At the entrance of Konoha, the air was heavy with both anticipation and concern.
Standing together were Tsunade, Jiraiya, Kakashi, Shisui, and Itachi, all gathered to send off Naruto and Sasuke on a mission unlike any other—one that would take them far beyond the skies.
Hinata and Hanabi stood closely by Naruto's side. Tsunade folded her arms and looked directly at Naruto, her voice filled with both command and care.
"Be careful on the road!" she instructed firmly.
Naruto gave her a determined nod.
Jiraiya tilted his head back to gaze at the night sky, a grin spreading across his face despite the gravity of the situation.
"To think… one of my students would actually be going to the moon. Hah! What a shame I can't tag along. I'd like to see what the moon looks like with my own eyes."
Naruto chuckled at his master's familiar adventurous spirit.
"Pervy Sage, don't worry. Once all of this is over, I'll take you up there myself if you want."
Before Jiraiya could reply, Tsunade waved her hands quickly, almost motherly in her scolding.
"Don't talk nonsense. It's too dangerous to drag extra people along!"
Sasuke, who had been silent until now, turned his sharp gaze toward the sky.
"Enough wasting time. It's about time we left."
Naruto nodded, but his hand was caught by Hinata's soft grip. Her pale lavender eyes were filled with unease as she whispered:
"Please… be careful, Naruto. Promise me you'll come back safely."
Naruto smiled warmly, brushing his hand along her cheek.
"Don't worry, Hinata. Everything is under control. I'll definitely come back to you."
With that, Sasuke took a step back. His Mangekyō Sharingan spun, and in an instant the massive form of Complete Body Susanoo erupted around him with a thunderous roar. The immense spectral warrior towered high above the gates, its armored wings unfurling like a divine colossus.
The sheer pressure of the manifestation made even the seasoned shinobi present instinctively tense.
Jiraiya shielded his eyes from the glare, his voice filled with awe.
"Every time I see that technique, it still amazes me. What overwhelming power…"
Kakashi's single eye narrowed as he compared it silently to what he'd seen during the Fourth War.
"It feels even more solid than Madara's Susanoo. Sasuke's control has surpassed him."
Shisui gave a rare smile, his voice proud.
"Itachi, your brother has truly become incredible."
Itachi said nothing, but a small glint of quiet pride shone in his usually calm eyes.
Naruto turned back to Hinata one last time, his tone serious now.
"Remember what I told you. If anything happens, inject your chakra into the Flying Thunder God seal on your arm. I'll appear by your side immediately."
Hinata nodded, though her grip lingered for a moment longer before she let him go.
With a final glance toward his comrades—Tsunade, Jiraiya, Kakashi, Shisui, Itachi—Naruto leapt high and landed inside Sasuke's Susanoo.
Sasuke looked at Itachi, gave a firm nod of acknowledgment, then raised his blade of chakra.
"We're leaving."
The Susanoo's colossal wings beat against the air, creating a gust so powerful that dust and debris billowed across the village gates. With a mighty roar, the two shinobi soared upward, their figures vanishing into the clouds.
From the ground, the sight was unforgettable.
Naruto glanced down through the Susanoo's translucent armor, seeing Konoha grow smaller beneath him. A pang of nostalgia and determination surged in his chest.
This is the village I swore to protect… I'll come back. No matter what.
Down below, the villagers looked up in awe.
Sakura pressed her hands together tightly, whispering under her breath.
"Sasuke… Naruto… please return safely."
Karin stood on the balcony of her newly purchased home, her red eyes reflecting the towering Susanoo that pierced the clouds.
"Don't die out there, Sasuke."
Within the Uchiha district, clansmen gathered to witness their strongest kin ascending into the heavens. Pride and unease mingled in their eyes.
At another home, Kushina clutched her chest as she watched her son soar.
"Naruto… you'd better come back safely!"
Minato gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders, his calm voice reassuring her.
"Don't worry. With Sasuke by his side, no enemy stands a chance. Together, they're the strongest shinobi alive."
Back at the gate, Tsunade brushed dust from her face, frowning.
"Tch, those brats! Couldn't they at least take off a little farther from the village? Look at this mess!"
Jiraiya chuckled at her frustration, clearly amused.
Tsunade turned to Kakashi, her expression returning to business.
"Since Hinata and Hanabi are under special protection, I'll take this chance to go over the Hokage transition details with you, Kakashi."
Kakashi gave a quiet nod.
Then Tsunade turned to Shisui and Itachi.
"How is the handover for the coalition training command?"
Itachi answered smoothly.
"Nearly complete. We're both familiar with the responsibilities now."
Tsunade nodded, clearly reassured by their efficiency.
With the send-off finished, the group returned to the village to strengthen defenses.
Above the atmosphere, Sasuke's Susanoo cut through the void of space.
Without the resistance of air, they moved faster, but the harsh environment pressed down against them. The lack of air, the biting cold, and the silence of space gnawed at even Sasuke's fortitude.
Naruto narrowed his eyes, his chakra cloak of Kurama Mode flaring to life. The golden aura spread throughout Susanoo, wrapping Sasuke and shielding them both.
Sasuke frowned.
"My Susanoo can handle the pressure. You didn't need to waste chakra."
Naruto shook his head.
"Susanoo may block external force, but my chakra provides warmth, oxygen, and circulation. Without it, you'd be fighting the environment as much as Toneri. Better to be safe."
Sasuke paused, then gave a reluctant nod. Indeed, he felt far more comfortable after Kurama's chakra flowed around him.
Naruto grinned.
"See? You don't always have to be stubborn."
Sasuke smirked faintly but remained silent.
"Speed up, Sasuke. We don't have time to waste."
With Naruto's chakra reinforcing him, Sasuke surged forward. The giant Susanoo blazed like a comet streaking toward the moon.
For nearly an hour, they flew across the empty void until the lunar surface loomed before them.
Naruto's sharp Rinnegan spotted it first—a massive, hidden structure built into the barren landscape.
"There. Toneri's castle."
Sasuke followed his gaze, narrowing his eyes.
"So it's true. There really are people living here."
The Susanoo descended, shaking the ground as it landed before the imposing castle gates.
Inside, Toneri Ōtsutsuki had already sensed their approach. The ancient lunar mechanisms, the barriers infused with Hamura's chakra, resonated with his will.
The gates opened slowly, and Toneri stepped out. His pale form glowed faintly under the starlight, his empty sockets unsettling.
"So… the dignified guests from Earth have finally arrived."
Sasuke's expression hardened.
"This guy… he doesn't even have eyes."
Naruto nodded grimly.
"Yeah. He intends to take Hanabi's Byakugan and use it to awaken the Tenseigan."
Sasuke raised a brow.
"The Tenseigan?"
Naruto's gaze darkened.
"A powerful dōjutsu. One I never wielded, but it's deeply connected to my own return to this world. If Toneri completes it, he'll be nearly unstoppable."
Sasuke's eyes sharpened.
"Another eye technique… tch."
Toneri raised his hand, as if savoring the energies flowing before him. His lips curled into a twisted smile.
"Yes… even from afar, I can feel them. The pulse of the Rinnegan… the brilliance of the Mangekyō Sharingan. Such beautiful eyes!"
Sasuke felt disgust twist in his chest.
"This man… he's as obsessed with eyes as Madara was."
His hand moved toward his blade, ready to strike. But Naruto held him back.
"Wait. Let's hear what he has to say first."
Naruto stepped forward, his voice loud and clear.
"Toneri… long time no see."
Toneri froze, the smile on his face vanishing instantly.
"…How do you know my name?"
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