At the same time that Naruto began to radiate light, on the other side—at the border of Rōran—the young boys Kakashi and Yamato were in a stalemate.
Yamato continued trying to explain to the younger Kakashi that he was a person from the future.
But Kakashi stared at him with his usual dead fish eyes, the kind you'd give to someone on the street claiming to be the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths.
"You're from the future? Why not just say you're the reincarnation of the First Hokage, Hashirama? You think I, Hatake Kakashi, am a gullible brat?"
But just as Yamato began to emit light, Kakashi's skepticism started to waver. He hesitated, then finally chose to believe Yamato's words.
"Are you really... from the future?" he asked awkwardly.
Yamato took the opportunity the moment Kakashi let down his guard—WHAM!—and punched him square on the head, letting out a satisfied breath.
"Ahh~ Kakashi-senpai, I've been wanting to do that for a long time!"
Then he smiled faintly. "Well, goodbye, young senior. Looks like it's time for me to head back."
Kakashi clutched his head where a massive bump was already forming and prepared to retaliate—
Only to find his hand passed right through Yamato's body.
Yamato stuck out his tongue, made a face, and gave a cheeky wave.
"Gyaa~!"
Kakashi silently clenched his fists.
(￣^￣メ) …Tch. Not mad. Totally not mad. My fists are just a little stiff, that's all…
On the other side, Naruto also vanished in a burst of starlight.
Minato stood still, eyes wide. Finally, tears welled and fell—but the next moment, he vaporized them with his chakra.
"Uchiha Hikaru, Naruto has returned to his own time and space."
"But why did you..."
Uchiha Hikaru simply raised his arms and looped them around Minato's neck, gently pulling him aside. His voice lowered into a whisper.
"I absorbed all the dragon vein chakra before I came here. To go back, I'll have to absorb all of it again. You understand, right?"
Minato's expression froze.
(What... the hell?) This man was terrifying.
To Minato, the power of the dragon vein rivaled even the Nine-Tails' chakra sealed in Kushina. And this man said he just absorbed it?
And he looked fine? Completely unaffected?
Incredible… terrifying…
Minato didn't dare imagine doing something like that. Mukade was the perfect cautionary tale—he'd thrown away his body just to control the dragon vein chakra. In the end, he had become nothing more than a vessel for it, losing his humanity entirely.
But... Hikaru was different. His power was already incomprehensible before absorbing the dragon vein. Perhaps his body was built to contain that kind of chakra.
There was no comparison.
Before long, Minato left with Shikaku and Chōza.
He briefly considered sealing Sarah, Shikaku, and Chōza's memories of the incident—but after remembering Naruto's reaction upon learning about Kushina, he decided against it.
Naruto's memories hadn't been sealed, and he didn't want to erase his own emotions again.
Besides, there were far too many refugees in Rōran who'd witnessed what happened. He couldn't seal everyone.
A few days later, the battlefield had been sealed off by Rōran's people.
Families reunited with loved ones long lost, and while the city had lost its main power source—the chakra of the dragon vein—many ancient structures still stood. They provided shelter and hope. The people no longer had to live underground in ruins.
On this day, only Sarah and Uchiha Hikaru remained in the main hall.
Sarah descended from the Queen's throne slowly, her heart uneasy, and approached him step by step.
Her emotions were complicated.
In these days, she had finally pieced together the truth.
The man in front of her wasn't the bodyguard hired from Konoha by Mukade, but someone from the future—just like Naruto.
"Sir Hikaru… do you know when you'll leave?"
"Or… are you planning to stay?"
Uchiha Hikaru glanced at her, and at the seal on his wrist—sensing Sword's current state.
"Your Highness, are you asking us to leave?"
"Don't worry. If you're in a rush, I can leave right now."
Sarah's hand clenched at her robes, cheeks flushing red.
"Actually… if you're willing…"
"You can stay here!"
"I'd like to invite you to be the King of Rōran!"
Hikaru froze.
There was a flash of disbelief in his eyes.
(What the— I thought she wanted me gone! Turns out she wants me to stay... for my body?!)
He gave a short laugh and politely declined.
"Thank you, Princess."
"But I already have someone waiting for me in my world. I can't leave her alone."
"But don't worry—though the dragon vein's chakra is weakened, I'll erase the tampering left by Mukade."
"In ten years or so, it should fully recover."
With that, Uchiha Hikaru turned and walked out of the palace.
Sarah stared at his back, a bit of regret mixed with relief.
It was a pity she couldn't keep this powerful, handsome man in Rōran. She would have welcomed him as king.
Not out of love—though his presence stirred something—but because she feared another threat like Mukade might come one day.
This crisis had taught her the value of strength.
But sadly, she lacked that strength herself.
At least Hikaru had promised to lift Mukade's seal. That gave Rōran some hope of defense in the future.
With time, they would rebuild.
Hikaru made his way to the ruins, where the core of the dragon vein lay sealed.
"Sword, stop eating. Leave some for the others."
"If you drain it all, I won't even have the strength to defend the house."
The next moment, a graceful woman with long legs and a voluptuous figure, dressed in sheer black silk, materialized on the crumbling altar.
She gazed at him with cunning, playful eyes that only he knew so well.
Without hesitation, she flung herself onto Hikaru's back and whispered hotly into his ear.
"I know~"
"A shinobi should never sever all possibilities~"
"So, now that you've rejected the princess, you finally remember me?"
Hikaru felt her soft curves press against his back. Unfazed, he took her hand firmly in his.
"That's enough. It's been a while, but that trick doesn't work on me anymore."
With that, he sealed Sword back into the tattoo on his wrist.
"Hmph~"
Her voice echoed teasingly inside his consciousness.
(｡•́︿•̀｡) "You're no fun."
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Bonus Chapter at 150 Power Stone
Second Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
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