Before using the Reaper Death Seal, the future Kaoru had entrusted Kakashi with several crucial pieces of information—
one of them being that the Nine-Tails sealed inside Naruko was only half of the original beast.
And now, inside Kyusei's study, Kakashi had finally found what he was looking for among the sealing technique tomes:
a jutsu related to a transportation formation.
That meant everything was in place.
All they needed to do was head to the Dragon Vein, use its immense energy, activate the mysterious teleportation array embedded within it, and—using the chakra of the half Nine-Tails inside Naruko as a catalyst—they could return to their own world with relative ease.
They had already been here for several days.
Over there, Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura were probably going out of their minds with worry by now.
Kakashi understood Sasuke's feelings toward Naruko very clearly.
Even if the girl herself—somewhat airheaded as she was—hadn't realized it yet.
But as an observer, Kakashi had seen everything.
Hatake Sakumo glanced at the blonde girl beside Kakashi, then at the red-haired boy running in the distance.
"I understand," he said calmly.
"When you get back, remember what I told you."
Kakashi's mouth twitched. His already lifeless eyes now looked completely dead.
Pursue Yūhi Kurenai…
Yeah, right.
"Naruko," Kakashi asked gently, "aren't you going to say goodbye?"
Naruko shook her head.
Her long golden twin-tails swayed softly with the motion.
She looked at Kyusei—still pushing himself through brutal training—and felt an indescribable sense of loss well up inside her.
This world didn't belong to her.
Everything this young version of her father was working toward…
was for another her in the future.
She wasn't his daughter.
The blood connection was real.
The chakra felt just as warm.
Even their appearances were strikingly similar.
But not being his daughter… was still not being his daughter.
Sakumo watched the two leave, a faint helplessness crossing his face.
He could tell that the girl named Naruko was tangled in emotions she couldn't quite sort out yet.
But as an outsider, there was nothing he could say.
—
Much later, when Kyusei finally finished running all twenty laps—panting heavily and drenched in sweat—he realized something was wrong.
"Sensei… where's Naruko?"
Under the tree, only Sakumo remained.
"That child left with Kakashi," Sakumo replied calmly.
Kyusei froze.
Then, as if possessed by sudden strength, he ripped the weights off his body.
Each piece slammed into the ground, leaving deep craters behind, as he bolted toward Konoha's main gate without a second thought.
Sakumo didn't stop him.
Life was full of farewells.
No one could prevent them.
Everyone had to learn how to accept them.
By the time Kyusei reached the village gate, only the gate guards remained—steadfastly performing their duties.
Kyusei stood there, gasping for breath, staring at the empty road beyond the gates.
A strange, heavy feeling rose in his chest.
He knew this feeling.
When he was a child in his previous life—
when his parents left home to work far away—
all he could do was hold his grandmother's hand and watch them go.
He couldn't stop it.
He never could.
But this time was different.
If Naruko left now, there was no guarantee they would ever meet again.
This might very well be… a final farewell.
Kyusei stood silently at the gate, emotions churning.
At some point, Sakumo appeared beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Let's go back."
His voice was calm.
In his shinobi life, he had seen scenes like this countless times—
especially when his wife passed away.
Even at the end, she had been just as beautiful as he remembered, gently urging him to take good care of Kakashi…
Sadly, he hadn't fulfilled that wish.
But now—there was still time to change.
"Sensei," Kyusei said quietly, eyes fixed on the gate,
"why didn't Naruko even say goodbye to me?"
She wasn't like Namikaze Minato or Uzumaki Kushina from before.
Naruko was different.
She wasn't just a protagonist of another world—
in some sense, she was his daughter.
And because of what she'd been through as a child, Kyusei had wanted to give her even more care.
Sakumo replied unhurriedly, his tone steady.
"Life is full of partings and reunions, sorrow and joy."
"There are always things that don't go the way we want."
"But if you let temporary regret cloud your vision, that's an unwise choice."
"There are always people and places worth returning to."
"Didn't Naruko say it herself? Her world has people she cares about too."
Sakumo didn't know Naruko's full past—only fragments gathered from their rare conversations.
In his eyes, she was a girl who had suffered a difficult childhood, yet remained bright and resilient.
A strong girl.
Kyusei thought of the black-haired boy he'd seen through their chakra connection.
Uchiha Sasuke.
Naruko trusted him.
Without realizing it, she even relied on him.
"…Let's go back, Sensei," Kyusei said softly.
Damn you, Uchiha Sasuke.
You'd better take good care of my Naruko.
—
Third Parallel World
As the Dragon Vein's violet light flared to life once more, Naruko felt a brief wave of dizziness.
The familiar ruins of the Dragon Vein snapped her out of the strange, nauseating sensation.
Before she could fully react, she saw a familiar figure.
Black hair.
Sharp features.
Naruko was just about to greet the boy she had grown up with—
when he rushed forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Uchiha Sasuke said nothing.
He simply held her.
During the time Naruko had disappeared, he had nearly lost his mind—
turning the entire region upside down, searching desperately without finding even a trace of her.
He had sent Sakura back to report the mission results, then stayed here alone.
He was afraid that if Naruko reappeared and didn't see him, she might vanish again.
Now that she was here…
The boy who never knew how to express himself could only pour everything into that silent hug.
Uchiha love was restrained.
Heavy.
Unspoken.
They weren't good at voicing their feelings—but they were a clan that valued love more than anyone else.
Cradled in the arms of the black-haired boy, Naruko didn't push him away.
She simply patted his back gently, like soothing a child, and said with a soft smile:
"I'm back~~"
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