"The Future Seventh Hokage Is Born!"
"Konoha's Hokage Steps Down, Allegedly Missing? Caught in Political Turmoil?"
"New Hokage Shimura Danzō Issues Statement: 'Don't Spread Baseless Speculation, or We Will Pursue Legal Action'"
"Reports Suggest Iwagakure Clashed with Stone Temple During a Rescue Mission, Demands the Alliance Revoke Stone Temple's Membership"
"Kumogakure's Fourth Raikage and Kirigakure's Third Mizukage Brawl in the Land of Rivers for Unknown Reasons—Hefty Fines Imposed by the Alliance!"
Sasuke #1 sat in his "Friend's House," skimming the day's news on his device.
(Baby Naruto sure was…ugly.)
He recalled that wrinkly newborn, and despite himself, let out a sigh. Still, the memory stirred something in his heart.
The moment he'd seen that baby with his own eyes, he couldn't suppress the surge of odd emotions rising within. He'd actually made a strange face.
"Having a child…" he murmured, absently squeezing the miniature decorative paper fan Sakura had given him. "Seems so blissful. But who would I marry?"
He felt conflicted. He'd always known Link was trying to nudge him toward Karin or Sakura. But he'd spent his youth consumed by hatred, and after he grew up, most of his life revolved around friendship. It had only been about a year since real peace was established—less than a year since the fight against Kaguya ended.
He had too many questions about love. And his future self—married to Sakura—apparently had zero advice to give, always shutting down or literally using Amenotejikara to escape whenever the subject of romance or childbearing came up.
(Such a weirdo.)
He shook his head and continued browsing the Web Net news site. The website was started by Danzo #1, that guy who'd been redeemed and reincarnated to help in the crisis with Kaguya.
With members of the Yamanaka, Aburame, Inuzuka, and Hyūga clans providing intel, their intelligence-gathering was top-notch. For now, it focused on news from the Second and Third Worlds, acting somewhat like the Alliance's mouthpiece.
Media had become highly developed in the Future World. When the Seventh Hokage there took office, it was broadcast live on TV, with airships flying over the entire Land of Fire. His title of "Savior" had resounded throughout the shinobi world.
Naturally, the Alliance wouldn't neglect using media. Danzo #1 had eagerly volunteered to take it on. To Sasuke, however, journalism didn't seem too "clean."
(That guy can't seem to escape his own shady ways…)
Regarding the shift in Hokage within Konoha #2, it wasn't even a full-blown political battle so much as the Third Hokage running away. Sasuke knew for a fact what had happened—just a few days ago, both Third Hokage #1 and #2 dropped by his shop alongside Bubble, shot some footage for a while, and then hopped on the Web Net bus to the Future World.
Kidnapping the Third Hokage, basically. Tch.
He'd also heard that reincarnated Hiruzen #1 secretly divorced his wife, Biwako Sarutobi, and Biwako had spent several days camping out at the Executive Committee's offices to get Danzo #1 and the two advisors to keep it quiet. Asuma, last time he came with Anko and Kurenai for sweets, had a face as long as a donkey's, glaring at everyone with dead-fish eyes.
Hard to blame him—his four-year-old father and mother getting divorced wasn't exactly easy to talk about.
The Iwagakure vs. Stone Temple matter Sasuke didn't know in full detail. According to rumors on the message boards, an Iwa rogue ninja had joined Stone Temple, and during a mission in the Third World, they happened to run into someone who recognized him, sparking a fight.
The Iwa side, being rather blunt, took a beating—two dead, plus they lost whatever they'd gathered. Ōnoki wasn't about to swallow that, but Stone Temple was crafty. It was just a small group; they knew if they openly clashed with a major village, they'd be doomed. So they pulled their people back and holed up at the Alliance HQ. That left Ōnoki no choice but to lodge a complaint with the Alliance. Problem being, Iwagakure threw the first punch.
So Sasuke guessed: (Probably nothing will come of it. Tobirama's already bent on suppressing the major villages. If Stone Temple's technically in the right, there's no reason to revoke their membership. But they might quietly allow them to fight it out outside Alliance territory. And Stone Temple won't be able to stay at the Alliance base forever—living expenses are too high, and they don't have infinite contribution, presumably.)
Reflecting on the Uchiha clan's own affairs, Sasuke sighed. There'd been a huge stir. As a former head of the clan, how could he not know?
He'd stepped down because his father's old ambitions flared up—he thought the Uchiha could regain glory by establishing themselves within the Alliance. Sasuke wanted no part of that. Between his complicated feelings toward Itachi and his connection with Link, he couldn't pick a side. If the Uchiha leveraged him and his ties to Link to do something that put everyone in an awkward position, what then?
In the end, it was three splits, not two. The two versions of Shisui, each leading a portion—one group remained in Konoha #2, one group joined the Alliance. The two versions of Fugaku and most of the Uchiha ninja formed the "Uchiha Clan" organization, registered and moved to the Third World's development zone. He'd heard they'd negotiated with Tobirama repeatedly, wanting positions in the Alliance.
Honestly, Sasuke always cared for his parents. Reuniting had only deepened that. But he absolutely wouldn't try using his friendship with Link to benefit the clan. Maybe Itachi's influence weighed on him. Either way, he hadn't been home for dinner in days, and his parents ignored him as a disloyal son. Family matters, so troublesome.
As for the last headline, Sasuke knew some backstory. The Third Mizukage had been forcibly removed by Kirigakure not long ago and kicked out of the village. It was comical—a Kage thrown out by his own people. But given how he'd caused the "Bloody Mist," maybe he had no right to complain. He wasn't killed only because he, too, was an Alliance member with decent strength. Eventually, after a big commotion, he left.
He'd gone into hiding in the Land of Rivers, apparently trying to set up some "New Kirigakure"? Anyway, he stirred up trouble and ended up brawling with the Fourth Raikage. During the fight, an Aburame intelligence operative recognized him, so they landed in the tabloids—a blow to Kirigakure's pride.
"Ding-a-ling—"
The shop door's bell chimed.
Sasuke #1 stood up, the movements second nature. "Welcome~!"
In stepped Sakura Haruno, who'd been stopping by a lot lately. Hands behind her back, she smiled brightly. "Sasuke, are you free tonight to go shopping with me?"