Kiyosuke had already grown used to the strangeness of this world.
Naruto, on the other hand, couldn't. Everything here went against what he knew — how could he possibly adapt to that?
In his memory, Kiba and Akamaru were inseparable, the best of partners. Akamaru had never once bitten Kiba. Yet here, he didn't hesitate to sink his teeth into him.
And Hinata… that outfit—well, that outfit was amazing!
But her whole vibe felt completely different. Noticing Naruto's stare, Hinata walked right up to him, smiling.
"What's wrong, Menma? Want to go on a date with me?"
Straightforward, confident—none of Hinata's usual shyness at all. Still, no matter which world it was, Hinata's feelings for Naruto never seemed to change. That much, at least, was a constant truth.
Kiyosuke chuckled quietly. Naruto, however, looked confused.
"Wait, who's Menma?"
"What are you talking about? That's your name." Kiba frowned at him, clearly puzzled by Naruto's weird behavior.
Usually, Menma was calm and reserved—smart, even—and didn't talk much to others. But tonight's Menma… felt strangely approachable, if not a little dim-witted.
"My name's Naruto! How could it be Menma?!" Naruto shouted. This was the name his dad had picked for him, inspired by Jiraiya-sensei's novel. How could it suddenly become some weird name like Menma?!
He just couldn't accept that.
Kiyosuke patted his shoulder, leaning in to whisper.
"I already told you, this isn't our world. Everything here is reversed. Try to go with it."
He turned back to his "subordinates" and smiled.
"Alright, alright. We're heading out. Take a few days off and get some rest."
"We don't need you to tell us that," Hinata huffed impatiently.
This bad-girl version of Hinata was impossible to deal with, and all Kiyosuke could do was smile helplessly.
As they left together, Kiyosuke said, "Next up, we need to gather intel. Remember, don't draw attention. I'll take you home first."
"Wait—home? What home?!" Naruto asked, bewildered. "This road doesn't go toward the hot springs district!"
"My house is near the hot springs. Yours isn't," Kiyosuke said with a laugh. "Since the Fourth Hokage changed, that means Minato-sensei and Kushina-san never died. They're probably still waiting for you to come home."
Even if this world was fake, letting Naruto experience the warmth of a family again for just one day… wasn't such a bad thing.
"Oh…"
Naruto only nodded, unsure what else to say.
They eventually reached Minato's house. Kiyosuke knocked on the door.
No answer.
Peeking through the window, it looked like someone had been living there recently—but they must've gone on a mission.
"Seems like they're not home. We'll come back later," Kiyosuke said. "For now, let's head to my place."
They left together and soon arrived at Kiyosuke's house near the hot springs. It looked no different from the one in their world.
As they opened the door and stepped inside, a gentle voice greeted them.
"You're back, Kiyosuke-sama. And Menma—it's been so long since you last visited."
The woman wore glasses and smiled softly.
That's… Karin?!
Kiyosuke's eyes widened. Since when did Karin smile like that?!
Back home, after dealing with endless frustrations in the hospital, Karin's personality had started drifting toward that of a cranky middle-aged nurse—short-tempered and fiery, though her Uzumaki bloodline probably played a part too.
But this Karin—the sweet, neighborly kind—Kiyosuke had never seen her like this before.
Naruto hadn't either.
Kiyosuke coughed lightly and nodded.
"Yeah, we're back."
He told Naruto to pick any empty room for the night, then turned back to Karin.
"Where's Haku?"
"Haku's still the same as always," Karin sighed. "She hasn't gotten off work yet—still so busy."
"You still dare come home?!"
A sharp voice suddenly rang out.
Kiyosuke turned his head—only to take a pair of fists straight to the face.
Standing there, fists raised and aura blazing, was Mei Terumī.
"You've got some nerve sneaking off to fool around while I'm home! I'll skin you alive, you bastard!"
Before Kiyosuke could react, Mei grabbed him by the collar and started dragging him into the house.
She threw a quick glance back at Naruto and smiled.
"Menma, find yourself a room to sleep in. Auntie has a few things to 'discuss' with your uncle."
Karin called out worriedly, "Mei-sama, please try not to disturb the neighbors, or we'll get complaints again."
That's what you're worried about?!
Not my life?!
This world's version of himself was already married to Mei Terumī? Married this early?!
No way—that wasn't natural!
That wasn't even ninjutsu!
As he was dragged across the wooden floor, Kiyosuke's fingernails gouged ten long marks into the boards.
"Naruto!!!"
"Kiyosuke-san!!!"
Naruto could only watch helplessly as his "uncle" was hauled away by his future aunt—no, current aunt.
Women are terrifying!!!
Bang!
The door slammed shut. The sounds that followed—crashing, thuds, and pained screams—left no doubt that they were Kiyosuke's.
Karin, utterly unfazed, smiled.
"Menma, go take a bath and get some rest. Your room's been kept clean."
"O-oh, okay."
Naruto walked off, glancing nervously over his shoulder with every step.
...
Inside the room, Kiyosuke lay sprawled on the floor, thoroughly beaten.
Mei released him, sitting down on a chair and crossing her legs as she looked him over.
"You… aren't my husband, are you?"
"How the hell did you figure that out?!"
Wait—did I blow my cover already?!
No way, right?!
Mei gave a knowing look.
"My husband's a serious man. He wouldn't scream from a little pain like that. So—who are you?"
Kiyosuke sighed, sat up, and rubbed his sore jaw.
"I'm Asakawa Kiyosuke, from another world. Nice to meet you, Mei. No matter the world, you're as beautiful as ever. I just didn't expect we'd already tied the knot in this one."
"Another world?" Mei tilted her head, intrigued.
Kiyosuke gave her a quick rundown of how they'd arrived here.
Though this version of Mei wasn't the Fifth Mizukage, she was still sharp enough to grasp everything at once.
"I see," she said thoughtfully. "So you came here chasing that masked man, hoping to find a way back home."
"Exactly."
"And that Menma boy—he's from another world too?"
"Yeah. His name's Naruto. In our world, he's the son of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato. I've been raising him myself."
"I see…" Mei exhaled softly. "Then, where's my husband?"
Kiyosuke scratched the back of his head.
"Probably in my world…"
The Tsukuyomi wasn't flawless. In this illusion, Naruto and Menma could coexist—but Kiyosuke's presence replaced that of his counterpart.
Meaning the Kiyosuke from this world had likely been sent to the one where Minato was still the Fourth Hokage.
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