"Heh…"
Naruto still wore that mischievous grin; he was the kind who forgot pain once the wound had healed.
"Idiot!"
Sasuke finally lost patience, glaring at Naruto in irritation.
"Wipe that stupid grin off your face. At least I have a goal. What about you?"
"Huh?"
Naruto's smile froze at Sasuke's words. After thinking for a moment, he spoke seriously.
"My goal hasn't changed. My goal is still to become Hokage!"
Naruto had not given up on his childhood dream just because his parents had been revived. On the contrary, his desire to become Hokage had only grown stronger.
Through the years spent with his parents, he had come to understand their pasts.
He knew that his mother had once dreamed of becoming Hokage, and his father had been the Fourth Hokage himself—this only deepened his conviction.
"Even though I know it'll be really, really hard, things only happen if you try. If you don't try, you'll never know."
"You sure are stubborn."
Kiba chuckled at Naruto's words, but then his expression grew earnest.
"Tch, don't think you're the only one with that kind of dream. I'm not giving up either!"
"Good luck, all of you."
Chōji shrugged while munching on chips, and Karin rolled her eyes.
"What are you thinking, trying to challenge Senpai's Hokage position? Unbelievable."
"Even though I think they don't stand a chance, giving it a try might not be such a bad thing."
Shikamaru tilted his head slightly as he spoke. He knew a lot of inside details but didn't argue—just shrugged and offered a word of encouragement.
The group of youngsters began chatting again because of this topic; after all, everyone had their own dreams. Kitagawa Gen, however, stayed silent.
If he spoke now, it would probably make him seem too "ordinary." Still, he was pondering something else.
'That kid Naruto… perhaps it's time for a bit of a 'version update,' huh?'
Over the past 3 years, under the guidance of his parents and Jiraiya, Naruto's progress had been truly remarkable.
Even Sasuke might not be stronger than him after these 3 years—after all, Naruto's strength had already become something that "fit the current version."
Sage Mode, Flying Thunder God Technique, and Rasengan—except for not knowing Purple Lightning and Lightning Release: Chakra Mode.
That kid was practically a replica of himself.
'Sasuke inherited my Purple Lightning and Flying Thunder God, and he's got the Sharingan. Naruto inherited my Sage Mode, Rasengan, and Flying Thunder God…'
For a moment, he even felt dazed.
Could it be that the Sage of Six Paths was actually himself?
'Though Naruto isn't weak, without the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode he's still lacking somewhat—especially now that Sasuke isn't the same as before.'
Sasuke had obtained Uchiha Itachi's Mangekyō, and once that kid transplanted it, he would inevitably reach a new level.
'While Naruto still has considerable combat strength, if he doesn't make further progress, he might even end up unable to handle Uchiha Obito.'
Kitagawa Gen hadn't forgotten that before Jigen's 'revival,' he had been heading toward Obito's side—it was hard to say whether that guy might encounter some kind of 'opportunity.'
'Sigh, this shinobi world really isn't doing well—it's become such a mess.'
Thinking of that, Kitagawa Gen couldn't help but let out a sigh.
The current shinobi world was truly a land full of vigor and teeming life.
Especially with Nagato's recovery, Isshiki's appearance, and perhaps even Uchiha Madara about to awaken—plus Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama preparing to switch bodies.
'Why does the entire shinobi world look like it's gone to hell!?'
Kitagawa Gen scratched his head. Though it wasn't exactly bad news for him, the chaos was becoming troublesome.
Still, having those around him grow stronger wasn't necessarily a bad thing—especially since Sasuke and Naruto still 'owed' him a few things they hadn't yet returned!
'Naruto has to train hard for me—otherwise how am I supposed to get Asura's chakra?'
Kitagawa Gen silently made up his mind, though another thought soon arose in his mind.
'Speaking of which, my God Tree Source has long been capable of cultivating White Zetsu. So, perhaps it's time to try something new?'
He had rarely come across White Zetsu—otherwise, he could have captured a few to use for the Impure World Reincarnation.
But instead of catching them, it might be better to cultivate them himself.
"Senpai, what's your dream?"
Just as Kitagawa Gen's thoughts were drifting, Ino's voice suddenly rang beside his ear.
He blinked, realizing that everyone was looking at him curiously—even little Hanabi, who had come along with her sister.
"My dream? Haven't I already said it before?"
Kitagawa Gen scratched his head, glancing at Sasuke and Naruto beside him.
"Don't these two already know?"
"Tch, as if anything you say is ever true."
Naruto snorted disdainfully, while Ino laughed.
"Come on, Gen—let's hear it."
"Could it be… Hokage?"
Shikamaru tilted his head, equally curious about Kitagawa Gen's answer.
He would probably inherit his father's position in the future, so getting to know his potential superior in advance wasn't a bad idea.
"My dream has never changed."
Kitagawa Gen looked at Ino and smiled faintly.
"I've always wanted to save up enough money to open a shop—and call it the 'Yorozuya.'"
"Here we go again."
Naruto and Sasuke pursed their lips at the same time, while the others looked blank—what kind of dream was that?
Kitagawa Gen, however, thought for a moment and continued.
"Just do some small business, earn a bit of pocket money, marry a beautiful wife, smoke and look up at the sky when there's nothing to do—take life one day at a time."
"…"
Ino blinked, while Shikamaru felt an odd sense of familiarity.
"Yeah, something like that, I guess."
"…"
Kitagawa Gen's words left everyone speechless. Was this really the dream of the future Hokage?
Even Shikamaru couldn't help thinking—something was off with this superior of his.
"Tch, all lies."
As the group fell silent, Naruto couldn't help but speak up.
"You said the same thing before, and now you're practically about to become Hokage. Damn it…"
Sasuke nodded slightly from the side; he also thought Kitagawa Gen's dream and reality were a bit too far apart.
"Instead of talking about me, you two blew up someone's house last time—did you pay for the damages?"
Kitagawa Gen rolled his eyes and suddenly asked, his tone curious.
"Hiss—"
That question immediately made Sasuke and Naruto suck in a sharp breath, while everyone else turned their eyes toward them. Kitagawa Gen, however, just kept smiling.
"And Naruto, you should know about the Uzumaki Clan, right? Now that the Uzumaki have dwindled, you've got to shoulder that burden too."
"Huh? Me?"
Naruto pointed at himself in disbelief, momentarily lost. How had something like that ended up involving him?
But this time he didn't dare talk back—he noticed that his parents seemed to be discussing the matter as well.
"So, the two of you being teamed up isn't without reason."
Kitagawa Gen's smile grew brighter as he looked at the two and spoke in a quiet tone.
"You both carry the weight of your clans' revival on your backs."
"…"
"At worst, you could ask Chōji for some pointers."
"…"
...
Peaceful scenes filled Konohagakure—but within Akatsuki, things had turned quite different.
Obito stood before a mirror, staring at his reflection in disbelief. The half of his body that had once been destroyed was now miraculously restored.
More importantly, he could feel something forming within that once-empty eye socket.
And within his body, an incomprehensible power was surging, continuously transforming and strengthening him!
Behind him, Black Zetsu and the others were also full of disbelief—clearly, they had no idea what was happening to Obito either.
"Are you all right, Obito?"
Black Zetsu hesitated for a moment before asking quietly.
"Good—better than ever!"
Obito nodded, clenching his fist tightly.
"I think… we can move on to the next phase of the plan."
Obito was indeed feeling better than ever.
That surging power within his body was constantly brewing and erupting, and under the influence of such power, he felt incomparably strong—stronger than he had ever been before!
With this kind of power supporting him, he felt that he too should begin to act.
"Our mission should indeed begin. However, Obito—"
Hearing Obito's words, Black Zetsu appeared somewhat puzzled, unable to suppress the curiosity rising in his heart.
"Are you really all right?"
"Didn't I already say it? I'm perfectly fine now."
Obito clenched his fists once more, feeling that surging power coursing within him. In truth, he was somewhat confused.
He had no idea why he had suddenly become stronger—why even his body had been completely healed!
But after thinking it through, he arrived at a possible explanation.
"Perhaps… it's because of the Sharingan."
"The Sharingan?"
Nagato looked at Obito in utter bewilderment, while Orochimaru appeared thoughtful, and Black Zetsu's expression turned increasingly strange.
The Sharingan, bringing an enhancement?
Admittedly, the Sharingan could indeed grant a tremendous increase in power. The problem was—you had already awakened the Mangekyō!
Without the fusion of new Sharingan eyes or any other means of enhancement, how could you possibly become stronger?
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