Just as Naruto and his group of 'Cross-Time Rescuers' returned to their own future, three figures suddenly appeared in the spot where Kousei had been looking moments before.
The Nine Tailed Beasts were also abruptly startled, seemingly only noticing the presence of these three now.
But this couldn't be blamed on the Tailed Beasts for being careless.
In fact, even if it were Naruto instead, he wouldn't have been able to detect these three individuals earlier.
Because what shielded them wasn't space, barriers, Genjutsu, or the like, but time.
The three had not existed in this time moments ago, so no matter how strong Naruto's Observation Haki was, he couldn't observe them.
Yet these three seemed able to see Naruto's group, who had been standing here just moments ago, as if looking through time.
This was a power beyond imagination.
Kurama, who had nearly bristled, immediately froze in place when he clearly saw one of the three. The other Tailed Beasts had similar expressions.
The reason was simple… that person was the Sage of Six Paths, who had created them.
"Old man... why are you here?"
Hearing this, the Sage of Six Paths merely smiled at Kurama but didn't explain further, instead turning to look at another person beside him.
It was a very tall woman, dressed in black martial attire, with a bamboo hat on her head.
Even without seeing her face, a charm that transcended the ordinary naturally emanated from her.
The woman gently removed the bamboo hat, revealing smooth black hair, then raised a pair of similarly sky blue eyes.
With just one glance, the nine Tailed Beasts instantly fell into a trance-like state.
A true loss of consciousness, as if controlled by Madara's Sharingan.
However, even if Madara were resurrected, it would be nearly impossible for him to instantly control all Nine Tailed Beasts at once.
Yet this woman before them had done it so effortlessly.
After rendering the Nine Tailed Beasts unconscious, the woman gently turned her head to look at the third figure.
It was a form with a blurred silhouette.
At first glance, it seemed somewhat similar to her, but when the Sage of Six Paths made eye contact with it, it immediately took on the Sage's outline.
It was like a mirror.
"I have handled their memories. The cleanup is up to you now."
The woman's voice was soft yet carried an undeniable authority, as if her casual words were commands from an emperor.
The blurred figure merely nodded slightly, not saying anything more.
In contrast, the Sage of Six Paths, who had watched the entire process, opened his mouth but ultimately couldn't hold back and asked the question on his mind.
"Was all this worth it?"
"What did you say?"
As the woman's gaze turned to him, the Sage of Six Paths slowly sighed.
"Going to such great lengths, taking such a roundabout path, even forcibly restricting my actions... all for this outcome?"
"You should also know that by altering this result, the future awaiting you will no longer be predictable."
Hearing this, the woman remained silent for a few seconds, then gently nodded.
"It's worth it."
She looked at the Sage of Six Paths, then pointed towards the moon in the sky.
"Don't act as if you've suffered a great loss."
"You should also know that this is the only chance among millions of possibilities to completely prevent Kaguya from awakening again. That should be very important to you."
The woman retorted to the Sage's doubts in the same tone.
Her words showed little reverence for the Sage of Six Paths, this legendary figure, and the Sage showed no discomfort upon hearing them, as if this were all normal.
"Sigh... I hope you are right."
After hearing this, the woman didn't respond further and simply walked back to the spot where Naruto had been standing.
"I don't care about all that. I just want my dad to live."
Moonlight fell, illuminating the woman's stunning face.
It was a face seventy percent similar to Hancock's. If Naruto were here, he would immediately recognize her.
This was a grown-up version of Kousei!
"Alright, since matters in this timeline are resolved, I should go too."
She watched as the Nine Tailed Beasts quickly transform into pure Chakra under the power of the blurred figure and fly off in different directions.
After completing this, the blurred figure turned into a wisp of light and flew onto the back of this adult version of Kousei's hand.
There, a hexagonal pattern was visible.
On Kousei's other hand, there were dozens of [Kama] marks similar in specification to the one on Karin's hand, currently being forcibly gripped in her palm!
…
Time: Present.
Location: Roran Ruins, Underground Ryumyaku Plaza.
Everyone still maintained their expressions of shock from moments before.
They had watched helplessly as Kousei, that little girl, had the audacity to charge into the light. Then, the little princess of Roran ended the activation of the Ryumyaku due to exhaustion.
The light quickly dissipated, leaving everyone with looks of bewilderment.
Especially the two 'babysitters' and Gaara.
Gaara was currently clenching his teeth.
Logically, now was a good time for him to leave, but somehow, he found himself choosing to stay here.
Roshi sat silently by a stone pillar nearby, staring at the empty center of the plaza, lost in thought.
Fu looked around at everyone, somewhat at a loss.
Yugito looked inquiringly at Killer B, receiving a slight shake of his head in response.
Although most of them had initially been involuntarily forced to stay with this group, during their time together, Naruto had proven through his actions that he wasn't what they had imagined…
He's not someone who intended to exploit the power of the Jinchuriki.
Especially when faced with a potential path of no return, he decisively chose to let the others go back, facing the mastermind behind it all alone with his two companions.
Without a doubt, Naruto's actions lived up to every word he had said before.
At this moment, Haku and Zabuza seemed to exchange a few words and then walked together towards the little princess.
"...I wonder, could you activate the Ryumyaku one more time?"
Compared to Zabuza's fierce demeanor, Haku's gentle tone was clearly more acceptable.
Hearing his words, everyone was taken aback.
Even the little princess herself froze for a moment before stammering that she needed to rest for a bit, but she should be able to try again.
"Then we'll trouble you."
Having said that, Haku and Zabuza fell silent and stood in the center of the plaza.
The silence didn't last long.
"Count me in."
Surprisingly, the one who said this was Roshi, who was the least familiar with Naruto and the others.
In truth, Roshi wasn't just a hot-tempered old man.
He also possessed a compassionate heart.
Similarly, Roshi had chosen to distance himself from his village because he didn't want the Tailed Beast to become a tool of war.
Even though their initial meeting hadn't been pleasant, Naruto's actions had earned Roshi's recognition.
He wasn't lacking in the courage to take risks.
"And me, and me!"
Fu also ran over with quick steps.
Despite her appearance, she actually understood the potential consequences of this journey.
It was very possible that after this, she might never be able to return to Takigakure, never have the chance to see her friends again.
"Yo, got me fired up, no way I'm missin' this, ya fool!"
"B!"
Watching B wave his hand and similarly step onto the plaza, Yugito called out to him anxiously from behind.
To be honest, it wasn't that Yugito didn't want to help Naruto.
But she also had things important to her.
In Yugito's view, her duties were even more important than her own life. So even though she also wanted to help that adorable little girl, her inner convictions led her to make a different decision.
This was understandable and not something to be criticized.
Gaara watched as those people, one by one, walked towards the center of the plaza and pressed his lips together.
Then, he too walked over without a word.
'Consider it... repaying a favor to her.'