Sasuke reacted quickly. Inside the alternate dimension, he'd been saving the Shinobi World. But out here, back in the real world, his status reverted to that of a rogue ninja. A criminal with a high price on his head.
As for the infant in his arms… honestly, he had neither the inclination nor the obligation to raise a child. But handing it over to Konoha? That would brand the kid a "terrorist criminal" straight from the cradle.
Truth was, Sasuke couldn't be sure how much, if any, of his past life this baby remembered. So, for now, he'd treat it as just a baby.
Objectively speaking, this timeline's Obito Uchiha hadn't done much evil by his own will. His mind had been compromised by Black Zetsu from the start, his will constantly twisted… a puppet soaked in blood, but an accomplice at worst.
Sasuke thought it over. Well, then. Time to go.
He didn't hesitate. He turned and bolted.
The gathered shinobi watched him sprint into the distance. No one assumed he was fleeing justice. Most figured he was deserting—scared off by the terrifying battles against the Ōtsutsuki in that other dimension.
"Stay sharp! Something else is bound to emerge!""Even if the Ten-Tails stands still, its Chakra alone can burn us. Stay focused!"
He heard their chatter. Naruto finally caught on."Oh, right. The Ten-Tails… it's already been dealt with. We weren't in that space for long. However long you waited is how long we were in there."
The time flow was the same. None of that dramatic, forbidden timeline nonsense they were imagining.
"The Ten-Tails is gone? How?""The crisis is… over? Just like that?""I didn't even break a sweat… aside from the cold sweat."
A chorus of disbelief and relief rose from the crowd. They were skeptical of Naruto's claim, but a weight had already lifted from their shoulders.
Naruto, never the best storyteller, stumbled his way through a rough explanation.
If the Ten-Tails was truly gone, then everyone instantly latched onto the next crucial point.
"So… you're saying all the Tailed Beasts in the world are now in the possession of Konoha's Jōnin, Qianyu?""Yeah. According to him, there won't be any more Tailed Beasts in the Shinobi World."
Himawari Kamui frowned. Why would Naruto blurt that out? But it was too late to stop him.
The other Kage all turned their eyes to the Hokage."Hokage-sama. Konoha must return our Tailed Beasts. Return what is rightfully ours. Surely that's not hard to understand?""Correct. The distribution was decided by your First Hokage. Konoha cannot break that precedent now."
Himawari's brow furrowed tighter. Kindness invites bullying, huh? Where was this demand when they were facing the progenitor of Chakra? Did she look like an easy target?
Who would have thought words like "kind" and "easy target" would ever be associated with Himawari Kamui in her lifetime?
"Jōnin Qianyu is a hero from the era of the First Hokage. Do you all believe I have the authority to command him?"
While others might doubt Naruto, Himawari had no reason to. Her heart was finally at ease. The apocalypse had been averted. What remained was just… dealing with the other villages.
Shinobi villages squabbling? That was her specialty.
"Naruto. Everyone. Our business here is concluded. By my order… we withdraw.""Hold it! You are not leaving!""Not leaving? Close the gates. Release Naruto!"
Himawari was keenly aware of Naruto's current, unprecedented power. With him leading, no one here could stop them.
Naruto sighed internally. The enemies he'd just fought… and the ones he was about to face?
Himawari was a senior on the level of a great-grandmother to him. Her orders had to be obeyed… though he'd never dare call her 'Great-Gram' out loud."Hokage-sama, let me handle this alone. It's easier to control the force. I'll just knock everyone out."
The world's crisis had just ended. He didn't want it to conclude with more bloodshed.
...
Amidst the chaos, Sasuke had no trouble making his escape.
A few Akatsuki members were still alive—no one had bothered with them after the Ten-Tails' formation. But given they were now wanted criminals across the Five Great Nations, Sasuke saw no need to seek them out.
He traveled north from the Land of Rain into the Land of Waterfalls, heading deep into its mountains. He blew a specific whistle. Soon, he got a response.
He successfully reunited with his former Taka team members."Sasuke. The Akatsuki business… is it finished?""Finished.""Then… what's our next target? Konoha? The Uchiha?""Neither. Too narrow… Let's find a place to rest first. I'm mentally exhausted.""Hey… whose kid is that?""Found him. Anyone know any growth-acceleration techniques? Can we make him grow faster?""..."
Sasuke would rather fight Madara Uchiha for a solid month than take care of a baby.
A week after reuniting with his team, Sasuke picked a particularly scenic spot with good mountains and water in the Land of Waterfalls—a place to rest, as he'd said.
But coincidence struck.
Fine scenery attracts fine people. Someone else had the same idea. When Sasuke's squad arrived, they found a simple hut already built.
Then, he saw the person stepping out of the hut. Their eyes met. The air grew awkward."Don't be tense. We mean no harm."
Sasuke thought for a moment, then held the infant up in front of him… a baby was symbolic. A potential white flag.The other person eyed Sasuke's Rinnegan with its tomoe markings and decided against any rash moves."Konan? Who is it?"
Then, Nagato walked out as well. He saw the visitors."Uchiha… Sasuke…""You're the true leader… Care to talk?""Alright."
Sasuke handed the baby to a teammate and sat with Nagato on a stone bench by the hut's entrance."The events of a few days ago… do you know the truth?""No. After fleeing Amegakure, I cut myself off from the world.""It was like this…"
Sasuke recounted everything. When he finished, Nagato fell into a deep silence."So that's the truth. I truly was just a pawn being used… Though, learning that even Madara Uchiha was being manipulated… I suddenly feel a bit better."
It wasn't just feeling better. Nagato's mind felt clear."The Shinobi World's crisis is over. But people like us… we seem to have lost our place." Sasuke's words sounded like musing, but they carried deeper intent."You mean…""Do you remember the original purpose for founding the Akatsuki?""I could never forget it in my lifetime.""What I mean is… both our previous approaches were wrong. Changing the world isn't some grand, abstract mission. It doesn't require earth-shattering acts. An ideal of light… it must be built step by step, starting with one small, tangible thing after another."
Sasuke stood up."The world is dominated by the great nations. Small villages struggle in the shadows of the great ones. We should aid the weak, root out evil, promote good deeds, prevent wars…"
Anyway, a person had to do something with their life, right?"I've decided. I'll establish a new organization. One not bound by nations or villages. As for its purpose… I think if I give it the right name, everyone will understand its nature instantly.""Name?""The New Fireflies. What do you think?"
Nagato fell silent, seemingly stunned. A long moment passed before he regained his composure.
A smile spread across Nagato's face. He looked at Sasuke and said,"Can I join… Leader?"
Sasuke was crazy, wanting to start some "New Fireflies." And yet, Nagato chose to join.
As for being the leader… Nagato had never been cut out for leadership anyway.
Of course, no matter how idealistic their aims, for the great shinobi villages, it simply meant a new criminal organization had formed the moment the apocalypse was thwarted.
...
Several days earlier, just after Naruto and Sasuke left the alternate dimension.
Qianyu, holding the Nine-Tails' leash, walked over to Kaguya."Come with me. You have no power now, so you have no choice. Since you're the Sage's mother, let's keep this civil."
Qianyu sounded polite enough—the current Kaguya was harmless, after all. But the subtext was clear: Don't make me get uncivil.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's face remained expressionless, yet her whole demeanor radiated deep dejection."Sage? You are Hagoromo's student?""Something like that."
As he spoke, Qianyu opened a portal to his personal dimension."Yomotsu Hirasaka. Your technique. Can't use it now, can you?"
The jab was petty. Kaguya had no choice. She followed Qianyu… because the alternative was a swipe from the Nine-Tails' claw.
Inside his dimension, he gathered the other Tailed Beasts. Then he opened another portal, transporting the entire group—beasts and Kaguya—to a small island in the sea south of the Land of Bears.
Far from the mainland. No one would sense their Chakra here.
The moment Qianyu reappeared in the Shinobi World, he felt a gaze from the void. The instant their eyes met across space, Qianyu stood before the Sage of Six Paths."Sage. Problem solved… Would you like to see your mother? She's powerless now. Probably can't sense your gaze." Qianyu said.
The Sage looked at his mother with profound complexity. A long time passed before he finally shook his head and let out a deep sigh."Unnecessary. I am long dead."
This 'dead man' is more capable than every living person in the world, Qianyu thought."I… have never seen Mother look so weak. So lost.""She's done too many bad things. Without her Chakra, she has no foundation."
Qianyu's words were brutally direct. The Sage had no rebuttal."What do you intend now?""I plan to take the Tailed Beasts and Kaguya into the stars. I've got quite a few Ōtsutsuki 'star charts' in my head… On one hand, I want to try and fix the ecological damage they've caused. Planting those trees everywhere, draining planets to produce their low-yield crop… er, I mean, Chakra Fruit. On the other hand, having come this far, I might as well see if I can challenge becoming the ultimate life form.""Star charts… Of course, you've dealt with several of their kind. Taking the Tailed Beasts away from this world… Perhaps that is for the best. They were never natural to it.""Do you want to see the Beasts? They still hold you in high regard.""Ah, no need. I am already—""I know, I know. 'You're already dead and don't want to interfere.'" Qianyu cut in, his tone lightly teasing.
As if the Sage hadn't interfered plenty already."I'll make some preparations, then set sail for the sea of stars… We might meet again someday, Sage. You're already dead—can't die a second time."
The Sage:"...""Safe travels."
Qianyu turned to leave, then remembered his souvenir."Oh, right, Sage. One more thing to handle… I know you can open the Pure Land directly. Open a door for me.""A door?"
Qianyu pulled a dark, spherical mass from his sleeve. The moment it saw the Sage, it stirred violently."Hagoromo! You unfilial—!"
The Sage opened a portal to the Pure Land without a word. Qianyu tossed Black Zetsu straight in. You like scheming in the shadows? The Pure Land is vast. Plenty of room to maneuver!
Qianyu clapped his hands clean, gave a slight bow to the Sage of Six Paths, and vanished from his sight.
From that day on, the Shinobi World would have no more Tailed Beasts… save one Nine-Tails… and no more Qianyu.
Qianyu took Kaguya, the Tailed Beasts, and the little Number Seven he'd been fattening up in his pocket dimension, used Yomotsu Hirasaka to pierce the veil of stars, and began journeying through the void—one interstellar voyage after another.
Qianyu dove headfirst into the cosmic wilderness and focused solely on… farming.
He broke through his limits by devouring the Chakra Fruit scattered across different planets. His actions strayed a bit from his lofty explanation to the Sage. He wasn't protecting the cosmic ecosystem. He was harvesting.
After an immeasurable amount of time, Qianyu was somewhat lost. Returning to the Shinobi World was nearly impossible now.
The Tailed Beasts traveling with him, feeding on the scraps he left behind, had grown into nine planet-sized beasts capable of swallowing stars."Kaguya. Think I can take on your Ōtsutsuki ancestors now?""...I don't know. Also… do you even know how to reach the Ōtsutsuki homeworld?""Good question… Let's try."
Qianyu waved a hand. A spatial rift tore open. On the other side was a vaguely familiar-looking planet.
Once all nine Tailed Beasts had squeezed through, Qianyu felt something was off. His spatial coordinates were scrambled."Something's wrong. I might have put too much force into that. This isn't the same star sector… Did I open a portal to a parallel dimension?""...What do you mean?" Kaguya didn't understand."Whatever. We're cosmic drifters anyway… This is definitely the Ōtsutsuki homeworld. No doubt."
Whatever Qianyu was muttering, with a single pointing gesture, the Tailed Beasts surged toward the planet.
They were efficient. The planet's fate was sealed.
Perhaps because he'd pierced through dimensions, Qianyu's spatial senses were slightly dulled. Then Kaguya spoke up."Hm? I sense an unusual spatial displacement pulse… extremely long-range.""Sense what?""Nothing. Might be my imagination.""Under the banner of environmental protection, and in light of the Ōtsutsuki clan's conduct across the stars, I hereby declare… this clan shall now meet its end."
(End of Book)
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