"What the hell?"
Kiyosuke jumped in surprise and said, "Why is the world ending again? Didn't I just save it not long ago?"
Mei Terumī sighed helplessly.
"The moon is getting closer and closer to Earth. At this rate, within one cycle, it'll collide with the planet and finally..."
The ending didn't need to be spoken aloud.
Kiyosuke said, "No way am I letting my little baby be born into a world that's already gone. Whoever caused this deserves to die. I'm leaving the baby in your care. I'm guessing this has something to do with what's happening in Konoha."
"Mm, I'll leave it to you then."
"Little Yuka, Daddy's going to save the world again. Be good and listen to Mommy at home, okay?"
He kissed his daughter's soft, rosy cheek, then left with Obito toward Konoha.
Holding her daughter in her arms, Mei watched her husband's back disappear into the distance and whispered softly, "Good luck, my dear... Save the world one more time."
...
Konoha — Hokage's Office
Kakashi was organizing the mission roster. When he saw Obito and Kiyosuke return, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Sorry for making you come all the way here."
"It's fine. What does the enemy look like?"
"Here."
Kakashi took out a portrait. It was a strange-looking man with bandages wrapped around his face, revealing only his eyes — the eyes of a Byakugan.
"Byakugan?"
"Yeah. But those were just puppets. The ones who actually kidnapped Hanabi and Hinata were someone else. We didn't get a clear look at him, only that he had white hair." Kakashi said grimly,
"And given what's happening with the moon, I suspect it's connected to that man."
"I think so too. My gut tells me this isn't simple. Where's Naruto?"
"He's not back yet."
Just as Kakashi said that, the door to the Hokage's office burst open.
"Sensei Kakashi! Kiyosuke-san! What the hell is going on?" Naruto demanded.
Kakashi explained everything from start to finish.
"Neji was injured trying to save Hinata and Hanabi. He's in the hospital now, but it's nothing life-threatening. Clan Head Hiashi and Hizashi-san went out and still haven't returned."
It was safe to say that the entire Hyūga clan had been blindsided. Only Neji had been left to defend, and it was a miracle he survived at all.
"Damn it!"
Naruto punched the wall, leaving a hole in it.
"Calm down, Naruto. Hinata and Hanabi will be fine," Kiyosuke said, though even he could only offer words of comfort.
"Let's head out right away. I'll try sensing Hinata's chakra."
Kiyosuke entered Sage Mode and began to sense her location.
"I'll help too!"
Naruto followed, entering Sage Mode himself. After a while, both opened their eyes at the same time.
Kiyosuke frowned. "What's going on? I can't sense Hinata's chakra anywhere on this continent."
"Me neither," Naruto said, confused. "Even with Kurama's help, I expanded my range overseas — still nothing."
"How can that be?" Kakashi muttered.
"Hokage-sama!"
A figure appeared in the office.
"I chased the ones who kidnapped Lady Hinata for quite a while, but they vanished into some strange place. I had no choice but to return and report."
The newcomer had pale skin and a handsome face. Naruto's eyes widened. "Sai?"
"Naruto-kun, long time no see." Sai nodded politely.
The two had met during the Fourth Great Ninja War, though Sai had mostly interacted with Naruto's shadow clone, helping seal the Edo Tensei resurrected shinobi.
"Oh, Sai, huh."
After Kiyosuke killed Danzō, Root was disbanded. The reliable members were absorbed into the ANBU, and Sai was among them. During the war, he'd been part of the surprise attack division and later joined Kiyosuke's sealing team to seal away Edo Tensei shinobi.
He had gone out that evening to sketch Konoha's lively winter night, but by chance, ran into those suspicious figures and followed them.
"Nice work. Take a break for now. We'll head out tomorrow!" Kakashi said with relief.
But Kiyosuke shook his head. "Kakashi, now's not the time to rest. Every hour we delay, Hinata's in more danger."
"...Alright, then. What do you plan to do?"
"I've got two more helpers ready."
He pulled out two test tubes, each containing a lock of hair.
"Wait, those are Mom and Dad's hair! Kiyosuke-san, don't tell me you're planning to—"
"Exactly. I originally meant to use it when you and Hinata got married, so your parents could see you with their own eyes. But now… it's the perfect time."
"That's fine by me," Kakashi said. "We still have plenty of White Zetsu specimens in Konoha."
White Zetsu's body and abilities were invaluable for research — especially for studying Hashirama's cells. During the war, many were captured by the major villages and used as lab material. None could escape; all they could do was watch helplessly as they were dissected.
Kakashi had two of them brought in.
Kiyosuke immediately performed the Edo Tensei, summoning Minato and Kushina back to life.
"Eh? Kiyosuke, you brought us back so soon — don't tell me Naruto's getting married already?" Kushina asked.
"No. It's something much more serious. While Konoha's defenses were weakened, someone kidnapped Hinata."
"What?! Who's got that kind of death wish?!" Kushina's fiery red hair flared and floated behind her, glowing with rage.
Minato quickly placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.
"What exactly happened?"
Kakashi repeated the details. Minato lowered his head in thought, then said,
"In that case, our only option is to go search that place ourselves."
"Right. I'll be counting on you, sensei."
"Don't mention it."
"Please, let me come too!"
The door burst open again. Neji stood there, his body wrapped in bandages.
He was panting. "Lady Hinata and Lady Hanabi were kidnapped. As a branch member, failing to protect the main family is already my greatest shame. Please, Hokage-sama, let me join this mission!"
"You're too injured. You should rest first," Naruto said.
But Kakashi shook his head.
"No, let him go. Naruto, with your sensei and Kiyosuke there, nothing will go wrong. Sai, prepare the team. You four will depart immediately. Also—Kiyosuke, take this."
He formed a hand seal, and a glowing compass appeared on Kiyosuke's palm. It had markings from 'Rat' to 'Boar,' with a small Earth in the center. Only 'Rat' and 'Ox' were lit up, while 'Tiger' was fading.
"What is this?"
"It shows how much time Earth has left. When all the lights go out, the moon will collide with it."
"I understand. I'll bring them back before that happens."
----------------
Fanfic is finished on Patreon (536 chapters in total.)
Patreon(.)com/Jixo (for only $4.50, read this entire fanfic)