A special thank you to all my patrons.
The List of My "Wandering Reader":
-[ ]
-Cain
-Goha21
-Jacob Mooe
-Varun Madhu
-Paul Panzer
-Austin Levy
-Aziz Makda
You can read 30 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - [email protected]/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Genbu.
The Waterfall of Truth.
Nearly an entire day had passed since Naruto entered the illusionary realm of the Waterfall of Truth, yet there had been no movement or sign of his return.
Minato and Kushina, their hearts heavy with worry, refused to leave the pond's edge even for a moment.
As night fell, Motoi took it upon himself to light a bonfire beside the water.
"Why is it taking so long? Naruto… he's going to be okay, right?" Kushina muttered anxiously, unable to suppress her unease.
"He'll be fine. Even if he fails, his life isn't in danger," Motoi reassured her, though it wasn't the first time he'd said it.
"But…"
Kushina could sense Naruto's chakra gradually weakening, and her heart refused to settle.
"Believe in Naruto. Believe in our son," Minato said softly, taking her hand and meeting her gaze. "He's always been a strong boy—our pride."
"I…"
Under Minato's gentle, steady gaze, Kushina slowly calmed. The two embraced lightly, drawing warmth from each other.
"You're right. I should trust him. Naruto will definitely succeed," she murmured, resting her head on Minato's shoulder.
"Mmm. Let's wait together for the moment of his victory," Minato replied, stroking her long, fiery hair.
Under the moonlight, the waterfall's stream flowed quietly. Behind Naruto, his youthful parents stood in a tender embrace.
Meanwhile, Motoi, sitting by the bonfire, awkwardly averted his eyes, his face flushed red from the fire's glow.
---
Within the Illusionary Realm of the Waterfall of Truth.
Naruto stood panting, locked in a standoff with his darker self.
"I told you," Dark Naruto sneered. "I am you. Our taijutsu, ninjutsu, even our battle instincts—they're all the same. You can't defeat me!"
"It's not over yet!" Naruto formed hand seals. "Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Dark Naruto mirrored him instantly.
"What?! Even the number of clones is the same?!" Naruto stared in shock at the row of shadow clones facing him.
"See? Useless!" Dark Naruto mocked.
"Go!"
"Go!"
All the clones surged forward at once, each pair clashing before vanishing in bursts of smoke. Finally, the two originals collided with Rasengans in hand, both sent flying backward.
"Why?" Dark Naruto's voice dripped with hatred as he glared at Naruto. "Why are you so determined to destroy me?"
"Because only by defeating you can I become a perfect jinchūriki!" Naruto pointed at him.
"Is that really it?" Dark Naruto crawled closer across the water's surface until his face was inches away. His crimson eyes bore into Naruto's blue ones as venomous words slithered into his ears. "Or… do you just want to deny your past?"
"That's not true!" Naruto refused to back down.
"Then why are you trying to abandon me?!" Dark Naruto snarled, grabbing Naruto's collar. "Now that you've found happiness with your parents, you just want to forget everything we endured?!"
"You're right," Naruto admitted, gripping Dark Naruto's wrist. "I don't want to drown in the pain of the past. I'm Uzumaki Naruto—the man who's going to be Hokage!"
"Hokage?! Hokage?! Is that title really so important?!" Dark Naruto suddenly roared in fury. "How did those villagers treat us before?! Have you forgotten?!"
"What about me?!" Tears streamed down his face as he swung a fist at Naruto. "If you're moving forward, leaving the pain behind—where does that leave me?!"
"You don't have to go anywhere."
Naruto suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace. "You can become me. Because you are me."
"I… am you?" Dark Naruto froze.
"I will be Hokage. That's what we decided long ago, isn't it?" Naruto smiled.
"And… thank you."
Naruto continued, "Just now, you helped me realize something. I don't need to destroy you—to erase the darkness in my heart."
Dark Naruto's body relaxed, and slowly, he returned the embrace.
"What I need… is to believe in myself," Naruto said, his voice thick with emotion. "To believe in the person my parents and others have trusted me to be."
"Thank you."
Dark Naruto's form dissolved into countless shimmering particles, scattering into the air.
---
The Moon.
Castle Hall.
After dinner, Kaito asked Sasuke to stay behind.
"Tomorrow, I'll send you to the battlefield in the Land of Rain," Kaito said. "From there, how you proceed will be up to you."
"What about you? And Grandpa Izuna?" Sasuke asked.
"We'll intervene in the war at the appropriate time," Kaito replied. "Until then, you'll have to rely on yourself."
Izuna, seated beside Sasuke, patted his shoulder.
"Be careful. This time, no one will be watching over you in secret."
"Tch. I don't need it," Sasuke smirked confidently. "Is this the final test?"
"You could say that," Kaito chuckled. "I'll judge based on your actions whether you're truly ready to stand on your own."
"Then watch closely," Sasuke stood up from his chair.
"Oh, I will," Kaito assured.
"I'll go inform the others to prepare."
Sasuke turned and walked toward the corridor at the side of the hall.
"Wait."
He paused, glancing back. "Where's Naruto right now?"
"Hmm? Worried about him?" Kaito rested his chin on his hand, still seated.
"No," Sasuke denied coldly. "That idiot keeps shouting about surpassing me. I just want him to understand the gap between us once and for all."
"Unfortunately," Kaito smiled, "Minato was concerned the Ten-Tails might steal the Nine-Tails from Naruto, so he took him into hiding before the war began."
"Hmph."
Sasuke clicked his tongue in annoyance and turned away.
"Fine. At least that dead-last won't get himself killed on the battlefield."
As Sasuke left, Kaito glanced at Izuna.
"Satisfied?"
"Oh? Are you worried about him?" Izuna threw Kaito's earlier words back at him.
"I won't lie—I'm not 100% at ease," Kaito admitted.
"Then it's all the more reason to send him," Izuna said sternly. "Only through war can he grow stronger."
"I know. Don't worry, I won't go back on my decision," Kaito raised his hands in surrender.
"Good," Izuna said coldly. "And this time, you are not to interfere or assist him in any way."
"But—" Kaito frowned. "The enemies he'll face aren't ordinary. At the very least, I should ensure he doesn't die."
He blinked playfully.
"Besides, if Sasuke dies, the Uchiha clan will be extinct."
"He can't afford to grow complacent," Izuna stood. "And even if Sasuke does fall, you're still here, aren't you?"
His gaze swept over Kaito. "Unless… your body can't—"
"Spare me," Orochimaru groaned, raising his hands again. "I have no interest in children. The duty of continuing the Uchiha lineage falls to Sasuke."
"Fine," he sighed, standing as well. "I'll make it clear to him—this time, he gets no help. He won't take things lightly. But I'll still ensure he doesn't die. Discreetly."
"Do as you wish."
Izuna shook his head and walked away.