Akio piloted the spacecraft with practiced ease, bringing Toneri back to the same hidden launch site where they had first left for the moon.
"It looks like you've been traveling to Earth for a long time," Akio remarked casually. "You've got the route down perfectly—launching from here and landing right in that secluded spot on Earth. Come to think of it… there's a passageway between the moon and Earth, isn't there?"
Toneri nodded. "It's on the far side of the moon. Would you like to see it?"
"Another time," Akio said after a moment's thought. "Let's get you to Earth first."
Under Akio's control, the ship surged forward, breaking free of lunar gravity. Minutes later, he was breathing familiar air once more.
This time, personally flying the vessel, Akio finally understood just how extraordinary it was. It wasn't just fast—it was combat-capable, stabilized its passengers perfectly, and protected even a child like Toneri during travel between the moon and Earth.
Even though the moon itself was artificial and didn't require oxygen management, the constant shifts in gravity should have been lethal to anyone with an average physique. This ship completely neutralized those effects.
Noticing Akio's expression, Toneri explained quietly, "This was left behind by Ancestor Hamura. Our people used it to migrate to the moon."
Akio nodded. Given the Sage of Six Paths' legacy of absurdly powerful artifacts, his brother owning a spacecraft hardly felt surprising.
"If I ever get the chance, I should tear this thing apart and see how it works," Akio muttered, eyes gleaming. "If it could be replicated…"
As the ground grew closer—less than ten thousand meters now—Akio suddenly smiled down at the land below.
"Toneri," he asked, "do you know what it means to let loose?"
Toneri blinked. "You mean… relaxing your mindset?"
"Exactly."
And then Akio jumped out of the ship.
Toneri: "???"
The spacecraft shuddered violently as it lost control, snapping Toneri back to reality. He hurriedly took over the controls and dove after Akio.
Meanwhile, Akio spread his arms wide, falling backward through the sky.
"Good kid—he knows enough to chase after me," Akio thought calmly. "But I'm not suicidal. I just felt like trying a little free-fall thrill ride from ten kilometers up."
The ground rushed closer and closer. Just as Akio prepared to stabilize himself with chakra control, a familiar voice rang out from below:
"Great-Grandfather! You're finally back!"
Akio froze mid-fall and turned his head.
"Kushina? Why are you here?!"
Boom.
…It was a tragic story.
A Short While Later
Akio crawled out of a crater, covered head to toe in dust and debris.
"Great-Grandfather, are you okay?" Kushina asked awkwardly, clearly feeling guilty.
Akio sighed, shaking his head. His extreme-sports experiment had failed spectacularly.
Nearby, Toneri was in worse shape—Minato had already knocked him unconscious and was holding him by the collar.
"I'm fine," Akio said quickly. "I was… falling on purpose. And that kid—stand down. I brought him back from the moon."
"…From the moon?" Kushina echoed.
Minato flashed over, and Akio smoothly took Toneri from him.
"That was a bit excessive," Akio muttered.
Minato smiled helplessly. "I thought he caused your fall. As for why we're here—there was a massive explosion in this area a few days ago. We suspected it might be related to you."
"Explosion… right," Akio said thoughtfully. "I might've almost blown myself up."
He glanced at the battered spacecraft embedded at an angle in the ground and sighed. "Let's head back. I'll explain everything properly."
Konoha — Senju District, Mikoto's Home
After changing clothes, Akio explained his recent adventures. In return, he learned what had happened in the village.
"The war's over," Akio murmured. "That makes sense. With Konoha fully mobilized, Iwa wouldn't last much longer."
"Hashirama's grandson should be back in a few days," Mikoto added.
"Great-Grandfather," Kushina said eagerly, "tell us about the moon!"
A groan interrupted them.
Toneri finally stirred awake, opening his eyes to see Akio's gentle smile.
"Awake already? You fell asleep while flying—impressive talent."
Toneri frowned. "Didn't you jump out of the ship?"
Akio replied calmly, "Bad dream?"
Toneri: "???"
Kushina burst out laughing. Minato had knocked Toneri out so quickly he had no idea what happened afterward.
"Senior," Toneri asked cautiously, "who are they?"
Akio introduced everyone, then added, "This is Toneri Ōtsutsuki. I brought him back from the moon."
Kushina's expression turned strange. "Ōtsutsuki? Great-Grandfather… did you adopt another kid?"
Akio glared. "Look at his skin, his hair, his eyes—how could he be my son?!"
"But didn't you once use the name Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo when running that shop?"
Toneri stiffened. "Senior… you and the Sage of Six Paths are—?"
Akio sighed. "I was just lazy and borrowed a name."
He then explained the Sage of Six Paths properly and gestured toward Toneri. "He's a descendant of Hamura."
Minato frowned thoughtfully. "So the Sage of Six Paths truly existed… and the Ōtsutsuki clan…"
Akio chuckled. "Not only did he exist—he might still be watching me."
Toneri paled. "He's alive?!"
"No. He's dead," Akio replied cheerfully. "Just observing me from the afterlife."
"And Ancestor Hamura?" Toneri asked hopefully.
Akio paused, then shook his head. "Gone completely. Soul and all."
Seeing Toneri's disappointment, Akio added lightly, "Unless the Ichiraku Akioen owner is secretly Hamura—which would explain a lot."
Kushina laughed helplessly. "You really fixate on him."
Akio glanced at Toneri's starry-eyed expression and sighed. This kid really needs more social exposure.
"Mikoto," he said, "where are Naruto and Hikoto? Bring them to meet their new friend."
"They probably ran off to duel again," Mikoto replied. "Also… the Uchiha have noticed you're back. Visitors have been increasing."
"I know," Akio said calmly. "If Hikoto took my name, I'd feel uncomfortable too."
He added casually, "If he's changing clans, he might as well change his name too. How about Uchiha Sasuke?"
Mikoto froze. "Why… Sasuke?"
Akio smiled faintly. Time had already answered his doubts. This world had moved on.
"Whether you change it or not," he said gently, "that's your choice."
Toneri stared. "Senior… earlier, you weren't dreaming, were you?"
"No," Akio replied, smiling. "You weren't."
He glanced at everyone in the room, their expressions all different.
If anything, he thought, I'm the one still dreaming—like I'm watching an anime instead of living in the real world.
---
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