"By the way, Mei—when did you and the me from this world get married?"
"When we came to Konoha at fourteen, and married when we were eighteen." Mei Terumī twirled a strand of her hair as she spoke.
"So early? Cough… what about kids?" Kiyosuke asked awkwardly.
Seeing the anticipation in Kiyosuke's eyes, Mei smiled and said,
"Shinichi's out on a mission, and Yuka's at her grandmother's place."
In this world, Kiyosuke and Mei Terumī had a happy family—one son and one daughter.
Their eldest, Asakawa Shinichi, had only recently graduated, but as Kiyosuke's son, his talent was astonishing. He inherited his father's physique and shared the same serious, disciplined personality, along with impressive strength.
Their daughter, Asakawa Yuka, was still attending the Ninja Academy. However, after her grandparents came to Konoha to visit their daughter, they had taken Yuka to Kirigakure for a trip, and it was unclear when they'd return.
"I see. That's wonderful," Kiyosuke said, sitting down. "I've always felt sorry for my Mei. Because of… certain reasons, I still haven't married her."
"Will you marry her when you go back?" Mei asked.
"No, not yet. I still have to wait. Until everything is settled."
"Still have to wait… must wait…" Kiyosuke muttered under his breath.
Mei smiled faintly. "Even the you from another world has such resolve. I still remember when my husband stormed into Kirigakure and took me away himself. Ah, I can't believe it's been so many years already."
In this world, Kiyosuke was a serious and strict man—but also daring. He had the courage to charge straight into Kirigakure to claim his love, nearly causing a war between the two villages. Luckily, it never came to that.
"Looks like he's much braver than me," Kiyosuke murmured. "I wonder if he's adapting well in my world right now."
He opened a photo album—inside were wedding pictures of Mei, snapshots of family life, and a full family portrait.
His gaze softened. "This is the kind of life I've never experienced, Mei."
"You'll get to have it someday," Mei said gently. Knowing he wasn't her husband, her tone was no longer fiery; instead, she sat beside him, offering comfort.
This man wasn't her husband. Even if they looked identical, her husband would never act so casually, nor wear such an expression.
He must not be living well in his world.
Kiyosuke didn't say more. After borrowing the album, he went to rest in Naruto's room.
Even though she looked exactly like Mei, she still wasn't his Mei.
"Damn it… where the hell did that bastard Obito run off to?" Kiyosuke muttered irritably, staring at the photo album while Naruto snored loudly beside him.
At that very moment, Obito was being hunted by someone wearing a mask almost identical to his own. From the clothes, however, it was clear—the pursuer was a woman.
"Damn it! Who is this woman?! And why does she have my Sharingan?!" Obito phased into intangibility to dodge her attacks—he'd been ambushed so suddenly he hadn't even had time to escape properly.
Her strength was nearly on par with his own—and her Sharingan possessed the Kamui ability. There was no doubt: that eye came from the Obito of this world.
And it wasn't the one Kakashi had.
So… the Obito of this world was already dead?
"No, I need to investigate this. There might be hidden dangers in this world."
With that thought, Obito warped himself away into the shadows to begin his investigation.
...
By the next morning, Kiyosuke and Naruto were summoned to the Hokage's office by Tsunade.
Facing the flat-chested, bespectacled Tsunade before them, both Kiyosuke and Naruto were left speechless.
Tsunade… had lost her soul!
Meanwhile, Shizune—clutching the black pig in her arms—had an overwhelming figure that even one hand couldn't fully grasp.
"The Two-Tails' jinchūriki from the Land of Lightning has been captured by a masked man," Tsunade said as Kiyosuke entered.
"A masked man? That guy again?"
"The Two-Tails' jinchūriki…" Kiyosuke fell silent. In this reversed world, Akatsuki was merely a mercenary group. Though its members possessed Kage-level power, they were… just mercenaries.
The villains… who were they again?
He couldn't quite remember—but it was also a masked man.
"This masked man is an internationally wanted S-rank criminal," Shizune explained. "We've joined forces with many other shinobi from various villages to hunt him down, but he keeps escaping. Even Kiyosuke-sama might not be able to capture him easily. Jiraiya-sama sacrificed his life because of him."
"What?! The Pervy Sage, he—"
"Pervy Sage? Who's that?" Tsunade asked blankly.
"Pervy Sage! Jiraiya!"
"Jiraiya isn't pervy," Tsunade said, shaking her head.
Unbelievable—Pervy Sage not pervy?!
Tsunade continued, "Jiraiya sacrificed himself, but before his death, he sent us one final piece of intel. There's only one way to defeat the masked man."
At that moment, a calm male voice came from behind them.
"And that is—the Sealing Scroll, the Red Moon Scroll."
Naruto turned around—and froze.
Standing there were Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki.
He stood rooted to the spot, stunned, while Kiyosuke greeted them naturally.
"Welcome back, Minato-sensei, Kushina-san."
"Mm. We're back, Kiyosuke," Minato said with a nod.
"My dad… and mom… they're alive?" Naruto stammered.
Kushina's long red hair suddenly lifted as if alive, swirling like octopus tentacles before she smacked Naruto square on the head.
"How can you say something like that to your triumphant parents?!"
"Oww!"
Kiyosuke helped Naruto up and whispered,
"So your mom's personality didn't change at all in this world. Incredible."
"She's always been like this? That's terrifying…"
Minato chuckled softly.
"Before Jiraiya-sensei died, he received a prophecy at Mount Myōboku. The masked man would be defeated by the Red Moon Scroll that Jiraiya-sensei retrieved. He fought desperately to obtain it, but in the end… he was mortally wounded and never made it back."
"Where's the Red Moon Scroll now?" Kiyosuke asked.
"Somewhere near the borders of the Land of Grass," Minato replied.
"The code's already been decrypted?" he asked, surprised.
Tsunade nodded.
"It took a lot of effort, but yes. Minato, Kushina, Kiyosuke—I'm entrusting this mission to the three of you. You must retrieve the Red Moon Scroll."
"Yes, ma'am!"
"I'm coming too!" Naruto raised his hand eagerly.
Tsunade frowned, clearly reluctant to let Naruto join such a dangerous mission.
"Let him come," Kiyosuke said. "He might end up being the key to success."
"I agree," Minato added. "Please, Tsunade."
With both of them asking, Tsunade had no choice but to approve.
Naruto, however, felt utterly lost. He didn't know how to face the smiles of his parents—these versions of them from another world.
After all, deep down, he still didn't know how to face his real ones.