Toneri was a bit confused.
Didn't Tenshou Sennin, who freed him, say the issue wasn't a big deal and wouldn't destroy the ninja world?
Why, a second later, did he see Six Paths Sasuke firing a massive Indra's Arrow at him and the moon!
Who could stop that?
Just as the Six Paths Indra's Arrow pierced the moon and exploded, Toneri and Lux vanished.
*WHOOSH!*
Toneri staggered, realizing he was suddenly in an unfamiliar dark area.
Pitch black, strange—it seemed he was no longer on the moon.
No, the moon might be gone entirely.
His palace, his home, his moon!
All gone in an instant!
(Damn you, Uchiha Sasuke, you beast!)
Moments later.
Toneri still suppressed the rage in his heart. Though Sasuke destroyed his home, he could understand it.
Facing Kaguya and Isshiki's collaboration, Sasuke did his best. Destroying the moon was at least better than both the moon and Earth being obliterated in a collision.
If it were Toneri, he might've sacrificed the moon in the end too.
After all, there were no other living beings on the moon besides him…
"Where is this?"
Toneri began observing his surroundings, wondering where this Tenshou Sennin had brought him.
Lux raised his hand, conjuring a glowing chakra orb, illuminating the entire space.
Only then did Toneri realize he seemed to have arrived in an unfamiliar enclosed room.
Below was a circular stone basin, above a massive black metal ceiling, as if the entire room was encased and locked within an oval structure.
But that wasn't the point.
The point was, not far ahead, he saw a figure that seemed familiar!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
At this time, for the Seventh Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto, trapped in a dark room, it was undoubtedly the hardest period of his life.
In this pitch-black sealing vessel, Naruto couldn't see a speck of sunlight, let alone know how much time had passed.
He could only estimate time based on how often he felt hungry.
But this was vague—especially when anxious, people tend to get hungry faster and eat more.
Naruto estimated about a week had passed, but he couldn't be sure of the actual time.
Physical issues weren't the core; worrying about the outside situation was a constant mental torment for Naruto.
The longer he was trapped in this dark sealing vessel, the more anxious and worried he became.
Every day, he couldn't help but worry.
'How are Boruto and the others?'
'Is the village okay?'
'Did Sasuke escape safely?'
'Is Kawaki alright?'
'Where's the enemy named Jigen now? Is he still attacking Konoha?'
'And are Hinata and Himawari safe?'
'Sarada, Sakura, Shikamaru, Sai… and so on…'
Naruto had too many friends and family he cared about.
The entire village, all its residents, were Naruto's reason to live and his duty to protect as Hokage!
As anxiety accumulated, Naruto even woke from nightmares multiple times, dreaming of horrific scenes where the village was massacred by enemies.
He'd also tried escaping.
But this sealing vessel was incredibly sturdy—Naruto couldn't break it from the inside even with all his strength!
Of course, if Kurama were willing to burn itself out, an ordinary sealing vessel couldn't hold Naruto in Baryon Mode.
But Naruto wasn't that desperate!
Though imprisoned, thanks to the ample food left by Tenshou Sennin last time, Naruto was eating and drinking well here.
His previously haggard appearance was gone, showing good recovery.
But Naruto didn't see it that way.
This endless anxiety made him feel like even breathing was a sin.
While Sasuke and the villagers fought desperately outside, he was eating well and sleeping here—too sinful!
Several times, Naruto couldn't help but feel regret, regretting why he didn't agree with Tenshou Sennin. To trade the resolve to unite the world for his release from this prison to save the village and his friends and family.
Unfortunately, there's no medicine for regret in this world.
Moreover, if Naruto had to step over the corpses of friends like Gaara, Kurotsuchi, and others, destroying other ninja villages to gain freedom, he still wouldn't want to or be able to do it.
"Haaa—!"
In overwhelming worry.
Naruto listlessly ate ten bowls of instant ramen, chatted with Kurama, and then fell asleep in a daze.
After an unknown time, Naruto was suddenly woken by an angry roar.
"Uzumaki Naruto!"
Naruto snapped his eyes open, seeing light reappear in the dark sealing vessel.
The next second, amidst the roar, Toneri charged at him, yanking Naruto to his feet.
"Toneri? You, you…"
Naruto was confused, even doubting if he was still dreaming. Otherwise, he couldn't explain how Toneri suddenly appeared before him.
"You still have the face to sleep here?"
Furious from his defeat, Toneri's fist, big as a sandbag, smashed into Naruto's face, making him dizzy.
His wife dead, his friend beaten by enemies, his son tortured and fleeing…
As Hokage, you're sleeping soundly here?
Rationally, Toneri knew it wasn't Naruto's fault, but emotionally, he couldn't accept it.
Where was the ferocity of the guy who once knocked him out with one punch?
He kept saying he'd protect Hinata, protect the ninja world—was this how he protected?
Seeing this listless, comfortable Naruto, Toneri was so enraged he couldn't hold back!
"Wait! Toneri, stop, stop!"
"What happened? How did you get in?"
"What's going on…?"
Naruto hurriedly restrained Toneri, asking anxiously.
"I brought him."
Lux appeared beside them.
Naruto was thrilled to see this Tenshou Sennin; he'd been trapped too long these past days.
"Lord! Why are you here too?"
"To save you."
Lux never broke his promises. He'd told Sasuke that if Sasuke destroyed three or more major villages, he'd free Naruto.
Now Sasuke had basically done it.
Kirigakure and Kumogakure were successively conquered by the Kara Organization led by Sasuke. Iwagakure's main forces were also wiped out by Sasuke. Though Iwagakure's headquarters wasn't fully taken, it was no longer a major issue…
Additionally, Kaguya and Isshiki from this world destroyed Sunagakure's forces along the way.
The ninja world still had many mid-tier powers left, like the Land of Iron, Takigakure, the Craftsman Village, and so on…
But the major powers truly capable of dominating the world were down to Konoha and the Kara Organization.
This caused the unification progress of Parallel World 7 to surge dramatically.
[Parallel World 7 Unification Progress: 15% → 72%]
Overall, the dirty, bloody, murderous tasks were all done by Sasuke.
Even if Naruto was freed now, he couldn't change anything.
Naturally, keeping him locked here was no longer an issue.
Besides, with the great drama outside, not letting Naruto participate a bit felt unfair.
"Huh! Can I really get out?"
"Lord is willing to save me?"
"But I, I still can't harm other villages, I…"
Hope and excitement surged in Naruto's eyes, but he hesitated, worried Tenshou Sennin still wanted him to forcibly unite the ninja world.
"No need. Sasuke has destroyed several villages for you."
"Huh?"
Naruto: ミﾟДﾟ彡
"What, what's really going on? Sasuke…?"
"To save you, Sasuke agreed to unite the ninja world, decisively destroying several villages."
"Sasuke, he destroyed other villages? Killed many people?"
"Yes, the sins you didn't want to commit, he did for you."
Naruto was a bit dazed, even disbelieving.
He didn't believe Sasuke would do such things. Over the years, Sasuke had clearly reformed for the better—how could he commit such massive crimes and killings?
"No way, Sasuke wouldn't…"
"Naruto, it's time to shed your naivety. If the roles were reversed, to save Sasuke, would you kill?"
"…"
Naruto hesitated, torn.
Not about saving Sasuke, but about whether he should kill?
Of course, he didn't want to kill.
But to save Sasuke, he wasn't sure—would he go mad?
Maybe only in that moment would he make a choice!
Moreover, with Naruto's character, his current hesitation was already an indirect answer.
"Then, would Sasuke have such hesitations to save you?"
"No…"
Naruto gave a firm answer, his heart bitter yet relieved.
He knew Sasuke would do anything for him, just as he would for Sasuke.
Their decades-long bond, the strongest in the ninja world, wasn't a joke!
"But, that doesn't justify sacrificing others to…"
"Naruto, isn't it tough being trapped here?" Lux interrupted, suddenly asking.
"A bit tough…"
"Being imprisoned in darkness isn't pleasant, but compared to Sasuke and the others, you're very lucky."
"What's wrong with Sasuke and the others? They…"
Naruto grew anxious, hurriedly asking.
Lux didn't bother explaining to Naruto, directly instructing Toneri to inform him of the current ninja world situation.
"Toneri, what's happening outside? As Hokage…"
"Damn it! You couldn't even protect Hinata—what kind of Hokage are you?!"
"What happened to Hinata!!!"
"She's dead…!"
Naruto froze, Toneri grew angrier, once again yanking Naruto up, pummeling him wildly.
Honestly, he now deeply regretted entrusting Hinata to Naruto back then. Though it was akin to stealing someone's love, if Hinata had been with him, with his Tenseigan eyes and the moon's great Tenseigan power, he might not beat Isshiki Ōtsutsuki, but defeating Momoshiki, Urashiki, and others wouldn't be an issue. The ninja world wouldn't have deteriorated like this.
Useless Naruto!
As for uniting the ninja world? Was there still any hesitation?
If he hadn't lost to Naruto and Sasuke after losing his Tenseigan, Toneri might've united the ninja world himself.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Quickly, Toneri used his fists and words to tell Naruto the whole truth.
Learning the outside situation, Naruto was stunned.
What?
He was only trapped for a few days?
Why had the entire world changed?
Jigen replaced him as the Seventh Hokage?
He became Ōtsutsuki Naruto? Sasuke became Ōtsutsuki Sasuke?
Both of them became Kara Organization villains?
His wife Hinata became Jigen's wife?
Even Boruto, controlled by Momoshiki, killed his own mother?
And he and Kawaki were hunted worldwide?
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Despite surviving the Fourth Ninja World War, rising from the bottom to become the Seventh Hokage, Naruto was dizzy from this absurd, cruel information.
If Toneri and Tenshou Sennin had no motive to lie, Naruto would rather believe this was a joke!
Especially the bad news about Hinata—it was like a poisoned blade stabbing his heart.
Recalling Pain's invasion, when Hinata was thought dead, Naruto went berserk. If Kurama weren't so intertwined with his heart, he'd have unleashed Kurama's slaughter mode now.
Pain!
Too much pain!
Bone-piercing pain!
Naruto, just hearing this, couldn't imagine how painful it was for Boruto to face killing his own mother.
How could that kid endure it?
Was this the "bag of rice" Nagato spoke of?
*BOOM!*
Naruto instantly entered Kurama Sage Mode, his eyes narrowing into crosses, intense pain and killing intent spreading.
*SLAP!*
In Kurama Sage Mode, Naruto grabbed Toneri, stopping his fists, and sincerely apologized:
"Toneri, I'm sorry!"
"I broke my promise, couldn't protect Hinata."
"You can hit me all you want later, but please bear with me now."
"I've lost my wife; I can't lose Sasuke, Boruto, Himawari, or more Konoha residents!"
"Toneri, please help me!"
Naruto didn't become Hokage for years for nothing—he was far more mature and calm than before.
Though furious now, he knew what he had to do!
Pointless rage would only kill more people. Uniting all possible forces, finding a way to return and support Sasuke, and saving Konoha were the priorities!
"You—!"
Toneri froze, sometimes unable to deny this Hokage's captivating charm.
Just like when he was nearly consumed by countless Byakugan eyes, this man risked himself to save him.
'Naruto, you're so annoying!'
"No need to say it—I'll follow my ancestors' legacy, protecting the ninja world, protecting Boruto!"
Toneri snorted arrogantly.
Even without Naruto's plea, he wouldn't betray the ninja world or give up on Boruto.
"Thank you!"
Naruto thanked him sincerely, then turned to Lux, pleading:
"Lord, can you take us out of here?"
"I need to return immediately to support Sasuke and the others!"
Naruto didn't know Sasuke was now the most ruthless in slaughtering Konoha's residents, but he was keenly aware of how dire the situation was.
No matter how strong Sasuke was, he was no match for Isshiki and Kaguya.
He had to return now!
"Yes."
"But you two, even if you return now, can you defeat Ōtsutsuki Isshiki?"
"Or Ōtsutsuki Kaguya?"
Lux asked bluntly.
How strong are you two now?
Do you have any idea if you can turn the tide on the battlefield?
One had his Kurama crushed by Isshiki in one blow, the other without Tenseigan couldn't even touch Six Paths.
How could you fight Kaguya and Isshiki?
"…"
Naruto wanted to argue, but remembering he and Sasuke couldn't beat Isshiki together, trapping him here.
Without a better plan, even if he and Toneri left, they might just be delivering food to Isshiki.
Or even sending a fragrant Kurama to Kaguya's table.
That wouldn't be saving the ninja world—it'd harm it!
"Since Lord is a Sennin, you should be able to grant us temporary power, right? Like you helped Sasuke!"
Toneri had seen Six Paths Sasuke's ferocity, destroying the entire moon with one strike, and naturally understood the source of Sasuke's power.
If he could gain power from Tenshou Sennin, turning the tide might be possible.
"Power doesn't come for free. What price Sasuke paid, what resolve he had, you should know, right?"
"I can! If it's to save the ninja world, to save Boruto, I'm willing to give everything!"
Toneri didn't hesitate, answering firmly.
Compared to living alone on the moon, if he could save Boruto and the world, even for a fleeting moment of brilliance and power, he was willing!
Lux was very satisfied with Toneri's resolve, then turned to Naruto.
"Naruto, what about you?"
"…"