentration. He smiled without looking up. "If I don't write like this, how will it sell so well? For you, Naruto, the more exaggerated the story, the more people believe it."
He paused to dip his pen in ink. "Besides, the money from book sales improves your meals."
"And also," the fox added with a hint of irritation, "don't mention my cookbook's financial failure. There's no need to sprinkle salt on old wounds."
Kurama grinned and returned to fabricating Naruto's legend.
This time, he planned to write a romance between Naruto and the Tailed Beasts. Love and killing, seven times in and seven times out. The fox believed such explosive content would serve as essential spiritual food for gossip-hungry ninja. Guaranteed bestseller.
In the second year after the Ninja Confederation's establishment, Kishimoto City had been founded. Naruto, as the Confederation's first Shadow Emperor, naturally relocated to the new capital, sitting within it like a sacred pillar supporting the entire structure.
As for other ninja villages, responses varied. Some ninja eagerly moved to the new city. Others remained reluctant to abandon their ancestral homes and traditions.
Iwagakure and the Hidden Cloud largely stayed in their original locations, maintaining their historical settlements.
Gaara and Terumi Mei, by contrast, brought their closest allies and relocated directly to the new city. This allowed them to meet with Naruto regularly, maintaining close personal and political relationships.
Konoha's ninja had almost universally followed Naruto to Kishimoto City. Because wherever Naruto stood could be called Konoha.
The original Hidden Leaf Village had transformed into agricultural land. Fields and pastures replaced training grounds. The forest reclaimed much of the territory. It had truly become the base of Naruto's breeding farm, exactly as he'd always wanted.
With the Ninja Confederation's existence, the daimyō of various nations existed in name only. Some lords initially resisted this change, but ninja swiftly suppressed such resistance.
For the first time in history, ninja stood openly at the forefront of society. No longer fighting for pittances. No longer begging for development funds from nobles who viewed them as disposable tools.
They'd emerged from shadow into light.
Statistics showed that since the Confederation's founding, ninja casualties during missions had dropped to nearly zero. When two ninja on opposing contracts encountered each other now, a predictable dialogue occurred:
"Hey, are you friends with Naruto-sama too?"
"Yes! Are you also friends with Naruto-sama?"
"Then this is all a misunderstanding. Since we're both friends of Naruto-sama, why fight?"
"Don't fight at all. Come on, what a coincidence! Let me buy you a drink to celebrate our shared friendship."
Therefore, in pursuing his dream of friendship, Naruto had inadvertently brought genuine peace to the shinobi world.
Nagato had confronted him about this once. What do you mean you're not pursuing world peace? Explain the joyful atmosphere currently pervading the entire shinobi world!
Naruto had just smiled in response.
Though Nagato questioned him, he felt profound relief. In truth, he didn't know what his version of peace would have looked like if he'd succeeded. But he loved this current reality.
Only one regret remained: Yahiko hadn't been resurrected yet. If he could see the world's current state after revival, he'd probably love it too.
But there was a way. A method.
Yahiko would be resurrected soon.
"Nagato!" Kurama was still fabricating Naruto's scandals when the red-haired former Akatsuki leader walked in. Seeing Naruto present, Nagato addressed the fox directly. "Kurama, hurry up. Sasuke is waiting for you."
"Got it, got it." Kurama didn't look up from his manuscript. "I'll come after I finish this chapter."
"What are you even writing?" Nagato grabbed the fox's scruff. "As far as I know, many people in this city buy one book and pass it around to everyone. Worse, some go to pirated booksellers and buy knockoff copies. You're writing for pirates."
Kurama protested as Nagato lifted him. "Nagato, you don't understand! Even though many people read pirated versions, I know there are still people who buy through legitimate channels. As long as even one person does that, I'll keep writing."
Nagato couldn't overcome the fox's stubbornness. He waited for Kurama to finish a small section before departing with him.
Watching them leave, Naruto smiled. Kurama's going to be a tool fox.
The Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique had one critical flaw: the caster died from complete chakra exhaustion. Sasuke and Nagato's solution involved using Kurama as a living battery, preventing the fatal chakra drain.
They'd developed the theory. Now came the experimental phase.
Four years had passed. Naruto was sixteen now, of appropriate age for marriage. The reason he hadn't approached the Hyūga household to propose to Hinata was simple: he wanted to wait until he could resurrect his parents.
A wedding without parents present felt meaningless.
Soon!
These four years had brought changes. His training had completely condensed the Indestructible Golden Body. The depth of cultivation required had been extraordinary.
Sasuke had also trained relentlessly. After mastering the complete Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan's abilities and fully digesting Uncle Sasuke's practice notes, he'd immediately challenged Naruto to a rematch.
The result was predictable. Sasuke got beaten up again, ending with his now-signature bruised and swollen face.
Another significant event: Orochimaru had left the farm and disappeared.
This happened before Naruto moved to the new city, while still residing in Konoha. Terumi Mei had requested Naruto visit Kirigakure for some matter. Upon returning, Orochimaru was gone.
Naruto immediately summoned Kabuto, questioning him about the disappearance.
The medical ninja's response was enlightening. "Oh, that explains it! Orochimaru-sama spoke with me extensively before leaving. He said I was very capable, that I could serve as the farm's biological consultant going forward. I thought it was strange at the time, but now I understand. He was already planning to leave."
Though Naruto could locate Orochimaru if he wanted, he chose not to pursue it. Orochimaru had elected to depart. Naruto respected that choice.
Because in a sense, Orochimaru wasn't just an employee. He was also a friend.
As his friend, Orochimaru deserved the right to choose his own path.
"Went to Kirigakure one last time, then vanished," Naruto murmured, recalling the dedicated spy who'd served the farm so well. "Devoted to duty until the very end."
"Lord Shadow Emperor, you have a visitor." Shikamaru, the Shadow Emperor's assistant, entered and addressed Naruto with practiced formality.
"Who wants to see me?"
"Black Zetsu."
"Black Zetsu..." Understanding dawned.
When Naruto had traveled to make friends across the shinobi world, Black Zetsu had left his side, claiming he was going to the moon to gather intelligence. For the next four years, Naruto hadn't seen him once.
His appearance now probably meant he'd found information and could no longer wait for Naruto's promised "opportunity."
"Forget it. The time has come anyway. Let Black Zetsu in," Naruto instructed.
Shikamaru departed, returning shortly with the dark entity. The moment Black Zetsu saw Naruto, excitement overwhelmed him.
"Naruto! I finally found you! Come on, follow me right now! We're saving my mother!"
Naruto quickly calmed the agitated creature. "Black Zetsu, didn't you go to the moon to gather intelligence? What news did you discover?"
"I accessed the moon through a secret passage. There are no Ōtsutsuki clan members there. Well, no, there's one traitor: Ōtsutsuki Toneri." Black Zetsu's voice carried bitter frustration.
"That's all you found out?" Naruto couldn't believe it. Four years of absence for this minimal intelligence.
"Of course not!" Black Zetsu protested. "Over these four years, I secretly attempted various methods to free Mother. They all failed. Only the method Mother taught me could work, but Naruto, you forbade me from using it!"
"I really don't allow that method," Naruto confirmed. Using Black Zetsu's original plan would require killing countless innocent people. More importantly, his friends would die in the process.
"Then tell me how you plan to save Mother! Don't say the time hasn't come yet!"
Black Zetsu's voice rose with emotion. "It's been four years! Four full years! You don't know how I survived! I was like a mole hiding on the moon, trying everything to rescue Mother but failing! Do you understand that desperation?!"
"Don't get excited, Black Zetsu." Naruto's calm voice cut through the outburst. "The time has come. We're saving your mother right now."
"What?" Black Zetsu thought he'd misheard. Then joy flooded his features. "Naruto, you're really willing to save Mother? I always thought you were lying!"
"I never lie. Besides, I told you, I genuinely want to be friends with your mother."
"Then let's go immediately!" Black Zetsu grabbed Naruto's arm, practically dragging him toward the door.
They emerged onto the street. Black Zetsu, elated at the prospect of finally rescuing his mother, became uncharacteristically talkative.
"Naruto, I went to Konoha, but there's nobody there at all! Just cows, sheep, livestock. I thought I'd arrived at some agricultural district, not Konoha."
"That is agricultural district now," Naruto replied with a smile.
"Whatever! Agricultural or Konoha, doesn't matter. But Naruto, what did you do? When I emerged, the world had completely changed! This Ninja Confederation thing, and I heard the Shadow Emperor transformed into a great sun and fought gods in the sky..." Black Zetsu's voice carried genuine bewilderment. "Why didn't I see any of that from the moon? Is this really the same world I left?"
Sometimes he wondered if he'd been gone not four years, but four hundred.
"The Shadow Emperor you mentioned is me," Naruto said helplessly. Kurama and his creative writing...
"It's you?!" Black Zetsu's eyes widened. Then excitement replaced shock. "So you really fought that god and killed them? If that's true, your strength increased again! This makes rescuing Mother even more certain!"
"Ahem. The god thing, Black Zetsu... don't believe rumors, don't spread rumors."
"Fine, fine, whatever. As long as Mother is rescued, I have so many things to tell her! I want to ask why Big Brother and Second Brother are tall, handsome, and fair-skinned, but I'm short, ugly, and dark..." His voice turned plaintive. "Even though I'm the one who worked hardest to rescue her."
Naruto ignored Black Zetsu's muttering, following him to the secret spatial passage leading to the moon.
As Kaguya's incarnation of will, Black Zetsu knowing such passages wasn't surprising. They stood before the dimensional gate, and Black Zetsu turned serious.
"Naruto, be careful. Ōtsutsuki Toneri is still on the moon. Don't let him discover us. I can't beat him, but if Mother were here, I wouldn't fear him."
His expression grew grave. "So let's enter quietly, rescue Mother first. Then even if Toneri notices, we won't be afraid. Everything depends on Mother."
In his heart, Black Zetsu believed Naruto was ultimately human. No matter how strong, he couldn't surpass the Ōtsutsuki clan.
Therefore, he'd never considered that Naruto might match Toneri.
"Come on. Let's go in," Naruto said.
Black Zetsu glanced at him, then excitedly entered the spatial passage.
The moment their feet touched the moon's surface, an angry voice cut through the silence.
"Who dares trespass on the moon?!"
They looked up. A man with blue-white hair stared at them coldly, his gaze like someone observing insects.
Oh no! Black Zetsu's mind raced. How did Toneri find us? I concealed my chakra signature completely! Which means... he detected Naruto!
He should have warned Naruto beforehand!
"Ōtsutsuki Toneri," Black Zetsu breathed, recognizing the figure before them.
And on the moon's barren surface, beneath Earth's distant glow, the confrontation began.